ZION, ILLINOIS (ANS) -- A school bus driver and amateur artist from the Chicago suburb of Zion has legally changed his name to "In God We Trust."

The Zion artist people used to know as Steve Kreuscher is now legally In God We Trust. (Photo:Josh Peckler/Special to the News-Sun).

According to the Associated Press (AP), a Lake County circuit court judge approved Steve Kreuscher's (CROY'-shirz) name change petition on Friday.

The 57-year-old's first name was changed to "In God," while his last name was changed to "We Trust." He says the new name symbolizes the help God gave him during tough times and that he can't wait to begin signing his artwork with the new moniker.

A Lake County judge granted permission to the Zion man Friday to officially change his name to "In God We Trust." That's "In God" as a first name and "We Trust" as a last name.

The 57-year-old artist and bus driver was ecstatic about the name change as he exited court Friday.

"I feel great. It's just like, yes!" We Trust said, according to Nicholas P. Alajakis, writing in the Lake County News-Sun.

That newspaper said the entire process before Judge David Hall took less than two minutes, but We Trust said he was quite nervous.

"I have been praying for this. I didn't want anything to mess this up," he said.

We Trust said the new name more closely represents his devotion to God than "Steve Kreuscher" did.

The process to change his name took roughly three months, the newspaper said.

Throughout the course of his name change We Trust said he was looking for a sign from God that would let him know it was a good idea. He got it one day while adding up the expenses for the name change, which came out to roughly $600.

"I didn't want to use my own money because things are tight," said the father of four. "Three weeks later, I got my (tax) rebate check for $600."

Changing his name to something so out of the ordinary is bound to get mixed reactions from people, especially because of the religious overtones, he said.

"I'm not out to offend anybody. People can call me something different," We Trust said.

The newspaper reported that We Trust must now go about changing his name on all legal documents. Early next week, he'll visit the Social Security office in Waukegan and then the Secretary of State's office and his bank.

He's already begun signing his artwork with his new moniker, a move that he believes may add value to his work.

"There are billions of artists out there. If you don't do something to stand out in the crowd the world won't recognize you," We Trust said.

Formerly known as Steve Kruescher, In God We Trust says he feels fantastic after a Lake County judge granted his request for the name change. (Photo: Vincent Perri, Daily Herald).

Daily Herald suburban Chicago newspaper Photo Editor Vincent Perri writes that the amateur artist says his new name fully expresses who he is as a person.

"God has brought me through some very hard times," he said. "I feel this is a way to honor God and immortalize that phrase."

We Trust is most excited to sign his artwork with the new moniker. He said it will make his colored pencil drawings stand out in a unique way.

Efforts by atheists to remove any reference to God from U.S. currency also has him worried. He said the words are an "endangered species."

But now he feels he's saved the phrase forever. "You can take it off the money, but you can't take away my name," he has said previously.

The Herald writer also tells how We Trust will have to change his driver's license, bank account and Social Security card to reflect his new name. And how that's going to cost him some money.

That writer says We Trust has already had to pay $246 for the legal petition, and about $150 for legal notices in the newspaper. We Trust figures the total cost will be about $600 and recounts how he just received his government stimulus check in the amount of $600 to cover the costs involved.

"It didn't surprise me," We Trust told the newspaper. "God is with me,"he said.

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael's involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International.