Award-winning Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman told music students at Colorado Christian University (CCU) that God can use any art “illuminated” with their faith, even if their work doesn’t explicitly mention Jesus. Among his other advice, Chapman encouraged the students in their efforts to find creative ways of shining light on God’s truth.
“The Scripture says, do everything you can do for the glory of God,” said Chapman during a master class he gave for six students with CCU’s School of Music on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 7. “I am one who probably at different points in my life thought, well…did I mention Jesus in that song?”
“And then I learned more and more over time,” he said, “and I really believe that, you know, that his presence is in all art that is illuminated with our faith.”
Steven Curtis Chapman Gives Feedback to 6 CCU Music Students
Steven Curtis Chapman is one of the most decorated artists in Christian music. He is the winner of five Grammys, 60 Dove Awards, and one American Music Award. He has had 50 No. 1 hits and has sold 16 million albums, with 10 of them being RIAA-certified Gold or Platinum.
Last July, Chapman was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He told CCU students and staff that his induction into the Grand Ole Opry was particularly meaningful to him because he performed there in his youth, and his father had given up a dream of being a Grand Ole Opry singer.
Chapman was the featured guest in the second event in CCU’s newly launched President’s Speaker Series. He and his wife, Mary Beth Chapman, were hosted Friday by CCU President Eric Hogue and First Lady Tammy Hogue. The event with the Chapmans follows CCU’s inaugural event in its President’s Speaker Series, which was held on Friday, Nov. 15, and featured former Vice President Mike Pence and former Second Lady Karen Pence.
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Friday evening, over 500 people came to see Chapman perform, as well as to listen to a moderated conversation with Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman. The evening performance and conversation followed a dinner where two CCU students received scholarships.
Before the evening events, a crowd of nearly 100 School of Music students attended the master class Chapman led. During the hour-and-a-half-long session, the Christian artist shared how he got his start in the industry and listened to and gave feedback on original compositions performed by six School of Music students.
As he began the class, Chapman told the students, “You wouldn’t be in this room if you, number one, weren’t gifted and had a desire to use that gift to the highest calling, I believe.”
