Jennifer Knapp wrote songs about her faith before she realized that there was a Christian music industry catering to the same thing.

"I had no idea it even existed," she said of Christian music, having come to music through the Indigo Girls, R.E.M. and the country music her parents favored.

"To know that community was already there strengthened my want and my desire to communicate my faith through music," she said, calling from her Jaguar as she navigated Los Angeles traffic.

After two albums, "Kansas" -- named after her home state -- and "Lay It Down," Ms. Knapp is arguably at the forefront of that community.

The 26-year-old singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer was in the smoggy city for the Grammy Awards. "Lay It Down," was up for the Rock Gospel Album Grammy.

"I’m honored to represent our community," said the singer, who performs Tuesday at Grove City College. "I think we’ve come to the table with some really great artists."

Petra took home the award for "Double Take." Smalltown Poets, Switchfoot and Third Day, who performed at the college last year, also were nominated.

The Grammy nomination was her first, but she’s a decorated Dove Award winner. She won the 1999 Dove for New Artist and Rock Song for "Undo Me," and was nominated for the 2000 Dove for Female Vocalist of the Year.

Each award organization -- National Association for Recording Arts and Sciences for the Grammys and the Gospel Music Association for the Doves -- have different constituencies. The Grammys are more peer-derived, while the Doves are open to the Christian music industry, even people not associated with music, she said.

"There’s a lot of value on both sides," she said.

Just to be nominated for a Grammy is an honor, Ms. Knapp said, and she’s wondering if the wider scope of the Grammys will impact her career.

"I’m interested in seeing if it changes my perception of life. Very little has changed my perception of life."

Leaving college for music, Ms. Knapp hit the road and didn’t leave it for very long except to record "Kansas" in 1998 and "Lay It Down" in 2000.

Last year, she actually took three months off and only performed 145 shows, the lowest number in three or four years.

"I was jumping for joy for that," she said of the less-demanding schedule. "Usually, I’m gone some 200 days. Frankly, I haven’t had enough time to go to the bathroom when I want to go.

"I’m definitely moving toward the point of slowing down. At the same time, I’m willing to work hard. I want to get on with the domestic side of life and balance it with the creative side."

The willingness to work hard is evidenced in her latest tour, which started Thursday: 40 shows in 60 days. It’s her third sojourn behind "Lay It Down."

Ms. Knapp, who bought a house last year in Tennessee, is talking about slowing down at a time most artists would want to speed up.

She’s on her first headlining tour behind an album that has already sold well and falling into the sights of major record companies.

She toured on the secular Lilith Fair, earned endorsements from Tommy Hilfiger and Taylor Guitars, and allowed her music to be used on the television shows "Felicity" and "The Real World."

Even with crossover success, she’s not looking for mainstream stardom. She wants her music to be available in secular outlets, while it retains her Christian beliefs.

"There are people who believe the same as I do and never visit a Christian bookstore," she said.

The long-, dark-haired singer said she has been approached by mainstream record labels and isn’t against leaving the independent Gotee Records. But none of those who have approached her "believe what we believe in," she said.

Gotee is headed by Toby McKeehan of the ground-breaking Christian group DC Talk. Ms. Knapp said she has come to rely on McKeehan for guidance in music, business and personal concerns.

After April, Ms. Knapp has only festival shows booked so she can concentrate on recording an album, which she is already announcing will be released in December.

For all the success of "Lay It Down," which has included a fair amount of critical acclaim, Ms. Knapp seems to want to prove something to those who said it showed she was in a sophomore slump.

Ms. Knapp has written new songs dealing with who Christ is and views of his sacrifice, but she’s short of a theme to tie it together.

Change is not new to Ms. Knapp. The title track of "Lay It Down," one of her personal favorites, showed she’s willing to take a fresh look at an old concern.

"It’s a repentant type of song but it’s not as dark as the repentant songs I have had in the past," she said. "It has a lot brighter outlook."

She singled out "Usher Me Down" as another highlight.

"It reminds me of God’s beauty and sometimes I take him far too casually," she said.

Fans have latched onto "Into You," which reminds many of the songs on "Kansas," and "A Little More," which has been a huge hit for her.

"It was the first single and hasn’t died in the hearts of our audience," she said.

Ms. Knapp’s concert will be at 7 p.m. in Crawford Auditorium. Bebo Norman and Justin McRoberts also will perform. Information: 458-3256.

On the Net:

www.jenniferknapp.com