Worship Musician August 2019 | Page 32

who broke the ice? [Whitney] I will say that I didn’t have much co-writing experience prior to working with all of these incredible musicians. I think that everyone who came into each of our writing camps brought such an encouraging spirit into the room and made it clear that this song will not be the song without every word, every melody, every person that’s in the room. I’ll just speak a little praise for Melody; she’s taught a lot of us how to engage when it comes to a co-write, she’s very encouraging in everything that she says but she pushes for the absolute best. As far as the melodies go, how to say something differently, how can we use more colorful language, that sort of thing. And its not just Melody, everyone does that, but I think we’ve really been blessed with the teams that we’ve come into these writings camps with. [WM] Tell us about any partnership that exists between your senior pastor and the worship team. [Melody] Phil and Tammy Hotsenpillar are both one hundred percent visionaries. Pastor Phil has this gift where you can throw him in front of an empty space and in his mind’s eye he will know how to fill that space up with something that will impact the world and praise Jesus, amen. He’s just such a visionary. When Influence Music got started, he gave me a call, “Hey Melody, Tammy and I have been praying and we want you to spearhead Influence Music.” I asked, “What’s Influence Music?”, and he replied, “I don’t know, pray about it.” (laughs) that is Phil. Phil is the guy that pushes you out of the nest and is like, “Fly, I know you can!” And you do, even if you such wisdom, not to mention that Phil is such going through a really difficult season. When feel like you have no idea what you’re doing. an incredible businessman. He understands I got there, and first experienced Influence They just really trust the prophetic that God numbers. So to know that we’re not going to Church and Influence Music I was welcomed has us on and they really trust that God is for fall flat on our faces economically or spiritually and loved and empowered and emboldened to us and things will work out. I really feel like Phil is very comforting. live out the dream in my heart that God had and Tammy have been the energy behind us, put there. That’s something I can attribute to and the voices of encouragement, but also [Matt] From my personal experience, when I Pastor Phil and Pastor Tammy. They will give like a safety net. There is such a security in was first introduced to Influence Church back you the resources to do what God has enabled knowing we have two pastors who have been in January of 2017, I was in a dark place in you to do. It was so empowering for me and so in ministry for over forty years and who have my life. Stuff at home was hard, and I was just healing for my heart in such a difficult season 32 August 2019 Subscribe for Free...