With more than 36 years in the ministry, at least 30 albums in his discography, five Latin Grammy Awards and two Latin Billboard Awards, Marcos Witt is the most internationally recognized Spanish-language Christian music singer.
The last few weeks have been particularly exciting for Marcos Witt. Since September 19, he has been accompanying Franklin Graham on the eight-city God Loves You Tour along historic Route 66, while his new studio album, Viviré, was released on September 24.
“I have dedicated my whole life to singing to God. As long as I have breath and strength, I will continue to give my songs to the One who gave His life for me, giving me salvation. I dedicate this album to my Lord and friend: Jesus,” Witt posted on his social media.
Witt recently spoke with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) about the tour, his new album, and the Hispanic community in the United States.
What’s your experience been like on the God Loves You Tour?
It has been incredible. I had participated in some Franklin Graham Festivals before, but never in a multi-day, multi-city tour. This is something unique and really amazing.
Something that has surprised me a lot is to see the numbers of people that have attended these events. And of course, it is always wonderful to see the response of people when they make the decision of faith to follow Jesus. It is something that always fills me with inspiration.
I can really see how the Lord gave the Graham family a very special blessing; He covered them with a mantle of evangelism. Everywhere they preach the Word, people give their lives to Jesus.
Marcos Witt’s parents were missionaries to Mexico. Watch him share more:
Throughout your life, what has been your experience with evangelism?
Evangelism has always been very close to my heart. From a very early age I understood the verse in which Jesus says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32, NIV). That verse tells us that if we lift Jesus up, He is the one who will draw men to Himself. Worship and praise, which is what I do, lift Jesus up, and it is something that will naturally draw people to Him.
Also, throughout my entire career I always made calls for people to surrender their lives to Christ, and thousands of people responded to those calls.
Many say that this type of “mass evangelism” is old-fashioned and ineffective in our time. What are your thoughts?
I would simply invite them to go to one of these events and see the hundreds of people surrendering their lives to Christ as their Lord, and the hundreds of people filling out cards saying they want to learn more about God’s Word. This shows that this kind of evangelism is still very relevant. On the first few nights of the tour alone, hundreds of people responded to the call.
>>Stories and photos from the God Loves You Tour
There is a great need for people to hear the Good News; we can see that people are hungry for the Word of God. They need to hear that God loves them, just like Franklin Graham has been telling them every night: “God loves you, God loves you, God loves you.” That’s something I love about this tour.
As you know, BGEA recently launched a Hispanic Initiatives Ministry, and we know that you have worked for many years with the Hispanic community, specifically in the U.S. What needs have you observed in this community?
In the spiritual realm, Hispanic believers must learn to raise their voices and be united for the cause of Jesus Christ. We must share our faith with the enthusiasm and joy that characterizes us.
In the civil sphere, in the educational sphere, we must also raise our voices. Very soon, Hispanics will become a majority in this country, and we must keep that in mind as a vision. We must compel our children to receive the best education, and to graduate from the universities.
We must pray for God’s favor to prepare places of influence where we can be the difference in favor of our brothers and sisters who have so many needs. The Hispanic church must be the voice of Hispanics. It would be fatal to sit back and wait for someone else to do it.
Jesus left us very clear instructions. He told us, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Jesus says that our light must shine before society, not just before the church. And the result of society seeing our good works will be that people will glorify the Father in heaven.
Then, in John 17, Jesus said to the Father: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world” (John 17:15). Why did Jesus pray that prayer? Because Jesus knew that our presence in the world is what can bring hope, faith and salvation.
It is time for the Hispanic community as a people to shine that light in a society that is becoming darker and darker. In the darkest of places is where the light shines the brightest. For many people we are the only Jesus they will ever see.
Talking now about your new album, what was the vision God gave you for it before you started recording?
I like your question because whenever I record an album it is always because there is a vision behind it that comes from God. I don’t ever record anything just for the sake of recording. On this occasion, my desire was to put key words of faith and hope in the listener’s mouth.
The title itself is a statement of faith: Viviré [I will live], which comes from Psalm 118:17 that says: “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” Because of the pandemic, we are living in a time when death is in people’s mouths. And people are afraid to die.
Believers need to be declaring the life that is in Jesus Christ, and that not even death can separate us from His love. We need to live in faith and not in fear, and declare, “I will live to proclaim the wonders of the Lord.”
Another song on the album is about Psalm 23 which says, “I shall not want.” I also had the opportunity to record with Lilly Goodman a song that declares: “It is possible.” Jesus said, “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23). So, all the songs follow this line of proclaiming words of faith, instead of paying so much attention to the spirit of death.
Many of us forget that for those who have been saved by faith in Jesus Christ, even death means being received into the arms of the Father, in glory, where they will live eternally healthy. My mother died of cancer, but the moment she died, she entered into eternal life completely healthy. When we look at it from God’s perspective, even death is a victory.
What makes this new album special for you personally?
We finished this album right after an open heart surgery that I had because of a blockage in my arteries. Before going into surgery, I had to declare by faith: “I will live.” As you see, the Lord gave us the victory. Now I have a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of energy. In fact, I didn’t know how much that heart problem was affecting me until now, when I can feel the big difference.
For me, this album is part of the experience and evidence that I lived, that I am still here, for whatever purpose the Lord wanted to preserve my life. I still have something to say. I still have something to sing.
If you could fulfill your biggest dream for this album, what would that be?
Of course, it would be that someone would know that Jesus Christ is the only source of our life, that He is the only source of our hope. My desire is for people to know Him, not religiously, but personally. That they may have a relationship with Him. There are many people who just have a religion and go to church, and do a lot of things hoping to please God through their own efforts. But that is not what saves us.
The only thing that is going to save us is the sacrifice that Jesus made for us and the blood that He shed. I want people to have the experience of surrendering their lives to Him completely and having a personal relationship with Him.
The Route 66 God Loves You Tour continues Thursday in Flagstaff, Arizona, and Saturday in San Bernardino, California.
