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Billy Goodwin: When we did the first concert in Greenville, we were in awe of what we felt God was doing. Our prayer at that point was, “God, please don’t let us miss what you are trying to tell us tonight!” We had no idea that He would take that one concert and turn it into the biggest Christian tour in the country. We just tried to be obedient with what God had given us to do.
CCM: Eddie, why is the mentoring that goes on between artists an important facet of Winter Jam?
EC: The mentoring that happens between artists backstage is really wrapped up in how we share life together when the tour is on the road—we eat together, have hundreds of conversations, and worship together at “Jam Church.” Pastor Bobby [Joiner], our long-time tour pastor, is always ready to talk with anyone, helping them through whatever might be happening in their life. It has been amazing to see so many artists begin as an opening act for the Pre-Jam Party—Francesca Battistelli, for KING & COUNTRY, Sidewalk Prophets, Chris August and others—become leaders in our industry.
CCM: Tell us about Jam Church.
Matt Butler: Something a lot of people may not know is that touring musicians often don’t get to be part of their local Sunday church service as much as we’d like to. Enter Jam Church … the Winter Jam version of a regular Sunday gathering. Jam Church is held in a random side room in the arena where the show is being held that evening. All who are able to attend (artists, bands, crew, catering, drivers, staff, etc.) squeeze into the room, and on any given Sunday, a different group of artists lead worship. Our two road pastors take turns teaching each week, and it becomes our Church family on the road. It is one of my favorite things about the entire tour, and not only represents what the tour is all about, but prepares us well to represent Who the tour is all about.
Russ Lee and Matt Butler of NewSong
Russ Lee: I believe that Jam Church is where many artists find their moment of refreshment and community during a challenging tour schedule. It catches a lot of artists by surprise, and it becomes not only something they enjoy, but a time that is vital to their spiritual growth and survival through the rigors of the tour. Jam Church is the place where Christian family and community is formed and nurtured—it ends up being everyone’s favorite part of the Winter Jam experience.
CCM: Billy, your family has been very directly impacted by Winter Jam…
BG: My family has been especially blessed and touched personally by Winter Jam. Several years ago, my son Matt, who was playing with NewSong at the time, met Francesca Battistelli on tour when she was an opening artist. They started dating, fell in love, got married and have given us three beautiful grandchildren.
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The only thing I wish is that they would stop putting the same bands on every year. There are so many others that I would like to see personally. Such bands and artists like Disciple who hasn’t done the East coast, Seventh Day Slumber, Jaci Velasquez, Kevin Max, Mandisa, Manafest, Switchfoot, and it’s been a while since they had KJ-52 on the tour as well.