Twenty years ago, Casting Crowns received immediate recognition as one of the fastest Christian bands to have albums certified platinum. Since then, their music has continued to top the charts. The band’s 20th anniversary tour has been eventful, with two incidents involving the theft.
Following both incidents, lead singer and songwriter Mark Hall took to Instagram, not to publicly shame the thieves, but to call fans to prayer. “She’s so much more than a thief. She’s a soul that needs a Savior. Pray for Stacie,” one post said.
While Celebrating the Band’s 20th Anniversary, Casting Crowns Deals With Stolen Truck, Then Front-End Loader
As part of the tour celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary, the members of Casting Crowns packed up and headed out to dozens of concerts. The Christian Post reported that at a recent concert in Texas, a man tried to enter the concert without a ticket. Then, after the concert, “officers noticed a large front-end loader coming through the parking lot driven by the man who tried to enter the concert,” according to a local news station. The same man stole a tractor and drove it through the venue’s parking lot, up and over medians and shrubs.
“Well, last night was another unusual night!” Hall’s Instagram post began. Casting Crowns’ lead singer went on to explain the events of the night. “We saw the lights from a distance, and as they got closer, we realized it was a front-end loader driving through the parking lot. It began driving in circles and running over trees in the medians.” While safely inside, they continued to watch as the incident continued.
Officers were already on the scene “with guns drawn, trying to talk the man out of the tractor. He made his way through the parking lot and that’s where police officers met up with him in the road. Over 100 shots were fired as he rammed a police car on the highway.”
“We found out later that he had been trying to get into the venue where we were playing and was turned away and was seen standing around outside and one of the neighboring buildings,” Hall reported. “It wasn’t determined until later that evening that it was the same guy.”
Hall asked fans to pray for the suspect. “I don’t have any information on his name, but can you guys pray for him. Mental health struggles are heightened by so many things but with all that’s going on in the world right now, I think tensions are high with all of us.”
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This incident happened just two weeks after a tour truck was stolen after a show. Hall’s Instagram post about that incident starts with a plea to fans: “Pray for Stacie.” He then goes on to explain the situation.
“You may have heard one of our trucks was stolen last night after the show. It was a lot of trouble and our team lost a lot of sleep and our show was delayed in setting up today,” Hall wrote. He then focused on the thief, saying, “But as troubles are settling down for us, they [are] only beginning for the troubled lady who stole the truck.”
Hall challenged all friends, family, and fans of the band to pray for Stacie. “Can you please join me in praying for Stacie? Pray that she will sense God working in her heart and that she will surrender to Him. She’s so much more than a thief. She’s a soul that needs a Savior. Pray for Stacie,” Hall posted.
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With tens of thousands of likes, followers posted comments of encouragement to the band as well as prayers for the thief. “Thank you for your heart towards Stacie,” one follower posted. “She needs a miracle. Ask me how I know? A year ago today, I was missing. Addicted to prescription medication. Stealing. Hiding. Confused. Lost. Suicidal. But for the prayers of God’s people, I would not be alive to tell this story.”
