AWI Podcast

What does it take to truly reach the hearts of the next generation? 🎙️Russell Vista, a passionate NextGen Worship Leader, joins Taylor Cummings for a powerful conversation about authenticity, purpose, and raising young leaders in the Church. Gen Z and beyond are hungry for more than hype—they’re searching for real faith, lived out loud. But is the Church ready to meet them where they are? Are we c...

Lana Scott, an emerging country-pop sensation, is an intentional artist on a mission to inspire joy and share her faith with the world. In this podcast episode, Lana joins Taylor Cummings for a candid conversation about her journey as a Christian artist navigating the complexities of today’s music industry. Together, they explore the power of worship, the art of songwriting, and the profound impac...

As artists & worship leaders, Sean Beck and Taylor Cummings discuss those very things: worship & artistry. They dive into leading, growing in character & their crafts, and the topic of songwriting & collaborating with others. They point out how it truly is possible to see God in everything and to worship God daily through various roles & careers. Sean expands upon his experienc...

In this episode, Dr. John Sutton and Taylor Cummings dive into the topic of worship, alongside the impact of mentorship within life and especially a career in ministry. Sutton empowers listeners that worship is a lifestyle we can all, constantly partake in. While mentorship is a powerful way to grow in all areas of life: career, relationships, faith, etc. There is value in being both mentored and...

In this episode, Kim Harp and Taylor Cummings discuss worship from the perspective of a youth pastor, highlighting how to teach junior high and high school students what worship really is. For it's so much more than just singing.  How do we teach and capture true hearts of worship, especially in this next generation? What are physical postures we can take that help move our hearts? How do we live...

In this episode, Ike Graham, Worship Leader and Executive Pastor at Foothill Church of Glendora, and Taylor Cummings discuss the importance of planning a worship service with the entire congregation in mind. Ike has a heart for ALL generations to be engaged. He touches on the practicalities of what types of songs to choose, but also how to give each song and age group the same attention they deser...

In this episode, Pastor Mathew John from Lake Avenue Church and Taylor Cummings unpack what worship is from the perspective of a senior pastor role. In their conversation, they address the challenges of idolizing music and sermons, getting to the heart of what worship truly is, both personally and congregationally. Listen to the full episode to learn more!  Connect with Lake Avenue Church: https:/...

In this episode, Justin Unger and Taylor Cummings discuss the importance of rest as leaders within the church. In order to show up and lead well, we must be rested, but how can we do that? Are we rested, trusted, and discipled leaders? What does that practically look like? Watch the full episode to learn more! Worship Leader/MD Health Check: https://www.likewiseworship.com/health-check Connect wit...

In this episode, Sarah Sattler, the Worship Director of Cornerstone Bible Church in Glendora, unpacks how worship is not just music, rather our whole lives are worship. “How can we educate our congregations of this truth?” and “Why do we come to worship?” are answered here. Watch/listen to the full episode to learn more!  This is episode 2 of 4 where we sat down and asked various local pastors the...

In this episode, Steven Brooks unpacks his understanding of the 4 different roles of a worship leader: Worship Leader, Song Leader, Worship Pastor, and Worship Artist. He defines each of these and describes how you can discover which one aligns most with your giftings and how you may need to operate in each one at different times. Watch/listen to the full episode to learn more! If you’d like to un...

In this episode, Jesus Arriaga and Taylor Cummings unpack Jesus’s unique perspective on worship as a past Worship Pastor and now current Executive Pastor of ONE&ALL Church. They tackle topics of personal vs. congregational worship, and how pastors can best equip and steward the worship of our churches today.   This is episode 1/4 of us sitting down and asking various local pastors to answer th...

In this episode, Justin Unger and Taylor Cummings discuss the challenges in our modern world of shepherding a unified culture of worship among your team, staff, and congregation. Questions arise of…What does a healthy church look like? What does discipleship in worship look like? How can we be unified with other churches? Justin Unger offers practical advice straight from the Bible. Listen to the...

In this episode, Traci Birge and Taylor Cummings tackle the topic of biblical storytelling, showing how present and powerful stories are within the biblical text. Traci highlights the simplicity yet complexity of biblical narratives–how there are multiple lenses we can glean from and how much closer they can bring us to God. What do these stories teach us about the character of God? How do we see...

In this episode, Coba Canales and Taylor Cummings discuss how preaching is an avenue for worship. Coba encourages us whether it is for thousands or just one person,  if God has put a message in your heart, it’s our responsibility to share it. Listen to the full episode to hear more!  To learn more about AWI, here’s our website: apu.edu/arts/angeles-worship-initiative Sign up to stay updated on our...

In this episode, Scott Cunningham and Taylor Cummings discuss the great importance of having good theology in the songs that we choose and also write for our congregations. What do they say about God? Are they full of biblical truth? Songs are powerful and memorable, so as worship leaders how can we best equip our congregations to know God and scripture through the songs we sing? Watch/listen to t...

In this episode, Jason Poullard and Taylor Cummings dig into how dance is an avenue for worship. Jason points out how dance takes all of us, our full body, and how biblical that is. This conversation explores how we can each incorporate this artform into our ministries and services to further engage our congregation and invite the Holy Spirit to move us all. Listen to the full episode to hear more...

In this episode, Zach Rudulph, Aretha Scruggs, and Taylor Cummings discuss the relationship between the Music Director and the Worship Leader. What are their roles? What is each leader in charge of? How can they best communicate, make decisions, and solve problems inside and outside of a church service? Listen to the full episode to learn how you can best improve your relationship between these tw...

In this episode, Aaron Smith and Rafael Greco from the Handlebar Podcast discuss with Taylor Cummings how to balance structure and “flowing” (or spontaneous worship) within a worship service. Different denominations and people tend to lean a certain way, but what would happen if we welcomed God into the whole process? What if we each planned with purpose, alongside also being open and present to w...

In this episode, Zach Rudulph and Taylor Cummings discuss how a variety of instruments, especially the bass, can be an avenue of worship. Through his expertise in church and touring with Andy Grammar, Zach highlights the balance between doing too much and being distracting vs. how to best compliment and enhance a worship set. In addition, they tackle the question of how to separate your identity f...

In this episode, Tommy Walker and Taylor Cummings discuss all about Family in Ministry. From the beauties and benefits, to the challenges and disciplines that come with it. Here, Tommy elaborates on how he personally was raised within ministry, and how his own family legacy continues on within the church. Watch the full video to learn more! Connect with Tommy Walker: https://www.instagram.com/tomm...

In this episode, Aretha Scruggs and Taylor Cummings discuss how singing and being a vocalist is an avenue of worship. Aretha gives vocalists practical tips about how the voice works and how to best take care of it, how to lead vocally as a worship leader, and how to discover your unique voice. Through this video, we hope you walk away feeling more informed about your voice and what kind of leader/...

In this episode, Aaron Smith, Rafael Greco, and Taylor Cummings discuss the relationship between the Worship Leader and Pastor, and how they can best lead a room in unity. To not only lead unified, but to stay unified amidst a service, requires trust and an ear tuned to the Lord. Take a listen to this full episode to learn more about how to follow the Lord’s nudges together, how to hear God amidst...

In this episode, Bill Catling and Taylor Cummings discuss how a plethora of visual arts, especially ceramics, are absolutely an avenue of worship. Bill Catling highlights how creating connects us to our Creator and to our humanity. He also points out how the process of creating is within various parts of the Bible, including Genesis and Exodus with the building of the Tabernacle. Whether you creat...

I n this episode, Tommy Walker and Taylor Cummings discuss the topic of writing songs for the church. What makes a song congregational? How do songs make it to the global church? How do I get my pastor on board with my songs? This conversation addresses these questions that worship leaders and songwriters of today may have. Whether you’re a songwriter or not, we hope this leaves you encouraged, re...

In this episode, David Gaulton and Taylor Cummings discuss the topic of worship through the avenue of songwriting. This conversation explores the definition of worship, how to write worship songs, what makes a song categorized as personal vs. congregational worship, and more! David Gaulton encourages every songwriter out there, to finish the song and share their creative writing with the local chu...