Jimmie Bratcher: "The Electric Rev.," Preaching the Gospel While Singing the Blues

Jimmie Bratcher has been a pastor, evangelist and author. He has also been a singer, songwriter and musician. But make no mistake about it, Bratcher is not what many people imagine a preacher to be. While he can be found preaching in churches on Sunday, the "Electric Reverend," (or "Rev." for short) as he is affectionately know to many, can be found elsewhere as he sings and shares his testimony while playing in blues clubs, music festivals and biker rallies. Bratcher has also been know to share the gospel with inmates while playing in prisons.

In 1976, Jimmie Bratcher gave his life to Jesus Christ at the age of 22. According to his testimony "As the Story Goes" from his 2004 DVD Live on the 4th of July, Bratcher had divorced his wife Sherri, abandoning her and their young son Jason. Sherri and Jason Bratcher attended a revival meeting at a church one night and came forward during the altar call. When asked what he wanted Jesus to do for him, Jason replied "I just want my daddy to come home."

A few nights later, the Bratchers came to another service, this time bringing Jimmie with them. During the altar call, Jimmie, Sherri and Jason all came forward to give their lives to Christ. Jimmie had been delivered from years of addiction to drugs and alcohol. "I was a wild kid, always running away and getting into trouble, doing drugs while playing guitar with blues musicians," Bratcher writes on his website, "All I ever wanted to do was be a guitar player," he recalls, "but the substance abuse stole my dream." Jimmie and his family had been reunited, and ten months later, Sherri Bratcher gave birth to their daughter, Amanda.

After receiving Jesus as his savior, Jimmie felt the call to go into the ministry. He became an ordained minister and joined the staff at one of the fastest growing churches in the United States. Five years later, he began singing and writing songs again. Bratcher began to work the songs into his sermons as well as using them in community outreach services. With such tremendous response, he began singing and preaching in churches and concert venues all over the country.

Jimmie began to feel God's call for him into full-time evangelism with his music. In addition to playing churches, blues clubs and music festivals, he also began recording. He released his first album, Honey in the Rock in 2001. Bratcher's debut release received favorable reviews from both the secular and Christian media in the United States and Great Britain. Jimmie followed HitR with Something Better in 2003. This album added hymns as well as soulful melodies while remaining true to Bratcher's roots in the blues.

That same year, Bratcher recorded a live performance with his band at the Red, White and Blues festival at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. The performance was released the following year as Live on the 4th of July, a concert CD/ DVD combo set. This live set captures several of the best songs from the HitR and Something Better. Jimmie returned to the studio once again to record his next album, Red, released in 2005. Red added a blend of Texas blues, country blues, funk and jazz, becoming the Rev.'s most diverse album to date.

In 2006, Bratcher returned once more with a Christmas CD, titled, Man! It's Christmas, which combined several familiar Christmas favorites with some original songs. His most recent release, 2008's The Electric Rev., delivers the familiar blend of rock, gospel and the blues that fans know and love. He has served as the leader of the house band on the Sky Angel/Trinity Broadcast Network television program Love, Marriage and Stinking Thinking, hosted by marriage expert/author/pastor Mark Gungor. Bratcher has also written a book, titled Don't Take Your Dreams to the Grave, published by Milestone International Publishers in 2005.

Jimmie Bratcher's story is a wonderful tale of forgiveness, redemption and new life in Jesus Christ. The Lord has used him in a mighty way for over three decades, and it will be interesting to see where He leads Jimmie next. Many lives have been touched through his ministry and testimony, and I have no doubt that many more will still be touched in years to come.