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Encouraging worshipers and equipping worship teams to behold Christ and bless His people.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 3:17-18, ESV)

Are you a worship leader, church musician, or involved in any other aspect of worship ministry at your church? You are invited to attend BEHOLD HIM, a Simcoe-Muskoka area WORSHIP CONCERT and WORSHIP CONFERENCE on October 23-24 at Emmanuel Barrie. This event will inspire, encourage, and equip worshipers, worship teams, and worship leaders to behold Christ and serve His people with excellence and love.

FRIDAY, October 23 || 7:00PM - FREE

SATURDAY, October 24 || 8:30AM - 4:00PM

$65 (EARLYBIRD - END SEPTEMBER 30)

$75 - REGULAR ADMISSION

$50 - STUDENT RATE

(includes Saturday Lunch, snacks, & a free book)

Friday, Oct 23 WORSHIP NIGHT || 7:00PM

F R E E TO ATTEND

6:30PM - DOORS OPEN

7:00PM - SESSION START

9:00PM - WRAP UP

Saturday, Oct 24
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

8:30AM - DOORS OPEN

8:30AM - REGISTRATION

9:00AM - PLENARY SESSION 1 - HIS JOY IS OUR STRENGTH

10:25AM - BREAK

10:50AM - WORKSHOPS 1

12:00PM - LUNCH

1:00PM - WORKSHOPS 2

2:00PM - BREAK

2:45PM - PLENARY SESSION 2 - WHAT A DAY OF REJOICING THAT WILL BE

4:00PM - GIVEAWAYS/SENDOFF

WORKSHOP SPEAKERS

DR. MATTHEW WESTERHOLM

PLENARY SPEAKER

  • Encouraging devotional thoughts for worship leaders who need a refresh for them and the people they minister to.

  • Dr. Matthew Westerholm serves as Professor of Church Music and Worship, and the Chair of the Department of Biblical Worship at Southern Seminary. Dr. Westerholm is also the Executive Director of the Institute for Biblical Worship. Prior to coming to Southern, Dr. Westerholm was the Assistant Professor of Music and Worship at Bethlehem College and Seminary and Pastor for Music and Worship at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Westerholm has written both congregational songs and articles on worship for various sites including DesiringGod, Gospel Coalition, and Doxology & Theology. Dr. Westerholm is a member of Sojourn East in Louisville, Kentucky. He is married to Lisa, and they have three children.

JODY CROSS

WORSHOP SPEAKER

  • Where do new musicians and musical worship leaders come from? They come from your church! How can God use you and your church worship ministry to raise up the next generation of worship leaders? This practical workshop will examine the necessity of investing in younger leaders, what is needed to equip them, and how to do it well. 

  • Jody Cross is a pastor, worship leader, and songwriter with a lifelong passion for helping people follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Since coming to faith at 15, he has spent more than 37 years serving in pastoral ministry — leading worship, developing teams, and shepherding churches with authenticity and vision. Jody has been married to his wife, Alexandra, for 37 years. Together they have four adult children and two energetic, fun-loving grandchildren. For the past six years, Jody has served as Lead Pastor at Southshore Bible Church in Barrie, Ontario. He is also a graduate of the Arrow Leadership Program and earned a Doctor of Ministry in Christian Leadership from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, with a focus on “The Worship Leader as Shepherd.”

LEE BRUBACHER

  • Worship leaders are usually skilled primarily in terms of vocal and/or
    instrumental music. Much of our weekly creativity goes into song selection and band leadership. But, there are many other ways to bring artistry and ingenuity into our worship planning. Creativity is not an end to itself. The
    timeless gospel does not need to be reimagined. However, freshness of communicating biblical truth helps people experience the Lord in new ways. Come and explore corporate worship creativity with us.

  • Lee is the Pastor of Worship & Creative Arts at Emmanuel Barrie. His wife, Cheryl is also a musician who is heavily involved at Emmanuel. His three adult kids are all musically gifted and are serving in their local
    churches. When not at Emmanuel, Dr Lee Brubacher (DEdMin from Southern Seminary) can often be found sailing on Georgian Bay.

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

ROB BROCKMAN

  • Much of what we do as worship leaders is not simply picking songs,
    choosing keys, and working with the band, but it’s also leading the
    congregation through our service! How can we offer comments,
    encouragements, and exhortations that edify and build up the body?

  • Rob has served in worship ministry for 20 years, and is passionate about
    raising up worship leaders and teaching worship theology. Rob is married to Sienna, is father to Anastasia and Roman, and loves Christ and His Church.

WORSHOP SPEAKER

TYLER KNEGT

  • What do you do when criticism comes your way — whether it’s helpful, harsh, or somewhere in between? How do you discern which voices to listen to, respond with humility and wisdom, and continue shepherding people well without becoming defensive, discouraged, or bitter? In this workshop, we’ll explore how to navigate criticism in a godly way, lead through tension with grace and conviction, and grow as leaders without losing heart in the process.

  • Tyler Knegt is a Worship and Youth director at Emmanuel Orillia who is passionate about equipping the next generation and strengthening church leaders through practical, Scripture centered teaching. With experience leading both worship and youth ministries, he brings a unique blend of biblical depth, real-life application, and engaging communication that connects with students, volunteers, and leaders alike. He is married to his wife Hilary and has 2 daughters Ella and Nova.

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

CLIFF CLINE

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

  • For over 30 years Cliff has served as a Worship Leader/Pastor both as a volunteer and vocationally. Over the past decade Cliff has been a consultant and coach to many Senior Pastors and Worship Leaders. In this session he will unpack the top 3 things Senior Pastors and Worship Leaders want one another to know about their respective roles, and how to find alignment in these key areas.

  • In this session Cliff will unpack the Biblical building blocks of a modern worship ministry and provide tools to help you evaluate where your ministry is, and how to develop in your areas of need.

  • Cliff is the founder of eyesUP worship, an organization dedicated to encouraging and developing current worship leaders in the church and raising up the next generation of worship leaders for the church in Canada. Cliff is also a church health consultant and a coach to both worship leaders and Sr. Pastors, giving him a unique perspective on the dynamics of the Sr. Pastor/Worship Leader relationship. Cliff has been a worship leader/pastor both vocationally and as a volunteer for over 30 years. He is also a singer/songwriter and can be found on most streaming platforms. Cliff is married to Stef and their family attends West Highland Baptist Church in Hamilton, where he also serves part-time as the interim Director of Worship.

RACHEL MALLORY

  • The piano is an incredible instrument with an expansive dynamic and tonal range, yet can be challenging to find its place in a worship team. Modern keys players must work hard to compliment the team they are scheduled with to add colour, build tension and set the atmosphere. Join us to talk through strategies for moving away from a muddy style of
    playing, to one where a worship team functions like a body (1 Cor 12:12) where each musician uses their skills and instrument to create a unified sound of worship.

  • Rachel serves at Bay Park Baptist Church overseeing worship and communication while helping with a growing staff team. Rachel is a classically trained pianist (BMus, Queen’s University), who loves leading modern worship with a team. She is passionate about building biblically rooted leaders and musicians that are technical, creative and spontaneous. Rachel is married to Calvin, together they love to backcountry hike and bird.

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

MATT KERR

  • In this breakout, we'll walk through some helpful and practical steps to transform your rehearsals from simply "running through the music" into opportunities to foster a healthy worship team culture, increase your team's readiness for Sunday, and elevate your church's worship experiences.

  • Matt Kerr is the Pastor of Worship and Communications at Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville. With nearly 20 years of building and nurturing healthy worship and production teams, Matt is passionate about cultivating vibrant Biblical and Christ-centred worship experiences. As one of the founders and leaders of Worship Under the Stars, a movement dedicated to nurturing unity in the Canadian Church through worship, Matt brings a wealth of expertise and a heart for building healthy team cultures. When he's not leading worship or equipping worship and production teams, Matt enjoys spending quality time with his wife Christina, being a dad to Malachi and Madison, and exploring new places through travel and paddle boarding adventures.

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

PATRICK ANDERSON

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

  • The guitar is a great instrument for leading congregational worship. Sometimes though, we can feel kind of stuck, or in a rut with our playing. With tools based around what you use every time you pick up the guitar, come learn how to become more creative in serving the song and context within your gatherings. Lots of practical tips and ideas you can build on for the future.

  • Patrick currently serves as the worship pastor at Living Hope Church in Georgetown, ON. He is an active musician and educator with a love for serving the Church and training others to do so as well. He served in various roles as a worship leader for over a decade, as well as music professor, and professional musician. He holds a Masters degree in music performance from the University of Southern California and has been involved with Sovereign Grace music over ten years, leading seminars at conferences and contributing to several albums. Patrick and his wife and Emily have been married for over 14 years, and have three boys.

MEGHAN ING

  • Discover the biblical and practical role of choirs in modern worship
    ministry. This workshop will explore how to build worship arrangements that effectively incorporate choirs, along with practical tools for vocal
    blending, harmony, and leading unified corporate praise. Participants will also have the opportunity to join the conference worship team for the finalworship set as we lift one voice together before the Lord.

  • Meaghan has been leading worship for over 15 years at a variety of churches and women’s events in and around Barrie, with a heart for making a joyful noise to the Lord and a passion for helping others grow in
    their gifts. A voice and piano teacher, music director, and accompanist, she has worked with numerous local choirs and community groups. This is her third year serving as part of Behold Him.

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

MARCUS BASKIE

  • Leading worship in a small church can feel both deeply meaningful and 

    uniquely demanding. This breakout aims to encourage and equip leaders to pursue a healthy, Christ-centered worship culture, even with limited resources. Together, we will consider practical ways to develop worship leaders and teams, while also nurturing a congregation that actively participates in and values worship. The goal is to offer both vision and tangible steps forward.

  • The influence of Jazz and Gospel on modern worship music is rich and far-reaching, yet it can feel inaccessible to those unfamiliar with these traditions. This breakout will introduce the historical and musical foundations of Jazz and Gospel in worship, while offering practical tools for incorporating these elements into your context. We will explore core concepts of jazz harmony and gospel style on the piano, along with accessible applications for other band instruments. Participants will leave with greater confidence and concrete ideas for
    enriching their worship leading. 

  • Marcus serves at Emmanuel North Barrie, overseeing the worship and outreach ministries, as well as being involved in regular one-on-one discipleship. Marcus has a bachelor's degree from York University in Jazz Performance, an MA from Trinity Western University in Biblical Leadership, and is writing a ThM dissertation in Theological Ethics at Wycliffe College at UofT. Marcus is married to Lisa and they just recently had their first child, a son named Luca.

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

HEATHER HORLINGS

  • Harmony is a beautiful and powerful tool that adds depth and richness to our corporate worship, but like any instrument, it requires discernment. Whether you are a seasoned lead singer looking to branch out or a choir member transitioning to a worship team setting, finding that “perfect second note” is a skill that blends both musical theory and spiritual sensitivity. This beginner-friendly workshop is designed to help you understand vocal harmony in a worship setting. Participants will learn the basics of harmonizing on a worship team, including how to find harmony parts, blend with other voices, listen effectively, and support a lead vocalist without overpowering the song.

  • Heather is an experienced full time Music Teacher and lifelong musician. She has been a dedicated presence on worship teams since fifth grade. Heather’s musical journey is deeply rooted in a piano and vocal background, having performed with numerous school and community choirs over the years. Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Language and a Bachelor of Education from Redeemer University. She has been happily married to her husband Ryan, for 17 years, and together they have two children. Heather and her family serve faithfully at Emmanuel Barrie.

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

ANDREW ABBOTT

  • Worship Philosophy” is a session designed to help worship leaders and teams build from something deeper than preference and personality—toward a clear, biblical foundation that can sustain a healthy worship culture. Andrew will share his personal worship philosophy and offer a practical framework for shaping a worship set, designed to help teams lead people on a meaningful journey from engagement to encounter while keeping Jesus at the centre of every moment.

  • Andrew Abbott was raised in a family of 12 kids, where church and youth group were a foundational part of his upbringing. At 16 years old, he purchased his first guitar and quickly developed a passion for worship music and songwriting. What began with learning basic chords soon became a way for Andrew to write songs, worship God, and share the hope of Christ with others.

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

KEITH SPARROW

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

  • Worship ministry is deeply spiritual … and deeply practical.

    In this breakout, we’ll talk about the real, everyday work of leading worship and tech teams in today’s church, from building healthy teams and developing clear processes to planning your week, preparing well, leading effective rehearsals, and discipling volunteers over time. This session focuses on the rhythms and systems that sustain ministry for the long haul.

    This isn’t theory, it’s the kind of practical wisdom you only gain after years of leading, learning, failing, adjusting, and growing. We’ll cover the things many of us wish someone had explained early on. How to build trust, create clarity, avoid burnout, and grow a worship department that is spiritually healthy, relationally strong, and operationally effective.

    Whether you’re just starting out or have been leading for years, this session will help you lead with greater confidence, clarity, and longevity, so your ministry doesn’t just function, but flourishes.

    Participants will leave with practical ideas, healthy frameworks, and rhythms they can actually implement the following week.

  • Tech teams don’t just support worship, they help lead it. In this breakout, we’ll reframe technical ministry as spiritual leadership, not just production. From sound and lighting to media and livestream, tech teams shape the space where people encounter God every week. This session is for both tech volunteers and leaders who want to understand the deeper “why” behind what they do. We’ll explore how technical excellence serves worship, how preparation and consistency create freedom, and how unseen roles disciple the room by removing distractions and guiding moments with intention. We’ll also talk about practical leadership and team culture. Healthy expectations, clear communication, spiritual engagement, and sustainable rhythms that help tech teams serve with joy instead of pressure or burnout. Whether you’re behind a console every week or leading a production team, you’ll leave with renewed vision for your role, practical tools you can apply immediately, and a clearer understanding of how your faithfulness helps the church worship freely.Because when tech teams lead well, the church’s attention is drawn to Christ, creating space for heartfelt worship in response to His glory.

  • Keith Sparrow serves as the Worship Pastor at Forward Church and is the Chair of Waterloo Region Worship Network (WRW), a collaborative movement uniting churches across Waterloo Region through worship. His personal mission is to engage people in meaningful worship experiences by drawing their full attention to Christ. With a heart for the local church and a passion for developing healthy, Christ centered worship cultures, Keith loves equipping teams and leaders to serve Christ and His Church with both excellence and humility.

Conference Sponsors

FAQ

  • Absolutely. In fact we encourage you to come and join us! Everyone is welcome.

  • We will be able to offer both gluten-free and dairy-free options throughout the day.

  • The Friday night praise & prayer is meant for anyone who knows and loves the Lord and wants to see his kingdom flourish in Central Ontario. The Saturday conference is meant for those actively involved in local church worship ministry. This would generally include high school and up.

Location

Emmanuel, Barrie
374 Salem Rd, Barrie, L9J 0C6