After more than 15 years of success in the Christian music industry, the female trio Point of Grace is casting its musical net to a wider audience.

Two of the group's songs, "I Wish" and "How You Live," found spots on country radio and country music charts a few years ago, and as the women go to work on their next studio album, members say their fans can expect to hear both country and Christian in their new work.

"It's the same Point of Grace that has always been," Shelley Breen said, "but we're spreading our arms a little wider to include the country audience."

Breen, Denise Jones and Leigh Cappillino are in the beginning stages of creating an album that will sound both Christian and country.

"At first, I didn't know if they would be able to live on the same record," Breen said of the two genres.

But with recent hits in country music such as Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel," Breen said there seems to be room for them on the country charts.

They first saw an opportunity to expand their audience when "How You Live," from their 2007 album, found its way onto the country airwaves. They went back to the studio and recorded a deluxe edition of the album with two new songs, one of which also broke onto the country charts.

"It wasn't intentional," she said, "but we were really excited when it did get some acceptance in that format."

After 15 years in the business, Breen said it's nice to explore a new music genre and have the opportunity to reach more people with their music.

On top of integrating a new sound into their music, Point of Grace also has been getting used to becoming a trio in the past year. Member Heather Payne retired in 2008 to spend more time with her family.

Breen said the reduction in numbers altered their sound since they had to reconfigure all of the songs from four- to three-part numbers.

In particular, Payne sang lead on their first country hit. Now they've adjusted, and while the sound might be different, Breen said they've gotten a good response.

"Because we've been around a long time, being different is not a bad thing," she added.

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