Lead Worship Well

We spoke with Pat Barrett on how the songs on his latest albums Happily Hidden and Shelter captured two different but equally true “slices” of his faith, and the modern discomfort but ultimate freedom that comes from dwelling in the hidden place with Christ. He encourages the practices of fasting and solitude and putting ourselves in places where you're reminded that life is a gift.  Resource...

We are excited to host worship leader, gospel artist, and now author Travis Greene on the podcast today!  Recently Travis released his first book, Are You Praying for the Wrong Thing. The book confronts this question: When we pray and God doesn't seem to be answering our prayers, what do we do next? Are we praying for the right thing or preparing for what we've asked for?  Travis Greene...

A founding member of Elevation Worship, Mack Brock has always had a heart for writing songs that give a language and a voice for people to have a conversation with God. He’s co-written songs that have resonated so deeply with the Church including “Do It Again” and “O Come to the Altar.” Now part of Centricity Music as a solo artist, Mack Brock will be releasing his new album, This Is Holy , on Sep...

Today we host worship leaders and songwriters, Alexander Pappas and Kim Walker-Smith! Recently, they each had songs featured in the film Multiplied: a 5-part docuseries following Chris Worthington’s global journey to uncover the growth of Christianity around the world. They both bring insight into asking and praying for revival, the journey they’ve been on with this topic (and rethinking the word...

We were honored to host Sinach this summer and capture MultiTracks Sessions of her new music and this really encouraging podcast episode! Sinach is a household name known by many for writing some of the most sung songs in our time such as “Way Maker,” “I Know Who I Am,” “The Name of Jesus,” Rejoice, and more. These songs have become anthems in many Churches and homes all around the world. She rece...

“I think naturally, and maybe subconsciously, I go into writing about how good and faithful the Lord is because I need to remind myself in those seasons.” We have bonus episode out today with Josh Baldwin! He speaks on the Isaiah 43 inspiration for the songs on his latest record, the spiritual reminders he needs in seasons of depression and anxiety and he strives to write songs that can meet you w...

CeCe Winans is back on the podcast today! She shares how she gets out of her own way before leading worship, never forsaking Him in order to perform for the people you’re leading, and how we’re living in a time where the Church needs to make more noise.  She and Chris Baker also discuss her powerful versions of “Goodness of God,” “Holy Forever,” and “That’s My King,” and how her upcoming record re...

“Singing or praying the Psalms is a performative act. Saying them to God alters one's relationship in a way that merely listening does not.” Robbie Seay discusses his journey from The Robbie Seay Band all the way to being involved in the first original project from The Worship Initiative, multi-generational collaboration, healthy leadership, and writing songs for the Church straight from “the...

Episode TEN of Season 5 is here with Henry Seeley and Andrew Holt of The Belonging Co. Henry and Alex Seeley were our very first podcast guests, so it was special to revisit that moment and celebrate ten years of The Belonging with them: the selection process and approach in re-recording these quintessential songs, leading creative people well, fostering a culture of teamwork, and more.  Resources...

Temitope is a singer/songwriter and activist based in Nashville. His name “Temitope” means “mine is thanks” and originates from the Yorùbá tribe in Nigeria, where his dad grew up. Through his Nigerian dad and British mom who both immigrated to the United States, TEMITOPE experienced the beauty of diversity within his multicultural household. He and Chris Baker discuss fostering diversity in the lo...

The Lead Worship Well podcast is back! Today we share an episode with Grammy Award-winning songwriter, producer and musician, Dwan Hill about the impact and influence of the gospel choir. A little over a year ago, he started The Choir Room in Nashville. Its purpose is to bring choir back and inspire a diverse group of people to unite in song and mission. Learn more about The Choir Room: https://ww...

Michael Freeland Miller is the lead pastor and founder of UPPERROOM in Dallas, TX. The prayer movement that UPPERROOM first sparked in 2010 has now reached every corner of the globe.  His book His House, His Presence serves as a timely reminder for believers worldwide to prioritize intimacy with God and embrace the power of prayer. Michael and Kristian discuss how UPPERROOM came into being, the le...

While at our office to record sessions of their new songs on Crown Down , Kristian sat down with Hope Adams and Josiah Funderburk to talk about their creative team’s songwriting process and how they’re able to write songs that not only bless their church, but travel beyond the walls of Gateway. Enjoy this insightful and encouraging conversation today!  Resources for Gateway Worship: https://www.mu...

Worship leader and Gospel-influenced artist Anna Golden has a heart for worship teams of the local church. We were honored to release her latest album CHURCH early this year on the Lead Worship Well platform , which is all about the revival Anna believes is coming to the local church, in a way we have yet to see. Anna returned to the church she grew up in to draw inspiration for the record. Chris...

Tyler Christian Roberts joins us today to speak into leading worship from a healthy place, drawing from his own experience as worship pastor at Red Rocks Church. He also shares the story of Red Rocks Church’s beginnings, finding God in unlikely places, and how the Church is not defined by its buildings or physical spaces, but by the presence of God in its people.  Resources for Red Rocks Worship:...

Pastor, worship leader & songwriter William McDowell joins us on the Lead Worship Well podcast today! Based out of Orlando's Deeper Fellowship Church, McDowell first gained wide attention with 2009's number three Billboard Gospel Album, As We Worship Live , and continues to release some of the most notable music in the gospel music space today.  He and Chris Baker have an insightful...

Cody Carnes joined us to share some stories and encounters that inspired the songs on his latest album, Firm Foundation , the day before is was released into the world. He and Kristian also dove into the idea of worship being a weapon, and how we can lean into its power as we’re met with difficult seasons.  Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe were our second ever guests on the podcast. We were honored to ha...

The Lead Worship Well podcast is back! To kick off Season 5, we revisit a roundtable conversation we hosted in February on the past, present and future of Gospel Music.  This roundtable features one of our podcast hosts Chris Baker (Grammy Award-winning producer and our Gospel Brand Manager), EJ Gaines (Sr. VP of Marketing & Co-Executive Director at Motown Gospel), DOE (Grammy Award-nominee an...

Since his major-label debut in 2008, Matt Maher has become a staple in the artistic and songwriting community. A 9x-GRAMMY® nominee and 3x-GMA Dove Award® winner, he has written such impactful songs for the church including “Lord, I Need You,” “Because He Lives (Amen)” “Your Grace Is Enough,” and more. Matt came by our office during the Texas leg of his The Stories I Tell Myself tour to talk about...

Jeff Sandstrom started his career as an independent music producer and engineer, and produced several Dove Award-winning projects in the studio. From 2007 to 2016, he was the Front of House engineer for Chris Tomlin and Passion Conferences. He’s also toured with Matt Redman, Lauren Daigle, Steven Curtis Chapman and others, and has been a sought-after teacher and presenter at conferences and traini...

Kristian Stanfill is a part of Sixstep Records/CCMG as an artist and songwriter and has been an anchor worship leader with the Passion movement since 2005. He’s written and led songs such as “Glorious Day,” “God, You’re So Good,” and the RIAA Gold®-certified track “One Thing Remains.” Kristian and our Kristian discuss the inspiration behind Make It Out Alive (his first solo record in 11 years), hi...

Israel Houghton is a Grammy award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer and worship leader, as well as a composer and multi-instrumentalist. He formed Israel & New Breed in 1995, which was started to be more of a movement than a music group.  Chris Baker has a unique interviewing perspective as he’s been a part of Camp New Breed for years. They discuss the origins of New Breed and how...

Matt Redman is a GRAMMY®-Award winning worship leader and songwriter who has been a leading contributor to the global Church’s songbook over the last 20 years. He joins us to speak on the evolution of songwriting in the worship space (the growth of co-writing and how it’s being taken more seriously) and how the theme of the cross has been a common thread thoughout his career, but that he’s excited...

Faith City Music is a collection of worship leaders whose united gifts are marked by a diverse sound, passionate creativity, high energy, and authenticity. This eclectic group was formed by Grammy Award Nominated Artist and Vocal Powerhouse Tim Bowman Jr., and includes a range of dynamic artists like Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Maranda Curtis, Bri Babineaux, Kim Burrell, and a host of others. During the...

“I’m a person trying to pull Him down and pull you up.” We were honored to host Todd Galberth on our latest episode! Chris Baker and Todd talk about how to follow “the river” over simply following the setlist while leading worship and how to balance the identities of being an artist, but more so being a worship leader. He also speaks on some powerful moments while capturing his latest album, Encou...