Worship Online Podcast

Michael Bethany was leading worship, building wells in Sri Lanka, writing songs, and serving the church—but something was missing.
Then in 2017, he watched a Francis Chan YouTube video about Isaiah 6. And everything changed.
That night, he felt guilty praying from his bed. He got on his knees, humbled himself, and started waking up 1.5 hours earlier for a daily prayer closet—even though he "didn't know how to pray that long."
What happened next reshaped his entire ministry.
In this powerful conversation, Michael shares:
✅ Why intimacy with God is the ENGINE for mission (not the other way around)
✅ The teenager moment when he spontaneously sang "Holy" and everything shifted
✅ How getting tricked into a Sri Lanka missions trip changed his relationship with music
✅ Why "you don't have enough energy to change the world without intimacy with the Lord"
✅ The #1 reason worship leaders get fired (hint: it's not musical ability)
If you're running on fumes, trying to lead well while feeling distant from God—this episode will recalibrate everything.
Listen now and rediscover the secret place.
Mentioned in the Episode
Overflow Conference
Life in the Wild
 
Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set.
Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!
If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.
Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!
The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.

David Leonard co-wrote one of the most-sung worship songs in the world—"Great Are You Lord."
But last year, he almost walked away from music entirely.
After doing an entire tour where the promoter never paid (yes, a completely free tour he didn't know about until the end), David had to ask himself a brutal question:
"Would you do this again for nothing?"
His answer will challenge the way you think about worship leadership, success, and what it really means to serve.
In this raw, honest conversation, David also shares:
Why we've stopped serving the body and started entertaining it instead

The identity crisis that hit after All Sons & Daughters ended

What a pastor said that gave him permission to lead without having it all together

How he's finding joy again with new music (including his upcoming single, "Well Done")

If you've ever felt undervalued, burnt out, or wondered "Do I still matter if my big thing goes away?"—this episode is for you.
Listen now and rediscover why you started leading in the first place.
 
Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set.
Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!
If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.
Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!
The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.

Ever feel frustrated with your worship team—even when nothing's technically wrong?
In this solo episode, 22 year Worship Pastor and new host Keith Elgin shares a hard lesson that changed everything:
Unspoken expectations lead to premeditated resentment.
Keith tells the story of a 7:00 AM call time that completely backfired—and the humbling conversation that reshaped how he leads. 
You'll learn why, "They should have known," doesn't cut it, how clarity actually protects relationships, and why your personal health leaks into team culture (for better or worse).
You'll also get practical tools—like solitude and journaling—to help you lead from a grounded place instead of leading from stress.
 
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to spot hidden expectations before they turn into resentment

A simple clarity practice you can use this week with your team

Why humility + healthy identity make teams stronger over time

 
Plus: a special announcement at the end.
If you've ever found yourself frustrated, this episode will show you why—and what to do next.
Listen now—and take one practical step this week.
 
About Your Host
Keith Elgin is the new host of the Worship Online Podcast. He's been leading worship for over 22 years and currently serves as Worship Pastor at Alive Church, a multi-site, multi-state church based in Virginia. Keith is also a songwriter, worship coach, husband and father of four boys. He didn't set out to be a worship leader, originally wanting to coach sports—but God had other plans. Keith is passionate about helping worship leaders grow both musically and spiritually, and he's learned most of his best lessons the hard way.
 
Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set.
Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!
Mentioned in the Episode
Reflections on Solitude by Henri Nouwen

If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.
Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!
The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.

You sound great on Sunday, but is your team actually healthy?
You've probably felt it before. Sunday afternoon hits and instead of feeling energized, you're frustrated. Something didn't go the way you planned. Someone didn't show up prepared. A transition fell apart.
And now you can't stop replaying it. Sunday bleeds into Monday. Monday into Tuesday. One rough service and your whole week feels off.
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.
After 20+ years of leading worship, our new podcast host Keith Elgin hit that same wall. And what he discovered on the other side completely transformed how he leads, how he builds teams, and how he thinks about worship ministry.
In this episode, Keith shares what finally broke the cycle for him, the framework he now uses to build healthy teams, and the hard lessons he learned so you don't have to.
If you've ever:
• Gone home Sunday afternoon replaying every mistake • Wondered why your team sounds tight but feels disconnected • Struggled with burnout, frustration, or questioned whether you're even cut out for this
This conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
Keith isn't sharing theory. He's sharing what he learned in the trenches, leading real teams, making real mistakes, and finding a better way forward.
This is the conversation every worship leader needs to hear.
ABOUT KEITH ELGIN
Keith Elgin is a worship pastor, songwriter, and coach with over 20 years of ministry experience. He's passionate about helping worship leaders build teams that last. Keith and his wife have four boys (all under nine!), and when he's not leading worship, you'll find him coaching Little League, watching football, or hanging out in the church parking lot long after rehearsal ends.
Welcome to the Worship Online Podcast, Keith. We're honored to have you lead this next season.
Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials andresources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparingfor a set.
Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!
Mentioned in the Episode
• Connect with Keith • Keith's website • 2025 Chris Tomlin Episode
If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.
Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!
The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.

What if your team actually showed up excited, prepared, and ready to bring their best every single service? 

Colony House has built one of the most legendary team cultures in the music industry, where crew, band members, and opening acts all feel like they're part of something special. What they've learned directly applies to worship teams, too.  

In this episode, their guitarist, Scott Mills, shares the intentional practices that create high-energy, all-in cultures where people want to show up and give their best. 


You'll discover: 

Why the 6-8 hours around the set are your greatest culture-building opportunity 


The simple pre-show habit that creates instant camaraderie and buy-in (takes less than 10 minutes) 


How to make every team member, from sound tech to lead vocalist, feel like they belong 


What Scott learned from touring with bands who got this right (and a few who didn't) 


If you're ready to build a team culture people are proud to be part of, where everyone's bought in, engaged, and bringing their A-game, this conversation will show you how. 

Worship Online is your new secret weapon for preparing each week. With detailed song tutorials and resources, you and your team will save hours every single week, and remove the stress from preparing for a set. Try a free trial at WorshipOnline.com and see the transformation!  

Mentioned in the Episode 

Colony House's New Release 

Colony House Show Tickets 

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If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at [email protected]. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast. 

Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com! 

The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN.