The Final Word: When All Is Said And Done

Somehow, in one of life’s crazy turns, it has come to me to write the closing words on the last page in the final print edition of a magazine I’ve read all my adult life. Since 1978, CCM has championed Christian music and the bands, artists, worship leaders, songwriters, musicians, singers and producers who have contributed to this emerging cause.

Some have graced the cover (185 artists on 355 covers), while others (I wish I could name them all) have been prominently featured within. The likes of:

4HIM • Aaron Shust • Al Green • Amy Grant • Anberlin • Andrae Crouch • Anointed • Ashley Cleveland • Audio Adrenaline • Avalon • B.J. Thomas • Barbara Mandrell • BarlowGirl • Barry McGuire • BeBe Winans • Bebo Norman • Benny Hester • Bethany Dillon • Big Daddy Weave • Big Tent Revival • Bleach • Bob and Jayne Farrell • Bob Dylan • Brandon Heath • Brian Littrell • Britt Nicole • Bryan Duncan • Building 429 • By The Tree • Caedmon’s Call • Carman • Casting Crowns • CeCe Winans • Charlie Hall • Charlie Peacock • Chris Christian • Chris Rice • Chris Tomlin • Chuck Girard • Cindy Morgan • Clay Crosse • Cliff Richard • Crystal Lewis • Cynthia Clawson • Dakoda Motor Company • Dallas Holm • Daniel Amos • Darlene Zschech • David Crowder*Band • David Meece • David Phelps • dcTalk • Debby Boone • DecembeRadio • Decyfer Down • DeGarmo & Key • Delirious? • Deniece Williams • Derek Webb • Dion DiMucci • Disciple • Don Moen • Don Francisco • Donna Summer • Donnie McClurkin • Downhere • Emery • Everyday Sunday • Evie • Falling Up • Family Force 5 • Fee • FFH • First Call • Five Iron Frenzy • Flyleaf • Gary Chapman • Geoff Moore & The Distance • Ginny Owens • GRITS • Guardian • Hawk Nelson • Hillsong UNITED • Honeytree• Israel & New Breed • Jaci Velasquez • Jackson Waters • Jadon Lavik • Jars of Clay • Jeff Deyo • Jennifer Knapp • Jeremy Camp • Jessy Dixon • Jill Phillips • Joe English • John Michael Talbot • Johnny Cash • Joy Williams • Jump5 • Kathy Troccoli • Keith Green • Kenny Marks • Kevin Max • Kim Hill • Kirk Franklin • KJ-52 • Krystal Meyers • Kutless • Larnelle Harris • Larry Norman • Leeland • Leigh Nash • Lenny LeBlanc • Leon Patillo • Leslie Phillips • Lincoln Brewster • Mandisa • Margaret Becker • Mark Lowry • Mark Schultz • Mary Mary • Mat Kearney • Matt Redman • Matthew West • Matthews, Taylor and Johnson • MercyMe • Michael and Stormie Omartian • Michael Card • Michael English • Michael Sweet • Michael Tait • Michael W.Smith • Michele Pillar • Mighty Clouds of Joy • MxPx • Mylon LeFevre • Natalie Grant • NeedToBreathe • newsboys • NewSong • Nichole Nordeman • Nicole C. Mullen • Noel Paul Stookey • Out of Eden • Out of the Grey • P.O.D. • Passion • Paul and Kathie Johnson • Paul Baloche • Paul Colman • Petra • PFR • Phil Johnson • Phil Keaggy • Phil Wickham • Philip Bailey • Philips, Craig and Dean • Pillar • Plus One • Point of Grace • Randy Stonehill • Randy Travis • Ray Boltz • Rebecca St. James • Relient K • REZ • Rich Mullins • Ron Kenoly • Rush of Fools • Russ Taff • Salvador • Sanctus Real • Sandi Patty • Sara Groves • Sarah Kelly • Scott Wesley Brown • Seawind • Second Chapter of Acts • Selah • Servant • Seventh Day Slumber • Shane & Shane • Sharalee • Shaun Groves • Shawn McDonald • Sheila Walsh • Sherman Andrus • Silverwind • Sixpence None the Richer • Skillet • Small Town Poets • Smokie Norful • Sonicflood • Stacie Orrico • Starfield • Stellar Kart • Steve Archer • Steve Camp • Steven Curtis Chapman • Steve Green • Steve Taylor • Stryper • Superchick • Susan Ashton • Sweet Comfort Band • Switchfoot • Telecast • Terry Blackwood • The 77s • The Afters • The Almost • The Archers • The Bill Gaither Trio • The Blind Boys of Alabama • The Boones • The Call • The Choir • The Cruise Family • The Elms • The Hawkins Family • The Imperials • The O.C. Supertones • The Pat Terry Group • The Prayer Chain • The Rambos • The Winans • Third Day • Thousand Foot Krutch • Tim Hughes • Tim Sheppard • tobyMac • Todd Agnew • Tree63 • Twila Paris • Underoath • Warren Barfield • Waterdeep • Watermark • Wayne Watson • Wes King • White Cross • White Heart • Yolanda Adams • ZOEgirl

Yet, while these pages have promoted people (much to the delight of those of us who have been featured within), I think it’s safe to say most who have garnered these headlines share a common hope that the sum of our lives is not more of us, but a world awakening to a stunning Savior.

Personally, I have no problem celebrating the artistry of those God has used to inspire a generation. But at the end of the day, our collective message is of one whose name eclipses all other fame. He is the source of everything bright and good. He is the star of the story that never ends.

So, humbly, and hopefully on behalf of the aforementioned, I offer this anthem as the final words of this final edition—and the hopeful legacy of all that has been and is to come:
To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing, and honor, and glory and power forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 5:13b)

_{A passionate communicator and author, Louie Giglio is the founder of Passion Conferences, a collegiate movement calling people around the world to lives that spread God’s fame. Giglio also heads sixsteps records, a label partner with EMI CMG, and home to artist-worshipers Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Matt Redman and Charlie Hall. 268generation.com}