Contemporary Christian artist Lincoln Brewster made a stop in Murfreesboro to promote his latest album, one that was forged from the anvil of affliction: his wife’s battle with cancer.

After a four-year hiatus to be at his wife’s side, the much-anticipated project, titled Oxygen, is a testament to his renewed relationship with God.

“We don’t control anything; that’s a myth,” Brewster said. “It was a very challenging year for my family.

“I wanted to be sure this album was honest,” Brewster continued. “Is this something I could play back to myself when a crisis is going on?” He added that the album came from a very deep place.

Brewster, 43, played two shows in the Three Crosses Sanctuary at World Outreach Church, Nov. 8 and 9, to standing-room-only crowds of more than 3,000.

He kicked off the show playing some of his well-known songs, “Everlasting God” and “Today is the Day,” as well as several cuts off the new album, including “Made New,” “Shout it Out” and the title track, “Oxygen.”

Brewster talked about touring with the legendary rock band, Journey in 1994. Then as he played the first few chords of the Journey hit “Don’t Stop Believing,” the crowd erupted.

One particular song on Oxygen titled “Sinking Ships (Rescue Has Come)” really touched Brewster’s wife, Laura. He had been debating about whether to leave it off the project but she asked that he keep it in, so he did.

He said the song had been birthed from their situation. “It was very real.”

Brewster and his four-piece band rocked the auditorium with dynamic guitar riffs and a beastly drum solo, so much so that the walls of the auditorium were shaking.

Originally from Alaska, Brewster sheepishly admitted the crew of the ship “Time Bandit” from the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch were part of his extended family.

He and Laura, who is now cancer-free, have been married for 20 years and have two children aged 9 and 12. He has been serving as the Worship Arts Pastor at Bayside Church in Granite Bay, Calif., for 14 years.