Published Aug. 18, 2005, in the Waukesha Freeman

Story by Matthew Webber

HARTLAND - On a night traditionally reserved for fish fries, a small group gathered for coffee, baked goods, fellowship - and bagpipes.

With a performance at River Book and Coffee House on Aug. 5 in Hartland, Mike Westendorf and his band, Restored, were fishers of men, playing original compositions and cover songs about God for anyone who wanted to listen.

By show time, a dozen or so people were ready to hear songs like "Prelude to Praise," "Give Me Jesus" and "Father's Arms," all played in an adult-contemporary style, some of them backed by Scott Mueller's bagpipes.

The band, then, is almost as nontraditional as the performance venue, with its bookshelves full of Christian books and glass cases full of pastries.

The "unique" space at 350-352 Cottonwood Ave. provides a rare opportunity to talk about music and faith in a quiet, relaxed and intimate atmosphere, Westendorf said.

"If you're in a concert hall or something like that, you expect it to be loud and keep things up-tempo," said Westendorf, a singer, guitarist and songwriter from Milwaukee. "Here, we can do some different things. We can talk about where the songs came from and go at a little different pace."

Because none of the band members is a minister, Westendorf said their music doesn't preach. Instead, it gives witness to God and a chance for either praise or healing.

"People come for a variety of reasons. We don't know what they're coming for, so we try to do the best with the music God's given us," he said.

"Our mission, if you will, as musicians, is to create an environment where God can do his speaking. I don't know what God has to tell people who come here tonight. Maybe it's a celebration; maybe it's joy; maybe somebody's hurting."

Westendorf and Restored returned to the site of their first gig, back in March, because the churches and people in Hartland were so receptive.

"You have some pretty large nondenominational churches that are more open to this kind of music," Westendorf said.

"Everybody who has been here has been very nice, very open and very supportive of what we're doing."

The band's bassist, David Luedtke of Waukesha, described his surroundings as "classy" and "charming," although this was not the reason he was there.

"I really believe God led me to playing music for him - not for me, but for him - as an outreach," said Luedtke, who contrasted his time in Restored to his days in other rock bands before God told him, "'I would like you to play music for people that has a deeper meaning than just broken hearts, beer, stolen trucks and things.'"

Store employee Jack Kusick said he was there to listen to the music and participate in a community of sharing. He then invited anyone - regardless of creed — to attend the weekly performances when River Ministries expands into a new facility at 208 E. Oak Crest Drive later this year.

The concerts could even serve as the dessert after a fish fry.

"This is fellowship for after people get done eating and would like to go to a place that's free of charge," Kusick said.