Lead singer Mac Powell gave his thoughts about THIRD DAY's new worship album.

Third Day

So why another worship album?

Mac Powell: We are a band that loves to both rock and worship and we are so thrilled that we can do both. After rocking on the 'Come Together' album, it's a natural for us to refocus on worship with 'Offerings II'. We also know that God is not done with Third Day when it comes to worship music.

There seems to be a desire in your music to communicate social involvement as well as enjoying the experience of God.

Tai Anderson: Through our relationships with Habitat For Humanity, World Vision and more recently DATA, we've embraced the idea that worship is a lived-out experience. With this new album, we hope to inspire ourselves and our fans to give all they have to give, whether it is in musical worship to God, building a home for someone in need or helping resolve the AIDS crisis in Africa. We all have something to offer."

In recent times you've gained a big reputation as presenting a great live act. If you're keeping below $30 a ticket, how on earth can you compete with the big mainstream bands like U2?

Tai Anderson: When it comes to production, we always want people to get the kind of show that they'd normally spend twice as much money to see. Just because it's a Christian fan doesn't make them any less of a body in the house and it doesn't make the money they're spending any less legal tender. I think what you see with Christian fans, certainly with our fans, is just incredible loyalty. If we're selling 500,000 to 700,000 records and a 50-city tour has over 200,000 people, a very significant number of our fans come out to the show.

Would you say that U2 have been a big influence on Third Day?

Mac Powell: They have such a passion in their music. We don't sound anything at all like them. It's not the sound, it's more of their work ethic of going out and pushing their records, reaching their fans. For them, it's more than entertainment. There's a message behind their music to touch people's hearts. We use them as examples of what we would like to do: make good quality music that does more than entertain, that touches the heart and get as much of that music out to the fans as we can.