The sweet return home

COEUR d'ALENE — Chris Driesbach was homeless for six-and-a-half years and couldn’t have been happier.

In June of 2006 he paid off his debts, sold his home and belongings and got in his car to travel the country.

Driesbach is a professional Christian musician and songwriter who was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene. He played at several area nightclubs, including The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Later, he moved to New Orleans. When Hurricane Katrina hit, the condo he was living in and the church he attended were flooded and nearly destroyed. What followed is a wonderful 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 more than 2,500 concerts and worship services in more than 750 churches in 41 states since then, and recorded seven 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, Ala. Driesbach is no longer homeless and now tours about 26 weeks per year.

At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Driesbach will be adding his songs to worship at The Vine Church, which meets at Triple Play Hotel, 151 Orchard Ave. in Hayden.

The road to Driesbach becoming a Christian has been everything but average. Formerly a steadfast atheist, he struggled with alcoholism until he joined a 12-step program. Later he met a Lutheran pastor who invited him to a Bible information class.

"What I really wanted was to argue with him, but God won the argument! 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,” he said. "I thank God every day.”