I’ve been a fan of TobyMac, one of the headlining acts for Winter Jam, for many years. Formerly a member of the Christian rock group dc talk, TobyMac has returned to Fort Wayne many times to offer upbeat Christian music to fans of all ages.
In my freelance writing career I’ve interviewed him on two occasions for stories in newspapers and magazines. It was interesting to hear him voice the challenges he feels at trying to balance everything in his life. With a wife and five children awaiting him at home, TobyMac admitted he felt the pain of separation from those he loves most. “I hate being gone from my family,” he said. “It breaks my heart when I’m on the road four, maybe five days a week. I’m sharing God’s love and music, but it kills me to be away from my kids. I always ask myself, how long should I do this? My kids know why I go. They know it’s more than making music. But if God told me to change one thing about my parenting style, I think He would tell me to be in their lives more consistently.”
When he is home, TobyMac concentrates on his family. “We sit down to dinner together,” he said. “After dinner, we go outside to play. I run around with them, and we play baseball. Then I read to them at bedtime and pray with each one and tuck them into bed. I love that routine. It kills me to miss it.” With those kinds of thoughts running through my head each time I hear one of his songs on the local Christian radio stations WBCL FM 90.3 and WLAB 88.3 I appreciate this guy’s dedication to not only his career and craft as a singer/songwriter, but also his dedication to his family. It makes Winter Jam that much more meaningful to me, knowing each performer is making the same sacrifice. Other singers at WinterJam 2013 in Fort Wayne include Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Royal Tailor, Sidewalk Prophets, NewSong, and speaker Nick Hall. As always tickets are free but organizers ask for a $10 donation. A love offering will be taken during the concert. Note: These concerts can be quite long (4 hours), so plan accordingly. Winter Jam will be held at Memorial Coliseum 4000 Parnell Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46805 260.483.1111 JANUARY 20th ~ 6 PM ~ Doors 5 PM
