#113: The Voice of Petra: John Schlitt on Addiction, Redemption, and Six Decades of Rock

In this episode of Missions Pulse, John Schlitt, four-time Grammy Award winner, 10-time Dove Award winner, and lead singer of Petra, joins us for a raw and moving conversation about rock and roll, addiction, and the redemption that changed the course of his life. What began as a garage band with three chords in small-town Illinois grew into decades of touring with Head East and later Petra — but behind the sold-out crowds and chart-topping singles was a darker story of drugs, alcohol, and a marriage nearly lost.

Throughout the episode, John walks through his early years chasing the "musician's dream," the slow spiral into addiction that cost him his band and nearly his family, and the devastating night in 1980 that brought him to the edge. He shares candidly about the five years that followed — years spent away from music entirely, working ordinary jobs and rebuilding his life — before God unexpectedly called him back to the stage through Petra.

This conversation also challenges the idea that ministry only happens behind a microphone or from a pulpit. John reflects on how Petra was received by both the church and the world, the pushback the band faced even from other believers, and why he ultimately stopped performing for approval and started performing for an audience of One. He also opens up about his hands-on ministry work today, helping people in practical, everyday ways.

If you've ever wondered whether your gifts — however unconventional — have a place in God's mission, this episode offers both honesty and hope. From the highs of the touring life to the quiet years of rebuilding, John casts a vision for what it looks like to keep showing up, keep saying yes, and let God redeem even the most broken chapters.

This episode is a reminder that God doesn't waste our past — he redeems it, and uses it for a purpose far bigger than we could imagine.