The Ferment Podcast - Conversations About Worship And Transformation

In this episode of The Ferment, Mike O'Brien talks with Anthony Peebles and Susan O'Brien about some exciting new Advent materials, namely a new worship single Anthony wrote titled "Royal Son" (performed by Tim Brown and Hannah DeSpain) and a corresponding devotional Susan created. Anthony also shares about some of his life in the Florida panhandle and his family's new adventure with Canyonview Vineyard Church in Grand Junction, CO. Anthony Peebles is a worship leader, songwriter, and musician with nearly two decades of experience in both music and ministry. A native of northwest Florida, Anthony signed with First Note Entertainment in 2015, collaborating with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Brainard on a folk album. His music has been featured on various network and streaming platforms, and he has had the privilege of opening for several national artists across the Southeast. Passionate about creating authentic worship experiences, Anthony has been actively involved in ministry since his teens. His work spans multiple denominations with deep roots in the Vineyard tradition, and he is dedicated to fostering theological growth and cultivating cultures of pastoral care. In late 2024, Anthony and his family moved to Grand Junction, CO, where he now serves as Worship Pastor at Canyon View Vineyard Church. Grateful for the opportunity to serve in a community that has shaped his faith journey, he is excited to continue leading in both the local church and the broader Vineyard movement. Show Notes: Listen to Royal Son Susan's devotional: YouVersion (coming soon!) Anthony Peebles' music Susan's Spiritual Direction website

In this episode of The Ferment, Adam chats with Nick Sherrod about being raised by a single mom, when music entered his life, and his entrance into the music industry. Nick shares how he came to the Vineyard, processed not being in a Black church, and finally settled into himself as a worshipper. Nick Sherrod is an artist, writer, and worship leader currently serving at Vineyard Columbus. Even though he's been singing since the age of 11, only in recent years did he discover that worship was meant to be a big part of his life. His goal is to continue to grow and work hard to follow where God leads him. Show Notes: Nick's website

In this episode of The Ferment, Director of the Vineyard School of Worship Mike O'Brien chats with Kat Michael, Worship Pastor at Franklin Vineyard Church in Tennessee as we continue our series: "A Week In The Life", looking at the weekly rhythms of worship leaders from around the country in various-sized congregations. Kat shares about the season of transition their church is navigating, her favorite parts of each week, and her Sunday morning routine. Kat also talks about their staff and worship team's balance of spiritual practices and production. Kat Michael has always had worship as a part of her life. Being the granddaughter of a worship minister and growing up singing hymns with her sisters and cousins, music is a part of her DNA. She has been leading the worship ministry at the Franklin Vineyard Church for ten years and loves creating space and writing songs for people to encounter the presence of God. She believes that when we worship in spirit and truth, heaven invades earth and people's lives are forever changed. Kat co-hosts a podcast with Grant Pemberton releasing Fall of 2024 called Everyday Exorcist. Kat is married to the love of her life Josh and together they homeschool their four children: Felix, Jubilee, Clara and Wilder. Show Notes: Franklin Vineyard

In this episode of The Ferment, we complete our mini-series on the Vineyard USA National Conference session: A Story Of The Vineyard in Song. This week, Adam and Nicole Dill talk with Anabeth Morgan. Anabeth expands on the story she shared during the session via video about being invited to a Vineyard church, feeling like she found a sense of home, and what that experience meant to her. She also talks about what she does now as a worship pastor to prepare for those who come to church needing an encounter similar to what she experienced all those years ago. Anabeth Morgan is a worship leader, songwriter, and one of the staff pastors at the Mile High Vineyard neighborhood churches since 2011. She has been an integral part of Vineyard Worship as a leader, artist and writer, serving at Vineyard churches in Houston, Columbus, and Kansas City. Anabeth is deeply passionate about God's presence and loves to lean into the Spirit of God in worship and prayer. Her ability to listen to the Holy Spirit, whether leading worship or groups of people, has given God the opportunity to do wonderful things in people's lives. She loves sharing her intimate faith in God with others, enjoys being hospitable, and is always sensitive to the people and environment around her. Anabeth has appeared on many Vineyard albums such as Cultivation Generation, Servant Wide Awake, My Foundation, Breathe In, Sing Out and more. In December 2017 she finished writing and recording her first studio album A Place Your Glory Dwells. Recently, she has had songs "You Meet Me Here", "Heaven's Work" and "King of Heaven", released through Vineyard Worship, and has published other worship songs in collaboration with other songwriters. She was married to Kyle in 2003 and they have two amazing children, Jovie and Miles. Show Notes: Watch "A Story of the Vineyard in Song"

In this episode of The Ferment, we continue our mini-series on the Vineyard USA National Conference session: A Story Of The Vineyard in Song. This week, Adam and Nicole Dill talk with Cindy Rethmeier about the early days of the Vineyard, how new songs were introduced, and some of the stories behind the original Vineyard songs. Cindy shares about how relationships influence songwriting, and navigating the balance of family life with leading worship. Cindy Rethmeier is one of the pioneering female worship leaders and songwriters of the modern worship era. She wrote some of Vineyard's most well-known anthems (Exalt the Lord, I Bow Down) and served an integral role in children's worship, penning the songs I Want to be Like Jesus and Good News. Cindy spent 7 years in an Anglican Church writing musical settings for prayers and seasonal antiphons for the liturgy, and her most-recent song — co-written with Vineyard pastor and worship leader Ted Kim — is Kyrie Eléison, a lament based on a prayer of petition used in ancient Christian liturgies translating as "Lord, have mercy." After many years in Southern California, Cindy currently lives in Tennessee with her husband of over 40 years, Steve. She has 2 children & 11 grandchildren who are the inspiration for her name songs & lighthearted, everyday-life songs. Show Notes: Hear more from Cindy on The Ferment I Want To Be Like Jesus

Welcome back to The Ferment Podcast! On today's episode, we are kicking off a mini-series about a very special session of this summer's National Conference called "A Story of the Vineyard in Song." In this episode, you will hear from the planning team (Adam Russell, Casey Corum, Melisa Keller, Caleb Maskell, and Nicole Dill) about why they decided to create this session and some behind-the-scenes stories about the planning process. Different members of the team also share why songs are such a cornerstone of the Vineyard Movement, how songs serve as a marker for us of time and place, and some of the songs that have been especially formational in each of their lives. Show notes Vineyard Worship Essentials Vineyard USA

In this episode of The Ferment, Mike O'Brien interviews several Vineyard Worship Essentials cohort leaders! They talk about the value of continuing education for worship leaders, why it's worth adding another thing into an already busy season, and the role coaches play in the cohort dynamic. Registration is open for the 2024 summer cohort which begins June 2, so sign up now! Show notes: Vineyard Worship Essentials

In this episode of The Ferment, Adam and Mike O'Brien continue our series on inhabiting the Christian year by tackling Pentecost! Adam and Mike discuss how Pentecost is the most explicitly Biblical date of the church calendar, but maybe the one we observe least, and they talk about how Pentecost is a story of celebration and fire, but also the reversal of fragmentation in our families and society. Show notes: Ancient-Future Time by Robert E. Webber Vineyard USA's Pentecost series: "Empowered"

In this episode of The Ferment, Adam talks with Kurt Attaway about growing up in the Vineyard, meeting his wife at 4years old, and how his involvement with Fellowship of Christian Athletes evolved into a pastoral role at a local church. Kurt also shares about his career as a Marriage and Family Therapist, the role of humility and emotional health in healthy leadership, and the role of a leader in a healthy team. Kurt Attaway serves as the lead pastor of The Vineyard Church in Pearland, Tx. He earned a BA in Psychology from The University of Texas San Antonio, which he attended on a full athletic scholarship. Kurt's love for basketball opened doors to have a great career as a D-1 point guard. Playing in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (aka March Madness) will always be a lifelong highlight, even if they lost to Stanford in the first round. Playing hoops at UTSA paved the way for Kurt to participate in and lead Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and God used those years to redirect his heart toward vocational ministry. In 2007 Kurt and his wife Lauren moved from San Antonio to join the staff at The Vineyard Church Pearland. In 2012, he completed a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Houston Clear Lake, and spent 10 years being trained and practicing as a clinician. In February 2020, he stepped into the Lead Pastor role after serving on staff as the Associate Pastor for almost 12 years. Kurt has been married to his wife Lauren since 2006, and they have four children. They love the city of Pearland and the growing community at The Vineyard. Beyond the local church, Kurt has served in some national roles with Vineyard USA: currently on the Multiply Vineyard Team.

In this episode of The Ferment, Adam and Mike O'Brien continue in our church calendar series with a discussion about Holy Week. They talk about what Holy Week means, ways to celebrate each day within Holy Week, and some of the different kinds of services that are traditional held for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Show Notes: This is Love by Terry Butler Songs for Easter and Lent playlist by Vineyard Worship

In this episode of The Ferment, Adam continues his conversation with John Mark McMillan. John Mark shares some wisdom with young creators about playing the long game, making a heart connection with the listeners, vulnerability and building a team. They also talk about the role of ritual in surpassing the surface magic to cultivate moments of deep magic. John Mark McMillan is an artist and Platinum-selling songwriter. Show Notes: John Mark McMillan's Website Listen to Deep Magic John Mark on The Ferment 10/25/20 John Mark on The Ferment 9/18/19

Welcome to The Ferment Podcast! In this episode, Adam and Mike O'Brien continue on with the Church Calendar series by talking about Ash Wednesday and Lent! Mike shares about how the season aligns with Vineyard values and provides a moment of pause that helps to reframe the resurrection story, and Adam shares about the beauty to be found in bringing our informal selves formally before God. They discuss leading a good Ash Wednesday service in a Vineyard context, a practical approach to fasting, and natural ways to incorporate Lenten themes into your Sunday services. Show notes: Advent episode of The Ferment https://bit.ly/42zWDVt Andy Squyres: You Bring The Morning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwWvsEHfH3o

As we engage the season of Advent, we invite you to join us for a special four-week series that will be featured on both the We Are Vineyard and the Ferment Podcasts. This special feature will showcase weekly devotionals from Vineyard USA Association Leaders and songs from Vineyard Worship. In this episode, Kirk Yamaguchi, leader of the Vineyard USA Asian American Pacific Islander Association, shares a devotion he has prepared for the third week of Advent on the theme of Joy from Philippians 4:4-5. We'll then hear the song "This Joy" from Vineyard Worship! Show Notes: This Joy: https://slinky.to/ThisJoyVW Vineyard Worship: https://www.vineyardworship.com/ Vineyard USA Associations: https://vineyardusa.org/associations/