Christian singer, songwriter and guitarist Lincoln Brewster walked away from a high-powered rock-n-roll career to serve Christ and others. He never looked back. Instead, he’s used his God-given talents to reshape the sound of worship music, having made a lasting impact on the entire genre. He will release his 8^th album, Oxygen, to fans on Aug. 19.

We recently interviewed him at our headquarters in New York City to learn a little more about the man behind the music.

In this Q&A, Brewster, senior worship pastor at Bayside Church in Granite Bay, Calif., shares his story and his heart for God.

ABS: Tell us about your early career.

LB: I was playing guitar and touring with Steve Perry (formerly of the band Journey) in Cincinnati. I was standing at the edge of the stage, playing at a concert. People were grabbing my legs, screaming and going crazy, and I remember looking up at the roof and saying: “I’m sorry God. I’m not using this talent for you.” People showed up for themselves. We showed up for ourselves. I saw the emptiness of the whole experience.

ABS: What happened?

LB: I moved back to Modesto, Calif., and got offered a job at a local church. I prayed for a week and during that time, I got four offers to go on tour. I talked to my pastor and said, ‘I am praying my face off, and I’m not hearing anything.’ My pastor said, ‘Sometimes the teacher doesn’t talk during the test.’ I knew at that moment what God wanted me to do. I took the job at the local church.

ABS: What did you do during that season in your life?

LB: I went from being served to serving others. I vacuumed. I ran sound for weddings on the weekends. A lot of people questioned my sanity, me being one of them. But three or four months into it, I was asked to lead worship for youth. A lot of songs in church were beautiful, but a little funky—and not in a good way. I’d think: ‘What if I redid the music and put a different package on it?’ I started to repurpose the songs and gave the music a little different spin.

ABS: Was there a significant song that made you feel like your music was going viral?

LB: Someone said I had a big part in shaping how workshop music sounds today. And I thought: ‘I did?” I take whatever God puts in front of me and I’m faithful to giving it my best effort.

ABS: Tell us about the making of your new album?

LB: Four days into the making Oxygen, my wife Laura was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer. I wanted to pull the plug on the album, but I felt God wanted me to keep going. The Bible tells us to trust, and I had to learn to do that in a new way. It was difficult. Many of the songs were forged in the midst of a lack of clarity.

ABS: Can you tell us more about that?

LB: I wrote “On Our Side” while Laura was in the hospital recovering from major surgery. I was with her at about 2 or 3 a.m., and I was writing the lyrics in her room. I was thinking: ‘Would this song mean anything to her?’ For the song to be meaningful, it had to be hopeful. I changed the whole message of “On Our Side” because of that experience. I think all of us would live differently if we believed that God has our back and that better days are ahead.

Watch the whole interview with Lincoln Brewster at ABSAtrium.com/live.