The Newsboys are back, and like any classic, they're only getting better with age. With their newest album, "Step Up to the Microphone," this dynamic group from Australia has crystallized a surprisingly clear vision of what their sound, and more importantly their mission, as a band is.

"I think we all went through our own revival," said lead sing Peter Furler. "There were a lot of things that were revealed to us, and the consequences of that come out in our music I think." The album that has resulted from this personal revival has a sharper edge and a much deeper spiritual cut than anything that has come from these five musicians before. But it is not just the message that has matured. With this newest offering the Newsboys seem to have come completely into their own sound; a sound that is not necessarily a change from what they had before, but more the rich essence of the music they have always played.

"I think what I like best is that the whole album sounds like Newsboys. There is a lot of originality. It isn't a Christian version of anything," Peter said.

There's also a new voice stepping up to the microphone on this album, though it is one that fans are already familiar with. Peter Furler has come out from behind the drum set to take over as lead singer for John James, who left the band after their "Take Me to Your Leader" tour. John left, Peter said, because of the strain of life on road and the toll it was taking on his family. "He's been on the road for 12 years, and that really takes its toll on everybody," Peter said. "I think this is the best decision for him and for his family. They are both from Australia, he and his wife, and they really missed it."

With the new sound has come new purpose. The Newsboys as a band have dedicated themselves and their upcoming tour to encouraging young people to "Step Up to the Microphone" and go on mission trips. "Our motive behind missions isn't to change Ecuador or anything, it is to change the visitor," Peter said. "It is to change the church."

Each guy in the band has seen the changing power of a mission trip first hand. Several of them have gone on mission trips of their own, and recently the entire band traveled to Panama to serve God together. "The trip really changed my perspective on life in general," said band member Jeff Frankenstein. "In the end, I think it changed me just as much as anyone our team was able to reach"

All the Newsboys share these personal experiences in a booklet they produced to help youth pastors encourage their youth groups to consider missions. They've partnered with Teen Mania, Third Day and The Waiting to put together a powerful message that they will carry to the nation on their 60-city tour this fall.

So what's next for the Newsboys? Never ones to sit still for long, they transitioned almost immediately from producing their album to practicing for their tour, which will keep them very busy for the next few months. After that Peter said several of them will pursue some individual projects. But not to worry, there are more albums to come from this Aussie band we have all come to know and love. "We're just getting started," Peter said.

From www.parable.com, '98