Author: conradical

If you’ve used Upwork or Fiverrr, you know how easy it is to find the right person for the job. Sure, you have to do a lot of vetting, perhaps even experience some bad choices and lost money to find the right person.

It’s part of the gig economy.

1. Go to worshipteam.ai/talent to hire worship musicians in your area
2. Go to worshipteam.ai/gigs to post or find worship gigs in your area

Facebook for worship musicians

All across Facebook, there are thousands of Facebook groups where people are looking for musicians and the process is broken. It starts off with a post “Looking for a keyboardist to play this Sunday” and then you are bombarded with witty remarks, or a host of musicians.

The problem

The problem with this is that there is no easy way to vet the musician. I strongly believe that every worship musician should be vetted. Without vetting it could just someone who’s happy to be paid every Sunday and hop around church to church without any strongly held belief system.

In some cases, this might be okay. But if churches need to vet musicians, then it becomes a nightmare.

A better way for churches to find talent and for talent to find gigs

Enter WorshipTeam.ai – it’s like Upwork of Fiverrr for worship musicians. Every musician that signs up has the option to create a profile page. They share an about, upload some demos, and most importantly, select a home church.

Tools for worship leaders, or job posters

As a worship leader, it is now easy to vet a user. Do they have a home church? What’s their skill level? Also, do they have recommendations? Has this musician played at other churches – what’s their history? And what do the other churches have to say about them?

All of this can be done in a matter of a minute and decisions can be made quickly.

Let’s say you like everything about this user, sending them a contract is as easy as clicking “Send Contract” button. The user accepts it and it’s locked in. Payment is seamless. WorshipTeam AI automatically escrows the agreed upon payment and releases it to the musician after the end time of the worship service.

Tools for talent searching for gigs

If you are a worship musician, then you can search for gigs by zipcode. Churches post one-off to full time gigs. For one-off gigs you can easily one-click apply. You can also research the church, the worship leader and the team.

See the setlist history if the church has one, and get a great understanding before you even apply. Contracts are managed right in the app.

So, if you are a church looking to hire worship musicians, check out worshipteam.ai/talent or signup to post a gig for free. If you are a worship musician, then join worshipteam.ai/signup now and select “Open to Gigs”.

Join the party.

Worship leader, imagine saving hours each week researching songs, scriptures, creating setlists, scheduling teams, and sending out emails? You easily spend 3+ hours a week on the grunt work.

The good news is that you can now chat with your worship leader copilot – Nova. Nova takes the wheel ;). You get to spend more time on the heart of worship. Nova is your research tool as well. Start with researching Bible verses or themes and then finding relevant songs – you do all the heart work, Nova helps you with this.

Nova take the wheel

Nova takes the wheel when you are ready to hand it off. You can simply say “Nova add these songs to my setlist for this coming Sunday” and that’s it. Done. No forms.

You can also say “Nova, what key are these songs in” and then say “Transpose Good Good Father to A” and Nova will transpose the song and also create stems. When your team logs in to practice, they will see your songs and in the transposed key, along with the original for reference. They can then use the Mix tab to isolate tracks.

Your entire setlist can be done in minutes – without ever filling in a form. If you prefer filling in forms, then you can do that as well. But Nova was built to be that AI copilot for busy worship leaders.

Not a lot of worship leaders are full time. They have their main jobs and life’s responsibilities. Even if you are a full time worship leader, you should be able to spend more thinking, ideating, & praying about Sunday than filling in forms.

So, ready to hand Nova the wheel, or joystick? Nova comes with all subscription tiers at worshipteam.ai. However, AI stems are part of the Premium subscription. Try Nova Copilot out for $5 a month and build your first setlist.

Learn more about WorshipTeam AI pricing here.

There was a time when I was sitting in the backyard, ready to chow down on some barbecue, and a friend mentioned that he used ChatGPT quite a bit.

I was surprised – given that he is a firefighter. He used it for the office work. Draft letters, communication, and what not. This was in the early days. I was wrapped up in the AI space. I would speak with engineers about machine learning, SDKs, APIs, and all that stuff. But having a firefighter mention ChatGPT was when I first realised that the world is quickly catching on to AI.

Behaviours have changed a lot. Pre ChatGPT or Perplexity, people punched in phrases into Google. Now they don’t search, they research. The questions are more conversational – like they would ask a friend.

Enter conversational AI. As the majority of the world uses apps like Google Gemini, Perplexity, and ChatGPT, conversational AI is quickly becoming the interface. However, speaking – like you would to Siri, is even better.

Companies like OpenAI, PlayAI, ElevenLabs, and more recently Speechify have pioneered this conversational speech to speech. This is where you can have a conversation with an AI agent over speech.

It does not end with just a conversation though. These agents can take action for you. If you had to book a flight ticket, instead of filling in a form, just tell the agent. It will ask you follow up questions, you answer it, and your flight is booked.

While the rest of the world enjoys these comforts, worship leaders are relegated to old CRMs that the church signed up for 10 years ago. This is the tech equivalent of an unreached tribe. Out there people are talking to an AI agent and getting things done quicker and easier, while in the same universe, worship leaders fill in forms to perform simple tasks.

Given my history with AI – remember the companies I mentioned above, like PlayAI and Speechify, I helped them scale rapidly within a matter of months. However, I saw the need in worship, and given that I’ve been in a worship team for about 20 years now, it’s time I bridged that gap.

Enter Nova from WorshipteamAI – the conversational AI agent for worship leaders. No more forms. Sure, if you like forms, use them. But, imagine just telling Nova what you want in your setlist, who should play what, and when. And that’s it. Nova creates the setlist for you?

Of course you can ask Nova for research, historical data on your set lists, who’s been playing too much and might need a break, anything. Nova is like your intern who knows everything about your services and can act with little information.

So. Stop wasting hours each week and lean into conversational AI for worship leaders and worship setlist planning with Nova, the intelligent conversational AI agent for worship leaders.

Worship leaders. If your workflow involves “clicking on the pencil icon” to edit or using forms to get ready for Sunday, you are wasting time. WorshipTeamAI is the only AI agent built for worship leaders.

Using forms for a creative process is like using the computers in the DMV or library to design your cover art for your music. Not only can forms be frustrating, it eats up a lot of time – and you are limited to what the form can do.

For example, if you are in a page to edit a song. You are editing all the fields in that form. But, if you wanted to do something else, you have to leave that form, and then edit another form. WorshipTeam management has become a series of forms.

WorshipTeam.AI has the forms – should you want that. However, with Nova, we’ve worked hard to give you a digital intern where you do not have to be trapped in a specific task. Nova is the best worship leader AI agent.

Ask Nova to do anything. Ask Nova to give you a report, do research, help you find songs, edit songs, add tags to songs, add songs to a setlist, build teams, send emails, what not. All from one interface. Without forms.

Not only do you save hours each week, you save on frustration. Creating setlists isn’t from situation of dread and 1980s-esque experience.

I’m offering special deals ad-hoc. So if you want to see how you can do everything you need to manage your team, manage your library, build setlists, and offer premium practice experiences for your teams, you can get started here.

Also – if you’d like a special offer, just let me know.

There are probably a few ancient people named Asaph and also a few tools called Asaph. The most prominent Asaph however, is of ancient Israel. He was a worship leader appointed by David.

So imagine the most eminent & prolific christian songwriter and singer of today appointing another musician to a leadership position – this person would come with a high recommendation.

In the larger narrative of the Bible, Asaph is a pivotal figure who bridged the gap between structure and spirit. He was not just a musician; he was a theologian-artist who helped King David institutionalise worship in Israel.

Meet Asaph: The ancient Rich Mullins?

If David was the songwriter of Israel, Asaph was its first true Worship Pastor. He is a pivotal figure in scripture who bridged the gap between structure and spirit, helping King David institutionalise what it meant to worship God in community.

1. Who was Asaph?

Asaph was a Levite from the clan of Gershon. While the descendants of Aaron handled the priestly duties, the rest of the Levites were the “support staff” of the temple. But David saw something specific in Asaph.

David elevated him to be one of the three primary leaders of the Levitical music guild (alongside Heman and Ethan/Jeduthun). Eventually, Asaph became the “Chief Musician,” famously stationed at the cymbals, leading the choir directly before the Ark of the Covenant.

2. The appointment: Why David chose Asaph

King David appointed Asaph during a massive cultural shift: the moving of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. David realized that worship shouldn’t be an occasional event, but a perpetual occupation. To lead this new 24/7 worship culture, he needed a leader with a specific “trifecta” of qualifications:

• The Lineage: He had the required Levitical pedigree (1 Chronicles 6:39), meeting the legal standards for temple service.
• The Skill: He possessed musical virtuosity as a master singer and percussionist.
• The Anointing: This was his X-factor. Asaph is later referred to not just as a musician, but as a “Seer” (2 Chronicles 29:30). This implies his music wasn’t just artistic; it was revelatory. He wrote songs that functioned as prophecy, proving that worship is as much about hearing from God as it is singing to Him.

3. Leading the charge: Was he good at what he did?

Asaph didn’t just fill a role; he defined it. He effectively became the executive pastor of worship for ancient Israel.

• He Led the “Tabernacle of David”: Unlike the formal Mosaic Tabernacle focused on animal sacrifice, David established a tent in Jerusalem specifically for continuous praise. Asaph was the director of this radical, intimacy-driven form of worship (1 Chronicles 16:4-5).
• He Was Brutally Honest: Asaph wasn’t afraid of the minor key. He wrote 12 Psalms (Psalm 50 and 73–83) that are distinct from David’s. While David often focused on personal deliverance, Asaph’s songs were communal, historical, and philosophical. He famously wrestled with “why the wicked prosper” in Psalm 73, showing us that doubt and hard questions have a valid place in our setlists.

4. The larger arc: A legacy that outlasted him

Asaph’s significance goes far beyond his own lifetime. He understood that true success isn’t just about the performance; it’s about succession.

• The “Sons of Asaph”: Asaph founded a guild of musicians known as the Sons of Asaph. He poured into the next generation, creating a team that continued to lead worship in the Temple for centuries.
• Survival Through Exile: When the Jews returned from Babylonian exile hundreds of years later, the “singers, sons of Asaph” were still a distinct group (Ezra 2:41). His family line preserved the musical traditions of Israel through its darkest destruction.
• The Theology of Worship: Asaph taught Israel that worship involves the mind as well as the heart. His psalms often recount Israel’s history (Psalm 78), warning the people not to repeat the sins of the past. He used music as a tool for national education and memory.

What does the Bible say about Asaph

Asaph’s appointment by David:

“David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals…22 Asaph was to sound the cymbals.”23

— 1 Chronicles 15:16, 1924

Asaph’s role as Prophet:

“King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer.”25

— 2 Chronicles 29:30

Asaph’s struggles

“But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.26 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”27

— Psalm 73:2-328

You can read more about Asaph here.

1. Psalm 73: His masterpiece on doubt and the justice of God.²⁹
2. Psalm 50: A prophetic song where God speaks directly to the people about the futility of empty rituals.
3. Psalm 78: A massive history lesson set to music, teaching the next generation to trust God.

Asaph in another context: AI App for Worship Leaders

However though, since I am in the AI and worship space, and you found this blog, I assume you are too, Asaph in this case is an excellent tool for worship leaders – and we’ll dive into what Asaph.io is all about.

What is Asaph.io?

From a high level, Asaph.io is a tool to help worship leaders build set lists, get intel on the songs they are playing and to produce more meaningful – or at least, figure out the meaning or theme of the set list. It’s packed with data and graphs and charts.

Asaph has a few tools and they all play together. They are:

1. AI Worship Setlist Generator
2. Gap Analysis
3. Worship Song Feedback
4. Planning Center Extension

AI Worship Setlist Generator

What this tool does, is in the name. And I love such clarity. Worship leaders save hours by just plugging in a few data points like how many songs, the theme, or Bible verses, and then Asaph runs off and finds the perfect list of songs.

Each song comes with it’s own chart so you can tell the “vibe” and theme of the song. Then you can see the theme of the entire setlist. Is it sad, is it touching on Christmas? All great instant feedback for worship leaders. Perhaps helping them reconsider certain songs or being more intentional with their selction.

Data driven worship set lists. Love it.

Worship Song Analysis

We sort of touched on this in the previous paragraph but Asaph gives you data ASAP. Every song comes with various metrics like whether it is uplifting, building, or reflective. The energy level of the song. If you love this type of data to help validate your choices, it’s perfect.

Sidebar: When I was leading growth at a few AI companies, I’d say “If all we have is data, let’s go with data. If all we have is opinions, let’s go with mine.”

Worship Song Feedback

This is sort of an extension of the analysis. Deep dive into colourful charts and graphs. If you’d rather not read about how low-energy and depressing your Christmas setlist is, then graphs will quickly tell you that your fastest song is at 102 clicks. Perhaps rethink a song or two to trumpet the birth of Christ?

Asaph.io for Planning Center

No thanks. I already have Planing Center. Well actually, Asaph does not take away from Planning Center. Asaph is your helper for Planing Center. Think of Planning Center as your Android and Asaph is an app. It alleviates some of the pains worship leaders face while bringing new features into the flow of planning a setlist.

Who is Asaph for?

Asaph is for the entire worship team. Obviously, leaders and administrators are the ones providing the content like set lists and all of that, but teams can also use Asaph to rate songs and share feedback. It takes your boring Planning Center and adds some energy and instills some team communication throughout the week.

No matter the size of your church, Asaph works for you.

What about WorshipTeam.AI and Asaph?

WorshipTeam.ai is completely different from Asaph. We are like Planning Center (but an iPhone 😉 ). WorshipTeamAI is not an AI setlist generator, it’s something better. It’s a worship leader’s AI agent.

WorshipTeamAI and Asaph differ in many ways, but unify in the vision of helping worship leaders and shepherding AI in ethical and moral means into worship.

1. Generator vs Agent
   • Asaph is a worship setlist generator. It’s rigid and very limited. You fill in forms, you get data.
   • WorshipTeamAI has Nova – the AI agent who is conversational. No forms. Talk to nova and build set lists or edit, or research, or communicate, or whatever. Learn more about generator vs AI agent.
2. Add-on vs Full Product
   • Asaph requires planning center as it is, an app that requires a host.
   • WorshipTeamAI is all encompassing, though, you can connect Planning Center to your account and import all your songs automatically.
3. Community
   • Asaph does not have a broader community aspect for worship teams
   • WorshipTeamAI has a community aspect where worship teams from around the world can share thoughts, ideas, connect, and learn from each other. Think LinkedIn + Twitter for the worship community
4. Gigs
   • Asaph is not into the gig and volunteering space
   • WorshipTeamAI is like Upwork or Fiverr for worship musicians. Find and hire musicians in your zip code to fill in on your worship team. Because it’s like LinkedIn as well, you can vet a musician before connecting with them.
5. Find Talent
   • Asaph, Planning Center, WorshipTeam.com etc are siloed and closed off. Churches have no access to the teams of other churches.
   • WorshipTeamAI opens up the local musicians to churches. Search by skill and capabilities by Zipcode. Find talent.
6. Find Churches
   • Asaph is not a directory of churches
   • WorshipTeamAI is also a directory of churches just for worship teams. Find the near church, see who is on their team, connect, and perhaps get to know the church down the street. Find churches, check if they have open gigs, see their set lists. We hope to make our world more transparent and smaller.

In summary, there is no bad choice. There is only a choice that solves the problem you are facing. If you’d like to chat conversationally (soon with voice even) and go from 0 songs to a set lists scheduled and communication sent in minutes just by talking, then there is no other app other than WorshipTeam.ai

AI Assistants is the lay people’s term. Most use the term Agents. Nonetheless, whether you say Agents or Assistants, it really means an LLM trained on a specific task. It can and must be able to execute as well otherwise it’s just a listener. It must take action and automate a lot of the work you do.

So, with that, I’ll stick with AI Agents rather than Assistants. So, are there even AI Agents for worship leaders?

As of now, there is just one true AI agent for worship leaders. If you have to fill in a form, it’s not an agent.

So, what is an AI Agent?

AI agent is an autonomous software system that uses artificial intelligence to perceive its environment, make independent decisions, and execute complex, multi-step tasks to achieve a specific goal with minimal human intervention.
Unlike basic chatbots or traditional software that follow rigid, predefined rules. AI agents can think, learn, and operate on their own. They can be coached on a topic by uploading docs and you can give them the freedom of operating strictly within it’s uploaded knowledge base, or to browse the internet and find answers.

So – with that in mind. Is there a conversational AI agent for worship leaders where a leader can speak with an agent and then have it go and do stuff? Yes. Just the one.

Are there other apps with more AI infused intelligence, yes, there are quite of few of those, but those generally require you to fill in forms, do all the grunt work and then AI will manipulate and give you data.

Nova the Worship Planning AI Agent from Worship Team

Nova is the only worship planning AI agent right now. Everything about your team, their schedule and frequency settings, the instruments they play, your church, your entire set list history, is in Nova’s knowledge base accessible only to you and it can do almost anything you want.

Nova is a conversational AI agent that can save worship leaders hours each week. It took me about 2 – 3 minutes to research what songs were played recently, if a song was ever sung in the past, checked availability of all my team members, created the set list and sent invites out to the entire team.

Try Nova Here. Request a demo.

This is more of a feature of WorshipTeamAI, but Nova takes full advantage of – because WorshipTeamAI is also a community of worship musicians, some of whom are open to volunteering and helping the local church, Nova can search for vetted musicians in your zip code to help you fill in missing slots.

For example, if someone were searching for an electric guitarist in the 30102 zipcode, they might find me.

I have a home church, I have a demo reel, you get to see capabilities, removing any unnecessary awkwardness, other short form videos for a quick theology check, my rig, and also recommendations. Someone write a recommendation for me – for crying out loud. Hah.

By vetted – I mean, they must have a home church and also peers have written recommendations. At the very least, these are good signals before you message them.

Asaph

Asaph is a splendid worship planning tool. It also integrates with Planning Center. However Asaph’s role is to not be an AI agent. It does a lot of things really well but it’s mostly after the fact. By this I mean, you still do the old school search for songs, and build your set list and fill in forms.

Once you are done with that, AI will give you intel about the songs as far as themes etc. This is more of a sprinkles on the cake.

Nova however is the best chef you will know. It can make you the cake.