C
R
E
A
T
I
V
E
C
O
M
M
U
N
I
T
Y
Agenda
Times in CST
( Click agenda item for details )
Monday // Oct 28
Monday, 9:00 AM
Main Session 1
The Way and the Wonderment begins with an inspiring word from Samer Massad about the lessons we can learn from the earliest followers of The Way and the message that Jesus wants us to embrace. Then, Brad Montague will build on this message by teaching us how to celebrate life’s hardest lessons.
Samer Massad
Brad Montague
Workshop Session A
11:00 AM
Creative Process
Creative Ministry Manifesto
Phil Bowdle
What if the way we’re working in creative ministry isn’t working? The opportunities and needs for creative ministry have never been greater…yet this is an area that it is often plagued with burnout, tension, and misunderstanding. In this session, we’ll take a hard look at where we’ve been, where we are, and challenge you with a creative ministry manifesto and fresh challenge to rethink how we do and lead in creative ministry.You will learn prayer, people, process – in that order.
Leadership
Building Great Teams
Warren Davis
Ever wondered what separates good teams from great teams? How do you distinguish between leading and managing, and is one better than the other? How can you lead effectively without executive power? How do you tailor your leadership approach to each individual’s unique gifts? In this class, we will explore themes of team leadership and learn how to create an environment where team members can thrive and perform at their best within the context of ministry.
Film & Design
Artistic Vision: The Power of Mixed-Media Design
Tricia Griffin
Graphic design is more than structured guidelines, picking the right color palette and fonts, and deciphering the hierarchy of information. This strategic approach to design is necessary, but incomplete. It’s called a “creative field” for a reason- it’s a form of art! In this workshop I’ll help you think outside the grid by walking you through the how’s and why’s of mixed-media design, showing you how to make intentional artistic choices, and demonstrating a studio artist’s approach to the creative process of design.
Worship
Understanding the Role of the Worship Leader
Robbie Seay
Many of us became worship leaders believing 90% of the job was leading songs on a stage and 10% was all the other stuff. In reality, it’s completely the opposite for most leaders.
Let’s take a deeper look at the complexities of the worship leader role in the modern church, considering three areas of focus: the MUSICIAN, the MINISTER, and the MULTIPLIER. Understanding this role and knowing how to disciple and equip young leaders is a non-negotiable for the future of worship in the church.
Foundations
How to Survive as a One-Person Team
Brad Zimmerman
Is your job title a combination of multiple roles? Are you a part-time employee or volunteer juggling countless tasks? Then this breakout session is perfect for you. You’ll discover essential tools and resources to get the job done efficiently, strategies to stay creative despite a hectic schedule, and techniques for collaborating with less technical or creative individuals. Let’s dive into 10 simple tricks to thrive when you’re managing everything on your own!
Workshop Session B
1:00 PM
Creative Process
Creating a Brand Identity
Jenna Lusk
What is “branding” and what does it look like in the context of a church? Whether you are implementing a visual identity for the first time, giving your brand a refresh, or considering a complete overhaul, you can learn about the process (and its pitfalls) and how to lead your team through it.
Leadership
Keep the Volunteers You Have
Makenzie Merrifield
“We have too many volunteers” – said no one ever. We all know the problem too well of what it’s like to run ourselves ragged trying to do all the things. In this workshop, we will focus on key tactics to keep the volunteers you have. You’ll leave with actionable insights to enhance your volunteer retention efforts and keep your team motivated and engaged.
Digital Media
20 AI Tools That Will Change How You Do Your Ministry Work
Kenny Jahng
The promises of artificial intelligence are tangible and real for ministry leaders — if you know how to approach it, and which AI tools to use in your workflows. In this workshop, Kenny Jahng, will walk you through 20+ AI tools that can practically increase your productivity, help unlock more impact, and ultimately free up your time so you can focus on what’s most important to you. This fast-paced workshop will share various use cases, examples of real-life projects, and suggestions for how to best approach integrating the various AI tools available to leaders today.
Film & Design
Aligning Design with Vision for a Sermon Series
Ramon Quintero
This workshop empowers church and ministry leaders with strategic tools to create compelling sermon content. Attendees will learn to plan, design, and present sermon series efficiently. It also helps alleviate common design frustrations, leading to a more productive and harmonious workflow.
Production
Preparing for Sunday: Getting You & Your Team
Ready for the Moment
Willow Hodge
Walking in on a weekend shouldn’t be a nerve-wracking experience. Instead, implementing some best practices during the week can be all it takes to bring you and your team to the next level. When we prepare with a mindset to walk in and win, we cultivate weekends that become a place of excellence, creativity, and community.
Foundations
The Basic Elements of a Lighting Design
Bryan Bailey
The foundation for any great visual experience for a worship service and video broadcast is the lighting. But with the lighting being such a subjective medium, how do we create a design that will enhance the experience of any given culture or preference? In this class, you will learn how to create a strong foundational design that will support any visual element you want to achieve.
Monday, 2:00 PM
Main Session 2
The journey on The Way continues with Rick Rekedal challenging us to be patient in the process and to push our creative imaginations by looking at a particular example from the New Testament: someone who found the value of finding Jesus in the secret place.
Rick Rekedal
Tuesday // Oct 29
Workshop Session C
11:00 AM
Creative Process
Asana Processes for Creative Teams
Dustin Pead
Creative teams worldwide scour frantically to find a tool or a system that will help them sustain and scale their creative production process. Asana is one of the best tools on the market for teams, and after over a decade of leading creative teams through this training, Dustin Pead will teach you his process of using ASANA that you can implement immediately.
Leadership
How to Find the Right Leaders
Brian Taylor
Developing a strong leadership pipeline depends on two key components: recruitment and retention. Once you’ve added the right leaders, it’s vital to foster their growth and unleash their full potential. This session addresses the number one mistake leaders make in recruiting the right people (why you end up spinning your wheels and filling all the roles you don’t need). It’ll also reveal why your best leaders might be eyeing the exit and show you how to cultivate a bench of leaders who not only support your vision but make achieving it feel effortless.
Digital Media
Strategies for Communicating Change
Liz Schauer
Whether you have a new pastor, a clarified strategy, or an exciting God-inspired goal, getting people to run with you — not pull against you — is a crucial (and often overlooked) part of any plan. So how do you get your staff, volunteer, and congregation focused on what’s ahead instead while making space for them to grieve the change? We’ll unpack simple and effective methods for communicating change on all levels.
Film & Design
Connection-Driven Filmmaking
Chris Verner
Connection vs Perfection. The Conversations around making films that connect with your audience. In this class you will discover how to pursue and organize the stories you are involved with and ways to measure those results and how connecting with the people around you allows for greater creativity.
Worship
Nashville Numbers System
Adam Westlake
Music is a language, and learning the grammar of music is vital. Understanding the basics of diatonic harmony will prepare you to more quickly learn and execute the songs you need. Learning Nashville Numbers will make you a more effective, efficient, and flexible musician.
Production
Creating Consistent Lighting
Brandon Daughtry
Join me as we delve into the critical role of consistent lighting in creating compelling environments. We will explore how uniform lighting enhances visual aesthetics, maintains audience focus, and supports the overall success of any event.Understand the fundamental differences between traditional DMX and DMX over Ethernet (eDMX) to make informed decisions about upgrading church lighting systems.
Foundations
Getting Started with Audio Mixing
Bekah Winans
Ever wonder where to start when it comes to audio? Developing a good sound can often seem like a daunting, ever-changing, unattainable dream. In this workshop, we’ll break down some basic principles like equalization (EQ) and compression as well as talk through how to balance a full band mix and where to start.
Workshop Session D
1:00 PM
Creative Process
The Perfect Creative Process Doesn’t Exist
Paul Yerrick
There’s no perfect process when it comes to creative process. If you and your team can actually agree on that, we have a starting point. What you can do is set up your imperfect process up for success. In this workshop, we’ll discuss some of the key ingredients to set up your process to win and Paul may even spend a minute or two sharing the process that they TRY to follow.
Leadership
Developing Dynamic Cultures
Matthew Paul & Chandler Saunders
In this class, we will explore how to cultivate a dynamic team culture that thrives on innovation, collaboration, and positivity. Building a vibrant creative environment where team members feel valued, encouraged to take risks, and supported in their growth is crucial for long-term impact.
Through practical strategies, real-world examples, and actionable insights, you’ll learn how to create an atmosphere where creativity flourishes, trust and autonomy are prioritized, and collaboration leads to breakthrough ideas. Whether you’re leading a small team or managing multiple departments, this workshop will equip you with the tools to build a positive and innovative culture that empowers your team to reach their full potential.
Film & Design
4 Elements of a Good Stage Design
Aaron Bensko
In a church setting, your church stage serves as a focal point for the congregation, drawing attention to the speaker, musicians or performers. A thoughtful and purposeful stage design can help create an atmosphere that supports the message and also enhances the experience of the attendees. In this workshop we will explore a few best practices and ideas on how to achieve these objectives without breaking your budget.
Worship
Songwriting for Your Church
Lauren Sloat
Get equipped to overcome intimidation when it comes to writing original worship music for your church. There is so much mystique that surrounds songwriting, and rightfully so — songs often feel like “downloads” from God. So how do you position yourself to receive those words and melodies, and how can you hone the crafts of musicianship and writing to be able to steward your gifts to the best of your abilities? In this class, you will learn professional songwriting processes, disciplines and tips as well as how to work in tandem with other songwriters (and your pastors!) to usher your church where God is leading it.
Production
Audio Compression Essentials for Live Worship
Carson Burchett
Join us for an engaging workshop on audio compression, where attendees will discover the techniques to manage dynamic range in live church audio production. Participants will learn the basics of setting thresholds, ratios, attack, and release times to create a more balanced and professional sound during worship services. The session will include hands-on demonstrations and practical tips.
Foundations
The Basics of Photography
Darius L. Carter
Explore the fundamentals of photography in our comprehensive workshop, “The Foundation of Photography.” This course covers essential concepts such as exposure, composition, and lighting, equipping you with the skills to capture stunning images. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your technique, this workshop provides a solid foundation to elevate your photography to the next level.
Tuesday, 2:00 PM
Main Session 4
The Wonderment awakes as Darian Sanders shares his journey with us on what it takes to fully express the incredible gift of creativity that God has given you. Then, Drew Worsham will show us how to unlock the Peter Pan within so you can access the dreams and impossibilities of your childhood self.
Darian Sanders
Drew Worsham
Wednesday // Oct 30
Workshop Session E
9:00 AM
Creative Process
The Power of Process: Embracing Action, Facing Failure, and Creating Habits
Nick Rivero
This class emphasizes the importance of taking even the smallest steps toward progress and the role of failure in shaping success. Through creating simple, effective processes and focusing on habit formation, you’ll learn how to navigate the challenges of setting & keeping goals. This class also underscores the need for strategic rest, a clear vision, and effective prioritization in achieving sustained success.
Leadership
Creating a Weekly Rhythm
Phil Bowdle
For the creatives who are always saying words like “Busy” and “There’s not enough time.” For the leaders and teams who feel like you live in meetings and are stuck in the chaos cycle of getting from week to week… For those who are stuck reacting to everyone else’s priorities and are desperate to maximize their time, focus, and impact… this workshop is for you.
Film & Design
Capturing the Moment
Darius L. Carter
Join our immersive videography workshop, “Capturing the Moment,” designed to teach you the art of seizing fleeting moments through your lens. Learn essential techniques in composition, lighting, and timing to create compelling, story-driven videos that resonate with your audience. Perfect for aspiring videographers looking to enhance their skills and capture unforgettable scenes with precision and creativity.
Worship
Creating a Musical Choir
Jack Thweatt
Choirs have been the cornerstone of church music for centuries. But in a world of modern contemporary worship, and perfectly polished Sunday production, what role, if any, can choir play in our current worship format? Let’s take a dive into the history of Church music, the role of choir in the Church, and the advantages of embracing the choir.
Production
Shedding Light on eDMX
Tim Logsdon
A networked lighting control system may sound intimidating, but it creates a world of possibilities. In this workshop, you will discover the advantages and real-world uses of DMX over Ethernet (eDMX). Participants will gain essential knowledge in setting up and configuring eDMX networks, with thorough explanations and interactive discussions that prepare them to effectively upgrade their church lighting systems.
Foundations
The Basics of Designing
& Operating Slides
Brad Zimmerman
Whether you use PowerPoint, ProPresenter, or something in between, mastering slide design and training volunteers to run them is essential. With 20 years of experience, Brad will guide you on how to create visually appealing slides and teach you how to train your volunteers to operate them like seasoned pros.
Workshop Session F
10:00 AM
Creative Process
The Passion City Creative Process
Chandler Saunders
Striking a balance between deeply believing in ideas and being open handed with the work is key for the longevity of creatives and the sanity of stakeholders. In this workshop we will look at an original presentation from Passion Conference, following the process from initial conception to event execution. With the hope of understanding when to embrace, abandon and even lean into the dreaded Frankenstein of directions.
Leadership
How to Lead the Creative Generation
Rohn Starling
In this workshop, you will leave with practical tools on how to approach the creative generations GEN Z + GEN A. This is vitally important to the future of the church and our ability to learn how to communicate, build and lead a generation without previous religious experience.
Digital Media
Increasing Church Engagement
Allie Bryant
Does “engagement” feel like the new buzzword that no one can really define or track? We’ll explore why engagement is important and how digital tools can help. Plus, we’ll share some lessons on setting the right engagement strategy and implementing the tools to support it.
Film & Design
20 Essentials for Elevating
Your Church Visuals
Matthew Paul
This session will equip you with a powerful toolkit designed to elevate your church’s graphic design. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out, you’ll discover a dynamic mix of advanced Photoshop techniques, typography mastery, and cutting-edge resources like plugins, actions, and Al tools. We’ll dive deep into strategies for FX, color, gradient maps, textures, and graphic elements that will empower you to create visuals that truly resonate. And the best part? You’ll walk away with The Designer’s Toolkit PDF—a comprehensive guide packed with 20+ essentials, ready to help you start enhancing your designs the moment you return to your team.
Worship
Developing & Deploying Volunteers in Worship Ministry
Brian Taylor
Do you ever find it challenging to bring out the best in your volunteer worship team members? Join us for a conversation on effectively training volunteers in worship ministry. We’ll talk through five mistakes worship leaders make that cap their team’s potential, learn how to create the appropriate space for developing leaders and discover how to master the art of meaningful feedback and support. You’ll walk away with practical steps to nurture a vibrant, connected team ready to help you take your ministry to the next level.
Production
The Video Over IP Revolution
Will Chapman
Why is video over IP such a big deal? Consider how digital audio protocols have transformed our live and studio spaces to transfer many channels of audio data over one ethernet or fiber cable. The same technology is now here for video at all price points. The wise church technical leader needs to educate themselves about video over IP to be prepared for where the video production industry is quickly moving towards.
Foundations
Level Up Your Canva Skills
Ramon Quintero
In this workshop you’ll learn how churches can harness the full potential of Canva. You’ll learn how to craft stunning graphics while nurturing a sense of confidence and proficiency with this versatile tool.Understand the importance of composition and how to apply compositional techniques like the rule of thirds.
Wednesday, 11:00 AM
Main Session 5
Brad Montague will close SALT 2024 with his contagious joy and captivating storytelling in the most heartfelt and inspiring way. You will leave with your tanks overflowing, your curiosity launched, and you will be inspired to bring The Way and the Wonderment into your creative world.