Pastor Bob Beeman is the founder of  Sanctuary International, which began as a church in 1985. Its vision was to provide discipleship to the Christian metal movement that was just beginning. It has been on the cutting edge of Christian metal since that time. Today, Sanctuary International is a ministry, NOT a church, reaching out to the metal community worldwide. Pastor Bob, along with many on the Sanctuary International staff, work with Christian Metal festivals around the world.  An interview with heavy metal pastor Bob Beeman.

(TMR) Hello to you from ‘The Metal Resource’ Holland, how are things going there in the USA?

(B) GREAT! It’s been a busy summer.

(TMR) … and what about your health ? Because recently you wrote on your facebook-page that it all was a bit less, and travel cost a lot of energy ?

(B) My health has been improving, and my Doctors say that I am getting better, although I have a long way to go. But I am confident that I will be fine – and am preparing for the NEXT 60 years of my life 🙂

(TMR) Please tell us who is Pastor Bob ?

(B) Wow – I don’t think I have ever really been asked that question.. I think I am just a simple guy who loves the Lord profoundly.

(TMR) Have you always been a Christian ? (raised as a Christian)

(B) I became a Christian when I was 5 years old. And I felt the calling to be a Pastor when I was 6.

(TMR) And did you always listened to metal ?

(B) Well, no. Metal didn’t exist when I was growing up! But I always listened to whatever music was “on the edge.”

(TMR) What about your childhood (teenager years ? What kind of school / study has pastor Bob followed ?

(B) I grew up in a Christian home, with great parents who are still involved in ministry with me today. They are both 81 years old – and have been married for 61 years. My schooling has been extreme – with a lot of variety.. Everything from the Bible, to nutrition, to psychology, to music.

(TMR) Do you have any brothers / sisters ?

(B) I have two brothers and one sister. I am close to all of them. They are all younger than I am.

(TMR) Is Pastor Bob married/children ?

(B) I have never been married … BUT … I have thousands of children all over the world!

(TMR) Despite your age you are still very active. How does a average day look like for you ?

(B) I don’t think I ever have an “average” day. But most of my days are spent answering mail, counseling, working with the homeless, etc. When I am traveling, I am speaking at festivals and doing a lot of counseling and interviews.

(TMR) For the younger readers among us, please tell us something about ‘Sanctuary International’ and how it all began many years ago?

(B) Sanctuary started in 1985 as a discipleship outreach to the metal community. We are still doing that same thing with the same purpose today!

(TMR) You are also involved in a number of other activities / projects (including 3 minutes Sanctuary, The Bridge Bunch, etc.) What can you tell us about that?

(B) I am excited about the thousands of people who listen to my 3 minute Sanctuary devotions every day. I will begin this year to do a lot of new podcasts – this time VIDEO! The Bridge bunch is a ministry to the homeless that I started here in Nashville, Tennessee where I live. We are now serving food to 3,000 homeless people every month!

(TMR) When did you get your first tattoo ? And is there a story behind the tattoos, tell us please ?

(B) I got my first tattoo when I was 54 years old. I waiting a long time until I had a lot of stories to tell. Each of my tattoos tell a different kind of story about my life and my relationship with God. I don’t believe in getting tattoos that are just art. I am afraid that art always changes. For instance, I am VERY happy I didn’t get any tattoo’s during the DISCO era! But when you have tattoos that tell the best stories of your life, then you they are always meaningful to you!

(TMR) Name some of your favorite bands, and tell us why ?

(B) That is so hard to do. I have so many. And it depends on what kind of mood I am in. Remember, I am old! I grew up with Elvis Presley. So I like everything from Elvis to Crimson Moonlight!

(TMR) What is your favorite food and drink? (no idea why people always want to know that)

(B) I am very different with this. I am a VEGAN, which means that I don’t eat any meat or dairy products. So I enjoy a lot of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, etc. Even though I don’t look like it, I eat VERY well 🙂

(TMR) Is there a highlight (through the years) , that you will never forget ?

(B) There are so many. When I look back over the past (almost) 60 years of my life, I am so thankful for everything that God has done. But while most people are talking about “the good ol’ days” from the past, my best days are today and tomorrow! Even though pioneering Christian rock music for the past 40 years has been amazing, I am MOST excited about the things coming up in the future!

(TMR) And the worst thing was ? (if there is one)

(B) There have been some very difficult times in ministry. Times when people treat you unfairly – or the press writes things that are not true about you. I have had times when the churches have called me “the anti-christ” for bringing Christian rock music into their churches. But, even through all of that, God has been very faithful. I love him today – not because every day has been perfect, but because he has ALWAYS stood beside me during the difficult times.

(TMR) First record you bought?

(B) The first record I bought was probably The Beatles. Still one of my favorite bands today! Before that, my parents used to buy me a lot of records. They encouraged my music when they saw that I was going to be a musician as well. I began playing the piano when I was 5 years old – and by the time I was 8, I was playing the piano for church.

(TMR) What makes you laugh?

(B) That’s easy. EVERYTHING! I really enjoy laughing. It doesn’t take much!!

(TMR) Favorite movie(s)?

(B) My favorite all time movie was done in the 1950’s called “The Next Voice You Hear.” If you ever get a chance to see it, you should!

(TMR) What is the dumbest question you have ever been asked?

(B) This just happened that other day. Someone asked me if I was really a satanist trying to deceive Christians with the music. But I have been asked that a lot over the years!

(TMR) Do you have a life philosophy?

(B) YES! Love the Lord with everything you have. Trust Him, and allow him to guide your life! And when you do, life becomes an ADVENTURE!

(TMR) What is your all-time album top 5 ?

Revolver – The Beatles
A Night At The Opera – Queen
Cheap Thrills – Big Brother and the Holding Company
Only Visiting This Planet – Larry Norman
Dwelling Place – Funderburk Miner
Faith, Hope, Love – Kings X
Atomic Arena – Barren Cross

(Sorry – I couldn’t limit it to only 5!)

(TMR) Are you visiting many gigs by yourself and what do you listen to these days?

(B) No, I really don’t. I attend so many concerts when I travel, that I mainly focus on the homeless ministry when I am home in Nashville.

(TMR) Tell us about the hardrock/metal scene in your area please?

(B) I live in Nashville, so there is MOSTLY country music here. The hard rock scene is not a lot of metal. I am involved in a small degree here with it – but not as much as when I travel. I just cannot do it ALL the time 🙂

(TMR) How do you think about downloading music from the Internet?

(B) I think it is fine … as long as you pay for it! Here in the USA, we have services that allow you to stream any kind of music as much as you want to for a monthly fee. Like Spotify in Europe. I use that mostly!

(TMR) Pastor Bob thanks for your time and the interview, we wish you all the best ……Is there anything you wanna say at last? (any final statement ?)

(B) I just want to tell all my friends in Holland that I miss you all very much – and can’t wait to visit you again! Write a reply…

Pictures: pastor Bob in the ’80/’90’s & 2010/’11, also pictured are mr and mrs Beeman senior, Here they are preparing to feed the homeless under the bridge. They both do a lot of the cooking twice a week.  Click on the images above to enlarge

Check out this cool video:  Pastor Bob is playing piano at Night Of Metal Sept. 2010, Assen/ Netherlands

For more information on  Sanctuary International click below: