Speakers/Artists
Main Session Speaker
Rory Noland
Rory Noland is the director of Heart of the Artist Ministries, an organization dedicated to serving artists in the church (www.heartoftheartist.org). A songwriter, speaker, church leader, and consultant, Rory is also the author of three books, all published by Zondervan:
- The Heart of the Artist: A Character-Building Guide For You and Your Ministry Team
- Thriving as an Artist in the Church: Hope and Help For You and Your Ministry Team
- The Worshiping Artist: Equipping You and Your Ministry Team to Lead Others in Worship
Rory currently serves part-time as Director of Worship at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and also leads worship for the Transforming Center, a ministry that cares for the souls of pastors and leaders. During Unlimited 2010, Rory Noland will also be leading a breakout session addressing “Conflict Resolution.”
Main Session Worship Band
Brett Younker Band
We are excited to announce that the Brett Younker Band will be leading worship for the main sessions at Unlimited 2010.
Brett Younker is an Atlanta-area worship leader who has been faithfully serving the local church for many years. You may not have heard of him yet but get ready because he is making an impact on worship music. During the year, he regularly leads worship at places like Buckhead Church, Elevation Church and North Metro’s student ministry, Sublime. This summer he is leading worship at several Student Life camps. Most recently, he’s also begun regularly leading worship at Passion City Church in Atlanta.
In June, the Brett Younker Band released “All Things New.” There are some great songs on the new CD that are perfect for congregational worship. Overall, this is a great CD full of songs created for the church to sing. It is available on iTunes.
During Unlimited 2010, the Brett Younker Band will be leading worship during the main sessions and the band members will be teaching instrumental seminars during the breakout sessions. For more information visit brettyounker.com
Songwriting
James Tealy
“In the meantime I’ll keep a looser grip on the stuff I’ve piled in this sinking ship. And I’ll hold tight to Jesus, ‘cause He’s permanent, ‘cause He’s everlasting.” —from the song Permanent
In an industry where style typically triumphs over substance, singer/songwriter James Tealy’s music is a refreshing exception to the rule.
Not only are the songs from Redeeming the Days deeply personal and heartfelt, but Tealy has a knack for writing about deeper things with the panache of a pop music craftsman—a rare combination that not only attracted the attention of Universal Music and Grammy-winning producer Monroe Jones, but inevitably connects with listeners on all levels.
Back in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit Tealy’s hometown of New Orleans, his perspective on just about everything changed, especially concerning what’s really important in life—and what isn’t.
“It’s impossible to walk through something like that without it coloring my entire narrative,” Tealy says. “My wife and I had been living and working in New Orleans for 10 years when Katrina hit. We left the city a day before the storm with three days worth of clothes and our pet rabbit. Eight weeks later, we were allowed back into our zip code for one day between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to salvage whatever we could from our home. We lost some stuff but what we gained from the experience is immeasurable. The effects of those days show up in my conversations and writing in ways I don’t expect sometimes—and then I realize how deeply it’s affected my worldview.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Tealy tried to write but it was still too early to honestly process his emotions. Weeks later while doing some interviews for a Katrina Relief Project, the poignant, poetic lyrics to “Permanent” surfaced.
For “Blue Horizon,” Tealy teamed up with friend and producer Ben Shive to chronicle the story of the day he and his wife drove out of New Orleans in a Budget moving truck with what they had salvaged of their belongings. “The song is really about the pressure I felt as a husband to protect her, to be present for her in those moments while I was still processing my own grief and loss.”
While subject matter like this could make for a heavy album, Redeeming the Days is the perfect title. Tealy’s stalwart faith in God is apparent in each track, even when God’s not mentioned by name. “When I write a song, I’m trying to capture a moment or tell a story. If Jesus shows up in a song it’s because my followship of Jesus seems to color every story. Some songs I hear—and occasionally write— are like windows. They want to present some objective truth and have you, as a listener, stand separated from it and look in. Those songs are written to teach.
“But I think my songs are more like doors than windows. I want listeners to come in, sit down and join in the story. Instead of teaching people some truth that stays distant, I want to invite people into the story to experience what I’m experiencing as I try and figure out what it means to walk in the ways of Jesus.”
For more information visit jamestealy.com
Vocals
Lisa Jones
As a studio musician, album producer and former member of the group “Truth”, Lisa Jones has a passion for equipping singers with confidence, courage, and boldness for Jesus. Along with her husband Jerry and their two teenage kids, she currently makes her home in Marietta, Ga. Lisa serves as the Vocal Director as well as a worship leader at NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, Ga.
Tech Breakout Sessions
Audio, Lighting and Media – Brad Squires and Chris Austin
Instrumental Breakout Sessions
Brett Younker Band will lead the following instrumental breakouts
Drums – Paul Whittinghill
Bass – Michael Stallings
Electric Guitar – Brian Carl
Rhythm Guitar – Brett Younker
“Playing Together as a Band” – Mike Ashburn
Mike received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Redcoat Marching Band, Symphonic Band (principal), Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Marimba Band, Percussion Ensemble, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and was a charter member of the UGA Steel Drum Band. His performing background consists of many theatrical and church productions, the Opening Ceremony of the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996, and a percussionist with the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra. He is currently the Associate for Music Ministries at North Metro First Baptist Church, where he is the orchestra director, student choir director, and administrator for the school of music.
Keys – Brandon Sharp
Brandon Sharp is a student at Liberty University where he is pursuing a degree in worship leadership/song writing. He is graced with the opportunity to join in leading worship on the Campus Praise Band for the entire student body five times a week. His role in the band is 2nd keyboardist, worship leader, and director of clicks/loops/programming. Brandon has done some ministry on the road, but is dedicated to serving the local church through the gift of music.
You can find his new single, “For Your Glory”, on iTunes.
Topical Breakout Sessions
“Servant vs. Rockstar” – Keith McBroom
A native Georgian, Keith McBroom was educated at Mercer University where he received the Bachelor of Music degree. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served churches in Georgia and Alabama. Since January 2001 he has served as the Minister of Music at North Metro First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Ga.
Keith has conducted revival and crusades meetings throughout the United States. He also leads seminars for church leaders seeking to develop and enhance their church’s worship. Additionally, he has served as worship leader for numerous statewide meetings, conferences and assemblies.
He is married to the former Michele Valentine from Starkville, MS. They have two children Katherine 15, and Clay 11.
“Women in Worship” – Lori Kennedy
Lori serves through a ministry called Alpha & Omega Ministries (www.lorikennedy.com). She has been married to Danny for 20 years. God has blessed them with two wonderful sons who love the Lord. Lori now serves and worships at First Baptist Church in Woodstock. Lori is also involved in the North Georgia Walk to Emmaus where she serves on the board as well as leads group worship regularly at meetings and retreats. She travels with Proactive Ministries bringing praise and worship as well as testimony and leadership to churches across the country. She works with Worship on the Square taking worship out of the four walls of the church and into the community. In addition to these functions, Lori also leads music on a regular basis for True Identity retreats as well as for Women’s Ministry through her home church and Church 4 Chicks. She is the worship leader for the upcoming Awaken conference in November 2010. She has been the worship leader at women’s retreats for churches across Georgia and has been involved in multiple youth events promoting the leadership and purity of our young people. Lori also works with Premier Productions as their local coordinator and has had the honor to work with such artists as Casting Crowns, Third Day, Toby Mac, Chris Tomlin, Newsboys, David Crowder, Skillet, Brandon Heath, Relient K, Family Force 5, and many more.
“Making the Most of Your Rehearsal Time” – Daniel Hoover
Daniel and Bonnie Hoover have been leading and teaching about worship for the past 14 years around the US. Many of those years they served as clinicians for student praise bands and adult worship bands, teaching not only the Biblical foundations of Worship, but also how bands can work together to serve the body of Christ and the Church. Daniel & Bonnie both serve on the worship ministry staff at NorthStar Church in North Metro Atlanta where they lead a team of over 100 musicians and technical volunteers, as well as oversee two different Sunday morning venues.
“Tools for Creating Worship Experiences” – Jake Sumner
Jake Sumner is passionate about creating experiences that ignite authentic worship. Over the past 10 years he’s had the opportunity to do just that in a variety of settings from summer camps to churches of all sizes. A self-proclaimed tech-geek and gear-freak, Jake is fired up about finding new ways to use technology to enhance worship experiences. Jake Sumner currently serves as Student Life Worship Coordinator for Sugarloaf United Methodist Church in Duluth, GA where he oversees multiple weekly services for high school and middle school students and equips students to lead worship. He also is the blog editor for loopsinworship.com and can be found online at www.jakesumner.com. He and his wife, Hannah, have been married over 9 years and have 2 daughters, Mavis and Camille.
