While reading the New Testament, you’ve most likely come across the gospel according to John, but have you seen it as you’ve flipped through your CDs, too? If not, it’s time to add According to John — the band — and their current album, Beyond What I See, to your music collection. So why do the four band members, John Waller, Jason Hoard, Matt Adkins and Josh Fisher, tout the name of gospel writer John and not Matthew, Mark or Luke?

John, the founding member of the band, says there are a few reasons (and it’s not because his name is John). “First, when we started the group we had a song called ‘Everlasting’ which was based on John 3:16. Second, the book of John is the first book of the Bible many Christians would recommend for an unbeliever to check out.

“And third, I wanted our name to have substance and to be biblical. When I looked at the book of John, I couldn’t get past the first page that says, ‘This is the gospel according to John.’ We present the gospel in many different ways through our music, so According to John seemed like a strong name.”

Brio sat down with According to John and learned much more about these pop-rock playing guys. Keep reading so you can be in the know, too.

Brio: As a band, you’ve faced some hardships and setbacks. Tell us more about these experiences.
John: Most Christian artists believe that when they get a record deal, they’ve arrived. That’s what According to John set out to do from the beginning. One of our goals was to be in the mainstream of Christian music. A lot of that was selfish — promoting ourselves disguised behind promoting Christ, you know? I don’t think there’s any artist who hasn’t struggled with that.

Our first record didn’t sell very well. We had some good radio success, but we were on a small label, and the industry is just so tough and saturated that it was difficult to rise above the major artists and labels. Our record company ended up closing its doors. To make a long story short, we were depending on the label to make us successful. We believed it was the job of a record company, manager and booking agency to make a band successful.

Finally, we realized that we were depending on people and not God. When we acknowledged that, He began to clean us, and He took all kinds of things away. Not just on the outside, but on the inside — things in our hearts. He cleansed the reasons for why we were doing what we were doing — our motives. He gave us a renewed vision of why we do what we do.

Brio: So what have you learned through all of this?
John: I learned dependence on God. I learned that if I didn’t surrender everything — all my dreams and aspirations — and allow God to replace them with His desires for me, I was not going to continue doing music. He was going to take that away, too.

We were fortunate that God didn’t take His hand off of us. He kind of took us to a valley, a wilderness, and He broke, reshaped and remolded us. After that, we thought we were ready to get back in the industry with a bang. We did a showcase and thought it went really well; it did go really well. It was refined, the music was polished and the performance was good. So we were shocked when we were passed over by labels.

It’s through that experience that the song, “Song of Jabez,” was birthed. I was at the end of myself, and I knew I needed God to expand our ministry. The book, The Prayer of Jabez really inspired me. I wanted to make a praise and worship chorus so that people could remember the prayer easily.

We ended up going to the studio, recording it and giving it away. People took the CD and made copies. One copy was sent here to Focus on the Family and ended up on Dr. Dobson’s broadcast. That song alone opened doors for us that we would have never been able to go through because we don’t have the backing of a major label.

Brio: What encouragement would you give to someone who’s facing disappointment right now?
John: You have to lean on God’s promises because the only thing that is sure and the only thing that will not change is God’s Word. He says that He has plans for us, plans to give us a hope and a future. I encourage any girl who’s facing disappointment or despair to lean on God’s promises. He does have a future for you. And it’s better than what you’ve wanted, better than what you’ve imagined.

Jason: Just being real with how the world is today and what the standard is for girls as far as their appearance, I’d say don’t get into all that. It’s just a lot of pressure, and there’s nobody who looks like what you see in magazines, on TV and in movies. Your appearance does not give you true success.

I’d encourage you to be a leader and not a follower of these things. Be a leader for Christ and take your friends with you. Beauty is on the inside. And guys, as they grow up, will realize that. Don’t give in to the pressures of the world, and lean to God’s understanding and not to your own.

John: We have a song on our album called “She’s in Love,” and it’s from a guy’s perspective. He has really fallen for this girl, because to him she’s beautiful. But he can tell by her countenance that she’s already in love. The thing is that she’s taken with Christ, and the beauty that radiates from her is beauty from within. That’s what attracts this young man to her.

There’s nothing more beautiful than a woman who fears the Lord or a young girl who’s in love with Jesus. That love radiates in a person’s eyes and countenance in a physical way. The song is an encouragement to girls to focus on falling in love with Christ, realizing that there’s no guy out there who’s going to meet the needs that she has. Some of the lines say “She worships the ground that He walks on, and she smiles when she says His name. It’s a match made in heaven, and I can’t compete with the King of Kings.”

Brio: Do you all spend much time with teens?
Jason: Yeah, we help John with the youth at church. We actually include the youth when we lead worship. We’ll take a drummer or a singer out of the youth group and they’ll lead with us. We’re real with them, and we’re real about showing them the love of Christ. I love to reach out to teens who need help.

Right now, my big thing is that I’ve got a path to take — either in the right way or the wrong way. I want it to be the right way. I don’t want to be a leader of the wrong path.

Matt: I’ve been privileged to work with John. I try to be a servant there — serving John, the band and the youth pastor. That youth group is really cool. They have middle schoolers and high schoolers there on Wednesday nights. Seeing them worship God in the way they do is a blessing to me.

Brio: You mentioned earlier that the Christian music market is too saturated. What makes you guys different from other bands?
John: We’ve never really conformed to any particular trend. I’ve seen some groups that bend to a musical trend and just explode on the scene. They sell a lot of records, and then maybe the next year you don’t see them at all. But I think we’ve been very true to who we are and the kind of music we want to do.

What we have is unique. It’s not that we’re better than the next group; it’s just that there’s an anointing and people are really being ministered to. What more do you really need than to have God’s hand on your music? It all boils down to this: Is this music for His glory or is it for our glory? God can use any kind of music, and I’m glad He’s using ours.

Brio: Is there any message you want to share with teen girls?
Jason: Keep your guard up at all times, and always be an ambassador for Christ. Let everything you do be pleasing in God’s sight because there are also people who are watching your behavior. Be honorable to God’s Word and really stay focused on Him.

I know it’s hard, with all the pressure that’s out there, but stick to God’s Word.

John: I’d say surround yourself with other girls who are like-minded and who have a heart after God. Sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron. You become like the company you keep. So, it’s important to be a witness to your world. Surround yourself with the kind of people you want to be like.

Matt: According to John has a lot of songs about purity. We have one called “Cloud 9” and another one called “Worth the Wait.” “Worth the Wait” is really straightforward, saying “I’m not ashamed to be a virgin for you.”

Nothing’s better than seeing a girl who’s pure. Save yourself for your husband. I’m saving myself, and my girlfriend is doing the same. She loves the Lord, and we’re both committed to waiting for sex until marriage. I know it’s really hard; there’s a lot of peer pressure. I’m 19, so I can really identify with what a struggle it can be to maintain purity.

****

According to John Favs

Favorite Snack Food
John: Nutter Butter, candy pumpkins
Matt: Miniature Ritz crackers with cheese in the middle
Jason: Snickers bars

Favorite Toothpaste
Matt: Crest (the stand-up tube kind) in cool mint, whitening
John: Mentadent — it’s a paste and a gel!
Jason: Crest Multi-Care or Tartar Control in a paste

Vacation Destination
Matt: Hawaii or St. Thomas
John: Skiing in Utah
Jason: Bahamas or Jamaica