Christian Music's Biggest Moments in the '00s

Their 16-year run was filled with big events. Over the last few years, Delirious? touring highlights included closing for the Pope in front of a million people in Germany, headlining the 2004 Olympic Celebrations at the Omonia Square in Athens, Greece, headlining at SWR3's Arena of Sound 2004 music festival, where more than 80,000 fans filled the Schlossplatz in Stuttgart, Germany, playing in front of hundreds of thousands in India and touring with Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams and Matchbox 20.

After leaving a show in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a car carrying three teens turned in front of the MercyMe tour bus as it was going through an intersection. Both passengers were pronounced dead at the scene and the pregnant driver died at the hospital. Though the members of MercyMe were physically unhurt, the accident caused them a great deal of emotional pain.

Kyle Sweet, Michael's wife of 22 years, was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in February 2007. She fought for 25 months before succumbing to the disease in 2009.

Newsboys frontman Peter Furler stepped down in 2009 after 22 years and more than 2000 shows. Michael Tait, formerly of dcTalk, took his place at the mic, leaving Furler more time to write songs and produce future Newsboys projects.

In another one of those "Seriously?" moments, an Orange County, California group home counselor was suspended for six weeks without pay for exposing four teenagers to ten minutes of Christian music on the beach. Who knew that hearing a couple of Switchfoot songs on the beach could be considered a "religious activity?"

In 1983, Smitty released his first solo album. 25+ years later he has become one of the best-known names in Christian music. Michael W. Smith has won several Dove and GRAMMY Awards, has topped Billboard charts and has sold over 13 million CDs. He has founded a teen club as well as a record label and written several books.

One of the most jaw-dropping moments of the decade, Ray Boltz came out as a gay man after 33 years of marriage and four kids.

On July 4th, while the rest of the country was celebrating the holiday, Rev. Timothy Wright (known by many as the "godfather of gospel”), Betty (his wife of 37 years) and his 14-year old grandson, D.J. Wright were involved in a serious car accident. Betty and D.J. were killed in the accident, as was the driver of the car that hit them head-on. Rev. Wright suffered head injuries, a punctured lung and had several broken bones.

Nicole Sponberg (formerly of Selah) and her husband Greg put their 10-week-old son Luke to bed at the end of a normal day. When they went in to check on him a short time later, they found him not breathing. Paramedics were called but they couldn't resuscitate him. SIDS, which causes about 2,500 deaths per year in the United States, (according to the The American SIDS Institute) was the cause. This tragedy came a little over a month and a half after her brother (also a member of Selah) lost his daughter Audrey Caroline.

Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter, 5-year-old Maria, died at Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville after being accidently hit by a SUV in the driveway of the family's home. Adding to the tragedy is the fact that the SUV driven by her teenage brother. Apparently Maria was playing in the driveway and her brother didn't see her.