About to visit the UK, REBECCA ST JAMES talks about her new live worship project, playing a hooker in Hero and resisting the lies of our modern culture.

RSJ: "I think I've been able to get into the head of Maggie simply because of the vocal stand I've taken on purity in my ministry. In doing so, I've meet so many young women out on the road who come from varied pasts. I lot of young women have shared very openly with me how that they haven't waited, and wished they had. They're shared with my in detail about the emotional conflicts of having sex outside of marriage...or how their life was scarred by sexually transmitted diseases. I've heard a lot of very painful stories firsthand over the years. Because of that, I feel like I'm not coming into this part blind, or having never talked to anyone who has struggled with what my character of Maggie has struggled with. I feel like God has provided a way for me to truly understand Maggie."

With so much of the world's media talking about Mel Gibson's "The Passion Of the Christ" what are your thoughts?

RSJ: "The Passion of Christ is definitely the most faith deepening film I have ever seen. I wept and empathized with Jesus like never before," noted the Australian born singer in an interview today. "I now understand almost as if I was there, what he went through for me." About the film's creator, Mel Gibson, who spent a portion of his childhood growing up in her native Australia, St. James commented. "I truly believe Mel Gibson has been used as an instrument of God in reaching out to Christians and non-Christians alike with this film. The most gripping scene for me was the part where Jesus has just stumbled underneath the weight of the cross. Mary His mother rushes to reach out to Him and the film flashes back to when Jesus was a little boy and fell-we see her running to Him then too. I wept at that point as it was such a powerful scene. What really gripped me was that Jesus turned to her in the midst of His pain and said, "Mother, see I make all things new." I loved the power in those words and the realization that that's indeed what He came to do to make all things new for all of us-to breathe life in us and give us new hope. I was greatly impacted in what I saw on the screen."

Tell us more about the new book you are writing: "SHE."

RSJ: "The idea behind it is becoming a 'Safe, Healthy, and Empowered' woman of God in the 21st century-and how we can live in today's world in the fullest of what God intended. The premise is that so many women today are just feeling overwhelmed-they don't know what their role is, they're struggling with work and family and all the different hats of responsibility they have to wear, added to the struggle of the beauty issue. So many women in today's culture are feeling 'oh, I have to be super skinny and look like a model in order to be accepted.' I did a survey recently on my website to which over a thousand women responded.

Overwhelmingly-probably 70 or 80 percent of what these women were talking about had to do with appearance. It's unbelievable the pressure that is being felt in this area. There's so much pressure exerted through the media. And I think also the feminist movement freed women in some ways and put them in bondage in others-that's something we're talking about in the book too-'what is true femininity?' 'what is holistic beauty?" Coupling the outer beauty with the importance of the inner beauty-the inner beauty being the more important as it will live on into eternity. We're also talking about intimacy with God and others; we're talking about boundaries; mentoring; purpose in life-just a lot of subjects that we as women are looking for truth in. The book will be looking at 'what are the lies in our culture that the world has fed us' and we are striving to say 'OK what's the Biblical truth to combat those lies!' I hope it will be a real tool to help women grow in God in many areas."

What else is planned for 2004? Will you start on another studio album? What is your next musical direction?

RSJ: "I am starting on a new album in just a few months-and I am very excited about that and excited about writing again. I am currently just praying and thinking on themes and things that God would have me write about. I feel like I'm approaching writing with a real freshness and a real desire to write-which sometimes in hitting the road so long and hard-I haven't always had. Trying to fit in an album and writing has often in the past been a stretch, but right now there's a sense of renewal in my heart and a creative sense of overflow that's a great set-up for starting the new album. I'm very pumped about the possibilities for the next project. My roots are in rock and I want to head back to that-still making it pop and accessible but really having that rock edge and kind of taking some risks in the musical area-which I always have liked doing. I've been meeting with different producers I'm going to be working with-including Tedd T. again-I worked with him on 'God,' 'Pray' and the 'Christmas' album as well as a little bit on 'Transform' with 'Wait For Me,' and 'Universe'-and I'm very excited with the prospect of working together again. Also with Matt Bronlewee, and maybe one or two other producers. The thing we've talked about is that over the last ten years I've built up a very strong relationship with my audience and there's a trust level there. They know that I'm focused on ministry...they know that I've attempted to stay consistently strong in my walk with God. I think that that kind of trust level can grant me a creative license to try new things and to musically kind of experiment because my audience trusts that the ministry and the heart is going to stay the same. It gives me a freeing feeling of liberty to be somewhat adventurous musically! I've always had kind of a bit of philosophy in my own mind that 'if people would do it one way, let's try another--' let's really think outside the box!' I'm very excited to see where that heads on this next album!"

How old are you now? Are you feeling a closer relationship with women in your audience now rather than with teenagers? I notice you have some 2004 concerts scheduled at women's conferences.

RSJ: "I'm now 26. I think my passion is to reach the family with an emphasis on young people-it's always been that-and it is remaining that. I do have a stronger heart right now for women-especially since I'm writing the book. I'm actually co-writing with a lady named Lynda Hunter, who's older than I am and coming from a different life prospective-which I love-because that kind of balances me out. I think as I've written with her I've become more intune with the needs of women and how to reach out to them-so definitely my heart is growing all the time for women my age-and younger and older. I just think that is the direction God has recently led me but it hasn't lessened my heart for the family and young people."

What is life like for you now off the road? Do you still stay with your parents since you're on the road so much? Is Nashville still home? Do you date, or do you still prefer hanging out with friends in large groups?

RSJ: "Since my sabbatical I've had more blocked time off and so I'm investing my time in things I've wanted to do for awhile. Nashville-actually right outside of Nashville-it's still home. I bought a house this year and so I'm working on home decorating-learning how to make curtains and cooking-just enjoyable things like that that also hopefully prepare me for the future and the prospect of one day being married and having a family. Spending time with friends is important-I've always been a 'people person' and I an empowered by being with people. I need my time away to be quiet, but still I love being with people-probably part of that comes from being one of seven children! One of the things I've gotten to appreciate as I've gotten older is community and intimacy with people so I am wanting more than ever to invest now in the relationships I have in my life-close friends both girls and guys. And yes, I do date!

I really want to get married and have a family so I do feel it's important to get to know members of the opposite sex. Being now at a very marriageable age, I do single date-whether you call it dating or courting-and hang out in groups with friends as well. I think one of the courtship aspects I appreciate is that it involves not just spending time one on one, but spending time in groups and with each other's families, and getting to know each other in different settings. I'm also very committed to purity and strong boundaries, and I think that's very important."

You bring inspiration to so many with your music, books. concerts, etc. What are the things that have inspired Rebecca St. James lately? What books, movies, activities, Bible teachers, etc. are bringing you a deeper appreciation?

RSJ: "The book that's really touched my heart lately is 'The Pressures Off' by Larry Crabb. It's to do with grace in the sense that we can do nothing to make God love us more or less-and that the goal of our life needs to be God Himself, not His blessings. You know sometimes we live for the wrong motivation-'well if I do this for God, if I go to church, and serve Him and do the right things to live a holy life, then God will bless me!' That becomes the motivation-'God will bless me with happiness and peace, and joy, and everything going right.' But life doesn't always go exactly as we plan and everything doesn't go exactly always right but God does always promise to be there with us in the midst despite the circumstances we are going through-good or bad. So God needs to be the ultimate goal in our lives-that fellowship and intimacy with Him. So that book has been very powerful in my life and was a kind of theme for me this last year-that He loves me extravagantly and how awesome that is! Music. In the last year and a half, I've really gotten into soundtracks from movies-'Notting Hill', 'Wedding Planner', 'A Walk To Remember'! I love Norah Jones. I love the 'You Are My World' worship CD by Hillsong. Switchfoot is my favorite group-their album is awesome musically and lyrically. Movies? I'm looking forward to seeing "The Passion" and admire Mel Gibson for his stand in bringing this movie out. As for activities...I'm still into swing dancing.... I go regularly with friends every time the travel schedule allows me to be in town... I love to swing dance!"