I’ve been leading worship for about 11 years now and haven’t looked back yet. I can still remember the first time I played guitar (poorly) in my churches student band. It seemed like so long ago and I really could not tell you how I got from there to where I’m at today, except that it has been a series of events that God planned for His will for my life. I feel extremely privileged to be able to do what God has called me to and I am constantly in awe that He would choose me. I’m passionate about the local church and I have a desire to see it become what God intended for it. I long to see The Church be a place where artists can not only belong, but thrive and be inspired by the original creator to create. I feel a really strong calling on my life to be a resource for The Church through creativity and worship music. My hope is not to jump on a tour bus and travel to every church and lead them in song (no doubt it would be an adventure), but rather stay rooted in the local church and use the gifts God has given me to create original worship songs that any church can use. I’m currently on staff at NorthRidge Church; an amazing place God is using to reach thousands every weekend with a message of hope and truth. The focus of my job at NorthRidge centers on unleashing the creativity within our students and adults while mentoring and discipling them towards a life of full devotion to Christ.
Family
I met my wife Rachel in high school and we were married in 2006. I consider myself one of the luckiest guys alive and I’m so thankful that God would pair us up for this life together. Last February our world changed as we welcomed our beautiful daughter Emery into this world. We count our blessings daily and thank God for providing for our family the way he does. My wife and I view the ministry I am a part of as a family thing and we’re committed to it and in it for as long as God will let us.
The Music
In February of 2009 I teamed up with good friend and producer Nolan Rossi to create the Outloud EP. After traveling and leading worship on mission trips, at camps and conferences I wanted to capture some of the thoughts I had on my heart and put them to song; the result was the creation of the Outloud EP. The title track “Outloud” is a song that has resonated with me and many others in the Detroit area for many years and I wanted to put it on the EP with the hopes of spreading its message further. My hope for the EP is that it would carry a message of urgency for The Church to rise and live to become what God intended it to be; to light up the dark places, bring hope to the hurting, food to the hungry, clothes for the naked, and bring about life-change in a generation that needs it more than ever.
-Josh
