Mark hall: scars in heaven
The Heart behind Casting Crowns Mark Hall, the lead singer of Casting Crowns, is more than just a musician, he’s a storyteller, worship leader, and mentor whose songs have touched millions around the world. Since the band’s formation in 1999, Hall has been at the forefront, using his heartfelt lyrics and powerful voice to inspire faith and hope
A youth pastor at heart, Hall continues to serve in ministry even as Casting Crowns tours globally. His deep connection to scripture and real-life struggles fuel the band’s songs, making them relatable and spiritually rich. Hits like Who Am I, Voice of Truth, and East to West have resonated deeply with listeners, speaking to themes of grace, redemption, and trust in God.
Beyond music, Hall’s journey has been one of perseverance. He has openly shared his battle with dyslexia, proving that God can use weaknesses for His glory. In 2015, he faced another challenge—cancer—but his faith remained steadfast, and after treatment, he emerged stronger, continuing his mission of spreading the Gospel.
Through his leadership, Casting Crowns has become one of the most successful Christian bands of all time. But for Hall, success isn’t measured by awards or chart rankings—it’s about changed lives. His legacy is one of faith, humility, and a passion for pointing people to Jesus.
The multiplatinum-selling and Grammy Award-winning Christian band Casting Crowns brought its melodic sound and powerfully transparent lyrics to the Vines Center stage at Liberty University’s Convocation in late 2023. Lead singer Mark Hall, who survived a battle with an aggressive form of cancer that required one of his kidneys to be removed in 2015, said as the addressed the crowd: “These songs can never change your life, but they can pull you to the One who can,” Hall said. “We’re not here to tell you anything new. I think that’s the dangerous thing sometimes. We’re always looking for something new. But I want to just encourage you that God can handle you, God wants you, and He saved you because of Jesus. He loves you not because you are good; He loves you because He is good.”
Mark Hall was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and dyslexia in his youth and said he battled depression as a result until he surrendered the disorders to God and confided in others about his struggles. “You don’t have to be OK, because God can handle you today,” he said. “God is the God of your heart. He’s not the God of your profile. There might be people in your world that you feel like you have to be something for. I don’t have to be that with the Father. He knows me. He knows you, all of it. … We don’t worship God because today is good. We worship because God is good, even today.”
Hall encouraged their students to place their identity and find their rest in the loving arms of Jesus, the Author and Perfector of their faith. “You can get so lost in theology that you forget about Jesus,” Hall said. “It’s easy to hide behind theology and beliefs and convictions. Stay in the Word. Guard your time in the Word, just you and Him. Nothing will ever replace that.” “Remember that the reason you are here … is not to go be a doctor,” Hall said.
“You are not here to be a performer; you are not here to be a filmmaker. You are here to know God and to make God known. You are here to pour Jesus into other people. If you can’t give your faith away, it might not be yours. So dig in and let God always be dissecting the motives of our hearts and why we do what we do.”
“Because of Jesus, we have no fear,” Hall said. “Because of Jesus, we rest in the finished work of what He has done. We fall on Him into a future that He is standing at the end of right now looking back on. That’s how big our God is; that’s how little we are, and He still loves us. We can rest in that.”
Father Passed Away and Is Now with Jesus
Mark shared that his hero – his father – passed away and is now with Jesus. Mark said that he has never been able to talk about it, but he actually wrote “Scars in Heaven” for his dad when his health began to decline a few years ago. This song is a great song of hope if you are walking through grief right now and need some encouragement. Check it out below.
Article by Stella Ashworth for Team Talk. Resources: Liberty University Resources 20 The Magazine Countdown Guidepost Photo by Brooke McDuffee & Natalie Olson