Faith in Practice

For as long as he can remember, music has been Matthew Raughton's life. Now he's hoping to use that passion to make a positive spiritual change in the lives of others.

With a firm handshake and shy smile, Raughton doesn't initially give off the expected persona of a record label executive. Dressed casually and clean-cut, he exudes a quiet confidence that puts strangers at ease, and the way he talks about music drives the point home better than any guitar riff or song lyric possibly could.

"Music has always been in my heart," Raughton says, drumming his index fingers on an office table. "It's a powerful, powerful tool that affects you whether you realize it or not."

That could easily serve as the mantra for the record label that Raughton has recently founded. Apostle Records, based in Raughton's hometown of Eastaboga, aims to provide a launching pad for area Christian bands ranging from rock and alternative to hip-hop.

"We're gonna do everything but gospel," Raughton says. "Not that there's anything wrong with gospel music. It's just not what the kids are into. It's not the way that they hear the message."

Christian music and the kaleidoscope of genres it encompasses has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. And just like its mainstream counterpart, Christian music sets its sights on younger generations, which is why having a local label founded by a 21-year-old has added meaning.

Raughton knows music, but he also understands what the youth of today are listening to.

"These guys are as much preachers off stage as on," he says. "They can get the message of Christian love out in a way that most preachers can't."

Since its founding, Apostle Records has a growing, diverse roster of Christian acts that includes rappers G-1, the hard rock group Catch Fire, alternative rockers Side By Side and the praise-and-worship group Newness of Life — all of which come from in and around Calhoun County and beyond.

"We want this to be a stepping stone for these bands," Raughton says. "We want to help them find a fan base, a following and them move on to bigger things."

In doing that, Apostle Records has a bare-bones approach to record production. Thus far, the bands have joined forces for a compilation disc promoting songs from all of the label acts, which are then handed out for free at concerts and various programs.

"Right now, we're doing it all as low-budget as possible," Raughton says. "And we're giving it all away … donations only."

But the music itself is merely a vehicle, Raughton says. The real aim is spreading the message

"The music is just a too," he says. "It's not the focus. God is the focus. It's to show the kids that you can have fun and worship, too — doing it all in a way that glorifies God."

To that end, Apostle Records is hoping to become more than just a record label. Raughton plans to take these bands with their spiritual message on the road under a ministry that's collectively being called StepOut '08. And rather than finding support from a particular church or denomination, the goal is for these festivals to be completely non-denominational.

"We're unapologetically Christian, but don't care a lot about tags — Baptist, Pentecostal, whatever. That stuff just creates a barrier," Raughton says. "What we want is to show the unification of Christ under one body. That's why we're not focusing on churches because most of those people have already been saved.

"We want to reach the lost and bring them back to Christ."

And they're hoping to do it all on love offerings. Raughton says that every dime donated to Apostle Records/StepOut '08 goes back into the ministry. He hopes to raise some $15,000 in order to purchase, among other things, a portable stage that will allow for shows to be set up anywhere and everywhere.

"That way we won't need a building, just an empty space," he says.

Unlike most record executives, Raughton's not staring down the barrel of boundless fortunes gained off the talents of others. Rather he's working hard, balancing his work remodeling homes with that of building a record label from the ground up. He knows he won't be wealthy … least not as defined by the size of his bank account.

"I'm broke, been broke and probably gonna stay broke. But I don't really care," he says with a wide grin. "It's about the music and the message of Jesus Christ. And what God has plans for … only He knows.

"But I see us reaching a lot of souls and planting a lot of seeds."

For more about Apostle Records/StepOut '08:

• Contact Matthew Raughton at 310-3446 or email Amy Raughton at Amy@apostlerecording.com

• Visit www.myspace.com/apostlerecording