The Ferment Podcast - Conversations About Worship And Transformation

This week we are featuring a special four part mini-series on dreaming with our host, Adam Russell. This powerful series not only will give you permission to dream again, but will also give you practical steps on how to see your dreams come to life. In this first installment Adam talks about creating space to dream.

John Mark McMillan is a platinum-selling songwriter and recording artist best known for his songs "How He Loves," "Future/Past," and "King Of My Heart," co-written with his wife Sarah. John Mark is known for bending genres and defying categorization by carving out his own unique and independent path. With an ear for melody and a poet's eye for metaphor, no topic has been off-limits. While each of his albums over the past decade have continued to explore new territory, it's McMillan's ability to give lyric and language to the human experience that many consider his greatest gift. McMillan is no stranger to success with nearly half a million monthly listeners on Spotify and 40 million Spotify streams, but he won't let those things define him. He's learned a lot about himself since his previous studio album Borderland, which held a Top 15 spot on the iTunes Albums chart and No. 41 on Billboard's Top 200. "I've found that there's a profound restlessness in the gap between the ideals of youth and the realities of adulthood," says McMillan, "even when, especially when, you get what you wanted."

Caleb Maskell leads the Society of Vineyard Scholars and is the Worship Pastor at Blue Route Vineyard Community Church outside Philadelphia, PA. He is currently finishing his 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.

Sarah Elmer is a vocalist, recording artist, worship leader, and mother of three. Featured on Vineyard Worship projects Kyrie Eleison and Wear The Crown, Sarah is a key leader and influencer in the Eastern U.S.

Justin Law is a singer-songwriter, pastor, and spiritual director based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Justin is pioneering work to merge the contemplative tradition of spiritual direction within the context of modern worship leading. See him or his band "The River High" performing monthly in the Minneapolis area.

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.

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.

Welcome to the Ferment Podcast - Conversations about Worship and Transformation. In this teaser episode, our host Adam Russell sets the stage for the launch of our new podcast.