WorshipFuel

Episode

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  Ep. 203 - Worship Admin - Bad Systems Are Burning Out Worship Leaders ft. Teel Merrick 12.08.2026 42mnt

  Matt McCoy sits down with Teel Merrick, founder of Worship Admin, to talk about the systems behind a healthy worship ministry. Teel shares how scheduling, meetings, communication, set planning, and dozens of small administrative tasks can consume a worship leader’s week before Sunday even arrives. They unpack how better preparation can serve your volunteers, why planning doesn’t kill spontaneity, and how delegation can free you to actually pastor your people. Teel also walks through his ideal Monday-through-Sunday workflow and offers practical ways to start fixing broken systems without trying to overhaul everything at once.
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  Ep. 202 – Brett Younker – How to Stay Faithful When Ministry Gets Hard 27.07.2026 42mnt

  In this episode, Matt McCoy sits down with Passion’s Brett Younker for an honest conversation about what it takes to stay faithful through decades of ministry. Brett shares how disappointment, changing seasons, and getting older have reshaped his view of success, and why the goal isn’t staying relevant, it’s raising up the next generation. They... View Article The post Ep. 202 – Brett Younker – How to Stay Faithful When Ministry Gets Hard first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 201 – Sean Feucht – What Happens When You Take Worship Outside the Four Walls? 09.07.2026 25mnt

  In this episode, Matt McCoy sits down with Sean Feucht to talk about leading worship beyond the four walls of the church. From prisons and city streets to public parks and unexpected places, Sean shares why worship shouldn’t be confined to a stage inside a church building.  The post Ep. 201 – Sean Feucht – What Happens When You Take Worship Outside the Four Walls? first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 200 – Johnny B Burkhalter – Your Identity Is Not Your Ministry 18.06.2026 47mnt

  In this new episode, Johnny Burkhalter shares a needed challenge to all of us about rediscovering worship as something much bigger than music, Sunday services, or what happens on a platform. Hear how worship leaders can find their identity beyond their role, lead from authenticity instead of performance, and remember that before we lead worship,... View Article The post Ep. 200 – Johnny B Burkhalter – Your Identity Is Not Your Ministry first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 199 – Paul Mabury & John Hartley – What Today’s Worship Leaders Are Missing 04.06.2026 47mnt

  In this episode, Matt McCoy sits down with Paul Mabury and John Hartley to talk about House of Worship, a collaborative project bringing together some of the most influential voices in modern worship music. They unpack why these older worship songs still resonate so deeply, what’s been lost in modern worship culture, and why mentorship... View Article The post Ep. 199 – Paul Mabury & John Hartley – What Today’s Worship Leaders Are Missing first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 198 – Erik Gaylo – Worship Pastors Need Community, Not Just Creativity 21.05.2026 48mnt

  In this episode, Matt McCoy sits down with worship leader and Table Songs founder Erik Gaylo for an honest conversation about identity, collaboration, creativity, and the hidden isolation many worship leaders experience. Erik shares how God used burnout, disappointment, and COVID to reshape his understanding of ministry and launch a movement centered around community instead... View Article The post Ep. 198 – Erik Gaylo – Worship Pastors Need Community, Not Just Creativity first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 197 – Michael W. Smith – Giving Communion the Attention It Deserves 14.05.2026 24mnt

  In this episode, Matt McCoy sits down with Michael W. Smith to talk about the heart behind communion and why it deserves more attention in our services. Michael shares the story behind his new song “Hymn for Communion” and why there aren’t enough songs written for this part of the service. This conversation is packed... View Article The post Ep. 197 – Michael W. Smith – Giving Communion the Attention It Deserves first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 196 – Red Rocks Worship – Why Your Church Isn’t Singing New Songs 22.04.2026 44mnt

  Matt sits down with Tyler and Kendra from Red Rocks Worship to get super real about introducing new songs in church. They talk through what actually works, what totally flops, and how to tell the difference in the moment. From picking the right songs to setting them up in a way people actually connect with,... View Article The post Ep. 196 – Red Rocks Worship – Why Your Church Isn’t Singing New Songs first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 195 – Alexander Pappas – How Hillsong Young & Free Rewrote the Sound of Worship Music 21.04.2026 48mnt

  In this episode, Matt sits down with Alexander Pappas to talk about the origin story behind Young & Free and the massive impact of “Alive.” Alexander shares how a simple youth night moment sparked a movement, and how technology and timing shaped a new worship sound. He also unpacks his new project Sunday, why he... View Article The post Ep. 195 – Alexander Pappas – How Hillsong Young & Free Rewrote the Sound of Worship Music first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 194 – Wade Joye – The Dream You Prayed For Might Not Be Yours 21.04.2026 44mnt

  Matt sits down with Wade Joye, former worship pastor at Elevation Church, for a vulnerable conversation about unfulfilled dreams, identity, and the pressure worship leaders feel to chase visibility and success. Wade shares his journey from being a founding member of Elevation Worship to stepping into a behind-the-scenes pastoral role, and how surrender became the... View Article The post Ep. 194 – Wade Joye – The Dream You Prayed For Might Not Be Yours first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 193 – Canaan Baca – How to Build a Worship Team That Actually Feels Like Family 20.04.2026 32mnt

  Matt McCoy sits down with Canaan Baca, Enterprise Worship Pastor at New Life Church, to talk about discipling worship teams beyond just musicianship. They dive into why midweek rehearsals still matter, how shared meals shape team culture, and the tension between paid musicians and spiritual ownership. Canaan shares practical rhythms his church uses to develop... View Article The post Ep. 193 – Canaan Baca – How to Build a Worship Team That Actually Feels Like Family first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 192 – Bella Taylor Smith – Crafting Worship Sets, Pastoring Teams, and Serving the Local Church 12.03.2026 28mnt

   In this episode, Matt sits down with Bella Taylor Smith to talk about crafting worship sets for the local church and releasing her new project, For The House. Bella shares how she approaches worship planning with intention, why knowing your congregation matters, and how choosing songs can pastor people, not just fill a set list.... View Article The post Ep. 192 – Bella Taylor Smith – Crafting Worship Sets, Pastoring Teams, and Serving the Local Church first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 191 – Justin Tweito – Lead Worship Like a Pastor 09.03.2026 25mnt

  I sat down with Justin Tweito to reflect on his journey into worship leadership, we explore why theological depth, discipleship, and intentional song selection matter more than charisma or performance, and how planning worship like a pastor leads to healthier leaders and more gospel-centered services. The post Ep. 191 – Justin Tweito – Lead Worship Like a Pastor first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 190 – Stephen McWhirter – Advice Worship Leaders Need to Hear 02.12.2025 28mnt

  I sat down with Stephen McWhirter to hear his powerful story of restoration, his journey out of addiction, and how he became a worship leader. He also offers practical wisdom for both new and seasoned worship leaders. You won’t want to miss this one. The post Ep. 190 – Stephen McWhirter – Advice Worship Leaders Need to Hear first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 189 – Tommee Profitt – Staying Spiritually Grounded When You’re in the Spotlight 17.11.2025 33mnt

  I had the opportunity to sit down with Tommee Profitt, and we spent time discussing the struggle that worship leaders can feel while leading their church and keeping the intentions behind what they’re doing grounded in Christ. Tommee is the producer behind “The Birth of a King” Christmas concerts, get tickets at tommeeprofitt.com. The post Ep. 189 – Tommee Profitt – Staying Spiritually Grounded When You’re in the Spotlight first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 188 – SEU Worship – Authenticity vs Performance in Worship 30.10.2025 21mnt

  Chelsea Plank from SEU Worship shares what authentic worship actually looks like for worship leaders, how to steward technology like tracks and in-ears without losing focus, and some of the differences between leading worship privately and leading people publicly. Check out SEU Worship’s new album, “A Forgiving God.” The post Ep. 188 – SEU Worship – Authenticity vs Performance in Worship first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 187 – Chris Tomlin – The King is Still The King 06.10.2025 24mnt

  Chris Tomlin shares the stories behind the songs on his new album, The King is Still The King. From the bold declaration of Jesus Saves, to what might be the most surprising track, Help My Unbelief. Every lyric, every Scripture interlude, even the crown imagery on the cover—it all points us back to one truth: Jesus is still... View Article The post Ep. 187 – Chris Tomlin – The King is Still The King first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 186 – Seph Schlueter – Contemporary Worship in the Catholic Church 18.09.2025 48mnt

  Seph Schlueter is the voice behind songs like “Counting My Blessings” and “Running Back to You.” Seph is also part of the Catholic Church and serves as director of Damascus Worship, a missionary movement partnering with the Holy Spirit to bring revival to Catholic communities across America.If you’re passionate about authentic, vertical worship. whether your... View Article The post Ep. 186 – Seph Schlueter – Contemporary Worship in the Catholic Church first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 185 – Lizzie Morgan – Gen Z & Multigenerational Worship in the Church 05.09.2025 32mnt

  Lizzie Morgan grew up as a church kid—with music in her family and a mic in her hand from an early age. In this episode, Lizzie shares her story of discovering worship in the local church, what Gen Z is bringing to the worship space, and her heart for bridging generations through songs both new... View Article The post Ep. 185 – Lizzie Morgan – Gen Z & Multigenerational Worship in the Church first appeared on WorshipFuel.
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  Ep. 184 – How John Allan overcomes song writer’s block 26.08.2025 21mnt

  Listen in to this great conversation with singer songwriter John Allan! In this interview we’ll talk about how to overcome writer’s block without giving up, why co-writing can unlock ideas you’d never find on your own, how to keep your heart in the right place so creativity flows from God, lots more! The post Ep. 184 – How John Allan overcomes song writer’s block first appeared on WorshipFuel.