Jimmy Needham's soulful pop music is a treasure and his sophomore release, Not Without Love is definitely one of those rare gems in Christian music that we feel more people ought to know about and hear.

We recently caught up with the young artist and spent some time picking his brain about his life, his music, his relationship with Jesus, and issues he thinks Christians ought to be concerned about.

This interview has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!

First, we’d like to thank you for taking the time to interview with us.

Absolutely. No problem at all.

Tell us a little about your past. How did you get started in Christian music? Were you always a Christian musician?

I really didn't intend to do music as a career at all. I was always hesitant because I know the tendency of my heart is to become prideful, and there really isn’t anything quite as pride-bringing than being on stage in front of tons of people with the spotlight on you. However, God slowly began opening doors for me to perform places, and in faith I stepped through them. One night my dad came to one of my shows at a local coffee house. Afterward he came up to me and told me that he felt like I had what it took to “make it” and that he was willing to put up money for me to make a record if I was interested. My indie CD came out August 2005. We sold it locally and I posted songs online as well. Not 3 months later I got a call from the president of Inpop Records in Nashville saying that he had heard my record on Myspace and wanted to fly down to Houston to talk about signing me. What a God thing!

Not Without Love is the title of your new album. What’s in a name?

I actually meant that title to be the completion of a sentence I began with the title of my first record, Speak. So, the complete sentence should read, "Speak, but Not Without Love."

So, the new project recently hit shelves. Tell us a little about this album and how you feel it’s different than your previous effort?

My previous record was full of challenges to the Church in regards to living holy, sharing the gospel, etc. In my personal life however, I really became religious and zealous, doing “all the right things” but with all the wrong motives. God began to show me that, though He is concerned with the obedience of His people, if we are not motivated by love to reach out to a lost and dying world and to serve our God, then we are nothing more than Pharisees. This album is an attempt to lay a foundation for why we serve God, and that is, because we love Him.

Who would you consider to be some of your musical influences?

Musically speaking, I love the classics: Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder to name a few. Lyrically however, I respect any artist who is honest, who can challenge his or her audience, and who can be poetic enough to say things in fresh ways. In this category I am a fan of Derek Webb, Ross King, Lecrae, Keith Green, Nichole Nordeman, Lauryn Hill etc.

If you had to categorize your sound or pick a genre into which your music would fit, what would it be?

I usually tell people I make soul pop music. I’m not even really sure what that means though.

Are there any new songs from the new project you’re particularly fond of playing live?

I love playing “Forgiven and Loved” live. It’s a critical part of the record’s theme and I love letting the audience get a chance to connect with the idea that for the Christian there is therefore now no condemnation.

Where are you planning on touring the new project?

Currently I’m on the Barlow Girl “Million Voices” tour which is literally spanning coast to coast. In the spring of 2009 I’ll be out with Rush of Fools for their “Wonder of the World” tour which is currently being booked.

Speaking of performing, when you’re up on stage you’re singing in front of strangers and connecting in ways otherwise unavailable to you except through the medium of music. How much does your faith in Jesus affect what you do?

My relationship with Jesus is the only reason I am even making music at all. Ultimately, it makes the crafting of my shows very purposeful. I have one aim in my concerts: to make Jesus famous through everything that takes place on stage, and promoting the gospel of His grace to everyone who comes to a show.

Let’s reverse that question. How has writing, singing, and touring grown your faith individually

Honestly, they all have tested my faith. Writing, singing and touring really cause me to wrestle with the issue of motivation. Am I doing all these things for the promotion of my name or of Christ’s? It’s a daily battle to guard my faith against any worldly corruption, and all 3 of those aspects of being a singer/songwriter have to be handled with extreme caution.

Replay an episode where you’ve been made aware that your music has affected someone in a positive way.

About a year ago I received an email from a Christian girl who was apparently dating a guy who didn’t know the LORD. She told me that my song “Dearly Loved” came on the radio as they were both in the car one day. At one point during the song she looked over at her boyfriend and he was crying. She told me that he raised up his hands right there in the car and asked to be saved.

About 4 months later that same girl messaged me again. She told me that a week ago her boyfriend died tragically. She was writing me that day to thank me for the song I had written because God had used it to rescue this young man, and that he is in Heaven today because of what I wrote. It so encouraged me to know God is doing incredible things through such a broken vessel.

Your music is definitely spiritually-tuned, even worshipful at moments. But, it never comes across as “preachy.” What kind of doors has this opened for you in the mainstream? Has it ever proved detrimental in Christian circles?

I’ve never really tried to promote my music to the “mainstream”. I’ve always just let it be what it is. However, the songs on the new record that I’ve written for my wife have an ability to really connect with the mainstream audience. Regarding Christian circles, my songs always seem to have a warm reception, even though, admittedly, some of my lyrics are not sugar coated Christian jargon, to say the least.

What’s it like being a Christian in the limelight? Do you all feel any undue pressure to measure up to a certain standard?

By most people’s standards, I am barely dancing on the edge of fame, and the limelight for the most part is pretty dim. However, there is always pressure: pressure to be “successful”, pressure to write hit songs, pressure to sell as many records as comparable artists in my genre. These pressures must be crucified because they threaten to steal the very heart of what I do. I am first and foremost an ambassador of Christ. My standard is Jesus, and my success should be measured only by obedience to what my God calls me to do, to write, and to say.

Let’s switch gears here before I let you go and talk about the world around us. As a Christian artist, what are some important social issues that you think should be highlighted in your art?

I believe that a grossly neglected issue that Christians should be aware of in evangelism as it pertains to the 10/40 window. If you are unaware of what the 10/40 window is, it is the area on our globe between the 10th and the 40th latitude where 97% of the world’s unreached population live. This includes all of the Middle East, India, China, the Philippines, etc. In India alone there are over 1 billion people, 500 million of which have never heard of the name Jesus even one time. These people are dead in their sins and dying every day, slipping into a Christ-less eternity and in general, most of our time, energy and money are staying right here in the states. The situation is dire and we as Christ followers we need to at a minimum learn more about the situation there and ask what God would want us to do.

Looking at the social issues you’ve highlighted, what are some unique ways in which Christians can approach the topic in their everyday lives?

I would advise you to get a copy of the free book, Revolution In World Missions at www.gfa.org. and begin to investigate the situation in the 3rd world. There is an organization that I have been connected with for the past 5 years called Gospel For Asia that is doing a tremendous amount for the kingdom of God among the world’s most unreached. Simply put, GFA exists to raise up native missionaries in the 10/40 window, people who are indigenous to these cultures, to share the gospel of Christ in ways most of us will never be able to. $30 a month helps sponsor one of these missionaries and, having sponsored quite a few now, it is so rewarding to know that the gospel is now being advanced in places that have previously never had an opportunity to hear. At a minimum, get the book, and allow God to change your heart the way He has changes mine concerning this issue.

What are some of the greatest challenges facing the church and how can we address those problems?

It’s always quite difficult to answer these superlative questions because there can always be debate as to what truly is the greatest challenge. I suppose the greatest challenge would be the issue that most offends God and dishonors the greatness of Christ. Let me be careful to say, in my opinion the greatest challenge to the Church is the counterfeit gospel of easy-believism. By that I mean this new idea that all I have to do is say a magic little prayer, repeat a few words, and I’m in the Christian club, free to live life how I want and then praise the LORD that I’m going to Heaven when I die. I say this is the greatest challenge because it’s creating a generation of people who have no regard for the holiness of God or obedience to his commands. We forget that love for God is reflected in obedience. No obedience, no love. Ultimately this counterfeit is an alternative gospel and is more deadly than poison: it’s poison that’s labeled “honey”. It has no more saving power than any other religion in the world.

You’ve been so gracious in spending some time with us. Just a few more questions, though. If Jesus were to comment on your life, what would you want him to say about you?

I think I’d like Him to say, "Jimmy loved Me, even to the end."

One final question. Look down the road 5 or 10 years. Where would you like to see yourself? Do you still want to be in the Christian recording industry, or would you like to be off on other adventures?

I don’t know. I love where I am, but I would like to think I’m open to whatever God wants me to do next. I’ll let you know if 5 or 10 years.

Thanks again for taking the time to answer our questions. Any final thoughts?

If you’d like any more info on anything, you can check out jimmyneedham.com or myspace.com/jimmyneedham.