A Life Beyond Measure: Biography of Jeremy Camp

Jeremy Camp is one of Christian rock’s most predominant artists. His music reaches and inspires many Christians on a personal level. His fans refer to themselves as “Happy Campers.” October 31 was the release date of his fourth album, Beyond Measure, which many fans pre-ordered. So who is this Jeremy Camp who has fans all over the nation relating to his words?

Jeremy Camp grew up with a Christian upbringing as the son of a preacher in Lafayette, Indiana. He spent two years studying scripture at Bible college. During his downtime there, he would play his guitar in the dorm and around campus. It was at Bible college that he was encourage to get involved in music ministry from a worship leader who heard his music. He soon began leading worship services all around the country; it was at one of his worship services that he met his first wife, Melissa. It was her love of God that caught his eye.

They were married in 2000, but sadly in December she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In February 2001, Melissa died shortly after they were married. Jeremy’s song “I Still Believe” was the first song he wrote after her death. As one listens to the words of the song, they can hear his pain. The song appears on his first album: Stay. Stay is said to be written in the most broken time in his life. His words are from the heart and express pain and faith through pain. His songs continue to be from the heart, and convey so much.

A few years later he met someone new: Adrienne Liesching, Adie. Adie and Jeremy collaborate on many of his songs, and now Adie has her own C.D which also came out on October 31. The two now have two beautiful daughters. Camp currently has 4 albums, Saty, Carried me: A Worship Project, Restored and Beyond Measure. He also has a live album of his performance in Franklin, Tennessee. Live also has a D.V.D of the performance with it. Camp has three songs featured on the Christian version of Dance Dance Revolution. He was also named best new Christian artist in 2002. He has the sound of mainstream artists Matchbox 20 and 3 Doors Down. Christian bands that relate to his sound are Mercy Me and Third Day.

“Walk By Faith” is one of Camp’s most influential songs. He talks about putting faith in God and not ourselves. “Walk By Faith” appears on Stay, Carried Away: A Worship Project, and Live. He writes every song on his C.D’s, sometimes with the help of others, but they all have a personal touch. In an interview with Christianity, Today Camp said his biggest passion is to “minister to those who need it.” He is with BEC Records.

Camp combines personal experiences, music and scripture to display the love of God. Some fans are willing to travel to the next state over just to attend one of his shows. He’s as influential as one of his inspirations, Steven Curtis Chapman. Through hardship he doesn’t walk away from god, but instead sees “the only place I can go is into your arms” (“I Still Believe”).