TCC: Tell us a little about Yourself
Josh: Well…names Josh. Currently serving Jesus in San Francisco. Born and raised in a small farm town in Indiana, and grew up singing hymns in a small baptist church in the area. By the time I was teenager, with my love for Jesus and music firmly established, God made his calling on my life extremely clear, and since then, I’ve known the joy of serving the Lord and leading his people. What’s happened in the years since is something I’ll never get over. When God says He is able to do immeasurably more than we “dream or imagine,” well, He’s not kidding. I’ve learned that first hand.
Along with being a Worship Pastor & Creative Arts Pastor for Canvas Church, I had the opportunity to write a book called Make Something, which is a book to churches and leaders who need help with worship, creative arts, and media. More than anything, I long for people to know, love, and worship the Maker and Lover of our souls. Oh, and coffee. You should know that I am also seriously addicted to coffee. Preferably Blue Bottle.
TCC: How do you go about leading a worship service?
Josh: I’m not what some would call a “rockstar” worship leader. Truth be told, I’m probably more conservative than most guys out there that do what I do. I’m somewhat of a introvert. I’d rather have the entire church body sing to Jesus than me singing to them. I like to become transparent when I sing. Really, all I’m suppose to be is a guider to God, and if people are focused on me at the end of the day, than I didn’t do my job very well. It’s that moment when I lift my eyes to the congregation and realized that we have all left a brick and mortar building and we are standing in the awesome presence of God Almighty…that’s when I feel like I’ve lead a worship service.
TCC: Where do you think your greatest worship strengths lie?
I want to see the church become the most creative element every known in history books. That’s one of my biggest passions of life, and I believe that the creative side of me leaks out in our worship services. One of the things that I feel I’m able to do well is bridge that gap of putting a set list together creative and authentic. I firmly believe there is this spiritual relationship that happens with the media and music ministries side by side on a Sunday morning. I love investing time into making sure our media experience is just as powerful as our music experience on Sundays.
TCC: Who are some of the artists that you use for your set lists?
Josh: Bethel Music, Hillsong, Gateway, Elevation, Jesus Culture, Vertical Church. And you might hear us do a Mumford, Coldplay, U2, or Civil Wars cover every now and then.
TCC: Outside of your writing, your personal ministry, and worship pastoring, what do you do?
Josh: I read. Crossfit.. I find a hole in the wall sushi joint. I like a good cup of coffee and someone to share a story with. I hit the local record store. I’m a pretty simple guy, who likes simple things. Hand a good book, coffee beans, a record player, and I’ll be gone for days.
TCC: Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
Josh: Honestly, I absolutely have no clue. Jesus keeps me on my toes. As long as I follow His guidance and apply His cause to my life, then I really don’t care where He puts me. As long as I get to sing to Christ until the day He brings me home, then I’m pretty sure I’ll be happy.