At The Forge Conference in Ocean Grove, New Jersey we recorded a LIVE version of Worship Mythbusters! The panel was made up of worship leaders and speakers from the conference. Episode 10: The Myth of the Happy Clappy.

When Joel Klampert said I had to come to the New Jersey Shore and help with The Forge Conference, I immediately knew it would be something unique. Joel is unique. I had never met a worship leader from Rhode Island like him! (Actually, he is also the only worship leader I knew from there.) And, the vision of this conference to serve the smaller local church and challenge out-of-box thinking resonated with me and the seasons I have spent in church planting. The diversity of backgrounds from liturgical, charismatic, Messianic, baptist to modern worship stretched the pallet and enriched the environment like no other conference on worship I have ever attended.

Here are some highlights from my perspective:

• I was led in worship by and jammed in the late night worship with a dulcimer player and worship leader Dan Wilt and was moved deeply by Jeremy Dunn and Dan Wilt’s liturgical-yet-modern time of worship.
• Facilitated the WorshipMythbusters.com podcast live with an amazing panel on the topic: The Myth of the Happy Clappy. It seemed this and the other open forum panel encouraged me to continue and hone what I do with my podcast and other teaching settings about worship.
• Taught a WorshipMythbusters.com session in an 1880s chapel where the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness” was first sung. The religious history of Pilgrim Way, the Victorian architecture, the helpful staff of Ocean Grove all were appreciated and made for a terrific setting.
• John Voelz’s talk about indigenous worship hit a chord with me. He and the other Key Note guys were on fire!
• My daughter and I with Joel Klampert and Shannon Lewis lead worship together in a very meaningful session where all the attendees were prayed over and sent out.
• I LOVE people from New England. Their accent and sarcasm is almost as good as some of us from the Left Coast.
• Yes, my daughter Emilie was with me and that made the travel and the conference just that much more meaningful.
• The attendees: The top highlight was how encouraged I was by meeting, chatting and praying with worship leaders as we swapped stories.

On October 21-22 Redding, California young leaders converge for a uniquely grass roots-driven conference: When God Dreams.“When God Dreams is a conference for leaders, pastors, church planters and visionaries who are serious about living God’s dreams with courage.”

I spent several years ministering in Redding and have watched Nathan Edwardson, pastor of The Stirring, passionately reach and grow people with creative vision and humility. He is one of the speakers for this conference which also includes Jesus Culture leader Banning Liebscher and Jason Ostrander, the National Director of Youth Ministries for the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

If you can make it to Redding, do not miss out!

I just wanted to be sure to let all my readers know how life-changing the All About Worship Retreat was a couple weeks ago in Kansas City. Wisdom Moon and Ben Saada were amazing in envisioning and hosting such an event for worship leaders. To be able to be led in worship by the likes of Darrell Evans, Tommy Walker, Michael Farren, Jared Anderson and others was a treat as well as teaching along side them and impressive leaders such as Troy Kennedy, Mike Kim, Fred McKinnon meant a lot.

But, the best part of it was the conversations and relationships developed with worship leaders from all over the country. It was humbling to hear the stories and share in the journey with men and women who help their local church put on the 52 weekends of worship services. Many came wounded and tired and left encouraged and connected. Its a lonely thing at times to lead, regardless if you are a bi-vocational or full time ministry person.

This conference was surely part of the “un-conference” trend: limited commercial and celebrity profile. The homegrown nature of it while having excellent content with speakers like Pure Praise author Dwane Moore set this apart from the large, commercially and corporately driven events. I applaud the All About Worship guys for keeping it as pure as they could in the goal to encourage and equip local worship leaders.

I learned far more than I could have taught. This microcosm of worship leaders that met in Overland Park, Kansas gives me hope that our church in America is in good hands. These servants, many coming on their own time and dime truly inspired me.

I am in the Kansas City area hanging out with my friend Ben Saada (also a part of the AllAboutWorship Podcast duo) and looking forward to attending and teaching at the WorshipTogether.com Training Conference in Lenexa, KS this week. If you are here, please let me know by twitter or leaving a comment here. I would love to connect. If you are at the conference, come see me at the Worship Mythbusters workshop.

My pre-conference highlight will be Oklahoma Joes BBQ! My mouth is already watering. Then, tonight Phil Wickham and Matt Maher and Leeland! Its going to be a great time.

Leave a note if you are at the conference!

I do think that if you are a worship leader, worship team member, songwriter or at all involved in leading worship or the worship experience that this event could change your life. Often, the hype of large conferences gives a charge for a few weeks, but building relationships around forming your heart along with a few others can have lasting results.

The All About Worship Retreat is a unique event that I could not pass up participating. Even though I am one of the facilitators, what I know from experience is that being small with only 65 attendees means the environment will be unlike the typical conference. Also, no haze machines. Simply, spend time with the likes of Tommy Walker, Jared Anderson and other passionate worship leaders. The event is in Overland Park, Kansas from May 20 t May 22.

I strongly recommend you join us. My friends Ben and Wisdom of the All About Worship Podcast are making an impact because they are like you and I–they are church guys who love the local church! Their agenda is to see your heart formed more like Jesus from this event. So, yes. This could change your life.

Jeremy is the winner, as long as he claims it! Thanks for the fun guys and I hope to see some of you at the conference. Its gonna be great!

Want two free passes? In April in Lenexa, Kansas there is an amazing event for worship leaders! The worshiptogether.com Training Conference (April 12-14) will have the likes of Phil Wickham, Matt Maher, Christy Nockels, Leeland, Brenton Brown, Audrey Assad and more! There are workshops to choose from as well as moving times of worship.

All you have to do to win is comment below. You get extra time in the drawing for adding Facebook and for adding Twitter. That means you can possibly have your name entered three times! Please link back to this post so I can verify where you have shared this. And, if you entered in the last giveaway, you can again–except the nice guy who won!

As a bonus, you can get a discount of $25 off by using “BLOG” in the “registration code” box while registering.