The Ferment Podcast - Conversations About Worship And Transformation

Brian Zahnd is the lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri, which he founded in 1981 with his wife, Peri. He is a passionate reader, avid hiker and mountain climber, Bob Dylan aficionado and author of several books including Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, Postcards from Babylon, A Farewell to Mars, Water to Wine, and Beauty Will Save the World. Brian and Peri have three adult sons and seven grandchildren. In this episode, Brian and our host Adam Russell discuss the hidden treasures to be found in academic theology when our experience of Christianity no longer feels worthy of Jesus, and the effects a founding pastor's evolving faith can have on a church body. Brian also shares the historical parallels of our current times and the need for Christians to prioritize practicing love in such a divisive political season. This episode is packed full of personal testimony that is challenging and honest and is sure to inspire a deeper look at our own relationship with Jesus.

A Tennessee native, Leslie Jordan is a worship leader, singer/songwriter and co-founder of The Fold, a Nashville-based songwriting community and non-profit organization that seeks to provide a safe space for writers and songwriters to find their unique voice through retreats and workshops. Prior to this, Leslie was best known as a member of the Grammy-nominated band All Sons & Daughters, whose most well-known songs include "Great Are You Lord", "Called Me Higher" and "Oh How I Need You". She is also a staff writer on Integrity Music Publishing, spending much of her day cowriting with artists in the Nashville area and around the country. She lives with her husband and son in Franklin, TN. In this episode, Leslie and our host Adam Russell discuss all things songwriting, including where songs come from, how vulnerability is a gift in the co-writing relationship, and the essential roles generosity and hospitality play in cultivating a nourishing environment for artists and songwriters to create together.

Susan O'Brien is a spiritual director who works with people to become more aware of God's presence in their lives. She received her certification through the Institute of Christian Spirituality at Lipscomb University and also holds a Bachelor of Theology from Point University. She believes that God is working in every person that she encounters. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Mike and her 8-year-old son, Ezekiel. When she isn't doing spiritual direction, homeschooling her son or teaching piano lessons, she likes spending time in her rocking chair or on the back porch swing. On this episode, Susan and our host Adam Russell look at the "slow" work of God in our lives. This is especially relevant in this season as our normal rhythms have been disrupted in so many ways. Much to glean in this rich episode!

Chris McClarney grew up in the church as the son of a youth pastor and met Jesus at a very young age. When he was 14 he began leading worship for a small group, which then led to full-time ministry in local churches and inner-city ministry across Nashville, TN. Chris' powerful worship anthem "Your Love Never Fails" has become one of the most popular songs in America's churches as reported in the TOP 25 of CCLI and a #1 song on the Billboard Christian chart. Chris currently serves as one of the worship pastors at Church Of The City in Franklin, TN. On this week's episode, Chris and our host Adam Russell explore Chris's journey as a worship leader and songwriter. Also, reflecting on the cultural moment we find ourselves in wrestling with COVID-19, political unrest, and societal division even in the American church. This is a helpful and grounding conversation reminding us about the things God holds as primary in our lives and ministries.

As we take our mid-season break for the month of July, we have hand-picked some of our favorite episodes from season one! We'll be releasing these curated archive episodes on Mondays and Thursdays. We'll be back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd! Dr. Caleb Maskell leads the Society of Vineyard Scholars and is the Worship Pastor at Blue Route Vineyard Community Church outside Philadelphia, PA. He has a PhD in the Department of Religion at Princeton University, focusing on the history of American Christianity. He has taught at Princeton Theological Seminary and Fordham University. Caleb is passionate about developing leaders and institutions that will help to produce a healthy, courageous, and hospitable future for the church in the 21st century. In 2007, he co-planted Elm City Vineyard Church in New Haven, Connecticut with his wife Kathy. Kathy is active in social justice and worked for six years as the U.S. Advocacy Director for Love146, an international human rights organization working to end child trafficking and exploitation. They live in Media, Pennsylvania with their son Josiah and their daughter Emmanuelle.

As we take our mid-season break for the month of July, we have hand-picked some of our favorite episodes from season one! We'll be releasing these curated archive episodes on Mondays and Thursdays. We'll be back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd! Dr. Brittany Kim is an Old Testament scholar, adjunct professor, and spiritual director-in-training based in Chicago, IL. She has taught at Roberts Wesleyan College, Northeastern Seminary, and Bethel Seminary, and is the author of Lengthen Your Tent-Cords: The Metaphorical World of Israel's Household in the Book of Isaiah. Brittany is also the wife of Ferment podcast guest, Ted Kim. In this episode, Brittany and Adam dig into the Old Testament bringing out both specific and "meta" insights extremely useful for the modern worship leader. Brittany also highlights the frequency and importance of the theme of lament, particularly in the Psalms. This is an important conversation for worship leaders and songwriters seeking more biblical expressions of worship in their personal and congregational lives.

As we take our mid-season break for the month of July, we have hand-picked some of our favorite episodes from season one! We'll be releasing these curated archive episodes on Mondays and Thursdays. We'll be back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd! John Kim is an Investor, entrepreneur, and co-pastor of The166, a Vineyard church plant in the Hell's Kitchen section of midtown Manhattan, NY. After graduating from Harvard in 1995, John received his Ph.D. in Economics from MIT in 1998. John joined MSD Capital in 1998, serving as partner from 2001 to 2008. He then founded the Karamaan Group —a long-term investing firm that takes ownership interest in public and private companies. John resides in Manhattan with his wife, Kara, and son, Samuel. The Kims are one of three founding families of Coram Deo: A House of Worship, Prayer and Entrepreneurship, located in midtown Manhattan. In this unique episode, John shares his journey of being a Jesus follower in the fast-paced NYC business world, surviving with his faith intact and actually finding his God-breathed vocation in the midst of it. This is a deeply encouraging conversation for anyone seeking to walk out their calling, whether inside or outside the walls of the Church.

As we take our mid-season break for the month of July, we have hand-picked some of our favorite episodes from season one! We'll be releasing these curated archive episodes on Mondays and Thursdays. We'll be back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd! Hannah DeSpain is a vocalist and worship leader in Campbellsville, KY, featured on numerous Vineyard Worship projects such as Promises of Wonder and All Things Rise. She sits down with our host Adam Russell, her long-time friend, and shares her life story — from growing up singing in church with her twin sister Sarah to discovering a calling to lead people in worship in college to marrying her husband Matt. Hannah offers some hard-won and key insights as she and Adam discuss walking through seasons of suffering and loss as followers of Jesus.

As we take our mid-season break for the month of July, we have hand-picked some of our favorite episodes from season one! We'll be releasing these curated archive episodes on Mondays and Thursdays. We'll be back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd! Sam Yoder is a chiropractor in Campbellsville, KY and the author of the modern Vineyard hymns "All Things Rise," "Wonderful," and the upcoming Vineyard Worship single, "Jesus Beautiful." In this wide-ranging conversation, Sam shares about his journey - from being raised Old Order Amish to discovering the music of Bob Dylan and the writing of Carl Sagan. Sam and Adam cover various topics including the experience of the immigrant and outsider in society, the songwriting genius of Dylan, and Sam's deep love of space and the universe that inspired his upcoming album, The Reaches, featuring songs about black holes and other surprises. Sam is an inspiring and curious person who pursues his creative life with ferocity. This is a fascinating conversation you won't want to miss.

As we take our mid-season break for the month of July, we have hand-picked some of our favorite episodes from season one! We'll be releasing these curated archive episodes on Mondays and Thursdays. We'll be back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd! Carol Wimber-Wong was an early Vineyard pioneer and, along with her late husband John Wimber, helped birth the Vineyard Movement. Carol has been closely involved in the development of the Vineyard for over 40 years. In this broad conversation, Adam and Carol discuss her journey of faith and the deep impact the Quakers had on both her and John and the foundation of the Vineyard Movement. They then dive into her perspective on the history of the Vineyard and her dreams for the future Church.

As we take our mid-season break for the month of July, we have hand-picked some of our favorite episodes from season one! We'll be releasing these curated archive episodes on Mondays and Thursdays. We'll be back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd! On this premiere episode of the Ferment Podcast Adam sits down with David Ruis, well-known songwriter, worship leader, pastor, and creative thinker. David is the author of many beloved worship songs sung all over the world (You're Worthy Of My Praise (I Will Worship), Every Move I Make, Sweet Mercies) and has spent many years ministering and working on social justice initiatives in Kathmandu, Hollywood, and among First Nations people in his native Canada.

As we take our mid-season break for the month of July, we have hand-picked some of our favorite episodes from season one! We'll be releasing these curated archive episodes on Mondays and Thursdays. We'll be back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd! Tina Colón Williams is an accomplished vocalist, immigration attorney, and worship pastor. She and her husband Josh lead the Elm City Vineyard church in shadow of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Tina's powerful vocals are featured on the last two Vineyard Soul releases - We Are Ready and Generous God.

As we take our mid-season break for the month of July, we have hand-picked some of our favorite episodes from season one! We'll be releasing these curated archive episodes on Mondays and Thursdays. We'll be back with brand new episodes on Monday, August 3rd! Jared Boyd is a pastor, spiritual director, and founder of The Order of Sustainable Faith, a missional monastic expression of the Vineyard Church. In addition to his role in Sustainable Faith, Jared is Pastor at Franklinton Abbey and is part of The Society of Vineyard Scholars. In this rich episode, Jared and Adam dig deep into the topic of discernment and explore the benefits of spiritual direction and a contemplative life. Jared is a deep well and this episode is overflowing with practical wisdom for the long-term life of faith. For more information about The Order of Sustainable Faith visit: https://www.sustainablefaith.com/

This episode is part of our new series, Black Voices In The Vineyard, which features interviews with Black leaders from around the Vineyard movement. Kim McNeal and her husband have lived in Raleigh, NC for over 20 years, but they are proud natives of the "City of Brotherly Love," Philadelphia, PA (#goeagles). Presently, Kim works as financial literacy educator at a non-profit and serves as an elder and worship leader at Raleigh Vineyard Church. On this inspiring episode Kim shares her journey of faith, beginning with a seminal moment of seeing Aretha Franklin perform when Kim was only 5 years old to the start of her life following Jesus in college. Kim has spent many years in both the white and black Church, bringing with her helpful and challenging insights into journeying together as the people of God from "every tribe, tongue, and nation."

Today we have another edition of our "conversations" series with Adam & Heather Russell. 2020 has been a wild year to say the least. On today's episode Adam and Heather provide some helpful pastoral reflection after the first six months of this crazy year.

John Barnett is a veteran in Vineyard Worship known for his songs "Father of Lights" and "Holy and Anointed One," as well as his trademark beard. He is a worship leader, songwriter, mentor, and teacher, and his songs have become standards in churches around the world. He and his wife Marie (author of "Breathe") carry a passion for traveling the country to train up young worship leaders, sharing their unique experiences and stories of the Vineyard Movement. John and Marie live in Montana where they enjoy being parents and grandparents, and living the country life. On this wide-ranging episode, John shares stories from the earliest days of Vineyard Worship working with founder John Wimber and producer Randy Rigby. John provides words of fatherly wisdom for those currently involved in worship ministry trying to navigate the ever-changing world of the Church, our culture, and their intersection with the music industry. This is an entertaining and rich episode!

This episode is part of our new series, Black Voices In The Vineyard, which features interviews with black leaders from around the Vineyard movement. Gary Dawkins is a site pastor at the Vineyard Church in Syracuse, NY. On this challenging episode, Gary and our host Adam Russell tackle larger themes of systemic racism in our society. This episode culminates with a discussion on how to frame our response within the context of the Kingdom of God.

This re-broadcast episode is part of our new series, Black Voices In The Vineyard, which features interviews with Black leaders from around the Vineyard movement. Josh Williams is the Lead Pastor of the Elm City Vineyard in New Haven, CT and serves on the Executive Board for Vineyard USA. Originally from Iowa, Josh moved to New Haven to attend Yale and later Yale Divinity School where he earned his M.Div. He was the first intern at the Elm City Vineyard where he started prayer groups on Yale's campus and established and grew a connection with Agape Church for the Housed and Unhoused. He served as a campus minister at Yale for InterVarsity before becoming ECV's first full-time Lead Pastor in 2014. He currently lives with his wife Tina and their daughter Zoe in the Edgewood neighborhood of New Haven. In this episode, Josh and our host Adam Russell discuss Josh's reluctant journey into pastoral ministry from his small town Iowa roots to Yale Divinity School. This wide-ranging conversation covers a lot of helpful ground from the power of ministering together with your spouse (Josh's wife is Tina Colón Williams, vocal phenom and previous Ferment podcast guest) to learning to preach like a worship leader to the concept of worship as protest.

This re-broadcast episode is part of our new series, Black Voices In The Vineyard, which features interviews with Black leaders from around the Vineyard movement. Shyla and Leon Powell are this week's guests. Leon is the worship pastor at the Vineyard Church in Syracuse, NY, and Shyla leads worship at the Syracuse Vineyard as well as works as a clinical therapist with the Salvation Army. This conversation runs the gamut — from personal stories about growing up Black in predominately white environments to the blessings and challenges of leading worship together as a married couple. Both Shyla and Leon share some important personal insights from their own lives as well as hopes for the growing multi-ethnic Church experience.

This episode is part of our new series, Black Voices In The Vineyard, which features interviews with Black leaders from around the Vineyard movement. Joshua Miller is a pastor, worship leader, and songwriter in Lancaster, California. Joshua's powerful voice was featured on Vineyard Worship's first two singles of 2019, ALL THE SAME & YOU'RE CARRYING ME. On this re-broadcast episode Joshua recounts his story of abandoning faith at a young age to pursue a life of crime and violence, and eventually finding his way back through dramatic encounters with the Living God. Joshua also shares great insight into the local church's journey into a broader multi-cultural worship expression.

This episode is part of a series we're calling Black Voices In The Vineyard, which will feature interviews with Black leaders from around the Vineyard movement. On this episode our host Adam Russell sits down with Geno Olison, leader of Vineyard USA's Diversity Initiative, to discuss how the Church should respond in times of crisis and in the aftermath of events like the killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests.

Paul Baloche has written hundreds of worship songs that are sung by thousands of churches each week. "Open The Eyes Of My Heart," "Above All,""Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)," "Your Name," and countless others are congregational favorites throughout the world. A three-time Dove Award-winning songwriter, Paul has recorded 12 albums for Integrity Music and travels the globe teaching and leading others in worship. Through Leadworship.com, he developed a series of Master Classes designed to equip and train leaders and worship teams. He also served as the Worship Pastor at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, TX for over 25 years, is an ordained minister, and received an MDiv from the Methodist Episcopal Church. He currently resides in New York City with his wife Rita. They have three grown children and three grand children. On this episode, Paul and our host Adam Russell explore the practical, philosophical, and spiritual sides of the art of worship songwriting. Paul is a deep well providing many nuggets of wisdom from his vast experience. Don't miss this interview!

A native of Northwest Indiana, Corey Voss is now a Tennessee-based worship leader and songwriter who serves as Worship Pastor for Gateway Church. He is also an artist and songwriter with Integrity Music and the founder of Madison Street Worship. His songs include "I Got Saved" and "Praise The King," along with "Psalm 92 (O Most High)" and "We Come To You Jesus," both of which he co-wrote with Paul Baloche. Corey has also written and recorded with Michael Farren, Lauren Daigle, Jennie Lee Riddle, Jared Anderson, and Dustin Smith. On this episode, Corey and our host Adam Russell explore Corey's background growing up Catholic. As a teen Corey encountered Jesus in a new way, and this encounter changed the course of his life and called him into worship leadership. Adam and Corey then unpack Corey's songwriting journey, providing both practical and inspirational insight for those who feel the call to write songs for their local churches.

Putty Putman is a member of the senior leadership team at Vineyard Church of Central Illinois and co-leads the preaching team. He also oversees the School of Kingdom Ministry, a supernatural training and discipleship school hosted by local churches around the world. As a gifted communicator and passionate equipper, Putty loves to see people grow in the conviction of who they are in Christ and be released to live a naturally supernatural lifestyle empowered by the Holy Spirit. Putty, in the process of obtaining a Ph.D. in theoretical quantum physics, ran headlong into the power and reality of the Holy Spirit during a supernatural encounter in China. Following the leading of Jesus to sell everything he had to purchase the "pearl of great price," Putty terminated a successful career in physics to pursue learning, leading, and training others to move in the power of the Holy Spirit. On this episode Putty and our host Adam Russell unpack what it means to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit, not only in the Kairos moments of visible power but also in what Putty calls "Seinfeld" times, which are those moments where nothing seems to be happening but God is at work in more ways than we understand.

This is the next edition of a special series we're calling the COVID Check-In. In this series we get an on-the-ground look at how faith leaders and churches are dealing with the global pandemic. In this episode we talk with Jay Pathak, lead pastor of the Mile High Vineyard in Denver, CO. With states starting to ease restrictions and re-open, Jay and Adam tackle the pressing questions facing the Church in this post-quarantine new normal.

Harmony Smith is the Director of Worship for Vineyard UK/Ireland. In addition to this role, she co-pastors Belfast City Vineyard in Northern Ireland alongside her husband, Andy. On this episode Harmony unpacks her personal journey, specifically focusing on the role of the Holy Spirit in moments of encounter and in discovering practices of spiritual discipline. Harmony also shares a word from the Lord about raising up a generation of worship leaders who resemble the priest and prophet Samuel in knowing how to discern the voice of God in their lives and leadership.

This is the next edition of a special series we're calling the COVID Check-In. In this series we get an on-the-ground look at how faith leaders and churches are dealing with the global pandemic. In this episode we talk with Dr. Elizabeth O. Pierre, licensed professional counselor and assistant professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling & Counseling Psychology at North Park University in Chicago, IL. Adam and Dr. Pierre tackle the layers of new issues facing church leaders in the time of quarantine, specifically addressing the topic of burnout.

Worship leader and songwriter Matt Redman has penned some of the most-beloved worship anthems in the modern Church. Songs such as "The Heart of Worship," "10,000 Reasons," "Blessed Be Your Name," and "Build My Life" are sung around the world and will continue to be sung for many years to come. In early 2020, Matt released his 14th album,Let There Be Wonder. On this episode, Matt and our host Adam Russell mine Matt's wisdom on the role of worship leaders as servants who not only lead people in singing to God, but who help people see God. From there, they delve into the challenges faced by worship leaders in this time of quarantine and virtual church. This is a rich conversation, as Matt's words have resonance and relevance now more than ever.

This is the next edition of a special series we're calling the COVID Check-In. In this series we get an on-the-ground look at how faith leaders and churches are dealing with the global pandemic. In this episode we talk with Phil Chorlian, senior pastor of the North Jersey Vineyard in South Hackensack, NJ. Phil and his entire family tested positive for COVID-19 back in March. Being so close to the NYC area, Phil and his church have been directly affected by the virus, including tragically losing a member of their congregation to the disease.

Cody Carnes is a worship leader and songwriter whose recent collaboration with his wife, Kari Jobe Carnes, and Elevation Worship resulted in the timely song "The Blessing." Cody's new album Run To The Father released on March 13, 2020, just as the US was moving into quarantine. On this episode, Adam and Cody dive into the idea of "keeping your antenna up" as a songwriter, listening for the voice of the Lord and what He is speaking to the Church today. They explore the back story of "The Blessing," an example of God's hand at work through a simple song that found its way into the Church at large on the cusp of a global pandemic. Cody's bio: Cody Carnes is a worship leader and songwriter whose passion is to create a meeting place for God and people with music. He spends most of his time traveling and leading worship with his wife, Kari Jobe Carnes. The couple has co-written numerous songs together, including "Closer To Your Heart," "The Garden" and "Lover Of My Soul" from her album The Garden, and "Let The Heavens Open" from her album Majestic.

This is the next edition of a special series we're calling the COVID Check-In. In this series we get an on-the-ground look at how faith leaders and churches are dealing with the global pandemic. Today, we talk with John and Judith Hix, lead pastors of the Seattle Vineyard in Washington State. They had an early personal brush with COVID-19.

Stu G is a guitarist, songwriter, and producer. Stu is best known as the guitarist for the British band Delirious?, who—for nearly two decades—penned many of the popular worship songs in modern Christendom. He was also a member of the distinguished CompassionArt songwriters collective, which boasted heavy-hitters Paul Baloche, Darlene Zschech, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Israel Houghton. Stu lives in Nashville with his wife Karen. On this episode, Stu and our host Adam Russell dig into Stu's origin story leading to the birth of Delirious?. They then discuss the riches found in the Sermon on the Mount, specifically the Beatitudes. This passage of scripture has become a passion project for Stu culminating in "The Beatitudes Project" - a feature-length documentary that has spawned an album, book, podcast, and group experience featuring artists, thinkers, and change-makers from all over the world who grapple with this timely question: does the most famous sermon in history still apply? This conversation on the text of Matthew 5-7 has particular relevance in this time of COVID-19 quarantine and economic crisis.

This is the next edition of a special series we're calling the COVID Check-In. In this series we will get an on-the-ground look at how faith leaders and churches are dealing with the global pandemic. Today, we talk with Hal Donaldson, CEO of Convoy of Hope, about their mission to provide 10 million meals during this crisis. As a faith-based, nonprofit organization, Convoy of Hope has helped more than 115 million people throughout the world by sharing food, water, emergency supplies, agricultural know-how, and opportunities that empower people to live independent lives, free from poverty, disease and hunger.

Jesse Duley is the training coordinator for Vineyard Worship in the UK & Ireland. In addition to his role at Vineyard Worship UKI, Jesse serves as worship pastor at Kingdom Vineyard in St. Andrew's, Scotland. In this episode Jesse recounts his faith journey, which led to his discovery of the spiritual discipline of sabbath and finding God in the small, everyday things of life. Then, Adam and Jesse discuss the need for local churches and worship leaders to find their own voice rather than just being an echo of the popular worship culture. The episode closes with a conversation about the challenges of leading worship online in this current climate. Jesse is a fount of wisdom and experience you won't want to miss!

This is the first edition of a special series we're calling COVID Check-In. In this series we will get an on-the-ground look at how faith leaders and churches are dealing with the global pandemic. Today, we talk with John & Kara Kim, pastors of the 166 in Hells Kitchen, Manhattan, NYC. In addition to his work as a pastor, John is a highly-respected economist.

Steve Cuss is the author of the influential book, "Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs" (published by NEXT Leadership Network), and serves as lead pastor at Discover Christian Church in Broomfield, CO. On today's episode, Steve and Adam discuss chronic anxiety and its effect on our personal lives, our teams, and the society in which we live. This is an important conversation, especially in the current global pandemic. From Steve's website: I love leaders, and I see how much pressure they carry. My particular concern is to bring relief by equipping them with tools for individual and team health. I especially enjoy helping leaders break long stuck patterns in themselves and their organizations. I cut my teeth on leadership anxiety when I served as a chaplain at a level one trauma hospital. The hospital sent us into every conceivable human experience and we had nothing but our wits and the presence of God to get us through. In that baptism of fire, I learned how to pay attention to what was going on under the surface of my own life, and also the dynamics between family members. One of the supervisors was Murray Bowen's student, so I was steeped in family systems theory and then later studied it and cybernetics more formally in graduate school. My unique experience and training deepened my leadership capacity to manage anxiety and notice it in groups. I have sixteen hundred hours of supervised ministry in Clinical Pastoral Education. I hold a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel Christian Seminary where I focused on Hebrew Scriptures and Family Systems. My thesis was based on the Hebrew Scriptures' dignity laws in Leviticus and Exodus and how a suburban church can engage local and global poverty through the lens of reciprocity and dignity rather than charity. Since 2005, I have served as Lead Pastor of Discovery Christian Church in Broomfield, Colorado, an innovative and entrepreneurial church that has grown from 150 to more than 1000 in weekly attendance. The church intentionally welcomes spiritual seekers and skeptics and is passionate about partnerships that break the local and global poverty cycle. I have also served at a mega church in Las Vegas, on a ranch for struggling teens, and as a youth minister in the Appalachian region. I was privileged to grow up in Perth, Western Australia, in an adventurous family of origin. After moving to the United States for theological study, I married Lisa and together we have two sons and a daughter, in whom I take great delight. When I am not working, you can find me laughing with my family, knee-deep in a trout stream, or trying a guitar I cannot afford at a local music store.

Susanne "Soose" Courtney is a worship leader and pastor at Manchester Vineyard in the UK, and a broadcast journalist working for a national BBC radio station On this episode, our host Adam Russell talks with Soose about her backstory as a kid of the '90s finding her way to faith and eventually into leading worship in a Vineyard church. Soose is a trusted guide with wise words for worship leaders, especially for women in worship leadership. Soose then gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be a person of faith in the world of mainstream media in our current cultural climate. This is a fascinating conversation you won't want to miss!!

Today we have another edition in our "conversations" series. This time we hear from Vineyard School of Worship Director, Mike O'Brien, as he discusses the practical topic of building effective set lists in every season of your church's life.

**BONUS EPISODE** How do we lead our families, our churches, ourselves in this moment? How do we follow Jesus? How do we press into new ideas and new creativity in this strange time? Today we have special edition of our "conversations" series with Adam & Heather Russell. Together, Adam & Heather take a look at the personal and leadership issues brought up by COVID-19, challenging us to ask the big questions. Tune in to Vineyard Worship's Facebook page on Wednesday, March 25th at 12pm Eastern time for a live Q & A with Adam and Heather Russell.

Mark Fields currently serves as the Director of Global & Intercultural Ministry for Vineyard USA. Prior to assuming his current position, he was the Senior Pastor of the Vineyard Community Church in Pomona, CA for over 20 years. As a lifelong learner, Mark attended Fuller Seminary and the London School of Theology, and he has traveled and ministered extensively around the world. He and his wife Karen have been married for nearly 40 years, and are the parents of three adult children and a growing number of grandchildren. On this week's episode, we get a look into Mark's unusual journey into mission work. Mark also shares some inspiring stories of church planting and evangelism from Vineyard USA's work in over half of the world's countries.

On this week's episode, we have return guest Andy Squyres. Andy is the Worship Pastor at the Queen City Church in Charlotte, NC. He has served in local church ministry for many years and is a talented songwriter celebrated for his authenticity. He is best-known for his raw and beautiful album Cherry Blossoms. Andy is a native Californian who, along with his wife and kids, has called Charlotte home since the late '90s. The song Cherry Blossoms will be featured as Vineyard Worship's monthly single in April 2020. Andy and our host Adam Russell plunge headlong into Andy's creative process with a specific focus on Andy's upcoming record Kingfisher. Andy is a deep well, giving us both practical tools and high-level inspiration as we seek to develop our own creative practice! You'll leave this episode inspired to dig deeper and find your true creative voice.

Jim Zartman is a musician, producer, and coach. As a songwriter and musician, he has created music for films, commercials, podcasts, and more. As a producer, he is the owner and operator of Talkie Records Studio in Lynn, MA and co-founder of "The Art of Growth – Enneagram Panels," which is one of the world's most-popular Enneagram podcasts. In addition to the podcast, Jim provides typing and coaching to individuals and organizations and, alongside his wife Abby, coaches couples in how to design their relationships to reflect their values. On this episode, Adam and Jim unpack the Enneagram, the popular personality-typing tool. Jim provides helpful real-life examples of ways the Enneagram can be used for personal growth and to promote health in relationships. This is an informative episode for both Enneagram enthusiasts and those unfamiliar with this powerful tool.

Stephen Roach is host of the Makers & Mystics podcast and founder of The Breath & The Clay creative arts movement, an international community of artists and creatives. Stephen travels as a keynote speaker, event curator and creative coach, conducting workshops and events centered on the exploration of creativity and the spiritual life. He is the author of four volumes of poetry, an illustrated children's book titled Satchel Willoughby & The Realm of Lost Things, and his recent guide, "Five Creativity Killers and How To Avoid Them." Alongside speaking and writing, Stephen is a multi-instrumentalist with a background in ethnomusicology. His band Songs of Water composes for film and television and has contributed music to the works of recording artists Ricky Skaggs, Josh Garrels, Jonathan & Melissa Helser, John Mark McMillan, and many others. On this week's episode we're talking all things creative. Stephen and our host Adam Russell tackle topics from the nature of God as Creator, and the reality that creativity at its core is a spiritual practice, to ways creativity and the arts inspire worship. They also provide prophetic critique, leaving us with a much broader definition of creativity and challenging us to live artful lives.

This week's guests are Darren & Jessie Clarke — worship leaders, songwriters, and authors of the global worship hit "I Love Your Presence." Jessie grew up in the Vineyard movement while Darren was a child prodigy playing guitar in London clubs and pubs when he was 13. As late teens, they independently moved to California and were each instrumental in the formation of "The Burn Service," a vibrant young adult ministry with a creative worship expression that was captured on several Vineyard Worship recordings. It was from this ministry that their famous song was born, and they have since run a music academy, started a boutique label, and entered the podcast production space. Currently based in Nashville, the Clarkes have a passion for songwriting, and specifically writing for the local church. On this podcast, we delve into their personal and ministry lives, from their British upbringing to their meeting on the Central Coast of California. They recount the move of God which culminated in both the "The Burn Service" and the creation of "I Love Your Presence," and then do a deep dive into the topic of creativity, sharing amazing stories of how the Lord has led them to unlock different facets of their creative lives.

This week we bring you another installment in our "conversations" series. Host Adam Russell and producer Casey Corum dig into Kingdom values in worship, centered around four themes: Hungry, Humble, Human, and Home. While rooted in our theology and informed by our history, our values are not meant to be set in stone, but rather to be descriptive and adaptable as we walk out our lives of faith with the Living God. You won't want to miss this essential conversation exploring the "why" underneath the "how" of our worship expression!

Mike O'Brien is a worship pastor, speaker, record producer, and songwriter. With over 25 years experience in the trenches of local church worship ministry and serving in multiple facets of worship across different denominations, Mike is a trusted voice in helping musicians "more fully worship God with their instruments and lives." Mike currently serves as the Director for the Vineyard School of Worship and lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Susan and their son Ezekiel. In this wide-ranging and very practical episode, our host Adam Russell sits down with Mike to tackle the most common issues churches face in building healthy worship ministries.

Terry Butler is a veteran Vineyard songwriter and worship pastor, but he is first and foremost a worshipper. Drawn into the mystery and majesty of God through anointed hymns in his early childhood, Terry has written songs and pastored worship for over 42 years. Best known for the classic Vineyard songs "Cry Of My Heart," "At The Cross," "Psalm 19 (May The Words Of My Mouth)," and the 2019 Vineyard Worship single "All The Same," his pastoral work in raising up younger generations into ministry reflects his passion for true, heartfelt congregational worship. In this power-packed episode, Terry shares his journey into worship — from playing with the Jesus Movement band One Truth to discovering the intimacy and vulnerability of the worship songwriting of the Vineyard. Using Adam's words, Terry is a 'PhD worship pastor" teeming with wisdom and a rich legacy of calling out and raising up worship leaders and songwriters.

David Berguño is the Worship and Young Adults Pastor of Viña Las Condes in Santiago, Chile where he lives with his wife Marjorie Brownell. With a background in songwriting and arranging, he has written and produced worship in Chile for many years and has led worship since he was a teen. On this episode, David gives us a window into his international upbringing, which spans the Western Hemisphere from Chile to Venezuela to the U.S. His multi-lingual and multi-cultural life experience gives him a unique voice as the Church at large wrestles with issues of race, globalism, and cultural division. This is especially relevant in the U.S. as we seek to embrace the growing diversity of our country and its churches.

Lauri Varieur is a former VP of Creative Brand/Social Media/Visual for top fashion brands BCBGMAXAZRIA and Donna Karan. She is now co-lead pastor — alongside her husband Wade — of Vineyard Fullerton, an eclectic church plant in downtown Fullerton, CA celebrating its 6th anniversary. On this episode, Lauri shares her journey growing up in the greater NYC area and coming to a real faith at the Manhattan Vineyard under the leadership of Mike & Char Turrigiano. Feeling called into the "mission field" from a young age, Lauri found herself in the fashion industry with a call to pastor those around her. This is an inspiring conversation about our call to follow Jesus in every context in which we find ourselves.

SEASON 2 PREMIERE!! Chris Lizotte is a singer-songwriter and worship leader best known for his songs "Glory The King," "I Love Your Ways," and "I Will Trust You." Born and raised in Orange County, CA, Chris has led worship for The National Youth Leaders Convention, Promise Keepers, and Campus Crusade, and his songs have been recorded by Kim Walker-Smith, Crystal Lewis, Vineyard Worship, and Maranatha! Music. On this episode Chris shares his faith journey — from growing up Catholic to coming to faith through a physical healing — as well as his journey into music and leading worship. Many prominent voices have spoken deeply and personally into Chris's life and long road in worship ministry and mainstream music, including Chuck Smith, Kevin Prosch, John Wimber, and Eddie Espinosa. There is much to learn here.