d.o.b. May 4, 1972 hometown Grand Saline, Texas current digs The Woodlands, Texas first spins First Christian album: Petra’s Not of This World; first general market album: Alabama’s Mountain Music. résumé Tomlin is involved in the Passion worship movement and serves as a worship leader on Tuesday nights at a college Bible study and on Sunday mornings at the Woodlands United Methodist Church. new album The Noise We Make (Sixsteps) released March 13. favorite cuts "The Wonderful Cross" taken from Isaac Watts’ hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." "I always thought the hymn was so beautiful, and I just added a r

efrain," Tomlin says. "It’s amazing to combine songs from saints of long ago and mix it with a contemporary sound." Also, a cover of Delirious’ "Happy Song," one of only three songs on the 10-track album Chris didn’t write or co-write. influences After his dad taught him how to play the guitar, Tomlin began to form his own musical style, looking to such influences as U2. "My music is very corporate and easy for people to engage in," he says. "It’s a very modern, rock ’n’ roll sound, along the lines of Delirious and Steven Curtis Chapman." backstory As a high school senior, Chris became a traveling evangelist and met a lot of people who eventually formed the college-friendly Passion worship team. "Sixsteps Records grew out of Passion over the last several years," Tomlin says. "Passion is not a group of individuals doing their thing and going home. It’s a family that we all want to keep together." on the road Tomlin opened for Delirious in April, and this fall he’ll head out on the Passion tour, which will hit 30 or so college campuses. music lessons The fame that comes from being in the spotlight is Chris’ biggest challenge. "When you are in the spotlight, you can’t live for the praise of your fans, but you have to live to praise God," he says. "My focus is connecting with people while responding to the Lord. I never consider myself as a performer, but instead I’m a worshiper who just happens to be worshiping on a stage." role model Louie Giglio. "He started Passion, and he’s been a mentor in making sure I write music that will make an impact on others." goal "When I was in junior high, I heard a guy leading worship at a youth camp," Tomlin recalls. "I left that service and kneeled down to open myself up to God. I want my listeners to have all of me, and I want them to be touched by God through me just like I was by that leader."