JFH News: Mark Bishop Releases Grandkids Collection

Mark Bishop Releases Grandkids Collection

NEWS SOURCE: Sonlite Records
August 15, 2025

Arden, North Carolina (August 15, 2025) — When Southern Gospel favorite Mark Bishop recorded his song, “Grandkids,” he didn’t have more in mind than celebrating the “‘new’ love” brought by the arrival of his first grandchild. But as it became clearer that this creation had touched listeners in a unique and powerful way, he realized that the special joy — and challenges — of rearing children is a theme that has run like a bright, colorful ribbon through his ever-growing catalog of songs. Now, Sonlite Records has gathered some of the most memorable of these into a special collection: Grandkids.

“Someone pointed out to me that I write a lot of songs about family,” notes Bishop. “As I look back through the years I realize that that is true. Maybe that is because the deepest love that we feel in this life is often with our family. Our husband or wife… our moms and dads… brothers and sisters... our kids… our grandkids… our hearts are connected in a way that follows us through a lifetime.”

Sure enough, after the opening “Grandkids,” Bishop turns to the earliest days of childhood — and to a recording from decades ago — with “Grow Up, Baby, Good and Strong” and its opening children’s chorus, and then a moving meditation on “a parent alone” in “The Refrigerator Door.” With “Sometimes God Whispers,” the tempo turns lively, offering the reassurance of its powerful chorus:

I believe God loves us; I believe God cares
I can feel Him in my heart, in my soul, I can feel Him in the air
I see the fingerprints of God upon creation. I can see Him everywhere

Watch Mark Bishop's "Grandkids" music video.

And after the misty-eyed remembrance of “I Remember Her Well” — “the hardest thing a dad ever does is give his girl away,” he offers in the song’s uplifting bridge — Bishop closes the set with an unexpected and welcome gift in the previously unreleased “Lightning Bug,” a buoyantly whimsical tale about a firefly that reaches its apex with a valuable reminder for young and old alike:

When you hide your light, you're harder to find
No matter the circumstance, let your light shine

“Sometimes the simplest examples are the best examples," notes Bishop. "When I was a kid, going to church with mom and dad, I can remember singing, 'this little light of mine… I’m gonna let it shine…'"

“We were in the studio and ended up with a little extra time to record something just…'fun,'" he continues. "I had this song that I had written for my daughters when they were still in school. It’s about a lightning bug that learns the valuable lesson of letting your light shine, in this case, literally. We had a lot of fun with the different voices and the story is just plain cute. I hope it’s something that parents, grandparents, and kids alike can enjoy together.”

“I’m proud to release this special EP that celebrates our connection with family,” Bishop concludes. “God’s had a lot of great ideas… and one of His best has to be family.”

Listen to Grandkids HERE.

About Mark Bishop
Mark Bishop is a Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning Christian music artist who resides in east-central Kentucky with his wife Carolyn. In 2024, Mark celebrates a forty-year career in Gospel Music as a recording artist and songwriter.

A music reviewer once said, “Mark Bishop’s music gives us the glasses to see the bigness of God in everyday happenstance.” Linda, an Amazon reviewer said simply, “You just need Mark Bishop’s music in your life.”

In 1984, along with his father and brother, The Bishops began a recording and touring career that would span seventeen years, reaching millions for Christ. The family enjoyed appearances on popular TV programs such as TNN’s Nashville Now, Crooke and Chase, The Grand Ole Opry, The World Today with John Hagee, The Bill Gaither Homecoming video series and many more. They were blessed with twenty-seven Top 40 songs, numerous #1 songs, along with countless awards and industry recognitions.

Many of the group’s most popular songs were penned by Mark. He continues to be a prolific songwriter today, writing music for his own recordings, and other artists such as Brian Free and Assurance, The Kingdom Heirs, The Kingsmen, Legacy Five, Allison Durham Speer, and many others.

Mark’s solo career began after the family group retired in 2001, with that yielding more chart-topping and #1 songs. Mark was voted “Soloist of the Year” in 2005 at the Singing News Fan Awards. In 2020, Mark’s “Beautiful Day” album was a Top-5 Grammy nominee for “Best Roots Gospel Album”. In 2022 he was the recipient of the “J.D. Sumner Living Legend Award” from the readers of SGN Scoops Magazine.

About Crossroads:
Crossroads is a market leader in the Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, and Americana fields. Established in 1993, following the combination of Horizon Music Group and Sonlite Records, Crossroads now operates several divisions including Crossroads Label Group (Horizon Records, Sonlite Records, Mountain Home Music, Skyland Records, Pisgah Ridge Records, Crossroads Records, and Organic Records), Crossroads Distribution, Crossroads Radio Promotions, and Crossroads Recording Studios. Led by a strong executive team of Christian music and Bluegrass music veterans, Crossroads combines cutting-edge technology with creative innovation to connect fans with our artists’ music.

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