Casting Crowns, one of Pollstar magazine’s top 100 touring bands in the U.S., continues to draw in sold-out crowds around the globe. The band recently headlined three concerts in Africa pulling in nearly 15,000 fans in Nairobi, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

In addition to the live shows in Africa, Casting Crowns remained focused on its passion for student ministry by reaching out to local youth leaders in the countries and introducing them to the band’s Global Youth Ministry resource. Designed to offer youth leaders access to FREE tools and leadership training, GYM helps equip and support a new generation of youth ministries. The group met with 175 youth workers in Cape Town representing 80 churches, 125 leaders in Kisumu and 100 workers in Nairobi.

Lead singer Mark Hall notes, “We had an amazing time talking with the youth workers in Africa about the biblical model for student ministry and the importance of giving ownership to the students and helping them find their own individual ministries.”

"Just getting to spend time with the kids and to experience the presence of Jesus with them was amazing.”

Promoter and missionary to South Africa, Jay Johnson said, “Casting Crowns has left a lasting impact on the Christian community of South Africa and Kenya. People were most impressed with the heart of the band and their commitment to Christ and especially to the youth of both countries. Though the music was amazing, and most have said that it was the best Christian concert the countries have ever seen, the ministry was what touched the hearts of the people. Everyone is already talking about next year and hoping that Casting Crowns will be back to minister again in Africa.”

In Kenya, the band visited an area development project through its partnership with World Vision, an international relief organization for which Casting Crowns is responsible for more than 15,000 child sponsorships to date. Crowns spent time at a local primary school visiting many of World Vision’s sponsor children. The kids acted out skits with anti-AIDS messages as part of the school’s AIDS education for the visiting band members.

Mark Hall adds, “In Kenya, my heart was hurt for the people living in extreme poverty with so many needs, but I was also encouraged by the believers there who are actively reaching out with the hands of Jesus to touch their lives.” He acknowledges, “We didn’t take anything new to Kenya. We simply joined in what God is already doing in His church there.”

Paul Diederich, director of the artist program for World Vision, notes, “It was a pleasure to spend time with Casting Crowns in Kenya and see their heart for the children of Africa. Their partnership with World Vision continues to be a blessing, not only to us, but to the thousands of children who now have hope for a brighter future because of their ministry.”

Bass player Chris Huffman says, “The World Vision project in Kenya is a great example of global ministry. The schools that we visited really impacted me the most. Just getting to spend time with the kids and to experience the presence of Jesus with them was amazing! Being there and seeing where they live really burdened me to be more thankful for what God has entrusted me with and pray for them that Christ would be the answer to the hope we all saw in their faces.”

Platinum-selling and GRAMMY Award winning band Casting Crowns was named Group of the Year for the second consecutive year at the 37th Annual Gospel Music Awards in April. Its highly successful Lifesong Tour was ranked among the top 100 tours in the country based on ticket sells in the July ’06 issue of Pollstar magazine. Earlier this year, the band received its first GRAMMY for its sophomore recording, Lifesong. Casting Crowns has been the most played artist on all Christian radio formats combined with five No. 1 radio hits including the recent No. 1 song “Praise You in this Storm.” The group has sold more than two million albums and is one of only 2 Christian artists to break the TOP 10 on the Billboard Top 200 chart in 10 Years. Lead singer and songwriter Mark Hall has been a student pastor for 15 years and currently serves on staff at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta. Hall releases his first national book titled Lifestories: Finding God’s “Voice of Truth” Through Everyday Life on Aug. 29. The book features stories behind the real-life people, events and life experiences that have inspired many of the band’s award-winning songs.