From country to Christian

Lutheran, The, Jan 2005 by Peterson, Heather B

Musician John Tirro answers God's call

John Tirro's country hits are performed by top singers Bryan White, "So Much for Pretending," and Diamond Rio, "Imagine That." They're heard on radio stations and TV networks-including Country Music Television, Great American Country and on mainstream programs such as the Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Lena and Good Morning America. With such recognition, what more could a songwriter want?

Tirro, a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Knoxville, Tenn., answers that he's heard the call to write and sing about Christ's love. And that's what he wants to do. "I'm in love with God's creative process and grateful that God is allowing me to participate," he says.

Although his success in writing country music provided a good income for his family-Misty, his wife, an English professor; and sons Andy and Trevor-Tirro says he found himself drawn to write about his faith and the need to know God. That led him to create Journey to the Jordan, a CD of Christian songs and liturgy.

Tirro also has led music for worship at Tyson House, a joint Lutheran-Episcopal campus ministry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, since fall 2003. He not only sings and plays the piano for worship, he also created a guitar liturgy. "I've never known any work to be so fulfilling," he says.

A year ago he became one of St. John's music ministers. The congregation's youth group uses two liturgical guitar pieces he wrote as part of their worship service every Wednesday before they go to serve at area volunteer organizations.

Tirro grew up attending Christ Lutheran Church, Hamden, Conn., the son of a father who was a music professor and a mother who was trained in early childhood music education. He received a bachelor's of music from Yale University, New Haven, Conn. "My first lessons in theology," he says, "came from the Lutheran liturgy, and my first lessons in harmony came from singing Lutheran hymns."

To listen to clips of Journey to the Jordan, visit www.cdbaby.com/cd/tirro or for other information go to www.johntirro.com.

Kurt Senske, CEO of Lutheran Social Services of the South Inc., Austin, Texas, was a finalist for the annual Ethics in Business Awards presented by the Samaritan Center of Austin and St. Edward's University. During his tenure the agency more than doubled in size.

Three students at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., spent nearly five months in Puebla, Mexico, teaching 50 people in Sierra Norte to play musical instruments well enough to form a community band. Aubrie Vikturek, Trinity, Mason City, Iowa; Rachel Widen, Mount Olivet, Minneapolis; and Reid Wixson, Advent, Madison, Wis., taught villagers between the ages of 10 and 50, using instruments that were donated to the college.

Jonathan Bernauer, Bethany, Dallas, was awarded the Tom Luce Advanced Placement Scholarship, a statewide award assisting outstanding advanced placement students to attend the four-year college of their choice. The prize is a $5,000 scholarship. He plans to attend Oberlin [Ohio] College.

Fifteen students from Faith Lutheran High School, Las Vegas, participated in an International Honor Choir festival, which was held in Hong Kong. The choir also visited students at Concordia School for Special Needs in Macau, China.

David Sotrines, Good Shepherd, Hernando, Fla., was named "Friend to Emergency Medical Services of the Year," a state award. An employee of Nature Coast Emergency Medical Services, he is a survivor-assistance officer, aiding families at an accident scene who have lost a loved one.

Herbert Brokering, St. Stephen, Bloomington, Minn.; David and Eunice Simonson, First, Fergus Falls, Minn.; Ruth Clokey Goodell, Good Shepherd, Claremont, Calif.; R. Marshall Stross, Christ, Little Neck, N.Y., received Wittenberg Awards from The Luther Institute in November. Brokering is the author of many hymns and devotional books. The Simonsons instituted medical services and founded a school for girls while serving as missionaries in Tanzania. Clokey Goodell and Stross were among the creators of the children's program Davey and Goliath.

Heather B. Peterson

Peterson, a senior at Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, N. C., was The Lutheran's summer intern in 2004.