Worship Musician April 2018 | Page 27

didn’t come across like something unauthentic a staff worship leader. So there are 17 worship weekend. But, even then, we have our laptops for us. It felt authentic and a reflection of how leaders on staff, but that does not mean that open at 11:30am on the bus watching church our church has grown in diversity. Honestly, that everyone that’s on staff as a worship leader is back home… just because that is a value for us was one of the biggest things for us is to make a part of Elevation Worship. We’ve had to draw that we feel. We feel like God is going to always sure it did not feel disingenuous. We’ve grown some distinction defining the worship ministry honor what we do if we are pouring back into and we’ve adapted over the last few years. of Elevation Church vs. the brand of Elevation our local church. We never want to get to a So, my conversation with Israel when we were Worship that is focused a bit more on recording place where we feel like touring is our main talking initially about what it could look like was, the albums and touring. goal. Our main thing will always be reaching “I want it to be something that’s not like so far people at our church. into the vain of gospel music, but we want hints Regardless of what role someone is playing of it of course if we’re going to have you at the in the church, we are all so tied in to what is [WM] Tell me about being part of the helm producing it and these other artists that happening at church… everyone is serving at Outcry Tour. we’ve become friends with over the last several church unless we are literally out on a tour on a years. But to still have it feel like Elevation meets gospel - somewhere in the middle.” I’m so thrilled with the outcome of it. It’s really been amazing. All of the artists are unbelievable. It’s been really fun to work on. [WM] Elevation Worship has evolved from being a church worship team to being recording SHUBB The best performers will settle for no less. artists and now to touring artists. What is the balance like with your touring schedule and your ministry and family responsibilities? “I use Shubb capos every time I perform; they always work and sound great. I love doing a quick capo release on some of my arrangements and they’re so fast I never miss a lick! Shubb capos are definitely part of my show!” — Doyle Dykes [Chris] Well, ask me this time next year! (laughs) Personally, we’re just kind of figuring it out. As far as family goes, we just talk about it all the time, my wife and I do. We have two kids ages seven and five. As much as we can as a family, we do things together. My boy will get up early on Sunday mornings and will go to church with me. He’ll sit up on the stage while we’re rehearsing early on Sundays. If there’s ever an opportunity for them to travel with me, we do that. But, it’s always been a part of our vision to write songs for our church. It was never part of any vision for us to become a worship ministry that began touring. All it was that we wanted to serve our church and we want to serve them through songs that are coming from this church. God has given us influence and it’s turned into recording albums and seeing some success with the albums and now touring. It’s something we’ve had to constantly evaluate [email protected] • www.shubb.com 707-843-4068 as a worship ministry. You know, we have 17 other church campuses and each campus has April 2018 WorshipMusician.com 27