From the very beginning, Bryce Crawford sets the tone with heartfelt encouragement, affirming Forrest Frank as someone whose life reflects the pure heart of God. The atmosphere between the two is immediately disarming—raw, honest, and unscripted. What follows is not a typical interview but a transparent conversation between two believers navigating the highs and lows of faith, calling, and personal growth.
The Unseen Cost of Intimacy with Jesus
Bryce reflects on a powerful worship moment where the lyrics, “You don’t know the cost of the oil,” stirred something deep. This becomes a metaphor throughout their dialogue—the idea that what is seen publicly, whether on stage or through music, carries an unseen personal cost. Forrest echoes this by sharing that while people may see the outward success, they rarely see the battles, the sacrifices, or the pressing that births the oil of authentic worship.
Forrest Frank’s Journey: From Small Town to Surrender
Forrest opens up about his small-town upbringing in Texas, raised in a Christian family, yet admitting that for years he wrestled with the tension between going through religious motions and fully surrendering to Jesus. He shares how deep insecurity, lust, pride, and depression marked much of his early life. It wasn’t until college, in a moment of desperation, that he experienced a life-altering encounter with God that shattered his darkness and awakened his true identity.
Related:
- iAbide.org – Jesus said we can do nothing without abiding with Him. Most people want to abide, but they don’t have a plan. We have a simple plan for you at iAbide.org
From Encounter to Action: The Transforming Power of Testimony
One of the most striking moments in the conversation is when Forrest recalls how immediately after his encounter with Jesus, he was invited on a mission trip. Hesitant and uncertain, he went—and it changed everything. There, through daily time in the Word, worship, and witnessing, he not only shared his testimony but began to live it. The message was clear: transformation is meant to be shared, no matter how new you are to the faith.
Marriage: The Ultimate Refinement
Forrest vulnerably shares how marriage became the ultimate ground for spiritual refinement. He recounts the deeply personal story of how past exposure to pornography impacted the early days of intimacy with his wife, but through honesty, repentance, and partnership, healing came. This moment offers a profound takeaway: marriage is not just a union—it’s a mirror that reflects our need for grace, patience, and the power of starting fresh together.
The Shift: From Secular Success to Kingdom Obedience
As Forrest’s music career took off with the band Surfaces, he began to feel a holy discontent. Despite viral success, sold-out shows, and major industry opportunities—including turning down a $1 million tour offer—Forrest felt God calling him to step back. It wasn’t about fame or fortune—it was about faithfulness.
In quiet obedience, without fanfare, he began writing and releasing worship music from the heart. Songs like “No Longer Bound” and “Lift My Hands” emerged not from a place of striving but from a place of surrender. What followed was global impact that Forrest himself admits he couldn’t orchestrate. It was God’s doing, not his.
Wrestling with Calling and Rest
Bryce and Forrest both open up about the tension between being used by God and maintaining personal rest and identity. Forrest shares how the whirlwind of tours, music, and ministry created moments of exhaustion and spiritual warfare, especially when trying to protect time with his family and remain grounded.
They candidly discuss the importance of setting boundaries, protecting family time, and the daily battle to keep Jesus at the center amid increasing demands. Forrest’s willingness to step away from opportunities—without any guarantee of what’s next—reveals a heart fully yielded to God’s timing and purposes.
A Revival Among the Young and the Hungry
Both Bryce and Forrest sense it: something is shifting. A spiritual awakening is stirring, especially among the younger generation. There’s a rising hunger for authenticity, for the real Jesus—not religion, not performance, but living relationship. This move is crossing cultural and denominational lines, with music, art, and everyday lives being lit on fire for God.
In places once considered spiritually dark—like Los Angeles—revival is breaking out. Baptisms, healings, and transformed lives are becoming normal. They both agree: the time is urgent, the harvest is ripe, and the message is clear—Jesus is alive, and He’s calling people to Himself.
A Call to Return to the Source
In one of the most powerful reflections, Bryce shares how he was about to reach out to a mentor in a moment of personal crisis but stopped, realizing that only God could truly meet his heart in that moment. The conversation returns repeatedly to this simple but profound truth: we must return to the Source. No substitute—whether people, success, or even ministry—can fill the place that belongs to Jesus alone.
Five Things We Learned
-
Authenticity Draws People to Jesus: Real faith, lived out with vulnerability and humility, is what impacts lives—not polished perfection.
-
The Cost of Obedience is Worth It: Saying “no” to fame, money, or public approval for the sake of honoring God leads to blessings that far outweigh worldly gain.
-
Transformation is Meant to Be Shared: Even the simplest testimony of “I was this way, but now I’m this way” can bring others to Jesus.
-
Revival is Rising—Especially Among the Young: A new generation is hungry for the real Jesus, and they are being drawn into authentic relationship and radical faith.
-
Rest and Relationship Must Come First: Ministry, success, and influence must overflow from a place of personal intimacy with God—not replace it.