The Worship Initiative Writers

Ryan Kennedy

Ryan Kennedy is a songwriter, worship leader and founder of Gatherhouse Ministries. Ryan is a rising voice in the movement of denominational and cultural reconciliation in the church and is the founder of GatherHouse, a prayer and worship movement of revivalists whose heartbeat is to celebrate the beautiful and vibrant diversity of the body of Christ while being unwaveringly unified in the message of the Gospel. Gatherhouse also creates and produces resources for the global Body of Christ and equips, inspires and challenges worshippers, and local ministry leaders through practicums, masterclasses, and conferences. When not at Gatherhouse, Ryan leads nights of worship and ministry across the states with his wife, Charity Gayle.

Marshall Segal

Marshall Segal serves as President & CEO of Desiring God. He’s the author of Not Yet Married: The Pursuit of Joy in Singleness & Dating. He graduated from Bethlehem College and Seminary, and serves as deacon at Cities Church. He and his wife, Faye, have three children and live in Minneapolis.

Karli Venable

@venablefour

Karli and her husband serve on the executive team of the Antioch Center for Training and Sending (ACTS), a missions organization that trains and sends young pioneering leaders committed to extravagant worship and making disciples among unreached people groups in the 10/40 window. She has served in ministry for over 20 years, and her heart is to see the Church come alive with the beauty and worth of Jesus Christ. Karli and Stephen, and their two little boys, live in Colorado Springs.

Jeff Mathena

@unhinderedvoice
Jeff is the founder and lead vocal coach at The Unhindered Voice, a vocal studio dedicated to helping people sing the way God intended–which offers private lessons, master classes, and worship team workshops. He is also a worship leader and songwriter currently located in Dallas, Texas.

Shane Everett

@shaneandshane
Shane is a worship leader, songwriter and co-founder of The Worship Initiative, and is a worship leader at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, TX. He desires to see people learn and grow in the knowledge of God and in their craft to help strengthen their lives and ministries in the local church.

John Elmore

@johnaelmore
John currently serves on the Pastoral Care and Teaching Teams at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX, and for many years, he served as the Men’s Director of re:generation recovery at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, TX. He is a graduate of Baylor University and holds a Master’s in Ministry from John Brown University and a Master’s in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Laura and their two children live in Waco, TX.

Michael Armstrong

Michael is the co-founder and former worship leader at The Well Church in Argyle, TX. He has recorded a dozen albums and has led worship at Breakaway Texas A&M, METRO Dallas, and for the Song of Solomon Conferences with Tommy Nelson. He currently serves as the worship pastor at FBC Rowlett, and is blessed with a wonderful wife, Jennifer, and three children, Nolan, Wes, and Lori.

Jimmy Needham

Jimmy Needham is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter with seven studio albums,  multiple top 10 radio singles, and a catalog of music which has been streamed more than 25 million times on Spotify alone. He’s also a speaker, forthcoming children’s book author and co-host of the Clearly podcast with his wife Kelly. He serves as the teaching and worship pastor at Stonegate Church in South Dallas, where he is completing his masters degree at Dallas Theological Seminary. Jimmy and Kelly have five children.

Stephen Venable

@stephenvenable

Shane Barnard

Shane is the husband to Beth Barnard and the father to their four daughters.  He is a worship leader, songwriter, and co-founder of The Worship Initiative.  His heart is to disciple and train people in their craft and in the Word so that they may reach others for the Gospel. He also serves as a worship leader at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, TX.

David Mathis

David Mathis is executive editor for desiringGod.org and pastor at Cities Church. He is a husband, father of four, and author of Workers for Your Joy: The Call of Christ on Christian Leaders (2022).

Adam Westlake

Adam is a Producer, Mix Engineer, and Guitar Coach at The Worship Initiative and a counselor with BetterDays and Courage Christian Counseling. He holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and serves in the Worship and Counseling ministries of Northway Church in Dallas, Texas.

Grace Thweatt

Grace Thweatt lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and their two kids. She enjoys leading and writing worship music, and she regularly writes about finding purpose and joy in the little years of motherhood in her newsletter: https://renewedmotherhood.substack.com

Sean Carter

Bethany Barnard

Bethany is the wife of Shane Barnard (Shane & Shane) and mom to their four daughters. She is also a singer/songwriter and worship leader in Dallas, TX. She has a heart to minister to the church through song. Learn more at bethanybarnard.com.

Greg Morse

Greg Morse is a staff writer for Desiring God and graduate of Bethlehem College and Seminary. He and his wife, Abigail, live in Saint Paul with their son and three daughters.

Scott Hubbard

Scott Hubbard is the managing editor for Desiring God, a pastor at All Peoples Church, and a graduate of Bethlehem College and Seminary. He and his wife, Bethany, live with their three sons in Minneapolis.

Jayme Thompson

Ryan DeLange

Ryan is a worship pastor at Bayou City Fellowship in Houston, Texas. He serves there as a worship leader, pastor, and songwriter.

Jennie Lee Riddle

@jennieleeriddle
Jennie is a certified gold, multi dove award winning, top CCLI song-writer best known for authoring "Revelation Song." At heart, she is a community builder. She has used her platform and resources to found and lead movements like People & Songs, The Emerging Sound, GodSpotNow, and GMA Immerse ReViewYou. The passion of her heart, evidenced by her work, is a devotion to strengthening the Church. She uses the tool of music to train servants, encourage unity of the brethren, and enable bible literacy. Jennie and her best friend, Darrin Riddle married in 1988 and together have four adult children and reside at the People & Songs headquarters in La Porte, IN.

Caroline Cobb

Caroline Cobb has a passion to tell God’s Story through music & writing. With every album, concert and book, Caroline’s heart is to help you rehearse & remember the “Big Story” of Scripture. She and her husband Nick live in Dallas, TX with their three kids. Learn more at carolinecobb.com.

Dinah Wright

Dinah Wright has the joy of first being Ethan's wife and Corrie, Jack, and Judson's mom, and second being a Content Creator for The Worship Initiative. She has been leading worship for a decade, and currently serves with the worship team at her own local church alongside her husband.

Grant McCurdy

Grant McCurdy grew up in a missionary family that moved back and forth between the United States and several countries in Southeast Asia. Grant his wife, Soledad, and their son, Silas, have settled in Flower Mound, Texas where he serves as a worship minister at The Village Church. They love to travel, read, and spoil their dog.

Josh O'Neal

Josh O’Neal is a Worship Coordinator at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, TX.  Originally from the beautiful state of Virginia, Josh pursued his undergrad at Texas A&M and stuck around Texas after graduating. He and his wife got married in October of 2018 (also an Aggie!!) and they have two sons, Ben and Grayson, and a daughter, Eleanor. Josh is passionate about equipping the next generation of young Worship Leaders because he was once invested in, shepherded, and developed when he was a student in High School and College. 

Logan Walter

Logan currently works as a high-performing real estate agent with Keller Williams in the DFW area. Prior to that, Logan worked in full-time ministry, leading worship at churches in Richardson, Austin, and Frisco. As a minister, he focused on building relationships and meeting peoples’ needs, and as a real estate agent, that focus has not changed. Logan and his wife Maddie have three kids: Sylvia, Clark, and Simon. His priorities are God then family then real estate! Then Dallas pro sports. 

Jon Gilley

Jon Gilley is the Worship Pastor at Pinelake Church's Reservoir Campus in Brandon, Mississippi. He is happily married to his wife, Heather, and has two sons, Graham and Baylor.

Jason Waller

Jason Waller is a YouTube worship artist, pastor, and leader developer based at Crosspoint Church in Kansas City. His goal is to produce videos and other resources that put God's glory on display and equip the local church all over the world. Check out Crosspoint Church, or find Jason on YouTube and Patreon.

Macie Snowden

Macie Snowden is a born-and-raised Oklahoman turned Texas resident. She served as a Worship Fellow at Watermark Community Church in Dallas from 2022-2023, where she helped plan services and lead worship for Sunday mornings and Student Events. Since completing her fellowship, Macie has taken on the role of Director for Scarlet Hope.

Davy Leffall

Davy has been walking with Jesus for 20 years and is compelled by a desire to see people encounter him for themselves. She works at Watermark Community Church and is grateful to spend her life and ministry alongside her husband, Burlon. Davy is passionate about worship, not just because God in His grace has given her gifts of music and creative expression, but because He is more worthy than we could ever comprehend. You can listen to her music here.

Jake Ferrell

Jake Ferrell has been leading worship and encouraging worship leaders for over twenty years. He serves as the Worship Director at Valley Church in Des Moines, Iowa. Jake and his wife Lacy have four children. He loves Jesus, his family, and the Chicago Cubs... until mid-July every year.

Travis Warren

Travis Warren is the VP of Content here at The Worship Initiative, where he spends his time overseeing live productions, album recordings, and all visual content. Having previously served as a worship leader at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, and as the Production Director at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, Travis' greatest passion is using visual arts and music to glorify God and encourage Christ's Church to worship Him with their whole lives.

Robbie Seay

Robbie Seay serves as EVP of Leader Development + Content at The Worship Initiative where equipping and encouraging worship leaders is his daily focus. He lives in Dallas, TX with his wife of 26 years, Elizabeth. Together they have 4 children. He is widely known for his songwriting, worship leading and recording career, which still play a big role in his life & ministry. His heart for the church and the men and women who lead worship in local churches has led him to devote much of his time and energy to mentoring young leaders/songwriters.

George Koehl

George Koehl was a Resident at The Worship Initiative in 2023 and is featured on the Album "Psalms From The Well". He currently lives and serves in Dallas, TX.

Britton Hardcastle

Britton Hardcastle was a Resident at The Worship Initiative in 2023 and is featured on the Album "Psalms From The Well". He currently lives in Blum, TX with his wife, Carrie, and their two children. 

Jason Johnson

Jason serves as the National Director of The Pure Religion Project with Christian Alliance for Orphans. In his work he develops resources, coaches leaders and teaches in a variety of contexts on church-based ministry structures, organizational leadership and strategy. He is also a sought-after speaker for churches, retreats, conferences, and events for foster and adoptive parents as well as for those considering getting involved.
Prior to his work at CAFO Jason spent 14 years in church staff ministry, including planting and pastoring a church in Houston. It’s there that his family's foster care and adoption journey began.
Jason and his wife, Emily live in Texas with their daughters. He has authored 4 books: Reframing Foster Care, Everyone Can Do Something, The ALL IN Curriculum and Effectively Engaging Churches. You can find many of his resources at www.jasonjohnsonblog.com.

Laela Dasher Skinner

Laela was a Resident at The Worship Initiative and is featured on the Album "Psalms From The Well". She currently lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, Dawson, fronts the band DASHER alongside her brother, Max, and leads worship with LO Worship.

Mac Hays

Mac Hays was a Resident at The Worship Initiative and is featured on the Album "Psalms From The Well". He currently leads with the Liberty Worship Collective.

Tad Daniels

Tad Daniels serves at Northway Church in Dallas, Texas, where he leads and launches new community groups, serves on the worship and production teams, and leads worship and Bible studies for kids in the children's ministry. 

Bryan Fowler

Bryan Fowler is a Grammy and Dove award-winning songwriter and producer living and working in Franklin, Tennessee. Over the past decade, he has written and produced 20+ number-one hit songs on Christian radio as well as many songs sung in churches all over the world. With a desire to pair rich, timeless, historic theology with relevant, modern, compelling melody and feel, he has truly made a lasting impression on the Christian music industry.

Carrie Hardcastle

Carrie Hardcastle was a Resident at The Worship Initiative in 2023 and is featured on the Album "Psalms From The Well". She currently lives in Blum, TX with her husband, Britton, and their two kids. 

Scarlett Campbell

Scarlett Campbell spent several years here at The Worship Initiative, serving faithfully in a variety of roles across the staff. She is pursuing a degree in Biblical Counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and serves in the Worship and Counseling ministries of Northway Church in Dallas, Texas.

Zawadi Morrow

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and adopted by European missionary parents, Zawadi was raised internationally, living in both Africa and Europe before his family settled in the United States. He is a multi- instrumentalist and holds a Bachelor of Music degree as well as a Master of Arts in Worship Studies. He currently serves as the Director of Worship at Calvary Holland, Director of Global Worship at Hope College, Artist in Residence at Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) and leads a collective of local artists committed to encountering their Creator, equipping each other and empowering local churches to become cathedrals of creativity. He is married with two children (one through adoption). When he’s not at home leading worship each week and spending time with his family, you can sometimes find him on tour with artists like Kings Kaleidoscope, Andy Mineo, Switchfoot, and SYML.

Rachel Landingham

Aaron Williams

Aaron is a worship leader, songwriter, and founder of The Way of Worship.

Aaron is passionate about mentoring and developing young leaders and spends much of his time investing in and training emerging leaders and teams. Aaron frequently travels to lead worship for and teach at events, churches, and conferences on the topics of worship, songwriting, theology, and development.

He is passionate about seeing spiritual awakening in this generation. Whether it's investing in a small group of leaders in a living-room setting, or leading with a band in a large auditorium, Aaron’s leadership is consistently thoughtful, creative, and Christ-centered.

John Marc Kohl

John Marc is an artist, worship leader, and songwriter living in Dallas, TX. For 15+ years he's had the honor of leading worship for many wonderful churches, organizations, and ministries. He is also committed to deepening spiritual formation for worship pastors/leaders, songwriters, and creatives through The Way of Worship. As a self-professed “Song Psycho,” John Marc is obsessed with songwriting as a craft and a spiritual practice, and believes it is the highest honor as a songwriter to pursue the practice of writing Jesus Songs from the Jesus Way.

Ethan Wright

Ethan Wright serves as a worship leader at Church at the Cross in Grapevine, TX. By the grace of God, his passion is to see the Church become alive to the riches and pleasure they have in Jesus Christ. He lives in Coppell with his wife, Dinah, their daughter, Corrie, and their twin boys Jack and Judson.

David Marvin

David serves as the Teaching Pastor for Citybridge Community Church. He received my Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, and is the best-selling author of a book on anxiety, titled “We’re All Freaking Out (and Why We Don’t Have To).” But David's first priority is being a husband to his wife, Calli, who is a licensed counselor, and father to their three children, Crew, Monroe, and Bear.

David Belt

David Belt’s enthusiasm for the formational power of music in the church comes from twelve years of family missionary work in the Middle East, leading worship in various vocational ministry settings since 2010, and a completed Masters Degree from the Webber Institute for Worship Studies. He counts it a joy to serve at All Saints Dallas as the Music Director and equip the church through song each week. David is also a singer-songwriter artist and multi-instrumentalist. His wife, Lauren, and their three children are the loves of his life.

Jarryd Foreman

Jarryd Foreman (@JarrydForeman) is a worship leader at the Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, TX and has been leading and pastoring people in worship for over a decade. With a passion to declare the saving message of the gospel through song, his heart and desire is to see lives changed by the power of Jesus. Jarryd also has the privilege of overseeing the Worship Residency program at the Austin Stone where he loves getting to pour into and raise up the next generation of worship leaders. He lives in Austin with his wife Jessica and their 3 children, Liv, Landry, and Charlee. www.jarrydmusic.com

Jonathan "JP" Pokluda

Jonathan “JP” Pokluda is the Lead Pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. He was formerly the leader of The Porch in Dallas, TX, which grew to be the largest weekly young adult gathering of its kind in the country. JP didn’t come to understand the grace of the Gospel until his early twenties after being involved in different denominational churches his entire life. This ignited a desire in him to inspire young adults to radically follow Jesus Christ and unleash them to change the world. JP's partner in ministry is Monica, his wife of seventeen years, and together they disciple their children Presley, Finley, and Weston.

Jonathan Parnell

Jonathan Parnell is the lead pastor of Cities Church in Minneapolis-St.Paul, a church he and his team planted in 2015. He also serves as the Send Network’s City Missionary in the Twin Cities, where he works to encourage fellow pastors and train church planters. He is the author of Mercy for Today: A Daily Prayer from Psalm 51 (2020), Never Settle for Normal: The Proven Path to Significance and Happiness (2017) and coauthor of How to Stay Christian in Seminary (2014). A graduate of Bethlehem College and Seminary, he previously worked on the content team at desiringGod.org where he’s written hundreds of articles over the years. He and his wife, Melissa, live in the Twin Cities with their eight children.

Kyle Okray

Kyle lives in Dallas, TX where he is a member of Watermark Community Church and student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Additionally, he handles all of Worship Initiative's customer service.

Jedd Medefind

Josh Duncan

Josh Duncan has been leading worship for over a decade. He serves as the Worship Minister at Northway Church in Dallas, TX. Josh is passionate about Scripture’s commands to “sing a new song”, so he is committed to putting new songs into the Church’s mouth. He leads and writes with a collective of artists and leaders from Northway under the name Northway Collective. He also partners with The Worship Initiative to equip worship leaders, write songs for the church, and serve churches across the country. Josh was born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He has his Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies and his Master of Arts in Worship Leadership from Dallas Baptist University. At DBU, he met and married his wife Laney in 2016. They have two children: Anderson and Ryman.

Josh whole-heartedly believes that worship is not only expressed through song — but it is also a full-life response to who God is and what He has done. However, because of the skills and gifts that God has given Josh, he seeks to point others to see and savor Jesus through song specifically.

Lucy Allen

Lucy is the Senior Project Manager at The Worship Initiative and a worship leader at her church in Dallas, TX, Northway Church. She is passionate about equipping worship leaders as they lead God's people in seeing and savoring Jesus. In her free time, she enjoys painting, singing, reading fiction, performing in musical theatre productions, having a good cup of tea or coffee, and spending time with her people. Psalm 119:30

Maddie Archer

Maddie Archer serves as the Hospitality & Office Coordinator at the Worship Initiative. Prior to her move to Dallas, she had the privilege of working on staff at her local church in Arkansas as a Worship Associate. In May of 2024, she graduated with her Master of Arts in Worship Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Whether hosting an event or leading worship, Maddie is passionate about cultivating environments that intentionally serve the people of God and ultimately glorify Him.