By Keith Gushard

Meadville Tribune

“Bread of Stone,” a contemporary Christian band from Sioux City, Iowa, with Meadville connection, will be performing three times in the area this weekend including at Wesbury United Methodist Community’s 20th annual chicken barbecue Sunday in Meadville.

The band, formed by two brothers, Ben and Bill Kristijanto and later joined by friends, Tim Barnes and Jeremi Hough of Meadville offers a blend of rock, pop and worship to the band’s listeners.

The band’s second project, “Letting Go,” led to the title track becoming a Number One hit on the Christian independent charts.

Ben, who writes the majority of the music, explained that the overall theme of this album is one of surrender. The track, “Letting Go,” talks about his personal journey into a deeper relationship with Jesus as he realized the only way to have a true friendship with Christ is to humble himself.

“The major focus is developing a true relationship with Christ,” Ben said.

“A lot of times you’re dealing with ritual in religion,” he said. “For some, it’s less and less relationship and just doing what you’re supposed to do. You have to do it out of love, if not, it’s not anything more than tribal. A true relationship is something that you can acquire.”

Hough, a 2007 graduate of Meadville Area High School and son of Scott and Wanda Hough of Meadville, got involved with the group more than two years ago.

“They had been coming to Meadville about four years playing at my uncle’s church (Watson Run Church of God),” Hough said. His uncle, Ken Hough, is pastor of the church. “They knew I was drummer and asked me when they had an opportunity for me.”

Hough said his tour experiences with the group have been wonderful.

“It’s been an awesome amazing experience,” said Hough. “I get to travel, meet new people and play drums. It’s been a blessing.”

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.