Michael W. Smith opened his heart during a Saturday evening concert in late February. The best-selling male artist in Christian music describes his “I’ll Lead You Home Tour” as his “strongest evangelistic effort.”

“The whole show is multimedia, powerful stuff,” Smith said. “I give an invitation at the end of the show that is very emotionally heavy. I mean, this stuff is powerful. The possibilities are endless with the 60-foot projection screen.”

Smith is supporting his 11th album I’ll Lead You Home, which debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard charts. The emotional release was certified gold after two months, surpassing six million career album sales.

“There’s no underlying theme on the record,” Smith explained. “I didn’t care if it was commercial, I did this album for myself. I was thinking that I couldn’t do anything right. Then one night in the studio it hit me: God is crazy about me. I realized that I don’t have anything to be down about. It was a very spiritual moment, and I really wanted to write about it.”

Smith describes God’s message clearly, urging those who are afraid to “let God lead you home.” A collaboration of similar messages have nominated Smith for yet another Grammy. The singer/songwriter has been awarded an American Music Award, a Grammy, seven Dove Awards and was also named one of the world’s “50 Most Beautiful People” by People magazine.

“The American Music Award I won in 1992, for 1991, has been my most prized award,” Smith said. “They are done by the public, and I was surprised that I was nominated. When I won, I couldn’t believe it.”

Smith’s songwriting ability has produced 12 No. 1 Christian radio hits, including “Place in This World,” “I Will Be Here For You” and “Somebody Love Me.”

“Friends,” recorded in 1983 on Smith’s Grammy-nominated debut Michael W. Smith Project, continues to be the sentimental favorite for high school graduations and farewell celebrations all over the world.

“I don’t get tired of singing it,” he admitted. “It is overwhelming how it refuses to die. I wish I could write songs like that more often.”

The artist, who holds three slots in Billboard’s Top 25 Christian albums of all time, has been doing his part in witnessing to God on and off the stage.

“I have had some great chances, especially with Geffen,” Smith explained. “I wasn’t liked at first, so I never said anything. Once I began to earn their trust, they all wanted to talk about the messages in my music and stuff.”

On a larger scale, Smith has been using this same strategy, coined as the “crossover” technique, to get his message out to a broader audience. His success has paved the pathway for other Christian artists such as PFR, DC Talk and Jars of Clay, the opening act in Smith’s tour.

“I don’t see a wave of Christian artists across the pop charts, but rather more of a rise in Christian groups,” he said. “I heard Jars of Clay six months ago, and I was like, we need to take them out with us. They are good guys. It’s funny to think that they have grown up to my music. I am old enough to be their father. It’s great.”

Smith’s musical career dates back to the days of leading his Kenova, W.Va., church choir. After a Christian childhood, Smith was sidetracked into a life of drugs. In October of 1979, a minor nervous breakdown led Smith back to God. A day later, Smith joined the Christian group Higher Learning as a pianist.

Four years later, Smith found himself touring as Amy Grant’s keyboard player and as an opening act on her “Age to Age” tour. Smith has since joined Grant on three other tours, continuing to win a number of awards. Campus Life has awarded Smith “Best Male Vocalist” for four years in a row.

On I’ll Lead You Home, Smith teamed up with i2 (Eye) producer/musical collaborator and friend Wayne Patrick to portray his personal hardships and spiritual uplifting.

Produced by Patrick Leonard (Madonna, Kenny Loggins), the album was recorded at the legendary Caribou Ranch in the Colorado Rockies. A rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” and the first single “Straight To The Heart” add to the spiritual intensity on the album.

“My favorite part of the show is when I come out into the middle for an acoustic set,” Smith added. “I love coming to Iowa. We shot the ‘Big Picture’ tour in Des Moines 10 years ago. There was a huge storm; I’ll never forget the experience.”