Inspirational & Informative
Gather with musicians and songwriters, movers and shakers, theologians, and scholars across the worldwide worship community.
Psalm 133 tells us, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” This year’s conference theme is rediscovering community.
Learn more about our amazing new community partner below!
Meet Our Community Partner
HOPE UC
Our hearts so quickly aligned with what Worship Leader Magazine is trying to do and we can’t wait to host you at the National Worship Leader Conference this summer!”

Our Venue

The Homestead Manor
Perched on 50 acres of farmland and steeped spectacularly in local history since 1815, this stately pre-civil-war manor is a magnificent place to gather and connect.
Address:
4683 Columbia Pike
Thompson’s Station, TN 37179
Places to Stay
7101 Berry Farms Crossing, Franklin, TN 37064
8078 Berry Farms Crossing, Franklin, TN 37064
7100 Berry Farms Crossing, Franklin, TN 37064
Pre-Conference & Night of Worship
Monday, July 12
($49 if attending conference or $129 for the day)
July 12 | 9:00AM – 4:00PM
Come early and attend our master classes. Choose between three tracks, Songwriting, Worship Education and Vocal coaching.
Songwriting Master Workshop
Worship Educators Pre-Conference
Vocals Master Workshop: Make a Joyful Noise!
Community Night of Worship
6:00 – 9:00PM
We’re kicking off this years conference with a free community night of worship with special guests CeCe Winans, Dustin Smith, Red Rocks Worship, Charity Gayle and more! We hope you’ll join us for this sweet time to reflect, reconnect and rediscovery community.
Tuesday, July 13
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
MORNING GENERAL SESSION

Rory Noland
Rory Noland is the director of Heart of the Artist Ministries, an organization dedicated to serving artists in the church. Rory is also a published songwriter and has authored five books, including the best-selling book, The Heart of the Artist: A Character-Building Guide For You and Your Ministry Team.
AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION

Christy Nockels
As a worship leader for over 25 years, Christy Nockels would tell you that her heart is to simply lead others to connect and communicate with the living God. Christy began writing music and singing in the church at a young age, as the daughter of a pastor in Oklahoma.
TEACHERS & WORKSHOPS
5 Fundamental Musical Components of Any Ensemble John Chilcote, Cedarville Univ
Authentic Worship Vocals John Chilcote, Cedarville Univ
Keyboards: How to be the Glue Shawn Reed, WLmagazine
Vocals: The Balancing Act Deanna Delore, StudioVoxBox
Vocals: Rusty Pipes 101 Deanna Delore, StudioVoxBo
Live-Streaming 101 Kent Morris & Jeff Barnett, Sweetwater
Live Streaming: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Warren Pettit, Contemporary Music Center
Getting Started with In-Ear Monitors Doug Gould, Worship MD
Video Lighting 101: Lighting Techniques for Worship Kent Morris & Jeff Barnett, Sweetwater
Why We Do What We Do Donnie Haulk, AE Global
A Worship Leader’s Survival Guide Steve & Shawn Reed, WLmagazine
Building Team vs Family Hope Darst, the Belonging
Can You Actually Prioritize Excellence & People? Josh Kluge, WorshipOnline
Creating a Songwriting Community Crystal & Will Yates
How Did Jesus Lead Worship/ The 10,000 Minutes Worship Leader Tim Timmons
Meeting Your Most Creative Curious Self David Bunker, Visible Music School
“Pillow Talk” for Worship Ministry Couples Gloria & Brannon Hancock, PhD, Wesley Seminary
Songwriting: Writing for Your Church Ryan Kennedy & Charity Gayle
The Flow of a Worship Service Roger O’Neel, Cedarville Univ
Worship Tune-Up: Revive Your Heart Shannon Davidson & Helen Steinkamp , Salt + Clay
Beyond Sunday: Guiding Your Church in Worship Throughout the Week Craig Denison, First15
Blueprint for Culturally Relevant Biblically Faithful Pastor Steve Fry, The Gate
Leading on Empty: Finding Your Inspiration when You’ve Lost Your Motivation Dr. Jim Hart, Robert E Webber Institute for Worship Studies
Panel: Cultivating an Enriching & Creative Relationship: Senior Pastor & Worship Leader Dustin Smith, Chris Clayton, Charlie Wier, Rory Noland, Crystal & Will Yates, Tim Timmons
Right Worship: Sounding Creations Praise Dr. Jim Hart, Robert E Webber Institute for Worship Studies
Setting the Cornerstone: Worship is Centered in Jesus Christ Sam Green, Trevecca Univ
The Way of Worship: Brokenness Dr. Vernon Whaley, Trevecca Univ
This is Your Brain on Worship Elias Dummer
What’s Love Got to do with It: How The Heart of God Shapes Worship Pastor Steve Fry, The Gate
Worship as Evangelism Steele Croswhite, The Rock Music
An Evening of Songs and Stories
Presented by Turning Point Media Relations
Featuring a diverse lineup of acclaimed singer/songwriters and worship leaders, this intimate evening of music will showcase the heart behind the artist and the story behind the song. We will curate a lineup of key writers that span multiple genres—plus an engaging host— for a uniquely Nashville-style “writers round” on the grounds of Homestead Manor.
Hosted by Tim Timmons
Guest Artists: Elias Dummer, Tasha Layton, For the Fatherless & Aaron Shust
Wednesday, July 14
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
MORNING GENERAL SESSION

CeCe Winans
The best-selling and most-awarded female gospel artist of all time, CeCe Winans has long since cemented her status as one of the most accomplished and celebrated women in modern music history.
AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION

Dustin Smith
Dustin Smith is a teacher, song writer and worship leader, who has a desire to see the nations ignited with a passion for worship. He has an attitude that gives God all the glory, and that attitude transcends age, race, color and nationality.
TEACHERS & WORKSHOPS
Bass in Worship with Number System Jake DeJarnett
Acoustic Guitar James G
Harmony & Improvisation Sheri Gould
The 3-Part Magic Bullet for the Voice Sheri Gould
Vocals: Stayin’ Alive Sheri Gould
Wired for Worship: Adv RF Technology with Mics & IEMs Tim Moore. Sennheiser
Why Does It Sound So Bad? Top Reasons for Bad Church Sound Doug Gould, Worship MD
Modern Stage Design for Worship & Broadcast Donnie Haulk, AE Global
SingAccord in Practice Ben Spratling,IV, PHD, SingAccord
Worship in a Changing Technological Landscape Dr Brannon Hancock, Wesley SeminarySingAccord in Practice
5 Faders: Unlocking Your True Potential David Helmuth, adLIB
Building Your Worship Team Jason Squires, WLmagazine
Creativity & Imagination in the Telling of the Gospel veDavid Bunker, Visible School of Music
Getting Your Church to Sing: OnLine & InPerson Steve & Shawn Reed, WLmagazine
Leading Your Church in Original Song Sam Hart, Sam Hart Music
Planned & Prepared Rehearsals John Chilcote, Cedarville Univ
Preparing for Sunday without a Rehearsal Steve & Shawn Reed, WLmagazine
The Elephant in the Room Jason Squires, WLmagazine
Worship & Culture Dr Roger O’Neel, Cedarville, Univ
Worship Planning & Effective Communication Dr Sam Green, Trevecca Univ
Worship Tune-Up: Refresh Your Art Shannon Davidson & Helen Steinkamp , Salt + Cla
Artistic Temperament: Friend or Foe? Rory Noland
Beyond Sunday: Guiding Your Church in Worship Throughout the Week Craig Denison, First15
Empowering & Leading Young Leaders Crystal & Will Yates
Panel: The Faithful Project
Preparing for Spontaneity Dr Brannon Hancock, Wesley Seminary
Principles of Worship & Style: What is Your Context? Dr Sam Green, Trevecca Univ
Transforming Worship Rory Noland
Then, All of a Sudden… Jamie Lawerence, Campbellsville University
Our sponsors are here to resource you. Make sure you check them out before y’all meet this July in Nashville!
JOIN US!
Bringing together musicians and songwriters, movers and shakers, theologians and scholars across the worldwide worship community.
COVID-19 Guidelines
Covid-19 Guidelines – we are following the CDC guidelines for TN. Night of worship will be in an open air barn/outside and all of the larger main sessions will be in the open air barn.