Country Faith: 56 Reflections from Today’s Leading Country Music Stars

A coffee table book for the country music fan

Country Faith: 56 Reflections from Today’s Leading Country Music Stars

Compiler: Deborah Evans Price

Publisher: Zondervan

Pages: 128

Early in the twentieth century, F. W. Boreham, an extraordinary communicator, commenced a unique sermon series on alternating Sunday nights titled “Texts That Made History.” These carefully crafted messages extended over the course of 125 Sundays, eventually filling five books. In each one, Boreham expertly traced the impact of Bible verses on historical figures, including famous fictional characters. He identified a verse in each life that animated and enriched their existence.

Now flash forward to today. Country Faith in a remote way could be likened to a relative of that historical series. This book documents the profound influence of Bible verses in the lives of country music stars. From the lesser known to well known artists, including Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner (who also writes the foreword), Wynonna, Charlie Daniels, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Sara Evans, each person provides an abbreviated testimony of the ongoing impact of a particular passage.

Anywhere from one to four paragraphs are framed by a beautiful portrait of the artist and exquisite graphic design. It only takes a minute or two for each reading. Together they function like an evangelistic tract. Give this to a country music fan that may have only a casual interest in the gospel. Leave it out in your home for someone sitting down to relax. The attractive cover invites inquiry.

Sharing the gospel is more than afterthought. The book ends with the complete text of the Gospel of Mark, including a brief introduction.

Due in part to this being a gift book, the writing lacks the depth of a devotional. Those wanting something more than the superficial will need to look elsewhere. Even so, this works well as an evangelistic and/or inspirational tool for those without faith or those looking for some quick refreshment.  

Perhaps this could become a series of its own, with the next volume surveying the testimony of the Bible’s impact on rock stars. With greater detail, such might be a welcome addition.

Michael Dalton