WorshipFuel with Matt McCoy

In this episode of WorshipFuel, Matt McCoy sits down with worship leader, pastor, songwriter, and author Brandon Grissom to talk about how losing his wife, Becky, changed his life and the way he leads worship. Brandon shares what it was like to continue serving his church while caring for his wife through her battle with a brain tumor, the prayer that carried him through his darkest moments, and why familiar worship lyrics began to mean something completely different. They also discuss how grief changes the way we see our congregations, how much vulnerability is appropriate from the platform, and what worship leaders can learn about leading through difficult seasons.

In this episode, Matt McCoy sits down with worship songwriter Brenton Brown, known for songs like "Everlasting God," "Lord Reign in Me," and "Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)," to reflect on how worship has evolved through the years. Brenton shares stories from the early Vineyard worship movement, what made those days so special, and how songwriting and worship leading have changed since then. They also discuss the tension between production and congregational participation, why worship songs have become more complex, and what worship leaders today can learn from previous generations. Plus, Brenton shares what excites him about the future of worship music and the incredible story behind his song "Hallelujah, Jesus Saves."

In this episode, Matt McCoy sits down with Kevin Huguley, Executive Director of Liberty Worship Collective and member of Rush of Fools, to talk about what he’s seeing in the next generation of worship leaders. Kevin shares what Gen Z and Gen Alpha are looking for from the Church, why talent and platform skills aren’t enough, and how Liberty is intentionally forming students beyond what happens on stage. They also talk about social media, personal branding, song selection, mentorship, and why young leaders need real opportunities to serve instead of just watching from the sidelines.

In this episode, Matt McCoy sits down with songwriter and worship pastor Kaelob Mecum to talk about originality, honesty, and the pressure to follow the formulas that produce successful worship songs. Kaelob shares why he believes we may be losing some of the art of songwriting, and why the best songs often come from writing what you’ve actually lived instead of trying to recreate someone else’s sound.

What if the next leader your worship ministry needs is already on your team?

In this episode, Matt McCoy sits down with Amber Peairs from The Worship Life to talk about how worship leaders can start developing the people already in front of them. Amber shares how to recognize leadership potential, create a healthy culture of feedback, give volunteers real responsibility, and help people take ownership beyond their individual role. They also talk about the hard side of leadership, including difficult conversations, evaluations, delegation, and knowing when someone may not be the right fit for the team.

The goal isn't just to build a better band. It's to build people who can lead.

Amber will also be joining us at the Worship Innovators Conference, October 12-13 in Chicago. Come hang with worship leaders, pastors, musicians, and ministry leaders from around the country and hear more practical teaching from Amber in person.