'It is wonderful to see the Catholic Church so alive' Luke Smallbone on faith, family, and the future of For King & Country
- online3895
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Quoting Mother Teresa and sharing hopes for revival, Luke Smallbone from Christian band For King & Country spoke of the band's new music and new vision in a fascinating interview with James Harrison, trustee of One Hope Project and CREW Trust — and huge fan of For King & Country.
Christian band For King & Country, the quadruple Grammy‑winning duo of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, has become one of the most dynamic acts in contemporary Christian music, known for its high‑energy performances and inspirational storytelling.
Speaking on a video call to Luke Smallbone, who was born in Australia and based in Nashville, he greeted me warmly, quickly remarking he has “joked for many years that the Charismatic Catholics have it the most right.” He added: “It is wonderful to see the Catholic Church so alive.” His openness set the tone for a conversation which moved easily between faith, family, and music.
The band’s connection with the UK has grown stronger in recent years. Their film, ‘Unsung Hero’, premiered in London last June, followed by their spectacular Drummer Boy Christmas concert at the O2 Arena. After those performances, Luke and Joel announced they would take a year off from touring. Reflecting on that decision, Luke explained they were having a coffee in England for their film premiere when they discussed taking a year of not touring to prepare for the next 3 or 4 years.
Speaking of a love for family
The fruit of that time away is already evident. For King & Country recently released their new single ‘World on Fire’, the first glimpse of a forthcoming album. Much of ‘Unsung Hero’ tells the story of the Smallbone family’s struggles when their father lost everything whilst promoting a music tour in Australia. Luke recalled those difficult days, vividly remembering not having money and sleeping on the floor. Yet he sees that season as confirmation of his love of family. Quoting Mother Teresa, he reflected: “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”
Luke added: "I think that we over complicate sometimes what it means to follow Jesus. We actually make it hard. And Jesus is basically like, hey, you know, love me and love the person that's next to you."
Watch the video here of ‘World on Fire’, the recent single by For King & Country:
'God cares about the small, little things in your life'
The film ‘Unsung Hero’ resonated deeply with audiences, including my own family. One of my daughters was inspired by the Smallbones’ family prayer wall, and has since created one in her own home with her husband and daughter. Luke was moved to hear this, affirming that God’s provision often shows up in the small, everyday ways. He said:"I could almost weep over the idea of contemplating God's faithfulness in my life. God cares about the small, little things in your life."
For Luke, music bypasses the head and goes straight to the heart and he therefore hopes that people absorb the songs and think about their eternal destination. Sharing his hope to see revival in his lifetime, he said: "My hope for music has always been to be a soundtrack to people's lives. I think this next record, I hope it [will] be the soundtrack of revival."
Fans of For King & Country will recognise the band’s frequent use of battle and military imagery in their videos and performances. Luke laughed when asked if this is a reflection of what is happening in the world or simply an excuse to dress up. “A bit of both! Dress for the job that you want—if I’m going to slay things in the Spirit,” he said.
He believes there is always a battle going on and, as Christians, we can be part of something worth fighting for. Our conversation even touched on cricket, with Luke enthusiastically acknowledging his interest in the Ashes series between Australia and England. “I’m so pleased you asked me—only yesterday I was talking to my cousin about it,” he said, his Australian roots shining through.
As for returning to the UK, fans won’t have to wait too long. Luke confirmed that For King & Country will be at Big Church Festival in 2026, a highly anticipated event that will mark another milestone in their relationship with British audiences.
Watch the full interview with James below.
