While the book contains a blend of the lyrics from the platinum albums Almost There's best-selling song I Can Only Imagine with compelling and emotional stories from many who have had the song affect their lives, the decision to include the letter from Lt. Col. Piek was made just as the book was going to press. Due to this, J Countryman took extra measures to include the letter, feeling that the timing of such a story was key to the events going on in our world, and would be a vital addition to the book.
In an excerpt from the letter, Lt. Col. Pieks' words continue to remind us all of the amazing role music can play in people's lives:
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"A few nights ago, we lost our first soldier to hostile fire - an improvised explosive device, or IED as they've become known. A friend of the soldier who died sought me out right after the incident. We talked and prayed, and comforted each other. When I finally got to my bunk that night, I played "I Can Only Imagine" until the batteries ran out in my CD player...."
Hundreds of copies of the single have been sent over to Iraq, of which Lt. Col. Piek has been distributing to soldiers for comfort. As Piek also comments in his letter, ~ "The boxes of CDs that you sent to us in Mosul arrived about two weeks ago, and we've begun distributing these to our soldiers.~ In distributing them, it has given me an opportunity to tell my story of how MercyMe's "I Can Only Imagine" touched me. The CDs have brightened many Soldiers' spirits."
MercyMe also had the opportunity to perform recently at the Tribute To Heroes Event at Ft. Hood, which recognized over 50,000 soldiers, some currently fighting in Iraq, including the Ft. Hood Troop which captured Saddam Hussein. Following their performance, MercyMe was on hand to meet the troops, sign CDs, etc., which turned out to be a very emotional experience for the band.
"Our experience at Ft. Hood was incredibly humbling," commented MercyMe's lead singer Bart Millard. "It was awesome to perform in front of a crowd of heroes who have been through so much more than what any of us can begin to fathom. Afterwards we were able to meet many of the soldiers and their families, which to us was an honor, but when they would tell us how our music had helped them cope with all the death and loss around them, and to that effect even calling us heroes, well, that was too much to take. We were like, 'we're in a band, man, we're no heroes, you guys are the heroes!'"
After a record-breaking 2003, a recent entry on Billboard's Top 200 Chart at #12 for their new album UNDONE, and new single Here With Me climbing the radio charts, INO Recording artist MercyMe and their members swept the 34th Annual GMA Music Awards, garnering 4 Doves including Group and Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. MercyMe became one of the fastest-selling new artists in Christian music history with their release of ALMOST THERE in the fall of 2000. The project features the multi-genre hit, I Can Only Imagine, which reached the top 4 on mainstream AC, and top 25 on both the CHR/Pop and Hot AC chart. Almost There has been certified platinum and remained on the Billboard Top 200 for nearly 100 weeks. Their follow-up album Spoken For has been a consistent top-seller and is certified Gold.
