Michael W. Smith sets sights on movie ministry

We hope to be involved throughout the year with a grassroots approach and play this movie for the people, a lot like Mel Gibson did," Smith said earlier this week in a phone interview from Nashville.

Set to be distributed by New Market Films, which distributed Gibson?fs "Passion of the Christ," "The Second Chance" will be what Smith calls a spiritual mainstream movie with a message of redemption.

"It is a great story," Smith said of the movie written by Steve Taylor, Chip Arnold and Ben Pearson. "I can?ft wait for people to see it."

While he is working in this visual vineyard for the Lord, Smith has much to rejoice about and to share in his musical life.

Smith, who performed a sold-out concert last November with Mercy Me at the arena, is sitting on top of the Christian music charts with his October-released 18th album, "Healing Rain," his first pop album in nearly five years.

Smith, who began playing keyboards with Amy Grant in 1978 (only two years after graduating from Ceredo-Kenova High School), has become one of the stalwarts of contemporary Christian music.

Since going solo in 1983, Smith has sold more than 10 million records, has chalked up 32 Dove Awards, 28 No. 1 Christian singles and three Grammy Awards, including the 2004 Grammy for Best Pop, Contemporary Gospel.

Although Smith has made a point to swing his tours through the Tri-State, he has not yet brought home the Christmas tour, which has become somewhat of a holiday tradition for him.

The 20-city tour starts Friday in Winston-Salem, N.C., hits Huntington Saturday night and then sleigh-rides around the Midwest and East before winding back at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in downtown Nashville.

"I really do enjoy it," Smith said. "It?fs my favorite time of the year, and over the past few years people have really fallen in love with the show."

For good reason.

The powerhouse all-gal group Point of Grace, which has charted 24 straight No. 1 singles on Christian radio, has been with him the past three years. Last year, he added the Samoa-born brother group the Katinas, which delivers a Christian message blended with hip hop, Motown and the sounds of the islands.

With his folks in the audience (they?fre coming up Friday night), Smith will share such sacred songs as "Silent Night" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" (a couple of his favorites) as well as such original songs as "All is Well," a song he wrote for his first Christmas recording.

On tour, Heather Payne of Point of Grace sings the song.

"Heather sings it, and it is stunning," Smith said. "It?fs a moment in the evening that you won?ft forget. I still get chills and have to fight back tears. It?fs a powerful moment."

Smith said the concert is a combined effort of all groups performing together as one in harmony.

He?fs stoked about bringing the Katinas for those who have not heard them.

"They went out when we went out with Amy (Grant), so they have definitely been involved," Smith said. "They are awesome. When they sing, it?fs mind-boggling."

Although most of the program will be centered around Christmas, Smith said he will slip in some of his songs, including the first single and title track of his latest record, "Healing Rain."

Smith, who has cut two Christmas records -- "Michael W. Smith Christmas" in 1989 and "Christmastime" in 1998 -- said his parents instilled a real joy of sharing and giving and celebration of the season.

"Growing up in Kenova, my mom and dad made Christmas a huge thing," Smith said. "My mom and dad entertained a lot and gave a lot and cooked a lot and had a lot of people over. It was festive on all fronts, and we have just carried on that tradition in our home."

That spirit continues to this day around Christmas, Smith said.

"Mom and dad live just 10 minutes away from us, so we?fll probably have about 30 people here, we might adopt four or five people along the way who couldn?ft make it home for Christmas," Smith said. "And that is what it is all about."

One Christmas tradition Smith doesn?ft care to partake in -- no offense -- is his mama?fs oyster stew.