RESOURCES

Playing well as a band isn’t just about everyone knowing their part—it’s about listening, supporting, and serving the song together. In this session from Creative Tides Summit Conference, we talk about how to move from everyone playing at once to playing cohesively as a team. This conversation is especially helpful for worship leaders, band members, and church teams who want tighter rehearsals, clearer arrangements, and a more unified sound. This session was facilitated by Jozi Bently, volunteer worship leader and musician at @rhcc in Tualatin, OR. We cover: - What it actually means to play together as a band - How to use tracks in a way that supports (not replaces) live musicians - Common reasons bands sound cluttered or disconnected - How to listen musically and leave space - Playing with intention instead of volume - Building cohesion between rhythm section, vocals, and tracks We also talk practically about preparation before rehearsal, including: - How to use Planning Center to share charts, recordings, tracks, and resources ahead of time - Setting clear expectations so musicians can come prepared - Why better preparation leads to more efficient rehearsals and healthier team culture If you’ve ever felt like your band sounds busy, chaotic, or disconnected—or like rehearsals are spent catching people up instead of making music—this session will help you rethink preparation, communication, and musical unity. 📍 Recorded live at Creative Tides Summit Conference 👉 Join the conversation in the comments: What’s one thing that helps your band play more cohesively? #WorshipBand #WorshipLeadership #PlayingWithTracks #PlanningCenter #ChurchMusic #WorshipTeam #BandRehearsal #WorshipMinistry #CreativeTides

What if the relationship between a lead pastor and worship pastor wasn’t tense, but collaborative? In this breakout session from Creative Tides Summit Conference, Lane Greenleaf-Perez, a current lead pastor and former worship pastor, shares honest insight into one of the most important—and often misunderstood—relationships on a church staff. Lane is the lead pastor at @RedHillsChurchNewberg in Newberg, OR. Drawing from experience on both sides of the role, he addresses the belief that the lead pastor is the enemy of creativity and why that mindset ultimately hurts both ministry and people. Instead, this conversation reframes the lead pastor–worship pastor relationship as a partnership built on trust, communication, and shared vision. In this session, we talk about: - How to foster collaboration across staff matters, especially between lead pastors and worship leaders - How creativity can thrive under healthy leadership and structure - Navigating expectations from your lead pastor without resentment - How to have difficult or clarifying conversations with wisdom and humility - Building alignment instead of tension between preaching and worship - What lead pastors actually hope worship leaders understand This breakout is especially helpful for: - Worship leaders feeling misunderstood or constrained - Creatives navigating leadership dynamics - Pastors and staff members wanting healthier collaboration - Anyone trying to lead with both excellence and unity If you’ve ever struggled to communicate vision, felt tension around creativity, or wondered how to navigate expectations from leadership, this conversation offers practical language, perspective, and encouragement. 📍 Recorded live at Creative Tides Summit Conference 👉 Join the conversation in the comments: What’s been most challenging about collaborating with leadership in your context? #ChurchLeadership #WorshipLeadership #PastorAndWorshipLeader #ChurchStaff #CreativeLeadership #WorshipMinistry #ChurchCulture #ChristianLeadership #CreativeTides

What if recruiting students wasn’t just filling spots, but forming future leaders? In this breakout session from Creative Tides Summit Conference, we talk about how to recruit, train, and empower youth students on worship and creative teams—and how to set a precedent that leadership development is part of your team culture, not an afterthought. This session was facilitated by Kyla Hedge, Youth Pastor and former worship pastor at @MosaicChurchSalem This conversation is especially for churches and leaders who want to invest in students with intention, clarity, and care, while still maintaining excellence and healthy expectations. In this session, we cover: - Why involving youth students on teams matters for the future of the Church - How to recruit students with clear expectations and pathways - Training students in both skill and character - Creating environments where students feel supported, not overwhelmed - How to raise up new leaders instead of relying on the same few people - Setting a team precedent that values discipleship, growth, and multiplication - Balancing patience, structure, and excellence when working with students Rather than viewing students as “helpers” or “fill-ins,” this session reframes them as contributors and future leaders who can thrive when given clarity, coaching, and opportunity. If you’re looking to build sustainable teams, invest in the next generation, and create a culture where leadership is continually developed, this conversation offers practical tools and a long-term vision. 📍 Recorded live at Creative Tides Summit Conference 👉 Join the conversation in the comments: What’s been most challenging—or most rewarding—about involving students on your team? #YouthWorship #NextGeneration #WorshipLeadership #ChurchLeadership #YouthMinistry #WorshipTeam #LeadershipDevelopment #CreativeTides

What if living faithfully isn’t about doing more, but about stewarding what we’ve already been given? In this breakout session from Creative Tides Summit Conference, we explore the importance of setting healthy boundaries, making the most of every 24 hours, and understanding ourselves as vessels through which the Holy Spirit moves. This session was facilitated by Olivia Pothoff, Pastor of Spiritual Care and Worship at @journeychurchsherwood in Sherwood, OR. This conversation speaks directly to leaders, creatives, and ministry workers who feel stretched thin and want to live with greater intentionality, freedom, and spiritual health. In this session, we talk about: - Why healthy boundaries are essential for long-term faithfulness and sustainability - How boundaries actually create space for creativity, rest, and obedience - Viewing time as a gift to steward, not something to constantly outrun - Making wise, intentional decisions with the limited hours we’re given each day - What it means to live as a vessel for the Holy Spirit, not the source of the work - Creating margin so God can move, rather than filling every moment ourselves Rather than pushing hustle or productivity for its own sake, this session reframes leadership and creativity around availability, obedience, and faithfulness—trusting God to work through surrendered lives. If you’ve been feeling overextended, unsure how to protect your time, or longing for a healthier rhythm in ministry and creativity, this conversation offers encouragement, clarity, and perspective. 📍 Recorded live at Creative Tides Summit Conference 👉 Join the conversation in the comments: What boundary has made the biggest difference in your life or leadership? #HealthyBoundaries #ChristianLeadership #FaithAndWork #MinistryLife #SpiritualFormation #HolySpirit #CreativeLeadership #ChurchLeadership #CreativeTides

What is the line between worship and Christian entertainment? In this powerful session from Creative Tides Summit Conference, Tim Smith, former Worship Pastor at Mars Hill Church, challenges the Church to recover a biblical vision of worship rooted in the glory of God—not performance, pragmatism, or preference. Drawing from years of pastoral and worship leadership experience, Tim argues that when we fail to clearly define the purpose and mission of worship, church gatherings slowly drift into Christian entertainment—measured by what works, what draws crowds, or what feels effective—rather than faithfulness to God’s revealed glory. In this session, we explore: - Why worship must be grounded in a clear theology of God’s glory - How pragmatism subtly reshapes church culture and worship practices - The danger of measuring worship by impact instead of faithfulness - How churches unintentionally become entertainment-driven - Recovering a God-centered vision that shapes songs, services, and leadership - Why understanding why we worship must come before how we worship This conversation is especially relevant for worship leaders, pastors, creatives, and church teams who feel tension between excellence and faithfulness and want to resist the pull toward consumerism, while leading people toward genuine awe of God. If you’ve ever felt uneasy about the direction of modern worship, unsure how to define success, or hungry for deeper theological grounding, this session offers clarity, conviction, and course correction. 📍 Recorded live at Creative Tides Summit Conference 👉 Join the conversation in the comments: How do you guard against worship becoming entertainment in your context? #TheologyOfWorship #WorshipLeadership #GloryOfGod #ChurchLeadership #WorshipMinistry #ChristianWorship #ChurchCulture #creativetides #MarsHills #TheRiseAndFallOfMarsHill

What’s the difference between a music director and a worship leader—and why does that distinction matter so much for healthy teams? In this Q&A session from Creative Tides Summit Conference, we sit down with music director, Jozi Bently, to unpack the often-confusing dynamic between MDs and worship leaders, and how these two roles can work together to create clarity, confidence, and cohesion on a worship team. Jozi is a volunteer musician and worship leader at @rhcc in Tualatin, OR. This conversation is especially helpful for worship leaders, MDs, and musicians who want rehearsals and services to feel intentional, not reactive. In this session, we talk about: - The difference between a music director and a worship leader - How the MD supports the worship leader’s vision without competing for leadership - What strong MD preparation actually looks like - How to build a clear game plan for rehearsals and services - What tools and resources MDs should give their team ahead of time - Creating confidence for musicians through structure, charts, tracks, and communication Whether you’re stepping into an MD role for the first time or trying to bring more organization and musical leadership to your team, this Q&A offers practical insight, shared language, and real-world wisdom. If your rehearsals feel rushed, unclear, or overly dependent on the worship leader to manage everything, this conversation will help you rethink how musical leadership can be shared and strengthened. 📍 Recorded live at Creative Tides Summit Conference 👉 Join the conversation in the comments: What’s the biggest challenge you face as a music director or worship leader? #MusicDirector #WorshipLeadership #WorshipLeaderLife #WorshipTeam #ChurchMusic #BandLeadership #WorshipRehearsal #CreativeTides

Worship as Discipleship | Genesis, Sacrifice & the Songs We Teach the Church What if worship isn’t just something we do, but something that forms us? In this session from Creative Tides Summit Conference (October 25, 2025), we explore worship as a form of discipleship: how what we sing, say, and practice in worship shapes our theology, our identity, and the way we love others. Facilitated by Ashlee Truitt, Worship Pastor at @RedHillsChurchNewberg in Newberg, OR, and founder of @Creative_Tides. We begin in Genesis, looking at the creation story and what it means to be made in the image of God. From there, we trace the structure of atoning sacrifices in the Old Testament and how Jesus fulfills the Law in the New Testament, reframing how we understand ourselves, one another, and our response of worship. From theology to practice, we turn toward the modern church: - How worship teaches theology, whether we intend it to or not - Why lyrics matter more than we often realize - The difference between private worship and corporate worship songs - How congregational worship shapes belief, formation, and discipleship over time This conversation is for worship leaders, songwriters, pastors, creatives, and church teams who want to think more deeply about why we worship the way we do. It also explores how worship can faithfully point people to God’s story rather than ourselves. 📍 Recorded live at Creative Tides Summit Conference — October 25, 2025 👉 If this resonates, share it with your worship team or church leadership—and join the conversation in the comments: How has worship shaped your theology or understanding of God? #WorshipAsDiscipleship #TheologyOfWorship #WorshipLeadership #ChristianTheology #BiblicalTheology #CorporateWorship #WorshipMinistry #WorshipLeaderLife #ChurchLeadership #ChristianCreatives #ChristianTeaching #ChristianFormation #WorshipConference #SongwritingForTheChurch #CreativeTides

What if the thing shaping your rehearsals the most isn’t the music, but the way you communicate? In this session from Creative Tides Summit Conference (October 25, 2025), we share practical wisdom on how to lead rehearsals your volunteers actually love, without lowering standards or sacrificing excellence. Facilitated by Jon Knapp, Worship Pastor at @CountrysideCommunityChurch in Sherwood, OR. This conversation is especially for worship leaders, band leaders, and church creatives who want rehearsals that feel productive, encouraging, and honoring of the people who show up week after week. In this session, Jon covers: - Why clear communication may be the most powerful leadership tool you have - How to set cultural standards and expectations that build trust - Holding volunteers to expectations with clarity, kindness, and consistency - How to communicate effectively with instruments you don’t play - Leading rehearsals that value both people and excellence Whether you’re leading seasoned musicians or brand-new volunteers, the way you prepare, speak, and set direction will shape the entire rehearsal environment. 📍 Recorded live at Creative Tides Summit Conference — October 25, 2025 If you lead worship, tech, or creative teams in the church, this session will help you build rehearsals that are clear, collaborative, and life-giving. 👉 Join the conversation in the comments: What’s the hardest part of leading rehearsals for you? #WorshipLeadership #WorshipRehearsal #VolunteerLeadership #ChurchLeadership #WorshipLeaderLife #BandLeadership #ChurchVolunteers #CreativeLeadership #WorshipMinistry #CreativeTides