David Crowder – Living Out What You Believe

Posted on 26. Nov, 2007 by frank in faith, leadership

I have always enjoyed David Crowder. He has consistently delivered authentic, meaningful, and Christ centered meaning in his lyrics. Plus the musical talent this band has brought with the writing has been just as significant. But I always wonder something when I start listening to well thought out words from any artist. Do they really believe what they are singing about? Do they believe it enough to act on it?

However, with David Crowder as an individual it doesn’t stop with the music. I have recently learned from Brody Harper, who is a road manager for their tour, that Crowder really believes the words he sings… because he lives it in his actions. Brody wrote the following about his experience with David on the tour:

This guy blew me away on this tour. I had toured with him before when they opened for Third Day, but never got a chance to really know him. This tour he seemed to open up a little more and gained so much of my respect. Every idea this guy has is innovative and creative, but then there were times where he showed that he is an amazing servant as well. One thing that stuck out to me the most was the idea behind the tour. “Be the remedy”. David said every night from stage to a room full of people there to see him, “If you all lived the way you are singing tonight, this planet would be a different place”. A lot of us have heard that before, but David lived that way. Every day he would research what organizations were in the specific city that we were in and hand write an entire sheet of paper on how to get involved. Whether it be soup kitchens, homeless shelters, women’s shelters, Salvation Army shelters, then he would make copies of the paper and have people pass it out to everyone that came through the door. He was off the bus before most people and in on the stage setting up his own gear, helping out where it was needed.

Another thing that blew me away was with the bus stock (the groceries that were on the bus for the crew for after the show and off days). About once a week, after the show David and his wife Toni would go with a runner while everyone was tearing things down and go grocery shopping. Then when everyone else had finished and was winding down, they would show up at the bus with bags and bags of groceries that they had gone and bought for us. Sometimes specific things we had asked for, some things they knew we just liked. Then he would help unpack everything and help put it all away on our bus. For some reason this just seemed absurd to me. Here is a guy who is on the tour of his life. Headlining an almost completely sold out tour in some of the most amazing venues in the country and he is “the guy”. He is the guy the band is named after. He’s the guy the tour is named after and here he is making sure me and everyone else on our bus has enough macaroni and cheese, cereal and cookies.

I must say, reading things like that gives me a different feeling about the music they produce. I wish more artists and Christian leaders had that kind of follow through. If you want to read what Brody had to say about the rest of the band click here.