The Future of Worship Leading: A Conversation with David Santistevan

Rediscovering the Heart of Worship in a Culture of Excellence

It’s easy to get caught up in the systems, the tracks, and the pursuit of musical perfection in modern worship ministry. But are we losing something in the process? That’s the kind of conversation I had with David Santistevan, a longtime worship pastor, podcast host, and coach who has spent years helping worship leaders and churches navigate the ever-changing landscape of worship ministry.

David has led worship for decades, planted deep roots in the local church, and even spent five years traveling the country in an RV with his family, connecting with churches of all sizes. He brings a wealth of wisdom to the conversation, and in our discussion, we tackled some of the biggest tensions in worship ministry today—from the over-programming of modern worship to the need for uniqueness, spontaneity, and authenticity in our churches.

Why Are So Many Churches Doing the Same Thing?

David pointed out something that a lot of us have probably felt: worship in many churches today looks and sounds the same.

• We all use the same songs.
• We all structure our sets the same way.
• We rely on the same tools, tracks, and transitions.

While these resources and systems are helpful, they’ve also made it easy to coast through worship leading on autopilot. The result? We risk losing the unique sound of our local churches.

“Bethel’s great, but what is God doing at your church?” David asked. How do we tap into what makes our church’s worship unique? That’s the challenge. Your congregation isn’t just another megachurch copy-paste template. God is moving in your community, and worship should reflect that.

Breaking Out of the Over-Programmed Worship Service

We also talked about the dangers of “playlist worship.” So many worship services today feel like hitting play on a pre-programmed worship set. Everything is dialed in—click tracks, transitions, song structures—but we leave no room for the Spirit to move.

So how do we bring back spontaneity while still leading with excellence and intentionality?

David suggested:

• Planning fewer songs but allowing space for reflection and response.
• Embracing quieter moments—worship isn’t just about high-energy production.
• Encouraging corporate singing—it’s not about what’s happening on stage; it’s about the congregation engaging in worship.
• Giving leadership teams space to explore new approaches that better serve their church’s specific culture.

There’s a balance to be found. Worship should be excellent but not robotic, powerful but not overproduced. It’s not about “loosening up” just for the sake of it—it’s about making room for God to lead.

Longevity in Worship Ministry: Should You Stay or Go?

We also dove into worship ministry career paths—a conversation that a lot of worship leaders wrestle with. Do you start small, climb the ladder, and aim for the megachurch job? Should you stay at one church for the long haul, or is it okay to move on?

David brought incredible wisdom here:

• Longevity is valuable, but not always the best option if the church culture is unhealthy.
• Bigger isn’t always better. Many worship pastors are leaving high-pressure megachurch roles and finding renewed joy in smaller, more intimate churches.
• Don’t jump ship too soon. Many leaders leave when things get hard, but growth happens when you push through challenges.

Instead of chasing the next big opportunity, the question to ask is:
“Is God still calling me to serve here?”

That answer isn’t always easy, but it’s worth wrestling with.

The Power of Simple, Timeless Worship

We wrapped up the conversation with something David has been thinking about a lot: Are we writing and singing too many new songs too quickly?

David proposed an intriguing idea—what if churches took a break from writing and introducing new songs for six months?

• Would we sing songs more deeply instead of moving on too fast?
• Would we rediscover forgotten hymns and simple refrains that still resonate today?
• Would we focus less on trends and more on what our people truly need to sing?

It’s a bold idea, but it hits at something important. We don’t need the newest song to experience powerful worship. Sometimes, the most impactful moments happen when we simply let the church sing—no flashy arrangements, no new releases, just the people of God lifting their voices together.

Final Thoughts

This conversation with David was a refreshing reminder that worship ministry isn’t just about the latest tools, biggest stages, or best production quality. It’s about serving people, making disciples, and creating space for authentic encounters with God.

If you’re a worship leader, pastor, or part of a worship team, this episode is a must-listen. We covered so much ground, and I truly think it’s one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the podcast.

Make sure to check out David’s work over at Beyond Sunday Worship, and follow him on Instagram and YouTube for more worship-leading insights.

And if this conversation resonated with you, drop a comment below or share it with your team. Let’s keep the discussion going!