Aaron Shust tour coming to Cape Bible Chapel

This story has been edited to reflect the correct name of the church where the concert will take place.

The Aaron Shust Morning Rises tour, which has traveled nationwide, on Friday will come to Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

The Dove award-winning Christian singer and songwriter will be joined by Dove-nominated Mikeschair, Australian sensation Nathan Tasker and newcomer Lauren Daigle. Sponsored by Compassion International, the fall leg of the tour is in promotion of the "Morning Rises" album.

Greg Franklin, charged with concert promotion in the area, is thrilled to again have Shust in the area. Having seen Shust perform here twice before, Franklin said, "One of the reasons he is back here is that he did so well the last couple times. He is such a good artist and is good to listen to."

Franklin also said that "people in the area have followed him." But, he said, it is more than the artist's notoriety that draws people. His life story is no less a factor in the level of interest.

Aaron Shust will perform Friday at Grace Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau. (Submitted photo)

"The stories in his personal life are very interesting," Franklin said.

At the heart of Shust's music is a message of inspiration that comes from personal experience. Shust approaches his work not just as a Christian artist, but as a husband and a father who has had to call upon his Christian faith to overcome adverse circumstances.

Shust and his wife, Sarah, went through a period of testing when two of their three children dealt with serious illnesses as infants that caused them to rely heavily on their faith in God. Those times gave birth to the songs of "Morning Rises."

"It's therapeutic to my soul to sing these words when life is tumultuous," Shust has said. "I need to write and find songs that I want to sing, songs that proclaim God as faithful, songs that proclaim God as larger than our situation and our circumstance. I want to sing songs that glorify Him and lift His name up."

Concert attendees likely will hear such songs Friday night.

Shust publicist Debra Akins said, "It's an opportunity for people to get to experience an incredible night of music with one of the most respected songwriters and worship artists in the Christian music industry. Aaron's songs are sung by congregations all over the country every Sunday morning."

What makes the tour special is that Shust will not be alone.

"On this tour, he's sharing the stage with a gifted group of fellow musicians -- pop-rock band Mikeschair, Nashville-based Australian singer-songwriter Nathan Tasker and a very talented newcomer, Lauren Daigle," Akins said, describing the team as "an exceptional group of artists who have come together on this tour to create a really special evening for the audience."

Mikeschair has toured with artists such as MercyMe, Newsboys and Matthew West and has been nominated for 12 GMA Dove Award awards. Tasker has performed with Bebo Norman, Newsboys and Michael W. Smith, to name a few, and he has won several "Artist of the Year" and "Song of the Year" awards. Daigle is a new talent whose career took a leap forward when she filled in for a lead singer who became ill before a performance. She later became an American Idol contender and recently signed with Centricity Music.

General admission to the concert is $15. V.I.P. tickets are available for $25 and include a 5:30 p.m. early entry, the best seats and a question-and-answer session.

More information on the concert is available at capebiblechapel.org. Information on lead performer Shust is available at aaronshust.com.