Singer Seph Schlueter comes home to Oshkosh to perform at the festival
By Michael Cooney | For On Mission
OSHKOSH, WI — When Seph Schlueter stepped onto the stage at Lifest 2025, it was not just another stop on tour. It was personal.
“This is extra special for me,” he said backstage. “It’s my first time being here, and my dad actually grew up in Oshkosh. So I have family here, connections here. (I am a) lifelong Packer fan so it’s kind of crazy to be here, playing this fest. My dad’s even coming tonight. It’s just fun to be here.”
The annual Christian music festival took place at Sunnyview Expo Center from Thursday, July 10, to Sunday, July 13, and featured a multitude of musical artist performances each day including those from Ben Fuller, KB and Grave Robber. Schlueter performed on Friday at 5:45 p.m. at the Festival Foods Grandstand stage.
Schlueter (pronounced SHLEE-ter) has quickly become one of Christian music’s most recognizable new voices. His breakout song, “Counting My Blessings,” went viral in 2024 and has topped all four major Christian radio charts, with over 112 million global streams.
And yet, Schlueter’s heart is not on the numbers, he said.
“Something I’m just so focused on is an encounter with Jesus,” he said. “I always have this special moment in the set where I just get to pray with everyone and ask the Lord to move in their life. I just pray that people leave having seen him move in some way.”
That desire to lead people closer to Christ is what fuels Schlueter’s unique role in the music world, as both a Catholic worship leader and a Christian recording artist, he said.
When asked if there’s a difference between the two, he smiled.
“It’s all music about Jesus,” he said. “Whether it’s Catholic or Christian, it all points back to him. To me, it’s kind of the same thing. Music that hopefully points people to the truth and the life and the way, which is Jesus.”
Raised in a Catholic household, Schlueter found his calling through the power of worship. He helped start Damascus Worship, a movement aimed at revitalizing the Catholic Church through bold, Spirit-led music.
After signing with Provident Entertainment, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, in 2023, his reach expanded dramatically, but his message has not changed.
“I just love being alive in Christ,” he said. “I love who God made me to be, and I just get to live that out every day.”
When asked about the role of the Holy Spirit, Schlueter did not hesitate. “The Holy Spirit totally changed my life,” he said. “He brought me into a deeper relationship with the Father and the Son. I’ve seen him work miracles. He transformed me from the inside out. Like in Acts 2, Peter went from this timid fisherman who denied Jesus to boldly proclaiming the Gospel. That’s what the Holy Spirit did in me, too.”
“Counting My Blessings” earned Schlueter the K-LOVE Fan Award for Breakout Single, a Dove Award nomination and a spot on Billboard’s top Christian new artists list. But Schlueter calls this season one of learning.
“Being a breakout artist?” he said. “It means I get to be out there, but I’m still growing a lot. Still figuring out how this all works — what I want to say and how I want to say it.”
To Schlueter, there is no dividing line between performance and prayer, he said.
“All of it’s worship to me,” he said. “Our whole lives are worship. Whether it’s a song encouraging people to worship Jesus or a song actually worshiping him, it’s all sacrifice; it’s all praise.”
Held each summer, Lifest is one of the largest Christian music festivals in the country. With the theme of “Sharing Life Together,” Lifest brings tens of thousands of people to Oshkosh for four days of concerts, fellowship, and faith-based programming.
The annual Mass was celebrated by Fr. John Girotti, vicar general of the Diocese of Green Bay, on the grounds of the festival on Sunday morning where hundreds gathered to worship.
During his homily, Fr. Girotti invited everyone to step into the role of the Good Shepherd in their own lives — to notice who needs help, to show mercy, to be that person who goes looking for the one who is lost.
“It was fantastic seeing all of these young people,” Fr. Girotti said afterward. “The tent was filled. Wonderful worship and praise of God. I think it was a blessing. Thanks be to God.”
Nathan Grams of Hortonville, Wisconsin, attending as a non-Catholic, was especially moved by his Sunday morning experience.
“Just being able to be here — I enjoyed it very much,” Grams said. “I’ll leave with a desire to do some good in the world. To be kind to other people. Help them out when you can. The homily really inspired me to action.”
This was his second time at Lifest, he said. “Being able to come back and experience it in the setting of a Catholic Mass was very cool.”
Brityn Voss of Neenah has made Lifest an annual tradition.
“I just love to praise Jesus,” she said. “It’s one of my favorite Christian events. I really love the people (who) come to Mass, and the environment it brings. It really lets us praise Jesus all together and brings out the Christian in all of us.”
Her biggest takeaway from the experience was “to be a good neighbor to everyone,” she said. “To look for the small things in life — the little details — to help others. Lifest brings happiness and fills you with Jesus in your life. It makes you want to share the Good News with everyone.”
Singer and Christian artist Franki Jo Moscato, who provided music and vocals for the Mass, called it one of the most moving performances of her ministry.
“The second I got here, the sun came out, and I was feeling really grateful,” Moscato said. “The energy here is prayerful. I was very humbled to get to sing here alongside some wonderful leaders, Fr. (Girotti) especially.”
Her voice cracked with emotion describing the moment everyone joined in on “Amazing Grace.”
“It’s that unity; it’s really powerful,” she said. I got choked up a couple of times. There’s nothing quite like singing the communion song when everybody sings along.”
“There’s nothing that makes me happier than singing for the Lord,” she said. “This really beats everything I’ve ever done. Singing for Mass, singing for church — just finding ways to be a servant for the Lord is really heartwarming. I’ve been waiting a while for this day. Once a year we’re here, and it just means the world to me.”
Fr. Girotti said he hopes this Mass becomes a growing tradition.
“We had the whole diocesan team here today,” he said. “It’s a new experience for many of us, but a good one. And we hope to grow it even more next year.”
Seph Schlueter’s music is available on all major platforms. Learn more about his ministry at sephschlueter.com. His next appearance in Northeast Wisconsin will be at the Cup O Joy Cup3, 525 N. Taylor St., Green Bay, on Saturday, August 25, 2025.
See more photos here: https://onmiss.io/lifest2025