andi oakes

Andi is a Contemporary Christian Music artist from Ireland where he lives with his wife Grace.

With over 25 years experience in Christian ministry Andi is currently responsible for the direction of worship at Arise in Lurgan, a contemporary Jesus centred worship and teaching stream emerging from the ministry of Shankhill Parish, the largest Church of Ireland Parish in Ireland.  The heart of Arise as a ministry is simply to lift the name of Jesus in worship and Bible teaching. 

With a ministry that is recognised as being one of great encouragement, Andi’s latest album Close to me reflects his heart to share the love of Christ.  With his soft melodic voice, his songs very quickly put you at ease and bringyou into the presence of God.

Andi has been described as a “down to earth” worship leader who connects with people where they are and his latest CD has been exceptionally well received by fans and industry professionals alike.

Many of the songs on Andi’s latest album were written from a time of great distress during the months subsequent to the sudden death of his Father, who died of pancreatic cancer early in 2006.  Andi himself tells of how he had written the stunning O Lord it’s You late in 2005, but only truly began to understand the depth of that song after his Dad had passed away.  It was two week after his Dad’s funeral that Andi recorded O Lord it’s You as a demo track, which eventually found it’s way into the hands of renowned Christian record producer, Randy Stalls from Vision Quest Music; who set the wheels in motion to take Andi to Nashville to record the Close to me project using some of the best musicians and technicians in the business. 

In many ways, Andi’s ministry is hard to put into any one single box as he is as well known for Bible teaching and speaking as he is for being a Worship leader and Contemporary Christian Artist; and in recent days has been unveiling his little known talent as an artist, with his paintings beginning to receive great attention in his home of Ireland.

Andi’s ministry is now beginning to reach beyond the shores of his homeland with his songs being played on radio stations throughout the US. 

We hope that you will find, like so many others, deep encouragement from Andi’s ministry.