WILLOW Magazine, Issue 2, 2005 The Rise of BarlowGirl by Timm Boyle Three former Promiseland alumni take the Christian pop music world by storm If there were ever a living example of the Parable of the Talents, this is it. The Barlow family of Elgin, Illinois, was gifted with immense musical talents. They could have buried those talents or used them for their own glory. Instead, from day one, they invested those talents in the Kingdom of God with no thought of reward. God enjoys being the number one priority in the lives of His children, and in the case of the Barlows, He has smiled favorably on them and has multiplied His blessings upon them. Today, BarlowGirl is one of the hottest new recording artists in Christian music, their debut album having sold more than 200,000 units. Consisting of Becca, 25, Alyssa, 23, and Lauren, 19 — each of whom got her start by performing in Willow Creek Community Church’s Promiseland music and drama ministries — BarlowGirl has been nominated for four Dove Awards. Those awards will be announced on April 13, but it’s abundantly clear to anyone who knows the Barlow family that neither winning nor losing will affect what they see first and foremost as a ministry. “We’re really a vision-based ministry,” said Vince Barlow, who along with his wife, MaryAnn, manages the pop-rock band made up exclusively of their three daughters. “We’re not chasing fame, but we’re not avoiding it, either. Even at Willow Creek, we did everything as a family, and that continues to this day. BarlowGirl is the latest version of our family ministry.” One of 14 children, all of whom performed folk songs as a family at events such as ice cream socials in the late 1960s, Vince served in Catholic youth ministries in Akron, Ohio, while growing up. His musical career included performing as opening act for Harry Chapin. Vince and MaryAnn began attending Willow Creek in 1981 and both joined the staff in 1990, serving in the Promiseland children’s ministry. He wrote the vast majority of songs for five Promiseland CDs from 1992 to 1998, and all three daughters were involved in music and drama at the church. Performing many of the songs Vince wrote, the family began touring together at a number of Willow Creek Association churches across the country, with Vince as the lead singer and guitarist, and the girls playing bass and keyboards and providing back-up vocals. Once the girls began writing songs that elicited tremendous responses from congregations, Vince and MaryAnn realized it was time for the band to make some changes. “I remember saying to the family, ‘OK, guys, we’re trading places.’ That’s when we shifted gears and soon BarlowGirl was born,” Vince said. Vince and MaryAnn knew the band required some professional training, and one week after telling God that they needed a miracle in order to finance their participation in a music seminar in Colorado, the Barlows learned that a friend had offered to sponsor a trip for the whole family. It was at the Seminar in the Rockies in 2002 that the family met a number of influential figures in the Christian recording industry, leading BarlowGirl to two contract offers. They selected Fervent Records, and BarlowGirl’s self-titled album was released in February 2004. Featuring singles such as “Never Alone,” named 2004 Song of the Year by Radio & Records CHR chart, and “Mirror,” the album brought BarlowGirl into national and international prominence. The band, which recently completed the Strong Tower Tour with hard rockers Kutless and pop punk newcomers Stellar Kart, is recording a second album, scheduled for release in late August. BarlowGirl expends a great deal of effort on its music, of course, but of even greater importance to the sister trio are the lyrics and the message they convey to listeners. Even before most people knew who they were, BarlowGirl was the subject of a song by Christian power pop band Superchic(k). Impressed by BarlowGirl’s solid stands of purity and modesty when they met at LifeFest in Wisconsin in 2000, Superchic(k) wrote a hit song titled “Barlow Girls.” Based on their song lyrics and what they say on stage and in interviews, the Barlow girls’ positions regarding dating (they don’t) and dressing modestly (they do) have gained them both notoriety and respect. “We were shocked by the response to those stands,” said Becca, the band’s lead guitarist and music writer. “We thought we’d get persecuted, but the response has been amazingly positive. I think people are tired of living the old way, where they date and get their hearts broken. People are hungry for a new way, and waiting for God to provide the right person at the right time is what we believe in.” Alyssa, who plays bass and keyboards, said it’s an honor that BarlowGirl is known as much for its words as for the music. “The message is definitely first and everything else is second,” she said. “Being known for the things we say and how we live is the most important thing. We write our songs from our personal journals, so being able to convey those things to people through our music is really an answer to prayer.” All three sisters say they had absolutely no intention of — or even interest in — being a popular rock band when things started falling into place. “This is all God’s fault,” drummer Lauren said with a laugh. “None of us had this in mind. I wanted to go to California and work at Sea World and my sisters had their dreams. But God got a hold on us.” The young ladies have unique personalities, of course — Becca likes classical music, Alyssa is into Broadway and Lauren enjoys pop punk — but their willingness to submit to each other, to their parents, and to God is what keeps them all on the same track. “The reason we all have the same goals and know where we’re going is God,” Lauren said. “We all have the same heart for God and we’re just letting Him lead the way.” None of the three has forgotten her Willow Creek roots, and each acknowledges that her Promiseland experiences paved the way for BarlowGirl. “We’re all so thankful that we grew up in Promiseland and learned how to serve and perform at an early age,” Becca said. “It was a great experience for us, and it was wonderful to see how different family members became different parts of the body of Christ.” “Some of my greatest memories and greatest friends are from Willow Creek,” Alyssa said. “I was heavily involved in the drama department there, and I know that what I’m able to do on stage now comes from the training I received there.” In a society dominated by secular viewpoints and alternative lifestyles, Vince and MaryAnn are well aware how blessed they are that their daughters are living for God — band or no band. “We decided early on when we home-schooled the children that it’s about character, not knowledge, and so that’s what we tried to instill in them,” Vince said. “They’re great girls, and we all keep an eye on each other. We’re a very encouraging and supportive family, but if anyone gets their attitude on, we challenge each other. “We also look very carefully at everything we do as a band. We turn down a lot of stuff, including our songs being in certain movies. We know we’re representing Christ and we take that seriously. We don’t ever want to darken His name.” Vince also knows that bands don’t last forever. “God has given us a window of time,” he said. “We don’t know how long it will be. But in the time we have, we want things done with excellence. We want to lift up this banner and wait on Him to lead us. Right now, this feels right.” For more on BarlowGirl, check out www.barlowgirl.com Top