At 7 p.m. Thursday evening, June 9, Christian musician Chris Driesbach will be presenting his songs in concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at St John’s Lutheran Church, located at 603 McCleary St., Dowagiac.

This will be a one-hour concert telling about Driesbach’s journey from atheism to Christianity with Powerpoint slides. The concert is open to the public, and there is no admission charge.

Free babysitting will be provided (please RSVP ahead of time at 782-2229).  Refreshments will follow the concert.

Driesbach was homeless for six and half years and couldn’t have been happier about it. In June of 2006, he paid off his debts, sold his belongings and got in his car to travel the country.

Driesbach is a Christian musician, originally from New Orleans.  When Hurricane Katrina hit the city, however, the condo he was living in, as well as the church he was a member of, were flooded and nearly destroyed.

What followed is a story of rebuilding and rebirth as his church body rallied to restore the church buildings and many members’ homes. To Driesbach, that was reason enough to drop everything and hit the road to share his music and his message of thanks.

“It had long been a dream of mine to do this,” he said. “I’m very grateful to have had this amazing experience!”

Driesbach has performed over 2,500 concerts and worship services in more than 700 Lutheran churches in 41 states since then and recorded six CDs of original Christian music, including songs for children and a collection of favorite hymns.

In November of 2012, he and Cindi Smith were married in Huntsville Alabama.  Chris is no longer homeless and now tours about 20 weeks per year.

The road that led Driesbach to becoming a Christian is anything but average. He grew up in a dysfunctional household, he said, and turned to alcohol at 14 to cope. Before long, the coping mechanism became a long-lasting addiction. All the while, Driesbach was a proud atheist, renouncing the idea of a God and willing to debate that fact with anyone who disagreed.

That all changed one morning, however, when Driesbach woke up with the shakes — a slang term for withdrawal.

“It really scared me because I realized I was dying of alcoholism,” he said. “I was desperate and I was dying.”

Driesbach joined a 12 Step Program for alcoholics and has been sober for 29 years.  Nine years later he met a Lutheran pastor who invited him to a Bible Information Class.

“That absolutely changed my life,” he said, “but I don’t take credit for that.  God gave me the gift of faith working through his word.”

Musically, Driesbach’s songs are varied: country, reggae, folk and some rock and roll. The lyrics, however, are much more important, he said.  Each song is about his Christian life path, the inspiration he takes from the Bible and the hope he holds for the future.

“Now that God has given me a wife and a new home, my life is very full!  I’m so blessed,” said Driesbach. “And I thank God every day!”