About A Mile is a band that is unwaveringly dedicated to their faith, even when life holds severe trials. They released their debut album About A Mile last year, introducing audiences for the first time for their rock and roll inspired anthems of faith. They can be seen singing songs from their debut album on Winter Jam.

The album includes standout recordings like the sing at the top of your lungs anthems "Satisfied" and "Right Now" and the reflective and worshipful vibe of "Power of the Cross," "Who You Say You Are" and "Trembling." They named their band based on the idea that "Jesus carried His cross about a mile" according to lead singer Adam Klute, who fronts the band along with his brothers Levi and Luke.
 
"When we felt called to play music for the rest of our life, there was never any doubt that we would do it for His glory and treat our ministry like He did when carrying the cross. He carried a cross that we deserved to be nailed to about a mile so He could die for us. We just want to serve others as best as we can and use all our strength and ability to honor God, carrying our cross as far as we possibly can," sums up Adam. I had the great opportunity to speak with the band in person at Winter Jam in Reading, PA about their single, "Who You Say You Are."
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

Adam: We always dreamed of making an album. For that being able to happen, Ian Eskelin ended up finding us on our first tour, introduced us to Word Records, and worked with us to produce our album.
 
I wrote this pretty quick one night during the year when I was dealing with my illness pretty much every day. I ignored it for a while, because I had never been sick before. God had humbled me to a point where I couldn't eat because of my illness. I was having a lot of doubt about my faith, and I actually felt like I was going to die physically. In fact, I was so worried that if I fell asleep, I might not wake up, so I'd always kick out of it just because I wasn't sure if I was right with God and I sure didn't want to go to hell if I wasn't.
 
It was a period when I was just a mess, from my stomach falling apart and barely being able to eat, to never getting any sleep. It got so bad that I even started hearing voices in my head that said "God can't hear you." At my lowest point, I held a Bible in my left hand and a gun in my right hand. I knew I wasn't going to kill myself, but it was in that moment of desperation when I just held the Bible close to me and finally felt that He does love me and had a plan for me. God works out everything for good, and while that didn't mean I got better right away, I haven't doubted since I wrote this song.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Luke 9:23 (NKJV): Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

John 3:11 (VOICE): I tell you the truth: we speak about the things we know, and we give evidence about the things we have seen, and you choose to reject the truth of our witness.
 
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV): Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
 
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV): For we walk by faith, not by sight.
 
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV): Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
 
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
 
What is the takeaway message?

Adam: I have found that my testimony about dealing with my sickness has allowed many people dealing with their sicknesses to come up to me and share with me. I am healthy now, and have medicine that deals with my symptoms. I'm trusting God with everything. At that low point of my illness, I was most worried about my relationship with Him.
 
It is hard to say you are going to cling to God alone in those hard times. The stronger your faith gets, the closer you can get to Him. The only thing I had to hold onto is who God says He is. That's the lesson that God was trying to teach me.
 
This has become my favorite song on the album, and it has ministered to so many people. People come up to me after our shows and share about their illnesses, and how this song reminds them to hold onto their faith. I met a kid after a show and he felt so alone. He told me he didn't feel God's presence. I shared with him what God tells us in His Word: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." The only way we made it through this was how Luke and Levi stayed by my side the whole time, and they encouraged me.
 
Lyrics:
Here I am, on my knees
Draw me close, speak to me
All my doubts, all my fears
I lay them down, I leave them here
And I will trust in You
 
‘Cause I know that You are who you say You are
And I know that You are God alone
So I'll stand on every promise You have made to me
‘Cause I believe who You say You are
 
I may not understand
Everything You have planned
But You hold my world with steady hands
I will trust You
 
And You say that You will carry me
And be my strength when I am weak
And You say that You are all I need
And I believe, I believe
 
This song really is the story of the band and perfectly represents their music ministry, committed to singing about taking up the cross of Jesus and dying to themselves so that they can be followers of Jesus as He instructs us in His Word in Luke 9:23. I immediately connected to the emotional message and music of this song.
 
From my first listen, I wanted to tell others about this great new band from Butler, Pennsylvania who immediately reminded me of some of my favorite bands like The Fray, Lifehouse and Tenth Avenue North. I'm really engaged by Adam's emotional vocals and the sincere, enthusiastic and biblical lyrics throughout the album.
 
This was the last of nine "behind the song" devotional interviews I conducted with Winter Jam artists, and we could hear for KING & COUNTRY singing "Shoulders" on stage while we were having this discussion about Adam's illness. A thread that ran through all of these discussions and songs at Winter Jam, as found in the lyrics "You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shoulders," is that our help comes from the Lord, our joy is not defined by our circumstances, God is Who He says He is, either His Word is all true or it isn't at all and we need to walk by faith and not by sight. God's Word doesn't return void.
 
From the beginning notes of "Who You Say You Are," I was hooked by the reflective musical vibe and prayerful message. Like Newboys' hit "We Believe," the song declares a bold faith statement: "I know You are Who You say You are, I know You are God alone, I'll stand on every promise You have made to me, ‘cause I believe You are Who You say You are." Amen to that!
 
(Watch the band sing the song here.)