 Christian singer, songwriter and recording artist Chris Driesbach will be in concert at St. John's Lutheran Church in Whitewater Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon March 7th at 3:30pm. He presently also serves Crown of Life Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Orleans as their musician. Chris played music professionally in casinos, lounges, and clubs on the west coast from Arizona to Alaska in the 80’s and 90’s. The Holy Spirit brought him to faith in Jesus Christ as His Savior in 1995, while he lived in Anchorage, Alaska. What started out as an argument on Chris’ part with Pastor James Oldfield of Faith Lutheran Church, ended as a 22-week Basic Teachings of the Bible Class in which the Holy Spirit worked through God’s Word to bless Chris in his new faith. “I can’t explain how grateful I am for the result!” says Driesbach.
Crown of Life’s church buildings were almost destroyed in late August 2005 when flooding caused by hurricane Katrina dumped 4 and a half feet of muddy seawater into the church, fellowship hall, and the parsonage. Chris was one of the first to enter the church after the water went down 2 weeks later. “I have to say I really thought that as a church we were done,” commented Driesbach. “I was so wrong! God’s love has poured over our church through the overwhelming kindness of individuals, churches, and our church body. I wish I could tell you what it's like for us to have been recipients of all this care and love,” added Driesbach, “Completely amazing, awesome, and impossible to comprehend.”
Chris played music for all the builders and their wives who camped out in the gutted church building. “I loved doing it,” said Chris, “I played songs that I'd written about Crown of Life, the pastor, the choir, my own faith, and Katrina. I was very encouraged by the builders' response to music both times that I played for them.” Thus began what Chris calls the “most fun I’ve ever had in my life – a never-ending tour for Jesus!” In the last 3 1/2 years Chris has played more than 600 concerts for some 425 WELS Lutheran churches in 33 states.
Driesbach lost all his musical equipment in the flood following Katrina, but generous Lutherans donated money to help Chris replace it all. “I have some really wonderful new gear. I have a great desire to go sing for the nice people who've helped us so much, and have touched me so wonderfully, to say thanks, to meet them. I'd like for my music to encourage them, make them feel better, maybe strengthen faith in some cases. Perhaps my songs about God’s Word might even help bring someone to faith in Jesus.”
Chris wrote many of his songs with that in mind. “I often think about people who may be now as I once was before I met Pastor Oldfield in Anchorage, people without saving faith, without the clear conscience that only faith in Jesus and his body and blood can give. It's a tough way to live, and I can never forget the relief I felt when I knew God didn’t condemn me for my sinfulness, thanks to Jesus!”
Chris has long dreamed of a career as a Christian musician. Churches around the country have made him feel very welcome. His 4th CD “Let Christ Be Known,” a new collection of original Christian songs was released in March 2009. A 5th recording, “Hymns for Him – comfort for you!” is a collection of 16 of Chris’ favorite hymns sung with guitar and piano and was finished in October 2009.
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