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Religion

Musician has message for all

Christian rock star Billy Buchanan will bring a softer version of his message with an acoustic show at a local church.

By SHERYL KAY
Published October 14, 2005

KEYSTONE - Most road trips, Billy Buchanan travels with several band members and their high energy electric guitars.

Saturday, however, listeners will enjoy a special evening of acoustic songs performed by the nationally acclaimed Christian rock star, as Buchanan brings his solo tour to Messiah Lutheran Church.

"This really isn't going to be a concert," said Pastor Scott Burmeister of Messiah Lutheran. "This is going to be a worship service with Billy."

Burmeister first heard Buchanan, and his band Fusebox, at a national youth conference in Orlando last year. What impressed the pastor most about the band was Buchanan's sincere passion for preaching through his music.

"They totally blew our kids away, including me," Burmeister said. "Billy's life story is something the kids can really relate to, and the realization of what Christ did for him is the message that really came across to everyone there."

Buchanan was the product of a divorced home with a father he describes as abusive. It was his mom who consistently tried to maintain a structured household, and took him as a youngster to church most Sundays.

Buchanan credits those early religious experiences with his road back to Christianity after many years of nonbelieving and shares this with his audiences through his songs.

"It's important for us to reach the youth of today where they're at, and speak to them on their own terms," Burmeister said. "One of the most effective ways to communicate with them in a way that's meaningful to them is with their music."

Daniel Eicholtz, 16, agreed that Buchanan's draw is his heartfelt religious enthusiasm, his talents as a musician and a singer, and his easy way of communicating with the younger generation.

Eicholtz of Citrus Park also saw Fusebox at the Orlando performance and said, "I've been listening ever since."

But Buchanan is not just for younger people, the 10th-grader said. His music spans many styles, from high-energy rock, to slower jazzy renditions, to tomorrow night's acoustic sound in an intimate church setting.

"This is going to be a very moving experience," Eicholtz said. "He can play the hard stuff, but the adults are definitely going to enjoy this."

Burmeister was so enamored with Buchanan and his ability to deliver a critical message that when it became apparent that Messiah Lutheran did not have funds allocated this year for such a concert, Burmeister took it upon himself to personally produce the performance. Several thousand dollars later, he shrugged it off, calling it a donation to the church.

"I'm hoping this might get other churches to beat the bushes and say, "Wow, this is something we can do, too,' " he said.

While Buchanan has written several original tunes that are well recognized in contemporary Christian music circles, he also will perform familiar worship songs such as Every Move I Make, More Love More Power and Open Up the Eyes of My Heart.

Contact reporter Sheryl Kay with any religion news at skreporter@hotmail.com

Tickets for Saturday's 7:30 p.m. performance are $10 for all ages, available at the church office, or at the door. All proceeds will go to the hurricane relief efforts for the Feed the Children Foundation. Messiah Lutheran is at 14920 Hutchison Road, just north of Ehrlich. For more information, call the church office at 961-2182.

[Last modified October 13, 2005, 08:20:12]