Bob Hartman

Bob Hartman visited Prodigy's Christian Music bulletin board and prodigynet.music.christian newsgroup.

Here is a transcript of the visit.

Board: CHRISTIAN MUSIC BB
Topic: ASK BOB HARTMAN
Subject: ASK BOB HARTMAN
To: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
From: DIANA MORRIS (YWDX42A)
Time: 10/08/97 5:59 PM
Hi!
Who would you like to work on a song with ?
Whose music do you listen to in your free time?
How's the homeschooling going?
Do you ever meet with Michael Card (who also homeschools his kids) ???

In Joy! Diana Morris, bb leader, YWDX42A

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
>Who would you like to work on a song with ?

Joel from PFR

>Whose music do you listen to in your free time?

I listen to Christian radio usually.
>How's the homeschooling going? Do you ever meet with Michael Card (who also homeschools his kids) ???

Michael goes to my church and I know him casually but we have never talked about homeschooling.

From: KEITH BERRY (AKJL99C)
What was the influence (if any) that Rich Mullins had on Petra? Did you guys ever meet?
Take care,
Lord Bless & Abide (He promised)
Keith (Christian Music Board Memrep)
http://pages.prodigy.com/creation/keith.htm

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
I never formally met Rich but had a great respect for him.
We included "Awesome God" in one of our praise medleys live and it is a song that I really wish I had written!

From: JOSEPH GARCIA (PKGQ24A)
There are so many different answers to who God is so now I am going to ask you.
Who do you think God is?

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)

The One and only Creator of the universe, Jehovah God in three persons: God the Father, His only Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)

From: jstreck@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu (J. Streck)
Subject: Trivia Question #1: Petra & Billy Graham
>Hi All,
>I'm currently putting the finishing touches on a project >regarding CCM and was hoping someone could confirm or deny >my vague recollection that at some point in the past Petra played at one of the Billy Graham Crusades. >None of the Petra web pages I found mention it, but then >most of them weren't much more than discographies.
>Anyone? Anyone? Thanks in advance.
>john streck

Petra has never played but John Schlitt has sung at a crusade.

From: DON SMITH JR (BPMW82C)
Dear Bob,
Wow! I met you two years ago in Nashville and it was one of the nicest meetings!
1st, will Petra be coming out with anything new or original any time soon?
2nd, Do you keep in contact with John Lawry? Is he coming out with anything new?
3rd, Do you know David Meece and have you heard if he is coming out with anything new?
Thanks and God bless,
Don Smith, bpmw82c

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
Don,
Yes, Petra is working on a new studio album right now. We don't have a title yet but things are going well. It is due out in March.
I do see John Lawry now and then and he has no plans that I know of to do any more solo projects. He keeps very busy running two studios. He has done some production projects for other people but nothing solo.
I don't know David Meece.

From: KEITH BERRY (AKJL99C)
Hi Bob, and welcome to land of Prodigy! Man, where to begin... first off, thanks so much for the years of service and ministry. I understand that you are still hard at it writing and helping to manage the band from backstage, is that accurate?
Are you involved with a another new Petra album that was mentioned coming down the pipeline? (rumor started by John Elefante when he was here )
Do you travel with the band any more? At all?
And do you miss the spotlights?
Hope you don't mind me sharing my first Petra concert, had to be around 1980 or so, we are in southeastern Washington and one evening I got a call from a small conservative church asking for some help getting some kids to a Petra concert in Hermiston, Oregon. They said they couldn't find any adults in their congregation willing to drive. They even said they would provide me with a ticket. I said, "well, I can make the sacrifice, Lord send me!" I told them yes in heartbeat and it was a blast! We had been saved for five years back then and Petra and White Heart were pretty much it for CCM for me then. But Petra has come so far and done so well, truely a blessing ( and continues to do so). Love Petra Praise 2!
Okay, back to the questions...
a little controversy? What about all this moshing going on at concerts, what's your thoughts about it?
Over the years Petra has done a great job balancing ministry and entertainment, has this been difficult? And how do you keep ministry in the center and not slip over into the entertainment only side?
How did you and John Schlitt meet?
On Petra 2, the song, "The Holiest Name" can you tell us any background about this neat song? Sounds like a Psalm!
Thanks so much for dropping in on the board!
Do you do any web surfing? Hooked on this stuff like some people on here .
If you get out on the web, drop by the page listed below.
Take care,
Lord Bless & Abide (He promised)
Keith (Christian Music Board Memrep)
http://pages.prodigy.com/creation/keith.htm

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
Yes, I have focused my time and talents on the making of Petra's recordings. I still write songs and sometimes play in the studio.
Yes, the rumor is true! We are making another recording right now which is due out in March.
I have been to see the band a few times but never traveled very far with them. I enjoy being home and taking a background role in band.
I sometimes miss the excitment of playing live and seeing the audience respond to the music and the message but I know the Lord ordained this change in my life and it has been great for me.
I think it (moshing) is just kids having fun. What is really important is embracing the truth in the music and letting it change our lives.

Thanks for the compliment. We have always wanted to be a Christian band, and as a result, we have a Christian agenda. We have constantly tried to evaluate everything we do from stage to see if it fits with that agenda. We believe in the entertainment aspect of a concert is important and should be included but people should walk away with the sense that they have been brought closer to the Lord.

>How did you and John Schlitt meet?

I first met him on an airplane before he was a Christian. One of those Holy coincidences! Later, I heard about John becoming a Christian and I contacted him when Greg X. Volz left the band. John has always been so thankful to God for the chance to use his talents for the Kingdom.

>On Petra 2, the song, "The Holiest Name" can you tell us >any background about this neat song? Sounds like a Psalm!

Thanks. I thought the song came out very well. It was a great opportunity for me to write about the Name above all names!

From: KEITH BERRY (AKJL99C)
HI again Bob,
On the liner notes of Petra Praise 2 there's a comment about Petra rejoicing about what God was doing in the life of Lou Gramm, was Petra used of the Lord in reaching Lou?
Thanx again!
Take care,
Lord Bless & Abide (He promised)
Keith (Christian Music Board Memrep)
http://pages.prodigy.com/creation/keith.htm

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
Keith,
No, we didn't meet Lou until he came to sing. He had been saved through a Calvary ministry in His home city. John and Dino Elefante met him at a Harvest Crucade in California and John sang We Need Jesus with him there, so he already knew the song. It was a pleasure to meet him, and when I asked him how we should pay him, he told me he wouldn't feel right about taking anything! Just knowing how the Lord would use the song was payment enough!

From: KEITH BERRY (AKJL99C)
Bob. this is from our local contemporary christian music station, 93.3 WAY-FM (one of the DJs, Kathy Jo, she has the 10AMtill 2PM show):
How do you feel CCM has come around from the days when Petra was considered hard core as to now when Petra is played on mid day music shows. Comparing it to today, how is the acceptance level different, if it is?
Kathy Jo and I (Keith) were talking about how today we listen to groups like Grammatrain, Guardian and even some these are played on the CHR format.
Thanks.
Oh yeah, this station isn't affiliated with the WAY-FMs in the southeast.
Take care,
Lord Bless & Abide (He promised)
Keith (Christian Music Board Memrep)
http://pages.prodigy.com/creation/keith.htm

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
Keith and Kathy Jo,
For most of Petra's existence we have dealt with the issue of music style. I think that due to a turnover of "gatekeepers", ie. pastors, youth pastors, radio music directors, etc., there has been a significant turnaround in attitude about the more contemporary styles. I believe this is due to the overabundance of fruit in peoples lives due to the music.
Radio stations are much more apt to play something a little harder as long as the message is clear.

From: KEITH BERRY (AKJL99C)
Bob,
This from the Morning guy, Dave Arthur, on 93.3 KTWY WAY-FM, 6AM till 10AM, Bob, can you come to Walla Walla, Washington and do a spot on my show :-)?
Let me know at davearthur@cradio.net
The unofficial page for 93.3 is
http://pages.prodigy.com/creation/theway.htm
There you can meet the crew.
Thanks!
Take care,
Lord Bless & Abide (He promised)
Keith (Christian Music Board Memrep)
http://pages.prodigy.com/creation/keith.htm

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
I'm not planning any trips to Walla Walla in the near future, but I would love to stop in if I was in the area!

From: DIANA MORRIS (YWDX42A)
Hi Bob!
What have you been doing since you left the touring life with Petra?
In Joy! Diana Morris, bb leader, YWDX42A

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
I have been focusing my time and talents on Petra's recordings. Leaving the road has also given me the time to write "More Power To Ya- The Petra Devotional" as well.

From: DIANA MORRIS (YWDX42A)
Hi!
I meet people who listen to Christian music, but are not currently involved with a local church.
What would you like to communicate to them?
In Joy! Diana Morris, bb leader, YWDX42A

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B) I would strongly urge them to get involved with a church or fellowship ASAP. If we are not in fellowship with other Christians, we are out of God's will. (Heb 10:25)

From: JENNIFER HARRIS (HKXY46B)
Hey Bob!
What is it like to have been a part of so many Petra Ministries?

Also, what advice do you have to aspiring musicians?
Love ya,
Jennifer

From: BOB HARTMAN (CCMO77B)
Jennifer,
I have the fondest memories of my time on the road with the band. I will always be thankful to God for the opportunity to travel around the world and testify through our music and my talks from stage.
I am now content to minister through the songs I write for the band. My advice for those starting out is to be faithful in small things and God will give you bigger things. Petra spent many years learning how to use the powerful tool of music before he allowed us to play bigger concerts.