MercyMe is an American contemporary Christian music band founded in Edmond, Oklahoma.

The band consists of lead vocalist Bart Millard, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul.

[1] The group first gained mainstream recognition with the crossover single "I Can Only Imagine", which elevated their debut album, Almost There, to triple platinum certification.

Singer Bart Millard met pianist James Phillip Bryson in Lakeland, Florida, after an invitation from his youth pastor.

They later met the guitarist Michael John Scheuchzer, who joined them, then moved to Oklahoma City.

The group was officially formed in 1994 in Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Unlike their first three major label albums, their earlier indie projects tended to orient more towards rock rhythms.

[7] The group's name, "MercyMe", originated during Millard's time as a youth ministry intern in Florida.

Concerned that her grandson was home whenever she called, Millard's grandmother would exclaim, "Well mercy me, why don't you get a real job?

The popularity of "I Can Only Imagine" and their meteoric rise led to their no longer leading worship at the conference.

[10] After signing with INO Records, Now known as Fair Trade Services, the band released its first major debut album, Almost There.

However, it was not until three years after its release that the song began to gain mainstream success,[6] topping the Billboard 200 sales chart for seven weeks,[11] and peaking at No.

[12] Spoken For earned the band three Dove Awards, but was to a certain extent overlooked by the attention that "I Can Only Imagine" was receiving in the mainstream markets at the time.

[13] In 2004, the band headlined the "Imagine Tour" with fellow artists Amy Grant and Bebo Norman.

[11] In addition to headlining the "Imagine Tour", MercyMe released their third major label album, Undone, which peaked at No.

In 2005, MercyMe launched a tour with Jeremy Camp, The Afters and Monk and Neagle in support of their album, Undone.

Upon wrapping up "The Generous Mr. Lovewell" tour, MercyMe was asked to perform the national anthem at a Dallas Cowboys game.

[23] Welcome to the New, the band's eighth studio album, was released on April 8, 2014 and is produced by David Garcia and Ben Glover.

In 2005, MercyMe participated in a benefit concert at Belmont University with various other country, gospel and contemporary Christian artists for the people affected by the Asian tsunami.

[33] In 2009, MercyMe conducted a tour in partnership with Compassion International and Imagine A Cure in order to raise money to help kids with diabetes through Imagine A Cure and people with medical needs around the world through Compassion International.

[34] On Saturday, August 8, 2009, at approximately 1:15 am in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the MercyMe tour bus was traveling through an intersection on a green light when an oncoming passenger vehicle made a left turn on red into the path of the bus, which resulted in a collision killing two passengers of the car and resulting in the vehicle's pregnant driver experiencing miscarriage from automotive trauma.

MercyMe was to perform at Six Flags St. Louis but the park issued a statement saying the show was rescheduled because the band was "involved in a vehicle accident in Indiana".

[37] "We continue to pray and ask your prayers for everyone affected by this accident, that God would bring healing, comfort, peace and understanding at a time when they are desperately needed,” the group said.