MyTurlock.com, Turlock Area Online Magazine

April 2008

Christian Music Artist
Chris W. Ritchie

I got the opportunity to interview Christian Music Artist Chris W. Ritchie. Chris moved to Turlock five months ago from a small suburb of Seattle, WA. He has a wife named Carly, a 2 year old son (Joshua) and another baby on the way. So what brings an up and coming Christian music artist to the town of Turlock? After getting to know Chris, I would have to say that he has a heart for worship and also has the desire to lead people to Jesus’ throne room. So I stand corrected; he’s not a Christian music artist. He’s a Worship Leader. Chris Ritchie’s desire is to see people walk in the fullness that is the normal Christian life. He believes that signs and wonders should follow us, and if we do not show the world the power of God at work in our lives, we are short-changing the Gospel. The Gospel is of Power not of mere words!
He was called 5 months ago to serve as the Worship Pastor at Harvest Christian Center. A lot of exciting things are coming up for the worship team that Chris is heading. They plan on recording a live worship album in August.
I was happy I got a chance to talk to Chris about his album. I think it’s a powerful testimony of who he is and what he stands for. If you would like more information about Chris W Ritchie and his ministry, check out his MySpace at
http://www.myspace.com/chriswritchieworship

US- When was the new album,” Let My Faith Arise” released?

CWR- It was released a year and a half ago. I really haven’t done any promotion on it. I’m not a really good self-promoter. Right now you can purchase it on the web site. I really haven’t shopped it, so I would really like to get a distributor.

US- When I first heard the album, I was blown away by the sound. The production was a lot better than some of the other self-produced demos or albums I’ve heard.

CWR- Well, I definitely wouldn’t call it a demo. When I recorded the album, it was produced by one of the major studio guys from the 80’s, Bob Brook. Bob has worked with Aerosmith, Bon Jovi and a lot of other big names in the music industry.

US- How did you get hooked up with him?

CWR- When I was living in Seattle, he moved down to help set up the sound and a recording studio for our church. He led worship in the past as well as running a recording studio. The church just happened to know him, so they brought him in. Me, being the worship pastor, I was the first project out of the studio. It was also a way to show other people in the industry what the church studio was capable of producing.

US- What category of music would you put this album in?

CWR- I think maybe a worship, pop rock. There are a lot of different styles on the album. For instance, The King Is Here has that contemporary rock sound with an awesome message. As far as the slow song, I really like I Am Wrecked. That’s the song that is getting national attention in the church scene. There’s an evangelist that travels the world and uses it for his alter calls. As far as churches playing my songs, I only know of one in Hawaii that is playing stuff that I have written years ago. Like I said, I haven’t been really promoting this album.

Click here to purchase CD,
"Let My Faith Arise"

US- So what made you want to relocate to Turlock?

CWR- I was hired at Harvest Christian Center as the Worship Pastor. I started about five months ago. I moved my family and just purchased a house. A lot of exciting thing are coming up for the team. We will be recording our first live worship album in August. We also have a Worship conference called River School for Worshippers coming up in June. You can go to www.harvestturlock.org for more information.

US- Share with us your vision for the Harvest Christian Center worship team?

CWR- Well, we are planning on recording our first church worship album this summer. It will be live and in-house during one of our conferences. I have a vision and desire to see us record one live album a year. The hope is that we will be on the front lines of modern worship in our style and in our writing. I see this thing going big.

US- Where do you see your ministry doing in five years?

CWR- It's hard to calculate exactly what my ministry will look like in five years. I have big dreams and promises from God and it often seems like those dreams shift a little - you know, get even bigger. I really want influence and I believe that is one of God's promises for me. I will say that I truly believe in five years I (and my ministry) will have major influence in the area of worship music as well as in the area of media. I'm not sure what that looks like but I believe God is beginning, even now, to open up those doors.