There were the first times Steve Taylor and Charlie Peacock appeared on the cover. Or the really obscure 1982 back issue in which CCM somehow landed an extensive interview with U2 and the bandmembers went on the record--WAY on the record and WAY into detail--about their faith. (After that U2 avoided CCM and Christian music press in general for almost 25 years...until Bono's prayer breakfast conversation included us earlier this year.) Then there was the time when Sixpence None the Richer landed their first CCM cover back in '97. There was also the issue last year which featured the first cover story I penned--unforgettable thanks completely to the brilliant interview Nichole Nordeman gave me. And there are so many more favorites...

So all this begs the question: Why is this new one so special to me? Well, I actually wrote this month's editor's letter answering just that, and I'd like to share it with you here, now... And hey, maybe you'll find that you're with me on this...

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UNDER THEIR INFLUENCE

This may be my favorite issue of CCM Magazine ever. Not only did Switchfoot give us an exclusive interview for this month's cover story, but in this very same issue, we're introducing Nichole Nordeman as CCM's newest contributing editor. I mean, are you kidding me?

Now, as you likely know, this month's cover story has been a long time coming. Personally, it's something I've looked forward to since joining CCM's team in the fall of '03. Yeah, the band was already huge by then. But that's not why I wanted them on the cover.

I first met the original trio known as Switchfoot about 10 years ago. The first record label they signed with was a label I helped start as its PR guy. But I happened to move on right as they were coming on board. Even though our professional overlap was brief, brothers Jon and Tim Foreman and Chad Butler made quite an impression on me. And all of our interactions since then have only reinforced that strongly favorable impression.

Though I was never paid to promote any of Switchfoot's albums, that never prompted me to show restraint about how much I liked them, and increasingly, their music. On the contrary, sometimes friends accused me of doing their PR for free.

Within a few years Jon and I connected deeply on our mutual appreciation of God, music and the mysterious ways of womankind--not necessarily in that order. While we were never close friends in the regularly-in-touch sense, we have always picked up where we left off when we've happened upon each other. (And I'll always give Jon brownie points for marrying one of my all-time favorite people, Emily, who was a close friend of mine.)

One thing that's telling is that Jon's interaction with me didn't change when his band hit it big. He's still every bit as approachable, gracious, engaging and other-centered as he was back in the day when people were like "SwitchWHO?" Chad and Tim remain "class" as well. And though I've never had the chance to get to know Switchfoot's two later additions--Jerome Fontamillas and Drew Shirley--you don't have to be around the two of them long to sense how well they fit and why Jon, Tim and Chad chose them as bandmates.

It's my hope that this month's cover story will give you a real grasp of who this band is. In fact, it's very important to me that it does. (If it doesn't, write me a really mean letter, because I wrote the story myself.) The fact that I have a little history with the band isn't what makes this such a priority for me. It has to do with the significance of Switchfoot's place in our culture and the way this band can and does influence the way aspiring artists and fans like you and me approach Christianity and the arts.

That brings me to the other reason why this month's issue is such a big deal to me. Another person who's helping shape the way I view both Christianity and the arts is Nichole Nordeman. Artists have spoken to me most of my life. And Nichole's artistry speaks to me like that of few others.

Now, here's the thing: Nichole has a secret--one that we aim to go public with. You know how she's renowned as a brilliant lyricist? Well, the poetry of great songwriting isn't her only potent gifting with a pen. In a word? Prose. That's right, once you read a few of her essays--proving to yourself they weren't flukes--you'll be left shaking your head, wondering why in the world this woman has yet to write a book. And while we can't answer that question for you, we can take the practical approach and offer you a page of her musings in each issue of CCM starting this month. Yes, we know, it sounds almost too good to be true. (Check it out for yourself--turn to page 60 for her first installment of "Loose Ends: Confessions of an Unfinished Faith.")

Truth is not only stranger, it's better than fiction.

Jay@CCMmagazine.com

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