That desire has been shaping much of what we've been doing behind the scenes over the past year.

In 2025, through prayer and conversations with our staff, a simple idea kept coming to mind: What would it look like for each of us to grow by just 1%?

Not striving for perfection. Not comparing ourselves to someone else. Not believing that excellent worship somehow produces the presence of God. Instead, it is an invitation to ask: What has God entrusted to me, and how can I continue to grow in it?

For one person, that 1% might mean growing in confidence. For another, it might mean spending more time practicing their instrument. It could mean learning to listen better to the people around them, becoming more comfortable praying or speaking in front of the congregation, learning when to leave space and when to step forward, or simply arriving on Sunday with a heart that is prepared to worship.

As I prayed about what this could look like for our team, I also began asking what my own responsibility was in helping create opportunities for that growth. One answer became clear: I needed to be pouring more intentionally into our leaders.

That realization eventually became the Worship Leaders Cohort.

In February, we began our first cohort—a small group that meets once a month to talk about worship, practice different aspects of leading, and encourage one another in our growth. There are 4 members in this group: Kurt Kincanon, Katie Martin, Greg Louk, and Caleb Cranford.

Each person in the cohort has identified specific goals they are working toward, both in their craft and in worship leadership, and our monthly meetings give us a place for encouragement and accountability. But some of the most meaningful moments haven't necessarily been about music at all. We've prayed together for our church and our worship ministry, worshiped together, and had deep conversations about what it means to lead people into the presence of God. I've loved seeing those conversations begin to spill over into the larger team.

And I believe we're beginning to see some of the fruit.

Over the past year, I've noticed a growing freedom and engagement in our worship on Sunday mornings. There is a willingness to respond, to participate, and to worship together that has been beautiful to witness. Of course, that's not something we can manufacture through better musicianship or leadership techniques. It is the work of the Spirit. But we can continue becoming people who are attentive, prepared, and willing to follow where God is leading.

At our recent full worship team gathering, I extended that same 1% invitation to everyone on our team. We spent time considering where God might be inviting each of us to grow—not simply asking, "How can I get better?" but, "God, where are you inviting me to grow?"

We ended our evening praying together: for one another, for worship at The Grove, and for God's guidance as each person considers what their own 1% might look like.

As we look toward the new year, we're excited to keep building on this foundation. We're planning workshops to help our team grow in our craft, including an opportunity to partner with Jireh Music, and we're exploring ways to make the Worship Leaders Cohort an annual opportunity so that a new group of team members can participate each year.

My hope isn't that we become a more impressive worship ministry. My hope is that we become a more intentional one—a team continually growing in our craft, our leadership, our relationships with one another, and most importantly, our attentiveness to God.

I am so thankful for each person who serves on our worship team, and especially for those who are stepping into new areas of leadership. We are blessed beyond measure by the gifts and talents God has given the people in this ministry, and it can be easy to take for granted what we experience together each Sunday.

The truth is, nothing that happens on a Sunday morning comes together on Sunday morning alone. Behind every service are hours of planning, preparation, practice, prayer, and rehearsal from people who deeply care about helping create a space where we can worship God together.

So, if you think of it, take a moment to thank a worship team member when you see them. I am incredibly grateful for the ways this team continues to show up, serve faithfully, and grow—and I’m looking forward to seeing how God continues to shape us as we keep saying yes to that next 1%.