
For our 100th podcast episode, we had the extreme honor of interviewing Forrest Frank. His humble passion for Jesus and music is displayed through his powerful testimony.
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Bryce Craber
We're going on tour this fall. We're bringing the live podcast show to four new cities. We're coming to Nashville, San Diego, Chicago, and Birmingham, Alabama. If you've ever wanted to see the live podcast in person, go to jesusinthestreet.org tour and get your tickets. It's going to be a powerful night of worship and the word that God is storing in my heart is going to be different and unique to each city we go to. So come out jesusinthestreet.org tour, get your tickets and we'll see you in Nashville city, San Diego, Chicago and Birmingham this fall. Guys, welcome to the 100th podcast episode on the Bryce crber podcast. Have a very special guest today. We've got force Frank on forest. Thanks for coming on.
Forrest Frank
Thanks for having me. I'm so pumped.
Bryce Craber
Like, I mean, this is incredible. I, you know, like, I think, yeah, I just want to encourage you before we start. Like, I, I think whenever I think of the heart of God and I think of someone that represents the heart of God in such a pure way, I think of you. And I mean, the way you lead people in worship, the way you point everything to the father, encouraged by your humility and encouraged by the way you carry yourself, I, I, I feel like you can, you can kind of, like, look at people and read and kind of, you know, kind of tell who they are. Not in a judging way, but you can kind of get a little glimpse of someone just by how they carry their self. And, man, I'm just so encouraged and deeply impacted by who you are and how you carry yourself. I want to encourage you that. So thanks for coming on.
Forrest Frank
Thanks for having me, bro. That's crazy.
Bryce Craber
I just like making really awkward right off the road.
Forrest Frank
Yeah, yeah, no, that's not awkward. That's, Yeah, I receive it all. Thank you.
Noah
That's.
Forrest Frank
Glory to God, dude.
Bryce Craber
I'm so happy you're here. I. You know, a lot of people, A lot of people know you for your music now. A lot of people know you from surfaces, but I think not a lot of people understand that, like, where you've come from, who you are, your background, what the pressing is. There's this new song that I heard from this worship leader named Lizzie McGuire, and she said she was singing this song about the alabaster oil. Have you heard the song?
Forrest Frank
I don't think so.
Bryce Craber
She just, like, in the middle of this song, just starts going, singing over and over. You don't know the cost of the oil. And I feel like we look at People. And we just assume, like, yep, that's it. Like, that's what I want. I remember when I first became a Christian that I thought success as a Christian was, oh, how many people could I preach in front of? How many people could I do this in front of? But then no one knows, like, the cost of that oil, that intimacy of, like, what you've been cultivating and, like, who you are as a human being in your relationship. And that's what I want to get into today is like, man, I'm grateful for Forrest Frank. I'm grateful for the music, but I want to know you, and I want to know what God's been doing in your life and how you've cultivated that. I want to be invited into that. Like, what was life growing up?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Grew up in the church. Both sets of grandparents were Christians. My parents were Christians. Are Christians. My mom helped lead worship on Sunday mornings. So, like, kind of a PK in a way.
Noah
Yeah. Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And, yeah. Every Sunday going to church. Every Wednesday going to church. I was homeschooled till seventh grade.
Bryce Craber
Nice.
Forrest Frank
Yes, sir. Grew up in a really small country town called Fulshear, Texas.
Bryce Craber
Okay.
Forrest Frank
There's, like, one barbecue joint. There was a Mexican restaurant, and then, like, a gas station. That was it. And it's all. It's all been, like, developed and all that stuff. Now I can't even find my way home. But, yeah, just like, a really small, humble start. Yeah, that's kind of the. The setting there.
Noah
How.
Bryce Craber
How. Wait, how old are you now? How old are you now?
Forrest Frank
Right now?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
30.
Bryce Craber
No way.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Really?
Forrest Frank
Yes, sir.
Bryce Craber
Dude, what? Wait, how old do you think I am?
Forrest Frank
26.
Bryce Craber
Really? No way. Well, let's go.
Noah
All right.
Bryce Craber
I'm 21.
Noah
21.
Bryce Craber
Okay. All right. Okay. Lit. That's crazy.
Forrest Frank
Dude.
Bryce Craber
I did not know you.
Forrest Frank
You're young looking.
Bryce Craber
The night, you know, I don't know how to say that. You know, it's like, you are young looking.
Noah
How.
Forrest Frank
Wait, how old do you think Noah is?
Bryce Craber
Dude, I think he's 24. Noah, how old are you? 30. The three.
Forrest Frank
Zero, bro.
Bryce Craber
No way. No way. You know, Jesus started his ministry at 30.
Noah
Yes.
Bryce Craber
It's a big deal.
Noah
Yes.
Forrest Frank
This is big talk about this.
Bryce Craber
We talk Big Year, like, right now. For real. Well, that is wild. I'm actually like, okay, all right. Amen. Like, that is crazy.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
So, like, when, you know, when you were growing up, would you say, like, your family dynamic was just a love, like a loving home and. And things like that?
Noah
And. Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Okay. I love this I love this right now, but this is, this is my favorite. Like, I, I'm going to intersect real quick. I, I think like a lot of people think that you have to have some crazy testimony. Like, like a. Oh my gosh, like, you know, I got shot at and dodged all the bullets and God spoke to me out loud, you know, something like that. But you're just like, yeah, no, grew up small town and yeah, wanted to grow up in church and. And I, I think that's actually a lot of people's story too out there. And I think that there's so much power in that. So let's keep going. So middle school and high school, what was it? Look, what did Jesus look like for you in that time frame? And what were challenges that you faced growing up?
Forrest Frank
I had, I had interactions with Jesus obviously. Like being in the church. I, I think I always was in the battle of my flesh versus jumping all the way into a relationship with Jesus.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Struggles, major struggles would be like lust and pride and. Is that, Is that what you're asking? Like.
Bryce Craber
Yeah, anything like.
Forrest Frank
Yeah, yeah, dude, yeah. Wanting, wanting, like, attention and stuff, dude. My, my. Honestly, my childhood is like a blur. Like I. This is. I was just thinking it was like, I feel like my life started when I gave my life to Jesus fully when I. Which was in college. Like, I, I sense that like that's where my life began, dude. And everything before that is kind of like a. It's almost a blur.
Bryce Craber
Dang. Like, wait, then invite.
Forrest Frank
And I don't even really like to think about it, cuz it's not me now, dude.
Bryce Craber
Okay, let's hear about that. What I want to, I want to know, where'd you go to college?
Forrest Frank
I went to Baylor.
Bryce Craber
Nice. Nice. That's lit. I want. I hear so many incredible things about Baylor. The, Every time the collegiate day of prayer happens, I watch the Baylor service.
Forrest Frank
Okay.
Bryce Craber
Online. I think it's sweet. But. Yeah. So you, you went to Baylor and at this time, before you give your life to Jesus, where, where are you at with yourself, your relationship with the Lord? Like, how, how are you feeling in this moment?
Forrest Frank
Yeah, so it's easy. I think that's an easier timeline of like. Because I think I had the same struggles from like when I was six or seven years old and they just showed up differently like that. Like the, the outlets would, would, would be different and. But I remember being really insecure, really anxious. I remember like not wanting to get out of bed in the morning, like just having no energy.
Noah
Yeah. Yeah.
Forrest Frank
I didn't know who my friends were. I didn't know what my, like, role was on this earth. I didn't really think I had a point in being on the earth.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And I went into college my freshman year after because. Because I'd done the. The church thing. And then I remember I went into college, and I was like, I want to go in, not as a Christian. So I've been claiming that I was a Christian before just because that was kind of like the culture of my family.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And then I went, and I was like, I'm not going to be a Christian, so.
Noah
Whoa.
Forrest Frank
Stopped going to church. Stop praying. Stop doing that. Just, like, doing whatever I felt like doing. Like, going purely off of feelings.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And then I just led myself down.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, down that path of getting further into depression, further into anxiety, all that stuff. And my sophomore year of college, I'd come back after the freshman year and was just in that spot. I'm in a coffee shop, and I hear this. I'll call it an idea. Sometimes people are like, I heard the voice of God, and some people can't hear the voice of God. I think it sounded like an idea in my head, but it didn't sound like my idea. And it was the sentiment. You should go to a church service right now. I was like, that kind of sounds like a good idea. I don't know why. It just feels good, like a good idea. And so I pulled out my phone and had looked up. My brother went to Baylor. He went to this church called Antioch, which we were just talking about.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And I looked up Antioch. It was a Wednesday night. I saw that the service had already started, like, 30 minutes ago. But I was like, I'll just show up. I was like, that's perfect. I'll just show up super late and go sit in the back and just kind of see this idea through.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And so I went to the parking lot, and, like, it's completely empty. I'm now, like, an hour or two late for this thing. Walk up to the glass doors. I open up the doors, and I can't really explain this. If I had to explain it, maybe it's that prayer was, like, covering the space. Or maybe just, like, the aroma of the worship was keeping the enemy out. But I walked in the building and immediately felt like, baggage leave me.
Noah
Whoa.
Forrest Frank
So there's stuff we can't see or know. But, I mean, maybe there was literally a demon on me and it wasn't allowed in the place. And I could kind of feel that weight burden Lift off of me. So I'm already feeling sensations and I make my way into the back of, of this service and what I didn't know is it wasn't a traditional college ministry night. It was actually a churchwide three day fast that was breaking into this extended like Holy Spirit filled night worship.
Bryce Craber
Oh, so you just thought it was a normal Wednesday night?
Forrest Frank
Yeah, I'm like, I'm just going to go pull up the little thing. But yeah, no, it's, it's like from the front to the back of the room, everyone just on their knees. They're already, they're already two hours into it, so everyone's already like broken the ice, you know what I'm saying?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And so, yeah, I walked into that and kind of just blacked out. Like I just, just fell on my knees. I, I experienced and encountered the love of Jesus and I encountered every single thing that I was ever looking for, like in all those years. And I, I think it was special that I had gotten a taste of the world too that past year.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So I, I could taste and see that the world wasn't good. And I'm tasting the goodness of God and I just, I just collapsed down. I was just like, this is it. I've, I've, I've, I've. And I was, you know, hearing his voice clearly. You know, you're my child, I love you. Like, this is your home, My presence is your home. You know, I have every good thing. It was, you know, the floodgates had opened and I almost, I couldn't even keep up with it. But I was like, I can't fully explain really what's happening here, but I'm willing to dedicate and bet the rest of my life on this and uncovering what this is. And so in that worship service, my buddy Caleb was like, dude, you should go on a mission trip with us next week. I'm like, whoa, I'm here. I'm just starting this thing. I don't know if I'm ready to go on a mission trip to tell other people about Jesus. He's like, no, you just kind of share what happened here. And that's, that's called your testimony. You were this way and now you're this way. Because like, dude, I was turned on. Like, I, like I, I felt myself come alive.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And, yeah, so I go on this mission trip and it's daily time in the Word. So now I'm getting in the Word, I'm reading the scriptures, I'm making the correlations between Everything. I'm finally seeing just the. The truth.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And every morning we had worship. Every morning there was new pastors that would speak, and then we would do these outreaches and go pray for people and, you know, serve people however we could. And so I got to see it modeled, like how to be Jesus to you kind of in, in that setting. How to be Jesus in the modern society. And then I just kind of took that cruising altitude and kept going with it. And it's been, there's been rocky moments for sure, but since that day, my entire life has changed. Like, I literally feel like my life started on that day.
Bryce Craber
How many years has that been now?
Forrest Frank
Since maybe like eight, seven or eight years.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Dang, man. Wait. Praise God for Caleb. Yeah, praise God for that. Because I remember growing up, I grew up in a church environment. I even went to private Christian school. And when I in like fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade, I would go to these summer camps. I probably gave my life to Jesus 200 times.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Yeah, totally.
Bryce Craber
Summers. And then. But it's cool because it's like I would give my life to Jesus, right? And then I wouldn't. And then I would leave camp and wouldn't read my Bible, wouldn't pray, wouldn't do anything. So then that decision was. There was no substance behind it. You know what I'm saying? And so for Caleb to be like, hey bro, like, like, let's go. Like, like, put, put some feet to your faith right now, that is immensely beautiful and important. And I mean, God knows what would have happened if you said no or Caleb didn't offer that because that, I mean, then you got a taste of what it meant, like to serve and live this thing out, Right? So even in that moment, right when he offered it to you and you were at first like, whoa, man, like this thing just happened. But he's like, no, dude. Like, it's, it's not that deep. You know, we're. We're just doing this and we share testimony and pray for people. Like when you were there on the mission trip, how did God reveal himself to you there through those people that you were interacting with?
Forrest Frank
I think. I don't know how. And like, to your point of like giving your life to Jesus as a kid, I don't know how I was missing it. Yeah, like, because I would do that so I would be in church maybe every Sunday. I gave my life to Jesus because I didn't know. I was like, it was like, it was like more of like a fear based thing of, oh, I want. I don't want to go to hell. And so gave my life to Jesus and kind of check the box.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So I don't know how I missed this, but once I was there and I fully saw it and I fully accepted it and I got. Got the realness.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Looking to my left and right and seeing other people praising Jesus and kind of almost. Almost like the aroma of it. Like, like the. You could kind of smell it or something.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And it. And it was. I could just tell it was the same God that they were worshiping.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
It wasn't. We all had our own version of God. It was like, no, it's the same person.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And I think that was super faith building and just like, how. How was I missing it?
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Where was the mission trip?
Forrest Frank
A place called Edinburgh, Texas. It's like South Texas.
Bryce Craber
Nice.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Okay, cool. Wait, that's super impactful. Local missions, like, in America. It's super important.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Yeah. I think I. I could be wrong, but I think it's the most impoverished county in, like, the whole U.S. wow.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
It's like basically Mexico.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Dang.
Forrest Frank
That's encouraging.
Bryce Craber
So, so you. You went on this mission trip. You come back from the mission trip. What was. What did that journey look like now? Because, you know, you went from having this love encounter with. With God.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
To then walking it out, and now you're kind of immersed back into this environment where you're. You're not of the world now because Christ has changed your heart, but you're in. In the world.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
So what was that? Was. Was there. Were there challenges that you faced? Were there, you know, was it. Was it smooth sailing for the first year? What was that first year of you being a follower of Christ? Like?
Forrest Frank
Yeah, I kind of jumped ship in a lot of ways. Like, I think I became like a bad friend to my old friends. I think. I. I don't know. I just kind of jumped ship. I was like, I'm going to. I'm going to join the life group. Like, these are my new people. And I was just kind of gung ho. All in.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
I feel like. I feel like it was really easy because of the college ministry system that it was like, we were on this mission trip. We come back now. Everyone from the mission strip still has, like, the camp high, so everyone's already hanging out. And then there's life group, and then we're still hanging out. It was mainly after college when it was like, okay, now I'm on my own. That's when I Saw, like, the real refinement because sin struggles would come back in. I'm like, oh, whoa, what's that? I thought I was dead to that, but now I have to wrestle it. Now I have to go back. Back to alignment with Jesus and. And not forget the. The truth, because the enemy would try to deceive me and bring lies and stuff.
Bryce Craber
What helped you with your faith when you graduated college the most? Was it. Was it, you know, the local church? Was it prayer? Was there like a father figure that came into your life? Maybe your own family?
Forrest Frank
Kind of. All of the above. Honestly, I would say all of the above. But where my head goes naturally is like, marriage.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Marriage is the ultimate. Like, oh, I thought I was good, and then I got married and I was like, oh, I have so much work to do. And now we're here. So I feel like I've. Yeah, like, whatever. If this is my whole life timeline and, like, here's the amount of refinement and, like, this is marriage. Like, this was more refinement than.
Noah
Yes.
Forrest Frank
You know.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Are you okay to talk about that?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Anything we can talk about?
Noah
Anything. Yeah.
Bryce Craber
What. How long have you been married?
Forrest Frank
Five years.
Bryce Craber
Congrats.
Forrest Frank
Yes, sir.
Bryce Craber
And tell me about, like, tell me about. Well, first of all, I want to know how you met your wife.
Forrest Frank
So we met. So I went on that mission trip. I went the next year, and she was there.
Noah
Wow.
Forrest Frank
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
So she went to Baylor, too, or. And then. Did you know her at Baylor before the mission trip? Or no, you just got met on the mission?
Forrest Frank
No, no, it may be. It was actually two. Two mission trips. But anyways, that. That same mission trip I went on.
Bryce Craber
Nice.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
And then you graduated college. You guys got married after college, or. And then. What about marriage challenged you the most in your faith journey?
Forrest Frank
There's no. I mean, your actions are having a reaction in real time, and there's no escaping it. It's right there. You have to face it.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
With that commitment.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So I feel like, you know, I don't know if, like, a friend or something else bothers me. I can, like, kind of maybe postpone it or something or there's like, a work drama or something. It's like, no. Like, your marriage is right there.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So that. That part. Just. Just having a mirror.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
What. What do you think is. Has been the number one piece of love advice that has helped your marriage and you loving your wife and her loving you back? Or is there something that you guys experienced maybe that was just like, oh, dude.
Forrest Frank
Oh, this this, this one. This was crazy. Oh, man, this is heavy. I. I'm like tearing up even think about this right now. I started watching pornography when I was.
Bryce Craber
Like.
Forrest Frank
I don't know, really young, right? And I watched it, like, all the time. And I was, I was a virgin when I got married. And I remember we were trying to have sex the first time, and I think I kind of like did something aggressive and she was like, whoa, what are you doing? Where did you learn that? Yeah, And I was like. I was like, I know exactly where I learned that. And I was like, whoa, this is our thing to figure out together. This is a new thing. And our marriage is something that we get to figure out together. And so I think when I think about, like, advice is like, that's. It's your thing.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
It's never been done before. Sure, it's been done.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
You know, it's a category of something and there's, There are universal rules, but it's like, it's your thing and no one else gets to share it. It's like. So I think that would be the. Maybe the biggest advice is like, let it be your thing and figure out what's fun for you guys and what's romantic for you guys.
Bryce Craber
And yeah, you.
Forrest Frank
I mean, I'm sure you have a girlfriend, right?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
You're already speaking some language, right? Y' all have, y' all have a certain language that you speak that only I'll speak.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
That gets deeper and deeper and deeper until eventually you become one person. So now my wife and I, I feel like we are just one person.
Bryce Craber
And so that's been fun, her sharing that with you. Oh, yeah, it was affected.
Forrest Frank
It was like, pull the E brake.
Bryce Craber
Whoa.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
We're starting from ground zero. And I just apologize, like, I'm so sorry. Like, it's time, like, I, I let me just forget everything that I've ever dreamed, tried to know. You know, there's stuff that like, books can't teach you.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And it's the real life. Sometimes you just have to live the real life. And. Yeah, bring the Bible with you, bring Holy Spirit in with you. But yeah.
Noah
Wow.
Forrest Frank
I'm, I'm, I'm even learning that now. Like, I'll have day to day issues there. It was maybe two days ago, I had a kind of a complex question and so I texted Noah and my pastor in a group text and I sent an audio message. And then, like, I sent it, they hadn't responded yet. And I text back and said, wait, don't Answer that. I'm gonna ask God. Yeah, because, like, we. We could sit here and have a discussion about something, but the truth is right there, and I could ask him and he could reveal himself.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And so I did. And he did.
Noah
Wow.
Forrest Frank
Like, why. Why not just do that?
Bryce Craber
Oh, dude, that's so encouraging. I literally was driving over here back from. So when we were coming, while you guys were on the way, I was driving back and I broke down in the car, just started crying my eyes out. And I did the same thing where I was like, oh, my gosh, I need to call Marcus, my mentor right now, and I need to get on the phone with him. And then I kind of caught myself and I was like. Kind of like what you're saying. I feel like I'm in the same boat too, where, you know, I. Human beings yearn for this. This love. You know, they're searching for it in everything. In the substances, the, you know, the, you know, sex, drugs, alcohol, porn, whatever it may be. And I'm like, man, I just want Marcus to be there for me. And I'm breaking down in the car crying my eyes out, and I pick up the phone and I go, wait a second. Like, what is he going to be able to give me right now? Even though he loves me so much he can't do anything? I'm going to get off the phone and still feel heavy. And so. And I just had to take a second of, like, going, hold on. I need to just, like, ask God to, like, meet my heart right now in the car, because I'm hurting right now, you know, and we go through things and life is hard and you go through the challenge and. And I. I mean, even think about it from this standpoint, you know, you people only get a glimpse of Forrest Frank at a worship night on tour or on a 15 second social media clip. They don't know what Forrest lives day to day. They don't know that he's wrestling with a question and texting the pastor and Noah on the side going, hey, help me. Or. They don't know that, like, you're having to relearn things because you're. You're human too. And so in those moments, it's like, you know, I'm so. We're so used to finding an outlet and not going back to the source of life. This. This living water where we don't have to keep, you know, thirsting again. I'm. I'm navigating that right now, bro. I feel like you're speaking my language.
Noah
Wow.
Bryce Craber
Because I'm trying to find this groove of going, like, okay, hey, God, like, please help me right now. I'm hurting right now, and I'm crying, and I know you see me, like, help me right now.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
I think it's so encouraging and impactful. It's not a shameful thing to be like, hey, God's rewiring my brain right now in this area. It's. It's. It's an honest response and a. And a loving response to say, like, thank God, like, you're doing some heart surgery on me right now.
Noah
Yes.
Forrest Frank
I think it's fun. It's an adventure.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
It's like, oh, wow. I got. I got another level of refinement of like, oh, I used to be. Don't you feel like there's. There's a progression of refinement?
Bryce Craber
Absolutely.
Forrest Frank
And I feel like it's just so fun.
Bryce Craber
Yeah.
Noah
I don't know.
Forrest Frank
It's like. I think. I think there was. There's, like, levels. There's like, oh, I checked the box where I went to church on Sunday. That's like, level. Level one. Right? And then there's like, okay, today I'm going to try to pray without ceasing.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
It's like the bar just got so high up there. Like, I. That's crazy. I literally, like, you know, when I study the Bible, I like to read, like, a. Commentaries and stuff like that because I. I like to go deep. And that was like, another thing I'm. I'm reading last week. I'm getting super passionate right now about, like, revelation because I just think it's so hard to understand, and I want to read it and understand.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
And I remember, you know, I was. I was getting ready to pick up this commentary, and I literally, like, I feel like the Lord speaks to me the same way he spoke to you about going to Antioch. Like, ideas. I'll get an idea in my brain. It's like an intrusive thought that enters my brain, and I just kind of get this intrusive thought of, like, hey, why haven't you asked me what I'm saying?
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Here. And I was like, whoa, like, hold on one second. Like, I'm running to the commentary instead of Holy Spirit right now.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Not to be some. You know, I'm not gonna come out and just be like, you know, God's gonna return on October 6, 2030, because I read the book of Revelation, but I'm gonna sit here and go, like, okay, God, help me understand. Like, not only the context of what you're saying here, but, like, how can this impact my heart right now? You know? And I remember reading like Revelation 5 when he was talking about like the martyrs in the end times and how there was gonna be blood of martyrs. And I'm sitting there reading that and the way God was speaking to me in that wasn't God revealing this insane context. He was going, yeah, Bryce, how do you feel about me if you were challenged like that right now? Yeah, Bryce, like, you see what they're going to do for me. Like, where do you think you would be at right now if someone came knocking on your door and asked me if you knew about me? And I'm getting, you know, rocked that way. And you know, to encourage you again, when you are leading us in, in to the throne room through your music, you're not just like writing songs about God. You're releasing a sound that is personal. Like, you know, you've, you know this guy, you know, you know him. And so that's why I think there's so many people out there that resonate so heavily or that are drawn to this sound that is being released right now through your music. And even through. There's something crazy being birthed right now in America with Jesus. And it's just because you can tell that people are actually knowing this guy. Yeah, that's. They're singing about, talking about, preaching about whatever, you can tell. And people were like, wait, you can know this guy? It's crazy. Yeah, it is so crazy. So, like, I, I, I want to like, transition into that. Like, what the, your music. How long have you been doing music and been passionate about it just in general? And then where did the Lord kind of like, how did you know God was calling you to make.
Forrest Frank
Yeah, there's something you said too, that I want to, I, I'll say that I'm, I'm going to try to tied into that because the, yeah, the, the connection, it's almost like a portal, if I could say that. Like, Yeah, a real portal is a real portal to darkness too.
Bryce Craber
Yep.
Forrest Frank
The other way.
Noah
Whoa.
Bryce Craber
About to fall out in the chair.
Forrest Frank
I have always been fascinated by music. I didn't, I didn't have the tools to necessarily know how much I was fascinated by music. We had, we had a piano in our living room and I would actually find myself going and like noodling down there. And I, my dad worked from home and so like sometimes we couldn't like make noise too much in the house. So I didn't have, really have this opportunity But I think I would have sat there for 10 hours in a day.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Just noodling around, just going to this like, crazy place. So, yeah, I. I would do that at whatever extent I I could. And then specifically my senior year of high school, I saw someone on YouTube making beats. This is pre TikTok, pre Instagram. I think Twitter existed, but it was just an obscure, like, couple thousand view video of someone on an NPC making beats. And I was like, that looks so fun. He took like an old sample and had chopped it up and was making a beat out of it. And so I had asked for my. I want to say birthday A. It was called a machine micro, like a sampler. So anyways, long story short, I got that sampler. The day I got it, game over. Because that's. That's my thing. I can put headphones in. No one can hear it. And I literally would.
Bryce Craber
I would.
Forrest Frank
I would escape for 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 hours at a time. I would forget to eat. I'd look at the clock. It'd be 5pm I'd look at the clock again, it's 3am I had no idea, and I have no idea how to make songs. I'm just loving the flavors.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
I like to compare music to food a lot.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And so it's like I'm tasting a pineapple for the first time, and then I'm tasting like ketchup for the first time, and I'm trying to put them together. So if I showed you, I'm like, look what I've made.
Bryce Craber
You'd be like, yo.
Forrest Frank
Disgusting. But I was like. I was hearing all the individual parts. So, yeah, that comes with. With refinement. So, yeah, I worked on that. I went to school for business.
Bryce Craber
Nice.
Forrest Frank
And so I'd get off class and I would be making beats with literally no ambition in mind. The only thing I was. I was just obsessed with these flavors. I had no idea how to make a song. So fast forward to like, senior year of college. I've now put in well over 10, 000 hours into this craft.
Noah
Wow.
Forrest Frank
And so then I. I kind of maxed out beat making. And I was like, okay, I'm gonna see how to like, use my voice. And so then I started, like singing on the beats and started to study, like, songwriting, which seemed. It felt kind of corny to me. I don't know why it does, but like studying, like studying like a Katy Perry song or something or like whatever's on the radio at that. At that time, like Flow Rider or Something I'm like, I don't want to study this song.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
But. But there is a. A benefit to that. So anyways, yeah, I did that, learned the craft, and then started making secular music out the gates.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So.
Noah
Wow.
Forrest Frank
Which I could get into that or did. Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Keep going, Keep going. I want to know. So you, You. You started getting the.
Forrest Frank
So, so, so I'm following Jesus right. From sophomore year, but I started making beats three years before.
Bryce Craber
Right.
Forrest Frank
And I many times was like, lord, do you want. Do you want this? Like, I'd lay. I'd. I would lay music at the altar all the time, because I'm just like, take. Take everything. Here's all I have.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And he let me keep music, so I would, I kept working on it. But there was a sound that I was refining towards.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And I loved that sound. And that sound was a secular sound.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So there wasn't any, like, Christian music doing that. So I, I kind of naturally was making secular music, and I would try to include God into. Wasn't dirty. It was all. It was all clean, and it was uplifting. But it wasn't Jesus music. It was.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
You know. Yeah. Salvation.
Bryce Craber
That sound, it's like a. Yeah. It's like. That's what you call it. Secular. It gives me like, that. I don't know, like a phrase for almost that, like, pop, indie, folk, like. Yeah, whatever. Combination.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
But to me, it's. Man, I just think it's so interesting how the music thing kind of started out to you as a hobby, because I, I think of the. The parable of talents and, like, you know, I feel like a lot of people are always like, man, I don't know what to do with my life, you know? Like, I don't know. Everyone knows their purpose, and I don't know my purpose. I feel like I hear a lot say, and I, I, I. I feel like oftentimes God is like, okay, we'll. We'll start at what you're good at and use it for my glory.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
And oftentimes, like, dude, I suck at graphic design. I'm the worst Photoshop graphic designer on the planet. And, like, one of my friends makes a lot of our graphics, and he just is a killer graphic designer. He's like, yeah, dude, I want to do everything for the glory of God. And I'm like, that is. That is incredible. And success, and that is beautiful. So you started making the secular music. You were a part of a band called Surfaces, and then you. Then. Now you're doing your Own, like, solo. What was. What was that, like, transition for you?
Forrest Frank
The transition was we had had a lot of success with Surfaces and got married in 2020. The Sunday Best specifically blew up in 2019. I think that song. It came out in, like, 2018, started blowing up in 2019. Then it was, like, because of Tick Tock.
Noah
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Forrest Frank
Which we didn't have Tick Tock, but just the audio. Yeah, it was just what. So there's this. It was that 2019 rewind feeling good. So, like, everyone did it. That was. That was back when it was, like, still cool to do the trends. So, like, the rock did it. Justin Bieber did it.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, all these people did it.
Noah
Right? Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And anyway, so, yeah, that blows up. Now we're. And we're. We're touring, so then we're doing these bigger rooms. We're getting offers from, like, a list artists. Like, the. The biggest people are, like, wanting to work with us and stuff. And right in the midst of that, I started to feel the intrusive thought of, like, hey, don't do that. Hey, don't do that song. Hey, don't do that festival. Hey, don't do this thing. And it just. Yeah, it was just a lot of no's, which candidly was really difficult because I had a team.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And people that I loved and cared about. And my no was their no.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
In the midst of their yes.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So, like, in the group chat, like, yo, y' all good for this show? Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. No. So I'm saying no to their fun, their adventure, their income, all that stuff. So anyways, had said no, no, no a lot. And there was kind of this pivotal moment where it's. Where it really, like, shifted. And it was. We got this offer for a tour for a million dollars, and we said no. And that was right around when we. I think that's when maybe we were pregnant with Bode or my son Bodhi, or having him. But there's a. I have a lyric in a song called Altar with Holy. I don't know if you've ever heard it, but the opening line is, I just turned a Millie down to be home with my son. Y' all don't get it. Which I'm saying, like, y' all don't get it.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
But it's also like, y' all don't get it. And I think that was kind of the line of the sand of, like, I am accepting that there is a. I didn't know there was anything on.
Noah
The other side yeah.
Forrest Frank
But looking back with my. With my new eyes, I think I was saying, like, there's a. There's a greater plan for my life.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
It's not success. It's just honesty, maybe. And so I felt like maybe there was a little bit of dishonesty. Like I was making secular music, but I was trying to include God. I think maybe Jesus was saying, like, no, I want the whole thing. And it.
Bryce Craber
And it.
Forrest Frank
It didn't look like I want the whole thing with all the success. It just. I just want the whole thing right here in the present. And so turned down that offer. And then.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So just was home, like, had very candid conversations with my wife of just like, hey, should I get. Like, should I get a different career? Like, should I work a different job? Should I work locally? And she's like, yeah, like, whatever. Whatever works. Whatever we have to do. So we did that. And then while just in the peace and quiet of home, just like I would do as a kid, I have a very similar layout in the house. It's like, out in the open in the living room. Not in my studio, just in the living room. I have a piano and would just be noodling around and, like, these. These worship songs would just come out. And it. I wasn't trying to release them. It was just my worship and it was my portal going back to that, like, term, like, it was just like a. My way of, you know, connecting with God. And there was one song that kept coming back around, which was no Longer Bound, which is the first Christian song I ever put out, which is you Came to Set Us Free. So I would sing that just by myself and connect with God. And one day I felt like he was telling me to put it out.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And so kind of in the way I knew how, like, the sound that I had been working all these years, I was like, I'll just make it like that. And I put it out. It fully independently, just, like, uploaded on the Internet.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And it just blew up, like, number two most viral song in the entire US Number one most viral song in Brazil, number one most viral Nigeria, like, globally exploded. So then I was in a weird spot of, like, I was taking a step back then. God did this?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Is that, like, do I. What do I do?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And also, this was such a real thing for me, like, this. This moment with God. I don't think I can recreate that, nor do I want to. I don't know a better term for this, but, like, bastardize my quiet time.
Bryce Craber
Right.
Forrest Frank
That's my moment with God.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
I'm jealous for that time. And I think he's jealous for that time.
Bryce Craber
You don't want to invite everyone else into it if it's for you and him.
Forrest Frank
Exactly. So then I'm. There's a couple days. Literally a couple days later, I'm in the shower and a whole song hits me. The production, the lyrics, everything. And this has never happened before. It's never happened since. This is the only time it's ever happened. I could see the whole song. So I went downstairs and in one session, almost like tracing it.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like tracing a photo. I traced a song out and finished it in one session, which was lift my hands, which I put out. I don't remember when I put that one out, but the same thing happened with that number. Number one, number two, most viral in the U.S. whatever in Brazil, global thing. I was like, whoa, I didn't even try to write that one. And then I think, as I kind of. I don't. I can't even take credit for it, dude. That's the crazy thing. I think that's, that's, that's why his way is so awesome. Is like we can't take credit for his ways. And so he set, he set it up in some way where I feel like I'm out the way.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And he gave me like 86 songs or something that first year.
Bryce Craber
Oh my gosh.
Forrest Frank
So it just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. I could shut it off to like be with my family, but as soon as I opened up the door, boom, there it was again. And so, yeah, that's kind of. Oh my God. Where we're at now is this.
Bryce Craber
Dude, that fire, that's like the. It just sounds like overflow of obedience to God. Like when you're saying, yeah, yeah, you know, I wrote no Longer Bound and you're singing that. I'm in my head thinking, like, the last song you. I mean, the last thing you just did before you wrote this was turn down this tour, Leave. Everything's going up. And you're like, yeah, no, I think I'm supposed to be out. And you're basically testifying it. Like, I'm not bound by culture.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
I'm not bound by a paycheck. I'm not bound by physical success. And that's, that's just in super encouraging because so many people try to live their life like close handed and you just, it's open handed, like on the altar, like, yeah, this thing may die. That's okay. And then you Just don't. You're not expecting anything out of it other than just being his child. And then you're going back to being a child. Making the beats at home.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
And then God gives you this. That is wild.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
How do you continue this rhythm of intimacy in the midst of good chaos, I would call it.
Noah
Yeah. You know, how do you.
Bryce Craber
How do you maintain that?
Forrest Frank
I had to look at Noah because we were. We were just talking about this, really. So I just did the tour.
Noah
Mm.
Bryce Craber
And how was it?
Forrest Frank
It was amazing.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Saying we can. We can get into all that.
Bryce Craber
I would love.
Forrest Frank
I'll say this thing first, though. We so did the arena tour. Did an album during the arena tour. Like, dropped it when there was, I think, like three shows left.
Bryce Craber
Were you guys recording it on the tour?
Forrest Frank
Yeah, and, like, we, like, sampled the crowd sometimes.
Bryce Craber
Oh, wait, I saw the videos of you, like. Wait, that was like, for the album.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So, like, literally recording it in the. Yeah. So I just. And I was.
Bryce Craber
That is crazy.
Forrest Frank
Yeah. So I've. I have two modes. I have, like full. Like, I'm locking in and I have, like, full rest mode. I. I can't really mix the two.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And maybe nothing can really be mixed in the brain. Right. So I was. Yeah. So I did, did, did that thing and. And my plan, which I'm currently in right now, is to have no plan.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So I finished the tour and people like, dude, what's next for you? Like, the album's doing the thing and whatever. And I'm like, I have no plans, and if it ends here, I'm totally cool with that.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And I mean that. I'm totally cool. If I never do another song or technically I have like three more shows that are one offs booked, but if I never did another show, it's all good.
Noah
Yeah. Wow.
Forrest Frank
And I. It's easier said than done, right? Sometimes.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And I think I'm just, like, making sure it's done.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
That's so honest. That's just like I. Pure honest, like.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
I mean, it's hard, but. Yeah, I think that's real. So tell us about the tour. What was, like, what were the highlights? I mean, what was. First of all, it looked phenomenal, dude.
Forrest Frank
It was insane.
Bryce Craber
I mean.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
I want to hear about it.
Forrest Frank
Oh, man. I mean, what do you want to know, dude?
Bryce Craber
Everything.
Noah
Everything.
Forrest Frank
Dude, it was insane. I'll say this to start. We already covered this. I'm 30 years old. I make music that I, as a 30 year old, think is cool.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And this was the second part of the tour. It was kind of like the expanded. Like.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
The first two are on steroids. But kind of including the first part of the tour, that was the first time I'd ever toured.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
With. With my music. So I'd never seen the fan base.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And I'm thinking I'm making music that I think is cool. It's probably a lot of, like, college kids and 30 year olds and whatever. Well, turns out people around my age have kids.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And the kids love the music.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, it's not like the parents are forcing them to listen. The kids are asking for this Jesus music.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And that was one of the first takeaways from the first night, was looking out in the crowd and seeing a lot of kids.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, so many family and with their parents, obviously. And that was just really overwhelming because you can't. You can't, like, fake it with kids. Like having a son like Bodhi. Do you want a bite of this chicken? No. What do you want? Ice cream? Like, they want what tastes good.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Right. And so I was super encouraged that one. The music was tasting good to kids. That's crazy. Because it's healthy for them.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Healthy food that tastes good. And then kind of. It was a glimpse into the revival in each city. And so the first tour was much smaller rooms, like 1500 caps to 3,500 caps. And then this tour was like 15,000 people a night. And it was enough density that you could. Like, I'm kind of a person where I can kind of sense the spirit in the. In the room.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
You could sense, like, what was going on.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
You know, God would be like, giving words and you could. You could sense the revival that was happening in the family, in the heart of the family. And so it was tough at first to. Not tough, but it was an adventure to figure out what the tour was while going through it. But I feel like about halfway through it, we figured out what it was and it was like, oh, this tour is a recharge for these people. People are coming in here, getting their batteries full and then going back out to their places, like their schools and their whole homes and their sporting teams and whatever, with, like a fresh.
Noah
Wow.
Forrest Frank
I guess, anointing of the spirit, if you can say that.
Noah
Dang.
Bryce Craber
So how I want to know, like, what were you guys, like, on a bus going or flying?
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
And so when you're on the bus, right, like, what, like, what is that? What is that? Can you. Can you, like, invite us into the. Like, what Your alone time looks like on and off tour.
Noah
Right.
Bryce Craber
Like, off the bus. But I'm feeling like, you know, sometimes, like. Like me, I get distracted really easy, so I've got, like, isolate myself, like.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
In a confined area to get. Get alone and get right and.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Talk to God. What.
Forrest Frank
What?
Bryce Craber
Invite. Invite us into that. Like, what did the quiet time look like for you on tour?
Forrest Frank
Off tour? It is interesting. Also say that. It's very interesting because there's always something to do, right?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And a lot of times, you would wake up and walk out, and, like, fans would be camped out, camped out on the outside. And I'm never one to turn down someone that, like, wants to interact. And so, yeah, I don't know. It's. It's. It's a. It's. It's a mess, dude. It's like. It's. It's very unnatural because you're out of your own.
Bryce Craber
You're out of your rhythm. You know what I mean? You're out of this. Like, oh, I wake up in my house. I go, I'm gonna use the phrasing. You use noodle on the piano and talk to God. I've never heard that before. That's awesome.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
You can't do that when you're on the bus, you know?
Forrest Frank
Like, I think. I think the main thing is you have to stay in it. Like, stay on the straight and narrow, stay pure. And almost within seconds of noticing your mental go south, or, like, if something bothers you or if, like, a sin struggle snuck in there, you got to get it out immediately. You got to fill it with a scripture and pray. And, like, Noah can attest to it. He was my. The. The accountability and all that for the tour. And it was. It was a daily battle. It was just.
Noah
Whoa.
Forrest Frank
Like, we'd.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
A lot. A lot of time in scripture. A lot of time praying. Thankfully, like, I mean, every single night, we're giving, like, the highest praise to God with every ounce of every everything. So there is, like, you are kind of riding a camp high.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, if you were to go worship for three hours tonight with. With people, you'd probably wake up the next morning, be like, whoa, I feel. I feel refreshed.
Bryce Craber
Right.
Forrest Frank
So you're. You're, like, mixing peak refreshment with just the lowest of the low exhaustion. You're breathing bus air. You're living like a pirate.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
You're trying to find food in random cities.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, yeah, I brought a cold plunge. A sauna.
Bryce Craber
No way.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
I. You know, did IV therapy once. Are you a runner? No, I'm not. No.
Bryce Craber
You look like a runner to me.
Forrest Frank
Thank you.
Bryce Craber
You're welcome.
Noah
You're welcome.
Forrest Frank
Are you a runner?
Bryce Craber
I'm trying.
Forrest Frank
You look like a runner.
Bryce Craber
I hate it. I hate it. I, like, literally, like, I'm dying. I'm not.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
I, like, if you saw me running out here.
Noah
Yes.
Bryce Craber
You'd be like, that guy looks like he's on his last leg.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
He does not look good at it.
Forrest Frank
Dude, I love lifting weights and surfing. Those are kind of my.
Bryce Craber
Dude, I love both of those things. I'm just really bad at surfing.
Forrest Frank
That's okay.
Bryce Craber
Really bad. I have a wetsuit, but I'm not afraid to crash. You know, some people are afraid of the wave, so they, like, you know, they have a hard time, like. Right. You know what I'm talking about? Yeah, I'm not afraid of that. Like, my first times ever surfing, like, I looked like I was about to drown. Like, I tried to catch the biggest wave out there, and it was awful. I got pummeled and beat, and it took me more time getting past the waves than it did. Right. You know, But I love it. It's incredible. Is that, like, a therapy for you?
Forrest Frank
How important.
Bryce Craber
How important are those hobbies that are like, dude, outside of.
Forrest Frank
I don't. I mean, yeah, the. The ocean's insane. I notice if I spend time with God in the morning enough time to feel like I have, like, fresh perspective on the day. Like, okay, I know who I am. I know. Like, I know I'm a child of God. Here's, you know, I. These are my issues. We got answers for him. I've got the scriptures. Like, I'm there. If I do that and get the cardiovascular movement and get in the ocean, looking at nature and stuff.
Bryce Craber
Dude, he's up here. He's up here. I. That is lit. No, I, I. That is incredible. I. You know, I got, like, full transparency. I got, like, a little, like, lost. I. I kind of forgot who Bryce was for a while.
Forrest Frank
How does that mean?
Bryce Craber
You know, I. I care a lot about people. Not their opinions anymore. I used to struggle with people's opinions. I don't care about people's opinions. I just care a lot about people. Right. So I. I was so focused on, like, you know, maybe it could be anything across the board, making the next video, the next podcast, the next this. Oh, doing this, that, and the other for my friend, doing this, that, and the other for my girlfriend. This, that, and I was so caught up in doing things for other people. I remember I was sitting down one time and my mentor called me and he's like, hey, Bryce, like, what do you do for fun? And I couldn't answer the question because I, you know, I was so focused. I, like, lost sight of Bryce. Like, Bryce wasn't himself anymore. Bryce was whatever other people were doing because I was. Cared about them. And then I had to figure out, like, what I like. So I hate running. I hate it with a passion. But I've been doing it and I enjoy it. I, like, hate it, but it's like, it's something I'm doing now, and it's fun. And I'm like, okay, I'm glad I did that. And lifting. I hate lifting, but I do it and it's fun. And I get to honor God with my body and do that, and it's fun. And I like to skate. Am I good? No. But I look like an idiot. But I'm having fun and I'm enjoying it. And that. That's. That's why I like, I. I like to know, like, what is. What is Forrest doing, like, when he's not. You know what I mean? Because I think it's important. Like, yeah, I'm surfing and I'm hanging with my son and, you know, my wife. And I think that's encouraging and important to keep that rhythm.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Because force needs to do force things and Bryce needs to do Bryce things.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
No, dude, we're literally. I mean, in this pause, I can't remember. I've had, like, a couple work moments, but I feel like I haven't worked for, like, a few weeks now.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
But in this rest time, it feels like a full reset because of those things. So youo can't really control how much God expands. What's going on. I guess, per se. I'll say it this way, like, the regular English way. We can't really go anywhere anymore.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, we brought my son to Disney for the first time, and we were really excited to, like, look at his eyes as he's loving Lightning McQueen right now. And we walked in, and I just want to say this gracefully.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
I totally understand it. I understand people wanting to come up.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And I. And. And I think it's great. I really do. But there is this. We've crossed a threshold.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So, like, we walked into Disney and it was like.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
It was like a zombie apocalypse or something.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And we had to. We ran into a corner. My heart's, like, pounding.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, people are force, force, force, force, force, force. Worse. I had to call my manager. He called security. Like, they had to. It was this whole thing. And I'm not trying to glamorize it, but we are trying to figure out what.
Noah
What.
Forrest Frank
What is that?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
What's the limit?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Do I. And like I said, I'm okay stopping here.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
But also, lives are getting changed.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
You know, on another level, like, I've been in prayer sessions and my wife calls me. She's like, where are you? I need you. It's like, that's. Isn't that an interesting push and pull of the reality versus the. The spiritual side? So, all that being said, we are in a process. Like, I'm doing this. This 30 day journal thing right now, trying to just figure out, like, what. Where do we go from here?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, do we keep going? Do I put the pedal on the gas and we. 100x what. What God's doing? And I'm also so honored that the kids are, like, loving.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Loving it. That's like the highest honor to me.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So. But I. I don't want my dream to affect someone else when it's not their dream.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
You know, that's not my son's dream to have his dad always be shared, I guess.
Noah
And that's my.
Forrest Frank
That's not my wife's dream.
Noah
Right.
Bryce Craber
You're trying to care, you know, you care about souls, you care about people. You care about people knowing God.
Noah
Right? Yeah.
Bryce Craber
And you, like you say, you don't pass up the opportunity to pour into someone and meet them and say, hey, you know, and speak to them. But then you're also, on the other hand, like, yeah, I have a family. And, you know, you're trying to balance like, that, that. That forced time and, like, the family time and things like that. That's. I just think that's raw and honest.
Forrest Frank
If I could. If I could turn it on and off, that would be insane. That'd be amazing.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Like, if it was like a 9 to 5 thing or something. Like, I would take photos all day and I would talk to anybody for 15, 30 minutes at a time.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
But then it's like, how do you do that with the fam. So, yeah, anyways, I'll let you. I'll let you know what the.
Noah
What.
Forrest Frank
What we land on.
Noah
Yeah. Yeah.
Bryce Craber
That's encouraging. Thanks for sharing that. I just think that's raw and honest. I kind of wanted to close out. I was praying this morning on specifically, like, God, what. What do you have in store for people listening or watching to the episode today specifically. And I felt in my heart. And it's so crazy because the whole time you're talking, you're like, yeah, I'm a big feeler. And, you know, and true. God speaks to you with ideas and you can. You have a gift of discernment. What are. Is there like a message God is been speaking to you, especially on this time of rest and recovery that you feel like God has in store for people? Like, are you discerning something from God right now that. That is, that is for America or for people right now? You know, like. Right. I guess. I guess to like, try to like, round out the question. Like right now, the past month, I've been burdened deeply with the return of Christ. Right. Not in a fearful way of. Not like, hey, hey, brother, you know, get out of hell. But like, no, I feel something different in the air, and I want to know more about this and I want people to know, like, hey, you have an opportunity to, like, meet this guy, you know, before then, you know, I feel really burdened with that in a good way. Is there something that God has on your heart that he's burning in you with?
Forrest Frank
I mean, first of all, I'll say I agree. I don't know if it's. I don't know if all Christians were doing this, you know, I know. I know people have, for. Since Jesus died, have been thinking he's coming back soon.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
But it is, It's a normal thing now to be like, you think Jesus coming back?
Noah
Like, yeah, I do.
Forrest Frank
And then it changes everything.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
If you, if, if you believe that.
Forrest Frank
Jesus is coming back in your lifetime, your decisions are completely different.
Bryce Craber
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And your values are completely different.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Like, that crazy.
Forrest Frank
Doesn't matter to me.
Bryce Craber
Feel like you've been hearing that a lot lately, or is that just me?
Forrest Frank
Oh, all the time. It's, it's kind of rising up the, the charts of like maybe one of the main topic of conversations.
Bryce Craber
And I'm not like, you know, I'm. I'm only 21, and I believe, like every generation has believed that Christ was going to return in their generation.
Forrest Frank
Totally.
Bryce Craber
You know, so I'm not like a big. I call it swirl ball. Like, I'm not like a big swirl ball about it, you know, but something. When I pray and when I'm talking to God about it, something just feels different.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
And I don't. I don't know how to explain it.
Noah
Right.
Forrest Frank
And even if he. Even if he isn't, we still should live as though.
Bryce Craber
As if he's coming tomorrow.
Forrest Frank
He is.
Noah
Yeah. Yeah.
Forrest Frank
I can't. Can't really deny that.
Bryce Craber
Like, there's something.
Forrest Frank
There's something.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
There's something like, okay, lit. Lit. Outside of that, do you feel like that there's a message that God has been placing on your heart lately?
Forrest Frank
I think for me, and I'm. And I'm trying to figure this out in real time. In real time and in relationship with. Not trying to affect my family, but I do want to see, or rather God wants to see his light shined into all spaces.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And, like, I think back to, like, you are the light of the world.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
And, like, you don't hide a lampstand. You put it up to shine light into spaces. So I'm. I'm digging through, like, Lord, you know, you've done so much with music. I can continue with music. I can stop with music. But, Lord, is there an area where it's a natural fit for me the way you designed me? He somehow designed me in a way where music makes sense.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Does something. Is there another category that makes sense for me that would illuminate an area that hasn't been. Because I think music is being illuminated. You know, there is light in the space. There's spaces where there's no light.
Noah
Right.
Forrest Frank
And so I think maybe that's an encouragement beyond me. Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Just.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Specifically with the children. And I think that's maybe a new thing for me. I've. I've. I've always loved children, but seeing, like, the children flock, it's like, whoa, did God give me. Is. Did God give me special eyes and. And to, like, see what the children need? Or is it, like, more of, like, a revival in the children?
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
So I don't know. Maybe someone else can pass that baton.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
But no, that I. There isn't, like, an absurd amount of young people coming to know the Lord, but, like, real deal, putting faith in Christ.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
And it is encouraging. It's just wild. And I, you know, I. I kind of think the same thing as well, like, you know, about. About their need needing to be light and all these other places. Like, I remember, like, growing up and thinking, okay, like, these people that talk about God in my hometown and hear, like, okay, they went to Bible school and they got a degree, and then that certified them to talk about this dude, and now they're here, and, like, that's what it looks like to, like, be a mouthpiece of God, but then it's like, no, like, force is being the mouthpiece of God by writing songs that point people to Jesus. And someone over here is creating graphics that when people look at it, they go, oh, my gosh, who could this be? Like, that designed someone to create this, or who could even think of something like this? Or I feel like there's more of that happening right now where people are going, wait a second. I don't have to be like, praise God for the Bible scholars and the theologians and the guys that go to Bible school. I'm in Bible school, I'm a college student, and. And I go to school, I'm not dogging it. But, like, I'm like, also, like, thank you for people that go to school for that. And we also need these people that flat out are like the desk attendee at Planet Fitness because they're passionate about fitness and they're using that as an opportunity to glorify God and share Jesus with people.
Noah
And.
Bryce Craber
I feel that heartbeat, and I echo that as well. I feel like that's encouraging and important.
Forrest Frank
Do you feel something else?
Bryce Craber
I. I mean, I just. I kind of feel those two things, you know, the return of Christ, and then I feel exactly what you're saying. Like, there's, like. When I'm walking around out here in la, I moved to LA three years ago, and when I'm telling you, like, three years ago compared to today, what LA looks like considering Jesus is just wild.
Forrest Frank
How so?
Bryce Craber
Like, when I moved out here, like, I met believers and stuff like that, but I remember, like, going out to restaurants and just like, asking people what they thought about Jesus and, like, getting yelled at or cussed at and things like that and meeting people and kind of not knowing. Because I grew up in an environment that was strictly, you know, church. On every street corner, everyone is Christian with their mouth. You know, you can't find someone that isn't a Christian. Like, if I went, when I came back home for the first time, and I was like, yeah, mom and Dad, I met someone that messes with witchcraft. They were like, what the heck? Like, what is that? You know, they didn't, you know, it's not normal there. And so when I came out here, I was just like, whoa. Like, there's a lot of. There's a lot of stuff going on. And a lot of people would label an environment like that, whether it's. It's everywhere, by the way, not just in la, but they would label an environment and go, oh, yeah, too far gone. Sodom and Gomorrah.
Noah
See ya.
Bryce Craber
And I remember, like, being. Being out here when I first was out here and so many people would tell me, like, bryce, why are you out there? It's crazy. It's Sodom and Gomorrah. And I'm sitting there thinking, like, do you understand that when God was addressing Sodom and Gomorrah, he said that he would spare it if there was just one righteous person that lived there. And I'm not saying that I'm the righteous person. There's more than just one in la. God's not done yet. That's right. And then as time went by, we were baptizing people in our bathtub. People were getting healed left and right. Physical diseases, spiritually. Hearts were being soft and people were leaving. You know, they would show up. I remember one time we had a Bible study. This guy showed up because he thought it was a party and brought alcohol. And he left the alcohol, like, you know, he's like, so mind blown, he's just like, oh, shoot, this isn't a party. I mean, I'm already here, I might as well stay. You know, that kind of thing. This, this and that. And I remember one time we were out at a restaurant and some guy grabbed me by the shirt like he was gonna beat me up. And he was like, what's different about you? And I'm not saying that to glorify me. I'm just like. It was like a light switch, like, happened in LA where it was like all these people were worshiping themselves. And it was like one day everyone woke up and I was like, wait a second, this isn't it. And now people are waking up and I. And I. I think Satan overplayed his hand and showed his cards, and now he's freaking out because a lot of people are like, oh, wait, this isn't working anymore. Or like, oh, this isn't this. Because now when we're going into these environments that would. You would blatantly think would just reject you or reject God. They actually want to have these conversations and God has now given, like, us this fresh perspective or given me this fresh perspective going like, okay, you know, normally you would write someone off that is in this category or whatever or does this certain thing. But then God's like, okay, you see how extreme they are for this thing. Imagine how more on fire they could be for me if they just knew that I love them. Yeah, that's it. And it's like, oh, shoot. Like, okay. And it's just like, people are waking up and going, God loves me. He actually does love me. And I. The heartbeat that you're echoing in your album like, I'm a child of God, like, just knowing, like, you know, a child like your son Bodhi doesn't have to work for your love right now. He's just loved. And that. That's. That's like the realization people are having out here is like, oh, shoot. Like, I don't have to work for this dude to love me. I mean, I'm going to change the way I live because I love him, right. But I don't have to do anything to make him love me. Oh, God loves me.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
That's just what's happening out here. It's wild.
Forrest Frank
So how do you. How do you find. So you're seeing that. You're seeing people come alive, people coming to Jesus. So many opportunities for Jesus.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
The king of all kings. He's like, hey, you're working for me now.
Noah
Yeah. How.
Forrest Frank
How do you balance that? Like, you're saying you. You need to have more fun.
Noah
You're.
Forrest Frank
You lost yourself. Like.
Noah
Yeah.
Forrest Frank
Are you wrestling with that right now or like.
Bryce Craber
Yeah, I feel like a lot of things you said, I'm just speaking my language. I'm like, yeah, dude, that's me. Like, right now, I'm trying to figure that out. So I said a no to a lot of stuff recently. I haven't. I'm literally about to leave tomorrow for the first time in a minute, actually. And, you know, I'm grateful and excited and, like, I'm leaving because I felt like God has called me to where I'm going for like a week and a half, and I'm gonna pour out when I'm there and then come back and be with my family, friends, and, you know, my girlfriend and be with the Lord. And it's great, but it's just kind of like one of those things where you're like, God, thank you for using me, but this is all vain if I do it for myself. So I'm just going to focus on you and kind of like, let it. Let it be. Be overflow. Like, my brain. I'm kind of like you. If I'm like, if I'm on, I'm focused and I'm, like, locked in. And then I just got to a point where I was like, I can't. Like, I. I can't marginalize and, like, knit, pick, strategize God, if that makes sense. Like, I can't. That's not how we. That's not how we got here. Like a. I had Pastor Judas Smith on.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
He was like, hey, you know Like, a lot of times, like, we feel the pressure, like, of the palace. Like, can you imagine, like King David feeling the pressure of the palace, but he's like, King David didn't get himself there. The grace of God did.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
And like, sometimes, like, you know, when there's so much cake, good chaos going on, you feel like the pressure of it and then you're just like, wait a second. Like, I didn't, I didn't get myself here. Like, I didn't, you know, it's God, the grace of God got me here. And the grace of God is going to sustain me through it. And I'm only feeling the pressure of chaos because I'm making it about what Bryce can do about this thing and not what God's to going, going to do.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
So I'm just, I'm, I'm in that space where I'm like learning, like, okay, how am I navigating this?
Forrest Frank
It's like, feel like at that point it's kind of like a daily bread thing.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Just getting in the word.
Noah
Yeah.
Bryce Craber
Which like, you know, I, honestly, I, I, I, I told you I've been reading a lot of Revelation and it's intense, but it has been doing something to my heart, like, of just going like, I'm like a kid when I read the Bible. Like, I freak out. Like I'm watching a crazy movie.
Forrest Frank
Yeah, yeah, totally.
Bryce Craber
Like, oh, shoot. Like you're gonna, like, you're gonna ride on a white horse and come back and there's a ten headed dragon that's like, you know, I'm like, what does that even mean? And I'm like reading that stuff and I'm like, encouraged and just, you know, whatever. And I could talk about it forever, but I think that the other day I was so encouraged. In Revelation 4, it's talking about the angels that have sex of the seraphim, the angels that have eyes all over their body. And they sing, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God I need. I remember I was reading it and, you know, I just feel God like, going, hey, you know why they sing that to me?
Noah
Right?
Bryce Craber
And I like remember sitting there for a second. I'm like, I'm not even gonna lie. It's gotta be so boring. Just, I'm literally sitting there like, God, it's gotta be crazy boring. Like, just sitting there for repeating it, repeating the song over and over and over. And that's all they're doing. And I, and I'm just like sitting there and God's like, yeah, so, so the Reason they're, they're singing that to me is because their, their whole body is covered in eyes. So they see something new about me every time, and they just can't stop singing it to me because they see something new, because there's something new, new mercies for me every day. And so it's not that they're doing it because I'm making them, they're doing it because they want to, because they see something new and making, and I'm.
Noah
Just like, whoa, what the heck?
Bryce Craber
That's freaking lit, you know, like, and that's just like, how, how it's going for me right now. So I, I, I agree. The, the bread has really been my source of going. Okay. God, you're, you're epic. You're epic. And it's encouraging. Would, would you pray for us and just. Yeah, just pray for us and to kind of close this out and.
Forrest Frank
Yeah, that would be a really big blessing. Let's do it. Jesus, thank you so much for letting me on Bryce's podcast. Thank you for every single person who is listening right now. I pray that right now they would experience your presence, that they'd feel your peace. I pray that we would experience your peace. Lord, today, thank you for sustaining us today, giving us enough today. Thank you for what you're doing in this country and the revival. Ask that you would expand it, that you'd magnify it. Lord, I just ask that you would be magnified in our hearts, in our homes, in our workplaces, and ultimately, I pray that this podcast would be, you know, used for your glory. I pray a blessing over Bryce and his camp, over his home, over his podcast. Would you continue to use him to do even greater things and just give him rest when he needs it? And me too. In Jesus name, amen.
Bryce Craber
Amen. Guys, thank you so much for watching and listening to this episode. If you guys like it, subscribe to us on YouTube, follow us on Spotify, Instagram and TikTok. Bless you guys and see you guys next week for the next episode.
Podcast Summary: The Forrest Frank Interview on The Bryce Crawford Podcast
Episode: The Forrest Frank Interview
Host: Bryce Crawford
Guest: Forrest Frank
Release Date: June 30, 2025
In the landmark 100th episode of The Bryce Crawford Podcast, host Bryce Crawford welcomes the talented musician and worship leader, Forrest Frank. The conversation delves into Forrest's personal faith journey, his music career, recent tour experiences, and the intricate balance between his ministry and personal life. [00:00-01:33]
Forrest Frank opens up about his upbringing in the small country town of Fulshear, Texas. Growing up in a devout Christian family, both sets of his grandparents and parents were active in the church. Forrest's mother served as a worship leader, fostering a deeply spiritual environment from a young age. "Every Sunday going to church. Every Wednesday going to church" [03:11]. Forrest was homeschooled until seventh grade, which allowed for a focused and consistent religious upbringing in a humble setting, characterized by a few local businesses and tight-knit community life. [03:18-03:45]
Despite a strong foundation in Christianity, Forrest experienced significant spiritual struggles during his teenage years and into college. He describes an internal battle between his fleshly desires and his relationship with Jesus, grappling with issues like lust and pride. "I always was in the battle of my flesh versus jumping all the way into a relationship with Jesus" [05:30].
Upon entering college at Baylor University, Forrest made a pivotal decision to distance himself from his faith, which led to increased depression and anxiety. "I wanted to go in, not as a Christian… Stop going to church. Stop praying… Just doing whatever I felt like doing" [07:41-08:04]. This period marked a significant turning point in his life.
During his sophomore year, Forrest had a profound spiritual experience that reignited his faith. Feeling overwhelmed by depression, he attended a late worship service at Antioch Church, following an inner prompting. "I walked in the building and immediately felt like baggage leave me" [09:55]. This encounter led him to dedicate his life fully to Jesus, transforming his identity and purpose. "I could hear his voice clearly… I can't fully explain really what's happening here, but I'm willing to dedicate and bet the rest of my life on this" [10:29, 09:22].
Forrest shares his lifelong passion for music, which began in his childhood with no formal training. "I have always been fascinated by music… I would sit there for 10 hours a day, just noodling around" [29:43-30:14]. His initial foray into music was secular, creating beats and experimenting with sound purely as a hobby. Over time, he honed his craft, dedicating over 10,000 hours to mastering beat making and songwriting.
As his relationship with Jesus deepened, Forrest felt a strong calling to integrate his faith with his music. This led to the creation of Christian music that was both uplifting and authentic. "I would lay music at the altar all the time… There was one song that kept coming back around, which was No Longer Bound" [32:55, 39:34]. His dedication culminated in the release of viral Christian songs like "No Longer Bound," which resonated globally. "It became the number two most viral song in the entire US, number one most viral in Brazil, number one most viral in Nigeria" [39:34].
Forrest recounts his recent fall tour, where he and Bryce brought their live podcast show to four new cities: Nashville, San Diego, Chicago, and Birmingham. The tour was designed to be a powerful night of worship and the word, tailored uniquely to each city. "This tour is a recharge for these people… getting their batteries full" [47:02].
A significant highlight was witnessing children actively engaging with his music, reflecting a revival among the younger generation. "Kids are asking for this Jesus music… it's healthy for them" [46:07]. Forrest emphasized the spiritual impact of the tour, noting the density of the spirit in large venues and how it facilitated a communal experience of worship and renewal. "You can sense the revival that was happening in the family, in the heart of the family" [47:02].
Forrest opens up about his five-year marriage, describing it as a profound source of personal growth and spiritual refinement. He discusses the challenges of navigating intimacy and aggression, sharing a heartfelt moment where he confronted his past struggles with pornography. "I let me just forget everything that I've ever dreamed… it's the real life" [20:05, 22:31].
Balancing his ministry with family responsibilities has been a continuous journey. Forrest highlights the importance of integrity and accountability, often relying on his wife and community for support. "Marriage is the ultimate… you have to face it with commitment" [18:05].
Forrest reflects on the revival in America, particularly focusing on the revival among children and the increased openness to faith within communities previously deemed unreceptive. "The children flocking to the music is like a revival in each city" [47:02].
He is also contemplating his next steps in ministry, questioning whether to continue solely with music or explore other avenues to illuminate God's light in different spaces. "Is there an area where it's a natural fit for me the way you designed me?" [62:35]. Forrest acknowledges the ongoing journey of faith, emphasizing the importance of living authentically and relying on God's guidance. "He set it up in some way where I feel like I’m out the way" [41:31].
The episode concludes with Forrest offering a heartfelt prayer for the listeners, seeking God's presence, peace, and the expansion of revival in their lives and communities. "I pray that right now they would experience your presence, that they'd feel your peace… I pray a blessing over Bryce and his camp, over his home, over his podcast" [73:44].
Notable Quotes:
Forrest Frank on Faith Dedication:
"I can’t really explain really what’s happening here, but I’m willing to dedicate and bet the rest of my life on this and uncovering what this is." [09:22]
Forrest Frank on Marriage Challenges:
"Marriage is the ultimate. Like, oh, I thought I was good, and then I got married and I was like, oh, I have so much work to do." [18:05]
Forrest Frank on Music Calling:
"He set it up in some way where I feel like I’m out the way." [41:31]
Forrest Frank on Revival and Children:
"Kids are asking for this Jesus music… it's healthy for them." [46:07]
Forrest Frank on God's Guidance:
"He set it up in some way where I feel like I’m out the way…" [41:31]
Authenticity in Faith: Forrest emphasizes the importance of an authentic and personal relationship with Jesus over superficial commitments.
Balancing Life and Ministry: Managing personal life, especially marriage, alongside ministry roles requires dedication, integrity, and community support.
Impact of Music: Music serves as a powerful medium for worship and revival, especially among younger generations.
Ongoing Spiritual Journey: Faith is presented as an evolving journey that requires continuous growth, reflection, and reliance on God's guidance.
Encouragement for Listeners: The episode serves as an encouragement for listeners to seek genuine connections with God and to rely on Him amidst life's challenges.
This episode provides a deep and personal insight into Forrest Frank's life, offering valuable lessons on faith, resilience, and the power of authentic worship through music. It serves as both a testament to his journey and a source of inspiration for listeners navigating their own spiritual paths.