How did contemporary praise and worship develop—and who is shaping what the church sings today?

In this episode, Loren talks with Kelsey McGinnis to explore the evolution of modern worship, the lingering effects of the “worship wars,” and the growing influence of the worship industry on local congregations.

They discuss how large-scale production and publishing networks shape song selection and theology, the unseen pressures facing worship leaders, and what healthy support actually looks like in a local church. The conversation also revisits the hymns versus modern worship debate, the renewed interest in liturgy, and whether lament, silence, and stillness have space in contemporary services.

This episode offers a thoughtful, grounded look at how what we sing forms what we believe—and how churches might lead worship more intentionally in the years ahead.

Together they explore:

• The rise of contemporary praise and worship

• How the worship industry shapes theology and song selection

• The pressures facing today’s worship leaders

• Hymns, liturgy, and the place of lament

• Whether secular songs belong in church

Kelsey McGinnis is the worship correspondent for Christianity Today. She holds a PhD in musicology and teaches music and theology at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, and writes broadly on Christian music and the intersection of American Christianity and popular culture. Kelsey is a coauthor of the book The Myth of Good Christian Parenting and the author of a forthcoming book about Christian diet and wellness culture. She lives in central Iowa with her husband and three children.

Mentioned Resources:

🌐 Kelsey's Website: https://www.kkramermcginnis.com/

📖 Kelsey's Book: The Myth of Good Christian Parenting

🟧 Kelsey's Substack: https://kkramermcginnis.substack.com/

📱 Instagram: @kelseykmcginnis

🎧 Episodes Referenced: Michelle Van Loon

🎧 Episodes Referenced: Michael Huerter

🎧 Episodes Referenced: Robert Schuller

Connect with Future Christian:

📱 Future Christian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurechristianpod/

📱 Martha's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martha_tatarnic/

📱 Loren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richmondljr/

🟧 Future Christian Substack: https://futurechristian.substack.com/

Supporting Sponsors:

Free Range Priest Helping clergy and congregations reimagine ministry in the digital age.

Martha's New Book! Anne Boleyn: Reputation, Revolution, Religion, and the Queen Who Changed History Available for Pre-order now!

Future Christian Team:

Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer

Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host

Dennis Sanders – Producer

SEO / Keywords

contemporary worship, praise and worship history, worship wars, worship industry, church music theology, hymns vs modern worship, liturgy renewal, lament in worship, worship leader burnout, secular songs in church, worship culture, evangelical worship music, mainline worship styles, Future Christian Podcast, Loren Richmond Jr.

What does Gen Z really believe about God? And what are they actually asking?

In this episode, Loren talks with Tanita Tualla Maddox, National Director for Generational Impact at Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God. Tanita offers a compelling case for cultural apologetics—understanding the lens through which Gen Z asks timeless questions like “Is God good?” She also challenges churches to move from abstract teaching to concrete spiritual practices that help young people live out their faith in real relationships.

Together they explore:

• Why headlines about Gen Z “revival” can be misleading

• The reality of low trust culture—and how to earn it

• How Gen Z defines acceptance, belonging, and safety

• Why evangelism must go beyond “just invite your friends to church”

• Practical ways churches can disciple students in a post-Christian world

• The importance of teaching young people to articulate their own testimony

• Why isolating teenagers from the broader church might be a mistake

Tanita Tualla Maddox (DMin, Phoenix Seminary) is the national director for generational impact for Young Life and serves as an associate regional director in the Mountain West Young Life region. With an expertise in contextualizing the gospel for Gen Z, Tanita has been featured on The Holy Post podcast and has been published in The Great Commission Research Journal, the Journal of Youth and Theology, and more. She has served as Young Life leader with adolescents for over twenty-six years and serves as a volunteer Young Life leader in her local community. She lives in Spokane, Washington, with her husband and two children.

Mentioned Resources:

🌐 Her Website: https://tanitamaddox.com/

📖 Her Book: https://www.ivpress.com/what-gen-z-really-wants-to-know-about-god

📱 Instagram & FB: @drtanitamaddox

🎧 Episodes Referenced: Mike Orr

Connect with Future Christian:

📱 Future Christian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurechristianpod/

📱 Martha's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martha_tatarnic/

📱 Loren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richmondljr/

🟧 Future Christian Substack: https://futurechristian.substack.com/

Supporting Sponsors:

Free Range Priest Helping clergy and congregations reimagine ministry in the digital age.

Martha's New Book! Anne Boleyn: Reputation, Revolution, Religion, and the Queen Who Changed History Available for Pre-order now!

Future Christian Team:

Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer

Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host

Dennis Sanders – Producer

SEO / Keywords

Tanita Tualla Maddox, Gen Z faith, What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God, Young Life, generational ministry, youth ministry strategy, cultural apologetics, post-Christian culture, evangelism training, Gen Z and church, belonging and acceptance, discipling teenagers, low trust culture, Future Christian Podcast, Loren Richmond Jr.