CONTRIBUTORS

Rick Dempsey and his wife, Kari, are active members of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA. Their family includes five children, 4 of whom are married, and are blessed with 11 grandchildren.

Over the past 35 years, Rick has worked for The Walt Disney Company. As a founding member and Sr. Vice President – Creative at Disney Character Voices, domestic and international, he played a pivotal role in directing some of Hollywood’s most prominent talent in their character portrayals. Additionally, he oversaw the creation of all Disney, Pixar, Lucas and Marvel projects in as many as 65 languages worldwide. In 2017 he received an Emmy for his contributions to the industry in international localization. He was also a key figure in bringing The Chronicles of Narnia franchise to the Disney Studios.

Presently, Rick serves as the President of SnoCone Productions, a venture he established to continue his endeavors in family entertainment. The Chosen TV series relies on Rick and SnoCone Productions to achieve a groundbreaking feat: delivering The Chosen in 100 dubbed and 600 subtitled languages, marking a milestone in media.

Natalie Runion is the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and ECPA bestselling author of Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away and The House That Jesus Built: Leading Our Churches Back to God’s Original Blueprint (September 2024). She is also the founder of Raised to Stay, an online community nearly 200,000 “Stayers” who are honest in their wrestling about their relationship with Jesus and His Church. 
 
A pastor’s daughter from Cincinnati, Ohio, Natalie graduated from Miami University with a degree in education and has served as a pastor in the local church for over twenty years. She is a songwriter, worship leader, podcaster, and sought-after speaker at churches and conferences around the world.
 
Natalie lives in Kentucky with her husband, Tony, and their two daughters. Natalie and Tony work together to provide training and education to pastors and leaders in pursuit of a healthy and reconciled church. 

Joseph Sojourner (aka Sojo) has emerged as a refreshing voice of creativity and leadership for this generation, harnessing the power of story to connect people to purpose. Sojo is owner of Two Cents Creative Thinkers, an Atlanta-based creative agency, as well as creative consultant for Trilith Studios, where he lives. Sojo is a trusted voice on next generation business leaders for many events throughout the world, has been featured on NBC’s Your Move in candid conversations with leadership guru Andy Stanley, and inspires schools, universities, churches, and teams alongside Orange and Growing Leaders. In 2022, Sojo launched The Moonwalkers Podcast, a place for the doers to uncover the steps needed for true success and the dreamers to discuss the leaps needed for the betterment of mankind.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Island, Miles McPherson grew up in a large family and after excelling in football throughout high school, he attended the University of New Haven where he majored in engineering. McPherson was the university’s first player to achieve All-American honors in football and be drafted into the NFL.

Miles played four years in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers from 1982-1985 and went back to school at Azusa Pacific University for his master’s degree and worked as a Youth Pastor for Horizon Christian Fellowship. In 2000, he started the Rock Church in San Diego. Today, the Rock Church has 6 campuses, with its newest campus in Oahu.

As a passionate Evangelist, Miles is currently working on developing Just 1, an evangelistic tool that empowers every Christian to confidently share their faith. Pastor Miles is convinced that this is the hour for the Church to rise up and be the beacon of hope the Lord has called us to be.

Cassandra Langton is a creative pastor and leader of global influence. She oversaw the Creative team of Hillsong Church around the world, comprising thousands of creative volunteers. Her leadership also includes Hillsong Worship, UNITED, and Young & Free. Cass is an out-of-the-box thinker and innovator who is constantly pushing the boundaries of creativity and worship in the Church today. She loves building and cultivating a thriving community of artists, singers, creators, writers, musicians, technicians, dancers, photographers. Cass is a dynamic and inspiring communicator and speaker, passionate about pursuing Christ and using every creative medium to reflect God’s beauty and to tell the Jesus-story to a world desperate in need. Her commitment to building the local church is strengthened by her commitment and love for her family.

Andrew Erwin is an award-winning director and producer, best known as one half of the Erwin Brothers. After launching his career directing music videos for artists like Skillet, Switchfoot, and Michael W. Smith, Andrew transitioned to feature filmmaking with his brother Jon. Together, they’ve created some of the most successful and widely loved faith-based films, including October Baby, I Can Only Imagine (the top-grossing independent film of 2018), I Still Believe, American Underdog, and Jesus Revolution.

As co-founder of Kingdom Story Company, Andrew continues to tell powerful stories of faith, hope, and redemption, producing films like Ordinary Angels (2024), Unsung Hero (2024), and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. He is currently developing Fearless, based on the life of Navy SEAL Adam Brown.

Singer, songwriter, and worship leader Tim Timmons has spent more than two decades in ministry, using music as a way to invite people into a life with Jesus rather than simply working for Him. Diagnosed with incurable cancer twenty years ago and given five years to live, Tim’s journey has shaped his music, perspective, and mission — offering songs as prayers of hope, honesty, and faith.

Since his debut Cast My Cares (2013), Tim has released multiple albums, co-written MercyMe’s Grammy-nominated hit “Even If”, and continues to tour globally, encouraging audiences to live out their faith in the everyday moments. He also founded 10,000 MINUTES, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people practice Jesus beyond Sunday gatherings.

At home in Nashville with his wife Hilary and their four children, Tim lives out the message he shares: that every minute of our lives is an opportunity to walk with Jesus.

Bart Millard is the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated band MercyMe, best known for their multi-platinum hit “I Can Only Imagine.” After a football injury in high school redirected him toward music, Bart co-founded MercyMe, which has since released multiple chart-topping albums and become one of the most influential bands in Christian music.

In addition to his work with MercyMe, Bart has released two acclaimed solo hymn projects, Hymned No. 1 and Hymned Again, showcasing his love for timeless songs of faith. His personal journey — shaped by the redemption of his relationship with his late father — inspired both the song and the feature film I Can Only Imagine (2018).

Bart lives in Greenville, Texas, with his wife Shannon and their five children, continuing to impact millions through music, storytelling, and faith.

Bella Taylor Smith is a worship leader, recording artist, and speaker with over 12 years of ministry experience. Known for her heart for the local church, Bella has served in worship leadership across Australia and beyond. Now residing in Nashville Tennessee with her husband Josh,  Bella is committed to blending her love for community, leading people into a deeper understanding of God’s presence, and character and her love for expressing that through music.

After winning The Voice Australia, Bella’s journey opened doors in both mainstream music and Christian ministry, allowing her to share her story and songs with a wide audience.

Today, she leads worship, pastors the creative community at her local Church, writes songs, and speaks into the heart of worshippers and leaders navigating the blend of ministry and music — Bella always carries a passion to see people encounter Jesus and live out the commission they’ve been given as believers with a focusing on living sustainable lives of worship on and off the platform.

Kierre is a worship pastor and resides in Kernersville, NC with his wife Marika of 9 years along with their 3 children Esther-Rose, Nehemiah and John.

Kierre studied music business at Winston-Salem State University with a concentration in classical vocal performance. Cultivating his love for classical music led him to performing at historic opera houses like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and being cast with a lead role in an off Broadway show (“Soul on Fire”). Kierre has recorded and toured with artists like Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Elevation worship, Will Reagan & United Pursuit and a host of others. He is also passionate about songwriting and has written for artists such as Maverick City Music, Housefires, JJ Hairston, Faith City Music, and more. He is a core contributor to Common Hymnal, a songwriting community dedicated to creating worship music with a social conscious. Kierre also takes his faith beyond music and into the market place as the Director of Investor Relations of a commercial real estate development firm and a Strategic Advisor for Glyph Shoes. 

Above all, he is a son of God and his goal is to embrace that in an ever changing world.

Terryl Padilla has been leading worship and training worship and creative teams for the last two decades.
He is passionate about the local church and seeing teams create excellence within their community. Terryl is a part of Capitol CMG and Worship Together and has the privilege to work with worship songwriters who feel called to serve the local church.

Brad is the Creative Director of Watermark Church in West Michigan where he designs and creates gatherings & spaces for people to encounter Jesus. He is passionate about resourcing churches to share the gospel, so he created ChurchMediaDrop.com, a free media-sharing site. He also hosts the official ProPresenter training videos. Brad loves playing music, building Legos, and trying new and creative things.

Jessica Bealer has been leading in ministry for 25 years. Six of which were spent overseeing standards, systems, staffing and atmosphere for the family ministry of Elevation Church. She has overseen the launch of twenty-five locations, and is considered a specialist in multisite. Jessica currently oversees Ministry Engagement at Generis, an organization dedicated to helping churches see their mission accomplished. Jessica is a mother of six, published author and host of the Women’s Leadership Workshop podcast. She is married to Frank, the Director of Strategy at Generis and Executive Pastor at Home Church Roswell.

Wade Joye is a speaker and leadership coach, author of “This Dream Is Not For You,” and host of the “Dreamers and Disciples” podcast.

Wade served as the Worship Pastor at Elevation Church for over 14 years until transitioning off of staff in late 2021 to serve churches across the country through his teaching and coaching ministry.

During his time at Elevation, Wade oversaw the development of worship culture and staffing for over 20 locations, and spearheaded the growth and pastoring of Elevation Worship. In addition to building worship culture across all Elevation locations, Wade was instrumental in creating the systems that allowed Elevation Worship songs to go around the world as he led the record label and touring teams. Wade was also a songwriter on several of the earlier Elevation Worship songs, being part of the writing team for songs like O Come To The Altar, Resurrecting and many more sung in churches all over the country. Serving on the overall leadership team at Elevation, Wade also led the teams that executed the weekend worship experience, and oversaw service programming and coached campus pastors on their stage hosting and preaching. Having preached on the main stage at Elevation on a regular basis, Wade’s greatest passion is to teach and coach people to develop and maintain consistent spiritual rhythms and disciplines that cultivate a heart that is grounded in a personal devotion to Jesus.

Wade and his wife, Ferris, have 3 daughters they adore and are learning to navigate ministry and faith as they raise children with special needs like Cystic Fibrosis and Cerebral Palsy.

Jeff Mathena is a vocal coach, speaker, and founder of The Unhindered Voice, a platform devoted to helping singers in the Church discover freedom in their sound and boldness in their calling. Known for his unique blend of technical mastery and spiritual insight, Jeff has coached many of today’s most influential artists, including Kari Jobe, Phil Wickham, Elevation Worship, Bethel Music, and For King & Country.

More than just a coach, Jeff is a prophetic voice to worshippers—equipping them not only to sing with excellence, but to carry the weight of God’s presence through their voice. He has served as vocal faculty for Bethel Music College and continues to partner with ministries that are raising up the next generation of anointed voices.

Whether leading a coaching session or speaking into identity and purpose, Jeff is passionate about helping believers sing with clarity, conviction, and joy. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife and children, where he leads a thriving online community of worshippers through The Unhindered Voice.

Killian Devine is a Livestream and Lighting Engineer with over eight years of experience in the field of AVL Production. With experience as a technical director for multi-campus churches, as well as his current role, Killian is passionate about building teams in technical roles. At SALT, he will share insights on how to effectively lead and train video production teams within the unique dynamics of church ministry.                        

With over 18 years of experience in lighting, stage design, and production, Andy Rushing has built a distinguished career shaping compelling visual experiences. After touring as a lighting and stage designer for 10 years, Andy Rushing transitioned to a leadership role at The Belonging Church, where he has been a dedicated team member for 8 years. For the past 5 years, he has excelled as the Production Director, overseeing innovative production strategies and fostering creative excellence. Known for their expertise in live event production and meticulous attention to detail, Andy Rushing continues to influence and elevate the standards of stagecraft and production management.                             

Shep is a content creator, consultant and video engineer with a passion for resourcing and equipping church production teams. With years of experience leading live production, he specializes in systems optimization, volunteer training, and high-pressure problem-solving. Shep creates engaging behind-the-scenes content that is both educational and entertaining, offering a unique perspective on church tech. Whether consulting, directing live broadcasts, or crafting creative content, he brings energy, expertise, and a solutions-driven mindset to every project.

Gary is a husband, father, grandfather, and the founder of Floodgate Creative – a video agency that helps organizations tell their most compelling stories. He is passionate about serving artists, and after serving pastorally in the church for 17 years, has become known as a Pastor to artists in the Church. He is the author of a book called “Pursuing Christ, Creating Art”. He is a public speaker, an encourager, and a story consultant.

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Brenton is originally from Springfield, MO and has been involved in church since he can remember. He has always been fascinated with recording and making music. He now lives in Nashville with his wife and two children, and they have served at The Belonging Co since 2015. He has the honor of also serving with his friends Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes on their team. He also produces and mixes records and teaches audio courses online.

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25+ years experience in Church/Worship Ministry in both staff and volunteer capacities. Served 12+ years as a full-time Worship Pastor/Director. Professional Musician and Music Director for various Christian Worship Artists. Currently serves as the Music Director at The Belonging Co in Nashville TN.

Henry Seeley is a pastor, worship leader, songwriter, producer and GRAMMY-award winning mix engineer.  Born and raised in Australia, he and his wife Alex moved to Nashville TN in 2012.  Shortly after their move, they saw a need to facilitate a place for touring artists and musicians to gather for worship and ministry due to their travel schedules.  A Tuesday night gathering of just a few grew to over a hundred within a year, and as a result, their church The Belonging Co was birthed in 2014.  Ten years later, the church holds 5 services a week through their 3 locations, and reaches thousands in-person and online.

Henry is married to Alex Seeley, a passionate communicator and author.  Together they have two children… Holly (20) and Taylor (16).

Bart Blair has served in vocational ministry since 2002. He has worked in pastoral roles that include worship, creative, discipleship, preaching and church planting. He is ordained as a minister in the Charis Fellowship of Churches. Bart serves as Executive Director of Missional Impact for Missional Marketing, an agency that provides services to churches and Christian non-profits. Additionally, Bart is the Director of Church Revitalization for Assist Church Expansion, a ministry that serves churches in the Charis Fellowship to help them plan a fruitful future of ministry.

Bart and his wife, Elizabeth, reside in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where they are involved in local ministry and church planting. They are the proud parents of three children, Sarah-lynn, Silas and Ephraim.

I started my career as an independent music producer and engineer, and from 2007 to 2016, I was the Front of House engineer for Chris Tomlin. I circled the globe several times, both with Chris and with Passion Conferences.

I was a part of North Point Community Church since its beginning, and I’ve partnered with North Point, as well as other churches over the years, helping them train production excellence and engagement, both on the platform and off.

My heart for helping churches excel is fully realized through MxU as we provide church production teams resources for technical training, creative communication, and spiritual connection to God and each other. We partner with church teams so they can get better at what they do, while getting better at who they are.

I now live in South Carolina with my beautiful wife Elizabeth, (who is far superior to me in all respects), our even more superior daughter, Stella, and Lula the dog.

Dr. Andrew Johnston (or “Dr. J”) is a long-time friend and contributor to the SALT Community. He’s the owner of Johnston Consulting | DRJC, and is a sought-after teacher, coach, and consultant in corporate, government, non-profit, and ministry contexts. He draws from diverse personal experiences as a counselor, professor, executive, and NCAA coach to energize and strengthen some of the best-known organizations around the globe as well as schools, churches, non-profits, and individual leaders around the corner.