Why Modern Worship Feels Stale (And How to Fix It) David Santistevan - Churchfront Podcast

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

1. Evaluate whether your worship ministry has become too programmed or automated
2. Plan intentional spaces in your worship sets for organic moments
3. Consider the unique identity of your church rather than copying megachurch models
4. Build trust with your leadership before introducing significant worship style changes
5. Balance excellence with authenticity in your approach to worship

Connect & Continue

Follow David Santistevan on Instagram and YouTube @BeyondSundayWorship

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