Third Days' Mac Powell

We sat down with Mac Powell, front man for the multi-Platinum rock band, Third Day. Long known as Christian music’s premier live band, Third Day has played for audiences reaching into the millions all around the world.

We’re at a smaller venue today; do you have a preference?
In a way, it allows us to return to our roots, to play in a more intimate setting. We’re able to share more stories about where the songs came from. It’s a great reminder of something we did when we first started out. There is an intimacy factor, in the sense I can see almost each person I’m singing to, and that’s not normal. In the larger venues you can only hope that what you are singing and what they are seeing on stage is connecting, but you never know.

Mac, what do you hear God saying to Third Day?
I hear God saying continue on, keep doing what you’re doing. And at the same time, not resting on things we’ve done in the past. As Believers, you just can’t rest on something you learned ten years ago or a week ago – you need to continually seek God through prayer and scripture and through his people in community.

What does God-centered intimacy look like in your home?
Prayer is a big part of our family. We pray together every day and pray as a family every day. As simple as it sounds, praying at dinner is a big deal. I know that’s a simple thing, but something many families don’t do. For us to grow in our faith, there must be three witnesses in our lives: seeking God and his spirit through prayer, the word of God, and the church, God’s people.

Your wife was a big influence to you spiritually.
Yes. I was a Believer, saved at a very early age, yet I was going through that thing in high school, living for myself. But, my wife was very strong in her faith. Her witness to me was a big part of what brought me back to God. That’s not something I want my girls doing, dating guys who aren’t believers.

What is the one thing that needs to stay a priority in your marriage?
Because we have five kids, it’s so easy to spend time with them and not with each other. We’re very good about making sure we have quality time together, just the two of us, at least weekly.

Our latest date was an afternoon. Working around our kid’s school schedules, usually Tuesdays and Thursdays are days we can go to lunch together and catch up on what’s going on.

Despite our hectic schedules and a large family, we’re good about carving out time for each other. That’s important for every couple. It’s so easy to lose focus and forget about how your relationship was before life got busy; you forget why you wanted to be with each other. It’s easy to forget those little romantic details, a note or a call.

Does being on tour make time with your wife harder to navigate?
Sometimes it is tough. You never get used to it, but you learn to adapt. My schedule is unique; many times the tour allows me to be home Monday through Wednesday and traveling Thursday through Sunday. When I’m home, I am home completely and keep work to a minimum. And there are times where I have a month off and hardly have anything. We need to adjust and keep each other a priority.

We’ve been married 17-years. What I tell people is if you have your priorities right and you can keep focusing on that, it just gets better and better. I am more in love with my wife than I’ve ever been, and life with children gets better and better. Whether you’re starting out or married a long time – it can and should be something that continues to grow and get better.