Worship Ministry Training Podcast (for Worship Leaders)

Planning Center is used by over 30,000 churches worldwide, and for good reason: It is the most robust, easy-to-use software available for service planning and church database management. Aaron Stewart, the founder of Planning Center, started it as a frustrated worship leader looking for something to help manage his teams and his song sets. Today, the software can do much more than that and is helping thousands of worship leaders just like you do their job with less headache and hassle. In this month’s episode, I talk with Aaron about some leadership lessons he learned while building his company, and some little-known tips,  tricks, and hacks to get the most out of using Planning Center. If you use Planning Center for your services (or if you’re curious about what it can do for you), you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode. RESOURCES: Planning Center University – Set Up Tutorial Video ChordPro Format Chord Charting Tutorial   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK

Our rehearsal nights can be so much more than just playing through a few songs. If used correctly, they become times to shape culture, invest in relationships, do discipleship, train new volunteers, raise up new worship leaders, find better uses of our technology and more. This month, I’m the one being interviewed, by Carl Barnhill of the Church Media Podcast (check them out!). In this episode, I share 7 ways we can use our mid-week rehearsals to their full potential. Enjoy! (Please leave us a review on iTunes if you’ve been enjoying this podcast!)   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK    Our Sponsor This Month – Pads Live App Coresound's amazing sounding pads are now available in an intuitive, easy to use app! Download the app to your phone or tablet, build a setlist,

In a world of pervasive “shallowness”, deep spirituality can seem an elusive thing to attain. Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and other distractions keep our minds in the shallows. This is the world that our team members live in.  As leaders in God’s Church, it is our responsibility to fight for depth, focus, and deeper spirituality in our people, so that there is power in our worship leading. But how do we do this? Today I talk with Jeremy Riddle of Bethel Church about how he helps his teams stay rooted and connected to Jesus. Enjoy the episode! Jeremy Riddle Online Jeremy Riddle Twitter MORE (iTunes) MORE (Amazon) I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK   QUOTABLES: We've made worship complicated. But the heart of worship is simple: It is LOVE. - Jeremy Riddle - Tweet That!

We have all had those band members who think that the worship set is their time to shred! The drummer who plays a fill every two bars. The electric guitar player who solos over the vocal. The bassist who won’t stop noodling! No more! Put an end to musical busyness with this month’s episode. This month, I give you seven principles to help your band beat busyness and embrace musical simplicity. God deserves excellence, but excellence does not equate to unceasing shredding. Help your band members embrace tasteful musicianship once and for all! This is definitely an episode you’ll want to share with your worship team members. So go ahead, take a listen, and pass it on! Also See: Playing In Parts – How To Sound Like A Professional Band   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK Q

As we come to the close of the year, I asked prolific songwriter and worship leader Matt Redman about the current state of modern worship around the globe. Where are we at as a worship culture, what encouraging trends is he seeing, what concerns him, and what advice does he have for worship leaders as we stewart our calling well? This episode is less of a training and more of an encouragement and exhortation from a wiser, older brother. Be encouraged and challenged! Matt Redman Online @Matt_RedmanGlory Song Album (Amazon) Glory Song Album (iTunes) I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK QUOTABLES: We need to focus more on our character than our craft. – Tweet That! The stage and the spotlight is a very disorienting place to be. – Tweet That!   Our Sponsor This Month – Plann

Your acoustic guitar is an incredibly powerful tool. Its melodic and percussive nature allows you to create lots of energy and dynamic if utilized properly. Unfortunately, many worship leaders are under-utilizing this versatile instrument because they have never been taught a handful of simple techniques that can take your acoustic guitar playing to the next level. Whether you lead alone (just you and your acoustic guitar), or you have a worship band, using the six techniques outlined in this episode will help you grow as an acoustic player and better utilize this incredible instrument for God’s glory. The first half of this episode is a playthrough of a popular worship song (5:00 – 14:43), demonstrating the techniques in action. The second half is an overview and explanation of each technique in detail (14:45 – End). Feel free to skip to whichever part you'll find most helpful. And don't forget to listen at "normal speed" on your podcast app!  WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS LESSON Direct Download RESOURCES

Our worship services have a formative effect on our people’s minds and souls. With weeks, bleeding into months, into years, and ultimately decades, the habits we form in our people have a long term cumulative effect. What we do in our services and how we do it matters. In today’s episode, I talk with author and Pastor Zac Hics about the ways in which worship is formative and how to best utilize our gathered worship times to shape our people into the image of Christ over the long haul. Get the free books: Tweet at @WMTpodcast and @ZacHicks Zac Hicks Online The Worship Pastor (Amazon) You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit (Amazon) Christ Centered Worship (Amazon)   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK QUOTABLES: Corporate worship is a weekly event that God u

We were recently forced to change our name. In this episode I explain why and share a few ways you can help. All new content will now be at worshipministrytraining.com Thank you for your support!!!   Share with Your Friends: Tell your friends about us on EMAIL, FACEBOOK, and TWITTER.    Donate To Our Legal Fees: Donate $1 Donate $2 Donate $5 Donate $10 (or more) - Donate $10 or more and get a full downloadable catalog of Alex's music from the last 10 years.  Thanks for all the nice reviews lately! Feel free to leave us an iTunes review at worshipministrytraining.com/review Say hi: alex@worshipministrytraining.com

Culture is one of the most important aspects of your worship ministry. Healthy culture will help your ministry thrive, while unhealthy culture will undermine everything you are trying to accomplish. But healthy culture doesn’t appear of thin air. Culture is something that is carefully cultivated through consistent communication of a clear and compelling vision. Aaron Ivey of Austin Stone Worship seems to have cracked the code of clear, consistent communication and has crafted an incredible culture of worship and creativity at the Austin Stone Church in Austin, TX.  That’s why we’re excited to have him share his insights on this month’s episode. If you’re struggling with bad team culture, or simply want to strengthen a specific aspect of your team’s culture, I know you will be helped by this interview. Check Out:  Austin Stone Worship ASW Field Guide Document Steal Away Home (Aaron’s New Book) CCSB's New Culture Document   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION th

One of the key characteristics of a great worship leader is administration and organization. It may not be glamorous, or even fun, but you literally can’t have a healthy worship ministry without administration and organization. In this month’s episode, I share 5 administrative systems, structures, and schedules that are necessary in order to have a healthy, thriving worship ministry. Auditions Episode Holding High Standards In Small Churches EpisodeFree Audition TemplateFree Chord ChartsChordPro Format Chord Chart Tutorial   Direct Download (Episode)   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK   SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK QUOTABLES: Worship leading is more about leadership than musicianship. – Tweet That! Strong administrative systems lead to strong ministries. – Tweet That! You can’t expect your band t

In our third Listener Q&A Episode, podcast listener Jason Daugherty asks for advice as his church plans to switch from one worship service to multiple worship services. Brenton Collyer, Justin Kalama and I share some key concepts to keep in mind when switching your church from one service to multiple services, from scheduling to family, to time usage, unity, keeping it authentic, and more. If you’d like to submit a question for a future episode email me at alex@worshipleadertraining.com  or call and leave a voicemail at 831-607-WLT1. Direct Download Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK   SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIENDTWEET THIS EPISODESHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK   Our Sponsor This Month – Coresound Pads Add rich, beautiful ambient sounds to your mix in three simple steps. Coresound Pads are the best sounding worship pads I’ve ever used, and I’ve tried them all! Check out this video demo. Our listeners get an exclusive discount! Enter WLTPODCAST at checkout for 20% off ALL BUNDLES! Not sure? Try out s

Everybody wants a rich, full sound for their musical worship. And everyone wants smooth worship services that flow from song to song without distraction. But how can we achieve such excellence on a weekly basis? One answer is to utilize backing pads. What are backing pads? What are the benefits of using them in our worship sets? What are the key qualities of a great backing pad? What are the simple and advanced set-ups needed to run backing pads? We answer all those questions and discuss some advanced techniques, tips, and tricks for using backing pads in worship in this month’s episode. I truly believe backing pads will transform your worship sets.  Our listeners get 20% off all Coresound Pads bundles by entering WLTPodcast at checkout. Try 8 amazing backing pads for FREE.   Direct Download   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK   SHARE: EMAIL

In our 2nd Listener Q&A Bonus Episode, we answer a question from podcast listener, Brian Johnson. Brian is a new worship leader and will be taking over an established youth worship ministry. He asks for advice on how to lead a band, and how to do his best as a new leader in a youth group context. Justin Bell and I answer. If you’d like to submit a question for a future episode email me at alex@worshipleadertraining.com or call and leave a voicemail at 831-607-WLT1. AUDITION / CULTURE EXAMPLE DOCUMENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF SONG SELECTION IN WORSHIP (ARTICLE) Direct Download  SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK   Our Sponsor This Month – Coresound Pads Add rich, beautiful ambient sounds to your mix in three simple steps. Coresound Pads are the best sounding worship pads I’ve ever used, and I’ve tried them all! Check out this video demo. Our listeners get an exclusive discount! Enter WLTPODCAST at checkout for 20% off ALL BUNDLES! Not sure? Try out some sample pads for

The average church in America has only seventy members. This means that most worship leaders are fighting the uphill battle of trying to create an excellent worship ministry with limited resources and limited personnel. However, Kade Young seems to have cracked the code. In a church of only 100, Kade is consistently bringing forth excellence from both his worship and tech ministries. Today we talk to Kade about how to hold high standards for excellence in a small church. The principles outlined here will apply to small and large churches alike, so no matter what your church size, dive in and be encouraged! Collaborate Worship Twitter.com/collabworship Facebook.com/collaborateworship Direct Download    I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK   SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK QUOTABLES: Whether you lead a

Our first Listener Q&A Episode! Podcast listener, Rick Flood asks for advice on how to switch from leading worship on an acoustic guitar, to leading from an electric. Brenton, Sam and I share our tips, ideas, and concepts on how to approach leading from an electric guitar, and how it differs from leading on an acoustic. We talk tone, pedals, strumming patterns, chord voicing, mixing and more. If you’d like to submit a question for a future episode email me at alex@worshipleadertraining.com  or call and leave a voicemail at

Sixteen years ago Andi Rozier started writing songs for his church, Harvest Bible Chapel. Today, his songs are being sung in churches all over the world. Many worship pastors desire to write songs for their church, so in today’s episode Andi (Vertical Church Band) helps us learn how to get started, what we should focus on, dangers to avoid, and how to practically and financially set things up for health and success. If you’ve been wanting to start a songwriting ministry in your church, this episode should answer all of your questions and give you the tools you need to get started. Direct Download I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK   SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK QUOTABLES: There are massive dangers when you want to start writing songs for your church. - Andi Rozier  -Tweet That! Worship songs ar

Should we be borrowing ideas and techniques from concerts to implement in our worship services? Can a small church with zero technology have a successful worship ministry? What defines ministry success? This short bonus episode encourages us to go back to the heart of our calling to examine the why, what and how of a successful worship ministry.  worshipleadertraining.com/resources I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK   EMAIL THIS EPISODE TWEET THIS EPISODE   Our Sponsor This Month – Coresound Pads Add rich, beautiful ambient sounds to your mix in three simple steps. Coresound Pads are the best sounding worship pads I’ve ever used, and I’ve tried them all! Check out this video demo. Our listeners get an exclusive discount! Enter WLTPODCAST at checkout for 20% off the Deluxe Bundle (update: ALL bundles) Not sure? Try out some sample pads for FREE

As many churches try to replicate stadium-style worship concerts in their weekly gatherings, the art of congregational singing is declining. Participation from congregants is down and what was supposed to be a participatory event has turned into passive observers watching leaders dance around a technicolor stage. But Keith and Kristen Getty are on a mission to revitalize congregational singing in churches across the globe. Today I talk with the prolific, modern day hymn-writer, Keith Getty about why congregational singing matters, why it’s in decline and how we can encourage more of it in our churches. Find out more about Keith and Kristen Getty or the Sing! Conference Direct Download   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-WLT1 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK QUOTABLES: Congregational singing has died in th

As worship leaders, our job is not to sing, but to help the people sing. We are facilitators of the congregational choir. One way we can help facilitate is by using “vocal cues”. Vocal cues are the things you say or sing to help your congregation know where you’re going next in a song. Today’s episode feels less like a lecture, and more like you’re sitting across from me in my office with our guitars, working through some real-life examples of using vocal cues well. You’ll hear about how to sing them, say them, proper timing, tone, non-verbal cues and more. Enjoy the episode and thanks for being a part of the WLT community! More content at worshipministrytraining.com Direct Download I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling +1-831-607-9581 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK QUOTABLES: When the congregation feels confident, th

Last month we talked with specialist Zack Carter about Wise Boundaries with the Opposite Sex in Ministry. This month we talk to five worship leaders from across the U.S. about how they maintain wise boundaries with the opposite gender in their ministries. Our Guests:Krissy Nordhoff – KrissyNordhoff.com, Brave Worship Brenton Collyer – BrentonCollyer.com, Restore Worship Conference Justin Kalama – Hope Chapel WorshipJustin Bell – Calvary Nexus Direct Download More content at: worshipministrytraining.com   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  EMAIL ME your thoughts on this episode or ASK A QUESTION that you’d like us to answer on a future episode by calling 1-831-607-9581 Say hi on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, or FACEBOOK   SHARE: EMAIL TO A FRIEND TWEET THIS EPISODE SHARE THIS EPISODE ON FACEBOOK QUOTABLES: We should treat the females on our team as sisters, not strangers.  - Tweet That! The only thing more dangerous than potentially inappropriate interactions is if we stop interacting at all. - Tweet That!   Our Sponsor Thi