Making a Point

April 12, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Point of Grace’s cookbook

The adage “you can’t rush greatness” is normally true, but there are notable moments when genius seemingly strikes on command.

Take for instance Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 hit “Dancing in the Dark,” which he begrudgingly wrote on the spot after being told “Born in the U.S.A.” needed a lead single. Recently, contemporary Christian act Point of Grace went through a similar experience regarding the title track of its latest album, “A Thousand Little Things.”

“It’s a song that we wrote in the 11th hour due to the fact we were listening to a lot of our songs and they were very deep and big ballads,” said Leigh Cappillino, calling from Nashville. “We just wanted to do something that is not loaded with this theological bent, but that it’s just things that we’re thankful for. So that’s how we started the day off. I want to write a song about things that make me happy. And we just started writing a list. That’s how that song came about. We had no idea it would be the first single. It’s funny how it all landed.”

Since forming at Ouachita Baptist University 20 years ago, the Grammy-nominated group has sold more than 7 million albums, earned 24-consecutive No. 1 singles (“Steady On,” “The Great Divide,” “Circle of Friends” and more) and won 13 Dove Awards.

However, the outfit’s most recent Dove Award wins in 2011 — for Song of the Year (“There Is Nothing Greater Than Grace”) and Album of the Year (“No Changin’ Us”) — stand out for the group because they marked a new chapter in Point of Grace’s story.

For the longest time, the outfit was Cappillino, Shelley Breen, Denise Jones and Heather Payne, but in 2008 the latter decided to leave. Point of Grace forged on as a trio, with “No Changin’ Us” marking that change.

“That CD was a birth of the three of us feeling good about our new sound and as well as being moms and wives,” Cappillino said. “Living more of life and having a little bit more to say that’s not just bubble gum but that has a lot of depth to it. That record is very special to me, and it’s an easy connection to this next record. We feel comfortable in this trio’s shoes.”

Both albums also are stylistically similar, exploring bluegrass, country, pop and gospel elements while featuring the act’s intricate harmonies. Fans can witness all of the above and more Sunday, when Point of Grace comes to Stambaugh Auditorium.

“We’ve got 700 songs, and out of that there are 28 or 30 songs that people get offended if you don’t do,” Cappillino said. “So we whittle that down to songs we put in the show that remind people of the past, but we also stand very firm on staying current. We’ve grown up with our audiences, and our shows are very family oriented, family friendly. We’re not going to have a mosh pit or anything like that. We’re trying the Donny and Marie, if you will, out on the road. We have something for everybody.”

While having a little bit country, little bit rock ’n’ roll makes sense, the mosh-pit idea is mind-boggling. What exactly would a Point of Grace concert mosh pit look like?

“I don’t know, but it would vary in age,” Cappillino said. “I’m not sure the 60-year-olds would be able to hang in with the 15-year-olds.”

Perhaps it’s best Cappillino promises there will be no moshing.

“OK, I promise,” Cappillino said, laughing.