Podcast Notes: The Future of Worship Leading with David Santistevan Episode Overview In this episode of the Church Front Worship and Tech Podcast, Luke Jackson interviews David Santistevan, a seasoned worship pastor, podcast host, and ministry coach. David shares insights from his 25 years in worship ministry, including his experience as a local church worship pastor, his five years traveling the country in an RV, and his current work helping churches develop healthy worship cultures. Time Stamps & Key Points Introduction [00:00] David opens...
Podcast Notes: The Future of Worship Leading with David Santistevan Episode Overview
In this episode of the Church Front Worship and Tech Podcast, Luke Jackson interviews David Santistevan, a seasoned worship pastor, podcast host, and ministry coach. David shares insights from his 25 years in worship ministry, including his experience as a local church worship pastor, his five years traveling the country in an RV, and his current work helping churches develop healthy worship cultures.
Time Stamps & Key Points Introduction [00:00]
- David opens with reflections on the current state of worship ministry
- Concerns about worship becoming too automated and standardized
- The danger of "sleepwalking through worship" when relying too heavily on technology
David's Background [01:15]
- 25 years in worship ministry
- Host of the Beyond Sunday podcast for 12 years
- Served as a worship pastor at his home church in Pittsburgh for 12 years
- Sold his house and traveled in an RV with his family for 5 years
- Currently based in Orlando, Florida
The RV Journey [03:42]
- Family decision to sell everything and travel
- Visited nearly 40 national parks and all lower 48 states
- Combined adventure with ministry - partnering with churches for training and workshops
- Recording the podcast from their RV wherever they had WiFi
Beyond Sunday Podcast [05:59]
- Started as a blog before transitioning to a podcast
- Focus on practical worship ministry topics
- Emphasis on serving the "underdog" local church worship leader
- Has recorded over 330 episodes interviewing worship leaders and artists
- Covers everything from rehearsal techniques to team development
Reconnecting with Unique Church Identity [13:12]
- David's concerns about homogenization in church worship
- "What God's doing at Bethel is wonderful, but what God's doing at my church is amazing as well"
- Warning against equating worship ministry success with being a worship artist
- Encouragement to embrace your church's uniqueness and "don't despise small beginnings"
- "Worship ministry isn't about writing songs or being cool... it's about loving people and making disciples"
Ministry Longevity vs. Career Advancement [18:28]
- Discussion about the "climbing the ladder" mentality in worship ministry
- Importance of evaluating church culture and staff health
- Some worship pastors finding renewed joy in smaller churches after megachurch burnout
- Warning against "shiny object syndrome" - the constant pursuit of the next opportunity
- "Maybe instead of transplanting yourself to a team that's more put together, God is calling you to invest in your little team"
Working with Different Church Cultures [22:32]
- David's experience serving diverse churches during his RV travels
- Finding common ground across different worship styles and approaches
- Universal desire for authenticity and encountering God
- Helping teams focus on playing together rather than just playing perfectly
- "Rehearsal practice is personal and rehearsal is relational"
Over-Programmed Worship [26:22]
- The shift away from midweek rehearsals and its impact
- Getting too focused on executing flawless services
- Missing the relational and spiritual elements of worship preparation
- "We've gotten really good at pulling off excellent services... but we miss out on the presence-based flow in worship"
Finding Balance Between Structure and Flow [29:36]
- Importance of unity with church leadership before making changes
- Building trust with your pastor before introducing new worship approaches
- The problem with "playlist worship" - hitting play and running on autopilot
- Practical suggestions: planning fewer songs to create more space
- Introducing medleys and acapella moments for more organic worship
Creating Powerful Worship Moments [35:29]
- Planning intentional space in every worship set
- The power of quiet moments when the band drops out
- Creating opportunities for the congregation to sing without amplification
- "My favorite moments of worship are when the band has dropped out and the people of God are just singing at the top of their lungs"
- Incorporating simple refrains that don't require people to think too much
The State of Worship Songwriting [40:15]
- Reflection on the current trends in worship songwriting
- Concerns about songwriting becoming an idol
- Provocative suggestion: "What if we just went on a worship songwriting fast for six months?"
- Benefits of focusing less on what's trending and more on what local congregations need
- Balance between developing creativity and obsessing over new songs
Current Worship Influences [47:05]
- David mentions Aiden King's "Thank You So Much Jesus" as a recent favorite
- Discussion of the distinction between worship music as a listening category versus congregational worship
- David's love for ambient, instrumental music (particularly Hammock)
- The therapeutic value of music without lyrics for worship leaders
Conclusion [51:02]
- Where to find David: Instagram and YouTube @BeyondSundayWorship
- David's appreciation for the Church Front ministry and resources
Key Quotes
- "We're sounding the same, we're doing the same songs in the same way... it's almost like we're on autopilot a little bit."
- "Don't despise how small your church is right now... that's the beauty of the body of Christ."
- "Worship ministry isn't about writing songs, it's not about being cool... it's about loving people. It's about making disciples."
- "My favorite moments of worship are when the band has dropped out and the people of God are just singing at the top of their lungs."
- "What if we just went on a worship songwriting fast for six months? What would that do for us if we just stopped writing songs and releasing worship music for a little bit?"
Resources Mentioned
- Beyond Sunday Worship (David's ministry)
- Beyond Sunday podcast
- Aiden King's music
- Hammock (ambient instrumental music)
Action Steps
- Evaluate whether your worship ministry has become too programmed or automated
- Plan intentional spaces in your worship sets for organic moments
- Consider the unique identity of your church rather than copying megachurch models
- Build trust with your leadership before introducing significant worship style changes
- Balance excellence with authenticity in your approach to worship
Connect & Continue
Follow David Santistevan on Instagram and YouTube @BeyondSundayWorship
Apply to Join Churchfront Pro
Free Worship and Production Toolkit
Shop Our Online Courses
Join us at the Churchfront Conference
Follow Churchfront on Instagram or TikTok: @churchfront
Follow on Twitter: @realchurchfront
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