⏱️ Just 3½ hours.

That’s all the time that passed between the end of my interview with two members of one of the most iconic bands in Christian music—and the breaking of a scandal that has since rocked the Christian world.

I had just wrapped a conversation with Adam Agee and Jeff Frankenstein of the Newsboys. We talked about faith, fatherhood, and legacy in what I thought would be a joyful, uplifting Father’s Day episode. But just hours later, devastating allegations surrounding former lead singer Michael Tait, who left the band abruptly in January, surfaced—and everything changed.

I had no idea that our conversation would be aired under the shadow of one of the biggest scandals in Contemporary Christian Music history. But here we are.

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🎧 A Conversation That Hits Different Now

My chat with Adam and Jeff dives deep into their lives as fathers, their experiences balancing family with the demands of a global touring band, and the multi-generational legacy of the Newsboys. They reflect on the influence of their own fathers, sharing powerful stories of integrity, faith, sacrifice, and steadfastness—qualities that are now more critical than ever in light of public failures within Christian circles.

Still, there were moments in our conversation that land differently after these revelations. They seem… telling.

Jeff talked about admiring his dad for being the same man off stage as he was on. Adam praised the integrity of his father and grandfather. They both zeroed in on hypocrisy—how big of an issue it is in their circles. Then Jeff mentioned how his mom pointed him to Psalm 73 as he lamented the way his industry works —a Psalm about how the wicked seem to proper. 

Now radio stations across the country like K-LOVE are dropping the Newsboys music, and understandably so. I get it. The future of the Newsboys is very much in question. 

But this truth remains as sure as ever.

God’s not dead, regardless of what happens to the band.

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💔 When Christian Leaders Fall, Our Families Feel It

I’ll be honest… I got a LOT of conflicting advice about this interview. Some said to trash it because I could get caught up in the fallout. Others said to run with it—strike while the iron is hot. At the end of the day, neither audience held much sway. Instead, I got on my knees and prayed, and I listened for that still, small voice. And as I prayed, I felt like this interview happened when it did for a reason.

Moms & Dads,  the Lord impressed something deeply on my heart, a message that the church desperately needs to hear. So at the close of the episode, I share a word that I believe we must all take seriously. That is…

We are worshipping the wrong things.

We elevate the platform. We celebrate the personality. We buy the merch, sing the songs, quote the tweets—but the American church doesn’t pursue the presence of God the way we pursue the experience of celebrity Christianity.

This isn’t just a call for leaders. It’s a call for all of us to actively pursue God’s presence, to seek His glory and renown. Not our own.

We need to be having this conversations in our homes so that our children will not become disillusioned with the faith. We must guide them to a humble, sincere pursuit of God’s presence.
 

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For Our Families: What Now?

So what do we do when scandals like this happen? How do we guide our families through the wreckage?

Here are a few takeaways for Christian parents:

• Talk to your kids honestly about hypocrisy in the church. Don’t sweep it under the rug—process it with them through a biblical lens.

• Model integrity at home. Who we are behind closed doors is our legacy. That’s what our kids will remember long after the headlines fade.

• Point them to Christ—not people. Remind them (and yourself) that no leader, no band, no pastor is worthy of our worship. Only Jesus is.

• Reject celebrity culture. Let’s stop seeking the stage and start seeking the secret place. Let’s climb the mountain. That’s where transformation happens.

Friends, this was not the episode I planned—but maybe it was the one we all needed.

So please give this episode a listen for yourself and for your kids.

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🎧 Listen to the full episode  on Life Audio here:

Or you can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

If you’re feeling disillusioned or heartbroken right now, you’re not alone. But let these failures in the body of Christ become a a catalyst to deeper walk with God.

Let’s turn our eyes back to Jesus.

Guest Bios:

• Adam Agee is Newsboys’ newest lead singer, formerly part of Audio Adrenaline and Stellar Kart, a veteran musician and devoted dad.
• Jeff Frankenstein has been the Newsboys’ keyboardist for over thirty years, a father of five, and a thoughtful leader both on and off stage.

Takeaways:

• How Christian parents can help their kids process the pain of public scandal and hypocrisy in the church
• Why integrity at home—and in private—is the cornerstone of spiritual legacy
• A biblical reminder that the Western church must stop elevating personalities and start seeking God’s presence above all

For listeners shaken or disillusioned by recent events in the church, this episode delivers both realism and a rallying cry to return to Christ—our only true foundation and fortress.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

EXCLUSIVE: Former Newsboys Frontman Michael Tait Accused of Sexual Assault, Grooming, and Substance Abuse, Dating Back to 2004 by Jessica Morris, The Roys Report

Michael Tait Admits to “Living Two Distinctly Different Lives,” Involving Cocaine and Sexual Assault by Jessica Morris, The Roys Report

K-LOVE Pulls Newsboys and DC Talk From Rotation Following Tait Sex Abuse Allegations by Jessica Morris, The Roys Report