Creed’s Scott Stapp Turns Rock Festival Into Worship Service With Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude”

Creed frontman Scott Stapp gave fans far more than a dose of '90s and early-2000s rock nostalgia at Iowa's Velocity Festival. In a surprising spiritual turn, the singer openly preached about Jesus, revisited his battle with alcoholism and led thousands of concertgoers in Brandon Lake's worship anthem "Gratitude."

The unforgettable moment unfolded on Sunday, September 6, during Creed's headlining set at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. The three-day festival featured an eye-popping lineup that included Carrie Underwood, Shinedown, Collective Soul, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Skillet-but it was Stapp's unexpected worship moment that had people talking.

Before launching into Creed's "What's This Life For," Stapp paused the rock show to speak candidly about purpose, surrender and the personal cost of running from God. The Grammy-winning singer admitted that the more he resisted God, the more difficult his life became.

Stapp recalled asking God why he was facing so many struggles and sensing that God was using those hardships to bring him to his knees. Rather than presenting himself as a polished Christian celebrity, he described himself as an imperfect man with flaws and inadequacies who was nevertheless willing to talk publicly about his faith.

The rocker then reminded the crowd that Christ did not come for people who already had their lives perfectly arranged. His message was unmistakable: Jesus came for the sick and broken-and Stapp was placing himself firmly in that category.

The confession became even more personal when Stapp addressed his well-documented struggle with alcohol addiction. The singer said the painful parts of his past, once treated as shameful secrets, have now become central pieces of his testimony.

"My alcoholism is a victory right now," Stapp declared, crediting God with carrying him through the addiction. He added that his failures no longer define him because he continues to get back up, pray and repent.

Stapp then told fans never to believe they are too damaged or unworthy for God. That message carried directly into a powerful performance of Brandon Lake's "Gratitude," with thousands joining the Creed singer in a worship song far removed from the band's usual post-grunge catalog.

It was a striking collision of musical worlds: the voice behind massive rock hits such as "Higher," "With Arms Wide Open" and "My Sacrifice" leading a festival crowd through one of contemporary Christian music's best-known worship anthems.

Yet longtime Creed listeners may not have been entirely shocked. Spiritual longing, confession and redemption have always hovered around the edges of Stapp's songwriting. This time, however, he left little room for interpretation. The message was not hidden inside poetic lyrics or rock-star symbolism-he spoke directly about God, Christ, repentance and the faith that helped rescue him.

For one night at the Field of Dreams, a Creed concert became something resembling a revival meeting. The guitars were still loud and the rock anthems were still there, but Stapp's most arresting moment came when he stopped hiding the scars and turned them into a testimony.