While you may have heard Todd Agnew's voice before from his hit radio single, "Grace Like Rain" (or heard your church play it on Sundays), the Texas singer/songwriter has not just had a lot more music that has inspired countless people around the world, but wait--there's more.

A worship leader, pastor, and even a student, Agnew seeks to leverage all the environments in which he finds himself to the glory of God and to the benefit of the Church. In 8 questions, we learn more about the artist whose hit songs--including those of his latest retrospective album, From Grace to Glory--are just the tip of the iceberg of a long ministry story that's still being written.

1. Tell us what gets you excited these days besides music.
 
To be honest, a lot of things I'm involved in now are outside of music. Don't get me wrong, I still love music, as both an artist and a fan. But a lot of my energy is spent in other areas, first and foremost my wife and kids. My family is definitely the most important and the most exciting. I'm also finishing my Masters at Dallas Theological Seminary this fall, so that has been really exciting. I have loved all the learning and also the community of learners there. Teaching at Visible Music College was a new part of my life this year. It was really exciting to take a step into what I think God has for me in the future.
 
2. Do you have a favorite song to play live?
 
Picking your favorite song is kind of like picking your favorite child. You love them all. But one of my favorites is still "Come Ye Sinners" from the Grace Like Rain record. It's a version of a hymn written by my friend Robbie Seay. I love the lyrics, the music, the passion, and have been digging deeper into its personal connection to my life.
 
3. What's a song audiences always request for you to play? (This one's probably obvious!)
 
Well, before the show, most people ask if I'm going to play "Grace Like Rain." After the show, most people ask why I didn't play "My Jesus." That song has such a serious message that I took it out of the set after the first year. I didn't want it to ever be just a pop song that I played casually. Every once in awhile, when praying and preparing for a show, I will feel like I need to play it that evening. But most of the time I don't.
 
4. What's something you'd tell yourself at the start at your career?
 
I think I would tell myself that every person that comes to a show, every promoter that invites you in, every member of an opening band, every sound/lighting person, every single person you come across is a gift God is giving you. None of those people needed to be there doing what they were doing. And I missed so many of them. I wish I had known to appreciate them fully as the gift they were.
 
5. Name several artists who inspire you.
 
Rich Mullins, Michael Card, and Charlie Peacock inspired me in my formative years and still do. Current songwriters like Andrew Peterson, Sara Groves, Andy Gullahorn, and Eric Peters challenge me. I love their stuff. Brooke Fraser is a favorite. And of course, guys like Switchfoot are putting out incredible music too.
 
6. What would you say is the biggest surprise of your career so far?

I think the fact that I had a career was the biggest surprise. I wanted this as a kid, but I had given up on that dream. I really thought God was taking me in a different direction. So the fact that I got the chance to do all this is amazing. The fact that we're talking about it 15 years into it is incredible.
 
7. What's a dream that's still on your heart with regard to music?
 
I still just love making good music. I want to write with people that make my songs better. I want to record with players and producers that push me to be better than I am. As far as dreams go, I guess I still have two specific ones. One, I want to craft a show that is one big story. And the songs just fit into the story. I think that would be really cool. And two, I want to write songs for the Church that combine a high level of theology with a high level of art. I've lobbied for more theology in our songs for a long time. But I'm becoming more convinced that our art must climb alongside it.
 
8. How can people be praying for you?
 
You can pray for anything for us. We appreciate it. Family, school (for my kids), school (for me), work (for my wife), work (for me), finances, relationships, church, time, schedules, the new single ("Glory to our Great Redeemer"), the new record (From Grace to Glory)... any of that would be awesome. And if you think of something else, that would be great, too.