Lincoln Brewster

Lincoln Brewster (born July 30, 1971) is an American contemporary Christian musician and worship pastor. As a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Brewster became a sought-after session guitarist in the early 90s. Brewster is the senior worship pastor at Bayside Church in Granite Bay, California. Brewster has been musically inclined since his early childhood in Homer, Alaska. At the age of one, his mother, Cheryl, noticed how well he could keep rhythm on a drum set his grandfather had given him. At the age of five, his mother introduced him to the mandolin. Quickly mastering the instrument, he began playing for cruise ship tourists alongside his mother in Homer. Brewster's step brothers include John and Andy Hillstrand from the Discovery channel TV show Deadliest Catch.

By the age of 12, Brewster had a band called Lincoln and the Missing Links, which included his mother on bass and vocals. In his late teens, he moved with his family to Modesto, California, where he attended Grace M. Davis High School and joined the high school jazz band (playing guitar and drums) and marching band (playing snare drum). Due to connections gained in Los Angeles, he had recording contract offers by 19. Feeling an emptiness in his life, Brewster attended church services with his high school sweetheart, Laura. He recalls feeling God drawing him close after attending a drama ministry performance with Laura. "I was afraid to lay down a lot of things in my life," Brewster said. "One night, I laid all my cards on the table. I asked the Lord to come into my life, all by myself. It was the best night of sleep I'd ever had. I was very peaceful. I think that was what enabled me to blow off that record deal."After receiving a call from Steve Perry inviting him to audition as lead guitarist for his solo project For the Love of Strange Medicine, Brewster accepted and began songwriting and rehearsals for the album. Brewster's guitar technique, tone, and equipment choices possessed similar qualities and texturing to Journey's Neal Schon, and was touted as a favorable feature in the resulting album. He was then married to Laura and soon after toured with Perry for six months from 1994 to early 1995. At the end of the tour, Brewster moved back to Modesto, California to be with his wife where they attended Calvary Temple Church. After working as a sound technician for the church for a while, the senior pastor offered Brewster the position of associate music director and youth worship leader.

In 1997, the Brewsters left California and moved to Nashville to serve as youth pastors and eventually as full-time music ministers at The Oasis Church. It was there that Brewster met with executives from Integrity Incorporated who were there to work on a new Hosanna! Music album. After seeing his talent on the guitar, one executive listened to a demo project Brewster had produced. Already impressed with the production work and artistry, the executive also learned that Brewster had played every instrument and performed all the vocals himself. In 2001, Brewster moved back to California to become the worship pastor at Bayside Church in Sacramento. Brewster was signed to Integrity's Vertical Music label with whom he has released five full-length albums. While working on his own self-titled album (with producer Paul Mills), Brewster worked with label-mate Darrell Evans, contributing vocals, guitar and co-writing on Evans' Freedom project. He also spent some time on the road, touring with Michael W. Smith during Smith's 1998 Live the Life tour. Brewster's second album, Live to Worship (produced by Jeff Quimby and co-produced by Brewster), was released in 2000. According to his biography in his official website, "Lincoln now combines his talents and determination to record songs that will minister to a new generation of believers." Brewster's album, Today Is the Day, was released on September 23, 2008. The album's first released single, was the title track "Today Is the Day".

On September 22, 2009 Brewster released a deluxe edition of Today Is the Day consisting of a CD with same songs as Today Is the Day as well as a and DVD containing two music videos, a few song stories and a part of his instructional video. Brewster released his latest project, Real Life, on September 28, 2010. The record is packed full of upbeat, contemporary worship tracks such as "Best Days" and the optimistic "Reaching For You." It also includes contemplative radio-ready songs such as the title track "Real Life," and the rhythmic "Whom Shall I Fear". In 2012, Brewster released his first Christmas album, Joy to the World. A deluxe edition was released on November 5, 2013 with seven new tracks and an additional DVD. In 2014 Brewster released Oxygen, his ninth studio album after resigning with Integrity Music after 15 years.Brewster primarily uses two different 57 reissue Fender Stratocasters with DiMarzio pickups, one with Ash body on an Aztec Gold finish, the other on a three-color sunburst finish with an Alder body, both with maple fingerboards and necks. He has other Stratocasters as well as a few Gibson Les Pauls and an SG and other different guitars.[citation needed] According to his Twitter account, a signature model of his Aztec Gold stratocaster is in the works. Brewster also achieves his live tone solely from a Line 6 POD HD500 unit. He occasionally uses a provided amp for stage noise only and goes direct to the PA system with the floor POD.

Made new

You're calling me over

You're pulling me close

With love You surround me

You give me hope

You're taking me deeper

You're making me whole

With grace You redeem me

You restore my soul

Now I'm made new

Because of You

You hold my head up

You remind me who I am

You hold my head up

I'm alive in You again

I'm made new

You're making me stronger

You're healing my heart

With Your hands You hold me

And You set me apart

You are my salvation

I will not fear

You're the strength of my life

I won't fear

Today is the day

I'm casting my cares aside

I'm leaving my past behind

I'm setting my heart and mind on You

Jesus

I'm reaching my hand to Yours

Believing there's so much more

Knowing that all You have in store for me is good

Is good

Today is the day You have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

Today is the day You have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

And I wont worry about tomorrow

Im trusting in what You say

Today is the day

Oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

(Today is the day)

Oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

I putting my fears aside

I'm leaving my doubts behind

I'm giving my hopes and dreams to You

Jesus

I'm reaching my hands to Yours

Believing there's so much more

Knowing that all You have in store for me is good

Is good

Today is the day You have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

Today is the day You have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

And I wont worry about tomorrow

I'm trusting in what You say

Today is the day

Oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

(Today is the day)

Oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

I will stand upon Your truth

I will stand upon Your truth

And all my days Ill live for You

All my days Ill live for You

And I will stand upon Your truth

I will stand upon Your truth

And all my days Ill live for You

All my days Ill live for You

Today is the day You have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

Today is the day You have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

And I wont worry about tomorrow

I'm giving You my fears and sorrows

Where You lead me I will follow

I'm trusting in what You say

Today is the day.

The love of God

Emmanuel

You're with me surely closer than I can say

And I know Thee well

I'm hidden shadowed under Your wings always

And oh, where else can I turn but to the love of God

In brokenness

I know you hold me safe in redemption's arms

And I confess

You alone restore me, leading me to Your heart

And oh, where else can I turn but to the love of God

Nowhere else can I turn but to the love

Oh, where else can I turn but to Your love

Nowhere else can I turn but to the love of God

There is power

Where two or more

Are gathered in His name

He is there

For all who come

Who run to Him in faith

He is there, He is there

There is power

In the name of Jesus

There is power

Power in His name

No fear, no lie

Can stand against us now

He is here

The Word has come

To silence every doubt

He is here

There is power

In the name of Jesus

There is power

Power in His name

One name, one name can save

One name breaks every chain

One name, always

One name, Jesus

One name, one name remains

One name, we will proclaim

One name, always

One name

There is power

In the name of Jesus

There is power

Power in His name

There's power in His name

There's power in His name

The power of your name

Surely children weren't made for the streets

And fathers were not made to leave

Surely this isn't how it should be

Let Your Kingdom come

Surely nations were not made for war

Or the broken meant to be ignored

Surely this just can't be what You saw

Let Your Kingdom come

Here in my heart

I will live

To carry Your compassion

To love a world that's broken

To be Your hands and feet

I will give

With the life that I've been given

And go beyond religion

To see the world be changed

By the power of Your name

Surely life wasn't made to regret

And the lost were not made to forget

Surely faith without action is dead

Let Your Kingdom come

Lord break this heart

I will live

To carry Your compassion

To love a world that's broken

To be Your hands and feet

I will give

With the life that I've been given

And go beyond religion

To see the world be changed

By the power of Your name

Your name

Is a shelter for the hurting

Jesus Your name

Is a refuge for the weak

Only Your name

Can redeem the undeserving

Jesus Your name

Holds everything I need

I will live

To carry Your compassion

To love a world that's broken

To be Your hands and feet

I will give

With the life that I've been given

And go beyond religion

To see the world be changed

By the power of Your name

Real life

Whom Shall I Fear

Surrender