Follow Forward for an Audience of One
Adapted from a conversation with Alistair Noah on the Follow Forward Podcast.
In his book The Call, Os Guinness writes:
“Only madmen, geniuses, and supreme egoists do things purely for themselves. It is easy to buck a crowd, not too hard to march to a different drummer. But it is truly difficult—perhaps impossible—to march only to your own drumbeat. Most of us, whether we are aware of it or not, do things with an eye to the approval of some audience or other. The question is not whether we have an audience but which audience we have.”
He goes on to say:
“A life lived listening to the decisive call of God is a life lived before one audience that trumps all others—the Audience of One.”
I was reminded of this phrase in a recent conversation with Alistair Noah, an artist and performer who is striving to use his gift primarily for the Audience of One.
From Familiarity to Reality
Alistair grew up in a Christian home. Church was part of life. Worship wasn’t unusual. But, as is often the case, there’s a difference between knowing about Jesus and truly encountering Him.
As he put it:
“I knew Him… I had a strong belief in Him. But over time, what the world is communicating—what I’m receiving on my phone, the games I’m playing—everything is communicating a different story.”
Then came a moment when his familiarity with Jesus became a real relationship:
“I experienced God’s presence… and I realised, now this is where I need to be. I’ve been searching, and nothing else can satisfy me like this right here.”
At that point, he recognised that following Jesus is not about going through the motions, but about orienting life around the Audience of One.
Integrating Faith and Creativity
As a Christ-follower, Alistair is pursuing an integrated life. His music-life is not separate from his Jesus-life. Rather, it is an expression of it.
“…music is flowing from my veins—it’s flowing from my life, it’s flowing from my soul… It’s like fragments of my soul and my process that I’ve put on display.”
This kind of vulnerability comes at a cost.
We’ve seen many artists become consumed by fame, losing their identity in the vacuum of celebrity, often leading to destructive patterns involving drugs, alcohol, and sex.
Rather than chasing adoration, affirmation, and the endless pursuit of more followers, Alistair offers a refreshing perspective that keeps him rooted in Christ:
“…it’s a lot of introspection. You’ve got to ask that question over and over: Why am I releasing this? Why am I doing this? Why am I pursuing this?”
These are not easy questions—but they are necessary ones.
Radical Reflection
There is great value in this kind of introspection—being willing to ask tough questions that may lead to radical decisions.
In focusing on the Audience of One, Alistair is willing to let go of anything that hinders his spiritual growth. One example he shared was his approach to social media:
“Be okay with stepping away from social media… because I know that where my mind is going is not following Christ’s way. And I’ve got to cut that off.”
This is what faithful followership looks like in the realities of the 21st century.
Searching for the Audience of One
I asked Alistair what he senses God is doing among young people in South Africa. His response was deeply encouraging.
He sees a growing spiritual hunger—young people searching for something meaningful, stable, and life-giving. Many are tired of the negative influences in culture and are drawn toward Christ, purpose, and authentic community.
They are looking for guidance, mentorship, and opportunities to use their gifts in ways that bring life—especially through the church and the arts.
“They want to believe in something firm and strong… There’s a great cry for young people just to find Christ… to find a place… to use their gifts.”
Impacting the One
Alistair’s authenticity is refreshing—especially in a culture where many will do almost anything to gain an audience. He is unwilling to compromise his primary identity as a follower of Jesus.
This shapes his approach to ministry. Rather than pursuing activity for its own sake, he wants his music, performance, and influence to genuinely impact this generation.
Just as he is living for an Audience of One, his priority is to impact one life at a time:
“We need to remember that if you want to leave an impact, it’s about the one.”
In the light of Alistair’s example, consider the following:
Who is the primary audience shaping my decisions right now?
What might God be asking me to let go of so I can live more fully for Him?
As Os Guinness underlines for us:
“The greatest deeds are done before the Audience of One, and that is enough.”
*To find out more about the Follow Forward Podcast, click here.
To listen to Clint’s interview, choose your preferred platform: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
