When Obedience Feels Like Losing Everything w/ Brooke Nicholls

What happens when obedience to God costs you the dream you spent years building?  In this episode of the Worship Online Podcast, Keith sits down with worship leader, songwriter, and author Brooke Nicholls to talk about the unexpected reality of following God when it leads somewhere you didn't plan.  Brooke shares the deeply personal story of leaving a thriving career, moving across Canada to pastor a church, and wrestling with the painful feeling that everything she had built was being stripped away.  But what she discovered on the other side completely changed how she understands blessing, calling, and the presence of God.  If you're a worship leader, musician, or ministry leader who has ever wrestled with comparison, platform, calling, or surrender, this conversation will speak directly to your heart. Plus Brooke shares some practical things she has implemented at her multi-site church.  You'll learn: Why success in worship ministry can be dangerously misleading How God often works through the crushing of our plans The one promise that actually defines biblical blessing  Listen now and be reminded why we lead worship in the first place.  Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!     Mentioned in the Episode  Brooke's Devotionals  Brooke's Music    If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.  Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!  The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.   

What does it actually look like to build a new sound in worship ministry? In this episode, Keith sits down with Josh Holiday to talk about the creative journey behind Elevation Rhythm, the story behind songs like "Goodbye Yesterday" and the challenge of building something fresh inside an already established ministry. But this conversation goes deeper than music. Josh shares why community has to come before platform, how to develop young worship leaders with grace and why courage matters so much when God is asking you to create something that people do not understand yet. If you are a worship leader, musician, songwriter, or creative serving inside someone else's vision, this episode will encourage you to stay faithful, stay humble, and keep showing up. Listen now and share this episode with someone on your team who needs this reminder.   About Josh Holiday Josh Holiday is a songwriter, producer, and creative leader based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He serves on the team at Elevation Church and is widely known as the creative force behind Elevation Rhythm, the youth-driven worship movement connected to Elevation Worship. Josh has helped shape some of the most recognizable songs coming out of the next generation of worship music, including tracks like Goodbye Yesterday and other Rhythm favorites that have connected with young people and churches around the world. His work blends fresh production, honest songwriting, and a deep commitment to serving the local church. Beyond writing and producing, Josh is passionate about building healthy creative culture. At Elevation Church he works closely with the worship and creative teams, helping develop songs, artists, and environments where creativity and spiritual formation can thrive. In this episode of the Worship Online Podcast, Josh shares the story behind Elevation Rhythm, the creative process behind their music, and what it looks like to lead in some rooms while choosing to follow in others.   Mentioned in the Episode Josh's favorite Rhythm song - Quiet Goodbye Yesterday Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free 2-week subscription at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation! If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.  

What happens when your platform grows faster than your character can hold it… and the thing you dreamed of starts costing you what matters most?  In this episode, Keith chats with Andy Cherry, a seasoned worship leader, songwriter, and current touring musician for Brandon Lake, for a raw conversation on identity, shame and calling. Andy shares his whirlwind early career—signing a record deal in his 20s, walking away to fight for his marriage, and the painful (but formative) season of learning to lead when nobody's clapping.  Then it gets personal: the moment Andy realized he wasn't being motivated by God… but by shame—"like you write yourself a letter and forge God's signature on it."  If you've ever felt disqualified, stuck, or afraid to step out again, this will reset your perspective.   Press play and listen now.    About Your Guest  Andy Cherry is a worship leader, songwriter, and musician who has spent years serving the Church both on stage and behind the scenes. Early in his career, Andy released music and led worship in large gatherings before stepping away from the spotlight to focus on his family and long-term calling.  Over the past decade, he has continued writing and collaborating with artists across the worship community, contributing songs recorded by Brandon Lake, Passion, Josh Baldwin, and others. He has also helped shape projects for fellow worship leaders while quietly building a reputation as a trusted songwriter and creative voice.  Today, Andy serves at Seacoast Church and travels as musical director and acoustic guitarist for Brandon Lake. Known for his heart for authenticity and family, Andy is now releasing new music inspired by fatherhood, including his upcoming project Songs For My Son Vol. 1. His latest single, "The Good Stuff," reflects a season of rediscovering what truly matters in life, faith, and worship.      Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!    Mentioned in the Episode  The Good Stuff  Our God's Alive  Seacoast Church      If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.  Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!  The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.   

Michael Bethany was leading worship, building wells in Sri Lanka, writing songs, and serving the church—but something was missing. Then in 2017, he watched a Francis Chan YouTube video about Isaiah 6. And everything changed. That night, he felt guilty praying from his bed. He got on his knees, humbled himself, and started waking up 1.5 hours earlier for a daily prayer closet—even though he "didn't know how to pray that long." What happened next reshaped his entire ministry. In this powerful conversation, Michael shares: ✅ Why intimacy with God is the ENGINE for mission (not the other way around) ✅ The teenager moment when he spontaneously sang "Holy" and everything shifted ✅ How getting tricked into a Sri Lanka missions trip changed his relationship with music ✅ Why "you don't have enough energy to change the world without intimacy with the Lord" ✅ The #1 reason worship leaders get fired (hint: it's not musical ability) If you're running on fumes, trying to lead well while feeling distant from God—this episode will recalibrate everything. Listen now and rediscover the secret place. Mentioned in the Episode Overflow Conference Life in the Wild   Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation! If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast. Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com! The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.  

David Leonard co-wrote one of the most-sung worship songs in the world—"Great Are You Lord." But last year, he almost walked away from music entirely. After doing an entire tour where the promoter never paid (yes, a completely free tour he didn't know about until the end), David had to ask himself a brutal question: "Would you do this again for nothing?" His answer will challenge the way you think about worship leadership, success, and what it really means to serve. In this raw, honest conversation, David also shares: Why we've stopped serving the body and started entertaining it instead The identity crisis that hit after All Sons & Daughters ended What a pastor said that gave him permission to lead without having it all together How he's finding joy again with new music (including his upcoming single, "Well Done") If you've ever felt undervalued, burnt out, or wondered "Do I still matter if my big thing goes away?"—this episode is for you. Listen now and rediscover why you started leading in the first place.   Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation! If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast. Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com! The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.

Ever feel frustrated with your worship team—even when nothing's technically wrong? In this solo episode, 22 year Worship Pastor and new host Keith Elgin shares a hard lesson that changed everything: Unspoken expectations lead to premeditated resentment. Keith tells the story of a 7:00 AM call time that completely backfired—and the humbling conversation that reshaped how he leads.  You'll learn why, "They should have known," doesn't cut it, how clarity actually protects relationships, and why your personal health leaks into team culture (for better or worse). You'll also get practical tools—like solitude and journaling—to help you lead from a grounded place instead of leading from stress.   In this episode, you'll learn: How to spot hidden expectations before they turn into resentment A simple clarity practice you can use this week with your team Why humility + healthy identity make teams stronger over time   Plus: a special announcement at the end. If you've ever found yourself frustrated, this episode will show you why—and what to do next. Listen now—and take one practical step this week.   About Your Host Keith Elgin is the new host of the Worship Online Podcast. He's been leading worship for over 22 years and currently serves as Worship Pastor at Alive Church, a multi-site, multi-state church based in Virginia. Keith is also a songwriter, worship coach, husband and father of four boys. He didn't set out to be a worship leader, originally wanting to coach sports—but God had other plans. Keith is passionate about helping worship leaders grow both musically and spiritually, and he's learned most of his best lessons the hard way.   Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation! Mentioned in the Episode Reflections on Solitude by Henri Nouwen If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast. Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com! The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.  

You sound great on Sunday, but is your team actually healthy? You've probably felt it before. Sunday afternoon hits and instead of feeling energized, you're frustrated. Something didn't go the way you planned. Someone didn't show up prepared. A transition fell apart. And now you can't stop replaying it. Sunday bleeds into Monday. Monday into Tuesday. One rough service and your whole week feels off. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. After 20+ years of leading worship, our new podcast host Keith Elgin hit that same wall. And what he discovered on the other side completely transformed how he leads, how he builds teams, and how he thinks about worship ministry. In this episode, Keith shares what finally broke the cycle for him, the framework he now uses to build healthy teams, and the hard lessons he learned so you don't have to. If you've ever: • Gone home Sunday afternoon replaying every mistake • Wondered why your team sounds tight but feels disconnected • Struggled with burnout, frustration, or questioned whether you're even cut out for this This conversation will meet you exactly where you are. Keith isn't sharing theory. He's sharing what he learned in the trenches, leading real teams, making real mistakes, and finding a better way forward. This is the conversation every worship leader needs to hear. ABOUT KEITH ELGIN Keith Elgin is a worship pastor, songwriter, and coach with over 20 years of ministry experience. He's passionate about helping worship leaders build teams that last. Keith and his wife have four boys (all under nine!), and when he's not leading worship, you'll find him coaching Little League, watching football, or hanging out in the church parking lot long after rehearsal ends. Welcome to the Worship Online Podcast, Keith. We're honored to have you lead this next season. Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials andresources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparingfor a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation! Mentioned in the Episode • Connect with Keith • Keith's website • 2025 Chris Tomlin Episode If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast. Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com! The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.

What if your team actually showed up excited, prepared, and ready to bring their best every single service?  Colony House has built one of the most legendary team cultures in the music industry, where crew, band members, and opening acts all feel like they're part of something special. What they've learned directly applies to worship teams, too.   In this episode, their guitarist, Scott Mills, shares the intentional practices that create high-energy, all-in cultures where people want to show up and give their best.  
You'll discover:  Why the 6-8 hours around the set are your greatest culture-building opportunity  The simple pre-show habit that creates instant camaraderie and buy-in (takes less than 10 minutes)  How to make every team member, from sound tech to lead vocalist, feel like they belong  What Scott learned from touring with bands who got this right (and a few who didn't)  If you're ready to build a team culture people are proud to be part of, where everyone's bought in, engaged, and bringing their A-game, this conversation will show you how.  Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!   Mentioned in the Episode  Colony House's New Release  Colony House Show Tickets  ---  If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.  Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!  The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.

Many worship leaders quit within a few years because they never learn the systems that create sustainable ministry.  Joey and Kelly Thompson know this all too well! In this conversation, they share the game-changing systems that transformed their ministry from survival mode to sustainable impact.  Imagine walking into Sunday morning calm and confident, with prepared teams and organized systems that actually work. Picture leading worship for decades without the constant stress and burnout that sidelines so many leaders.  Listen now to discover the pillars that create sustainable worship leadership. Your future self will thank you for implementing these battle-tested strategies today.  Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!   Mentioned in the Episode New Release by Joey & Kelly Thompson  ---  If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.  Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!  The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.

Your worship team has talent, but are you leading them to serve the wrong audience? A lot of worship leaders design sets and teams for the church they see online, not the one they actually serve.  John Van Deusen reveals how knowing your demographics transforms everything from song selection to team dynamics to Sunday morning flow.  What You'll Discover:  The surprising demographic question that transforms your setlist choices  Why "decidedly mid" leadership creates stronger teams  How to develop team members as artists (not just players)  Multi-generational worship strategy that actually works  What questions should you ask about your congregation that most worship leaders never consider? How do you know if you're serving your actual community or an imaginary one?   Your community is unique. Your leadership should be too.  Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!   Mentioned in the Episode New Release by John Van Deusen  ---  If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.  Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!  The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.