John Mark McMillan, the Christian Music Artist behind one of the most popular worship songs, "How He Loves," has announced that September will be his last music tour for a while.
The CMA artist announced the news on Facebook, stating that it's time for him to enter a new phase in life where music is no longer his full-time endeavor.
"I want to write books, pour into a new generation of creatives abroad, and focus on local projects," he wrote.
McMillan also confirmed that the economy and the current state of the music industry significantly impacted his decision to take a step back.
"Money has never been my primary motivation, but the financial burden of living in a world where music has little or no monetary value has made it hard to find a sustainable model," he said. "I’m not looking for sympathy, though. I understand your life is stressful too, but after 20 years, I have a chance to step away from some of the stress."
McMillan began his music career in 2002 and quickly gained notoriety from his song "How He Loves".
According to Worshipleader.com, the song became the anthem of a youth movement as McMillan recounted the story of his friend Stephen Coffey's death at a conference with over 70,000 young people. He reportedly wrote the song as an outlet to express the pain, anger, and frustration of losing his best friend.
During the conference, McMillan told how on one fateful night, his friend prayed something on the lines of: “I would give my life for these people that I love.”
Unfortunately, that very night, Coffey's life ended in a terrible accident. “I was in complete shock at my friend dying. I sat down and had a conversation with God about it, and that song, basically, popped out," McMillan said.
Over the years, McMillan has received multiple GMA Dove Award nominations for his work. His nominations include best "New Artist," "Rock/Contemporary Album," and "Worship Song" for his songs "How He Loves" and "Future/Past."
While he plans to take a step back, McMillan said music will always be a part of his life, and he does plan to make a few special appearances with friends for some shows.
"It’s been a beautiful 20 years, and you guys have been the best part," he said. "If you can make it to one of these final shows, I’d love to see you. Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement."
He listed his fall tour dates on his Facebook Page, which begin on Sept. 3 and end on Sept. 21 in his home state of North Carolina.