I've served the Church in worship ministry for over 30 years in volunteer and vocational roles while doing the other things that artists do, like performing, conducting, and coaching. I'm passionate about spiritual formation through corporate worship, artistic excellence, and helping congregations embrace their unique voice in worship. And I’m energized by pouring into others in church worship ministry, equipping and encouraging them as they serve their local congregations.  

In 2018, I stepped away from my collegiate and commercial teaching studios to become a student again, earning a Master’s in 2020 and a Doctor of Worship Studies in 2025, while continuing in my role as Director of Worship Arts for a beautiful worshiping community in Dayton, TN.

I love to lead worship, I love to teach, and I love to learn. I'd be honored if you'd join me in this conversation around our work in worship ministry.

Keep scrolling for more about my approach to worship ministry and to read about some of the resources I’m rolling out in 2025 that will give me an opportunity to support you in your work in worship ministry, or click here for my professional bio.

Vocational or volunteer, liturgical ministry forms us into a unique artist-family. We need each other. We need stimulating conversation, hearty laughter, a helping hand, and genuine encouragement. Come on in & pull up a chair. There's room at my table for you! 

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ . . .

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

- Philippians 2, MSG

Worship is not inert. Our gatherings are a locus of spiritual formation by God's design. I believe God invites planners and leaders to join him in discipling his covenant people through corporate worship, and this reality drives my approach to everything from planning to preparation to defining excellence to congregational participation to leadership development and beyond.

My doctoral research focused on the formation that occurs uniquely through corporate worship, and a curriculum series designed to equip worship ministry personnel has grown from my studies.

I'm commited to artistic integrity, whether I'm working in the professional or the volunteer worlds. Across my career, from professional performance roles to coaching private community and collegiate students, to training church worship leaders, I've taught the pursuit of excellence is itself an act of worship. This philosophical approach is particularly important in church ministry settings, releasing artists to use their gifts for God's glory, regardless of skill level. Excellence in worship arts is evaluated by a different measure, and if we have given our time and effort in thoughtful preparation, the end result is enough. In fact it's more than enough --- it's an abundant, lavish, worshipful act. Our artistic offering is weighed on God's scales, and on those, we find Solomon's wealth and the widow's mite suspended in perfect balance.

I believe liturgical leaders are responsible to cultivate an inter-generational, unified voice in congregational worship. Part of this is curating a deliberate corporate repertoire of ancient and modern origin that is theologically grounded, experientially fresh, and situates us within the local, global, and eternal Church. Another part of this is creating space for the full diversity of local congregations to be reflected in their community’s worship content and leadership, embodying biblical unity: one body, one Church, one voice. This kind of unity is incomplete if parts are absent. Its expression brings corporate maturity, testifies the Gospel, and is a bold act of spiritual warfare as it pushes back against a pervasively individualastic culture.

Recommendations

  • Sally is a gifted and gracious follower of Jesus Christ, and that comes across clearly as she leads worship. Her clear focus is on drawing people to see and exalt the Triune God. She is a very talented musician with a heart for serving and building up the Body of Christ. As she leads worship, she connects vital theological truth with real-life response to the Lord in a personal, humble, heart-felt way.

    Jeff Eenigenberg, Pastor of Worship, Grace Church, Greenville, SC

  • Sally has a true gift for designing worship services that point to the glory of our Creator through song, liturgy, and congregational participation. She leads groups of volunteer musicians with poise, excellent organization and communication, and a spirit of cooperation while inspiring each to worship whole-heartedly. She is especially gifted in working with youth who are just learning what it means to make an offering to our Lord through worship leadership. I am particularly thankful for the influence she has had on my children!

    Cindy Horton, Congregant

  • Sally is a joy to work alongside in worship leadership. She is not only competent musically, but spiritually sensitive as she plans and leads. Sally intentionally nourishes her own soul through Scripture and prayer, so that the work God is doing in her flows through her.

    The Rev. Dr. Nancy Nethercott, Chaplain, The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship, Jacksonville, FL

  • Sally is wonderfully welcoming of all abilities and age levels. She graciously works with beginners and amateurs, even though she herself is very professional.

    Kristi Dyer, Congregant

  • Sally is hard-working, organized, and dedicated to excellence. I've never had the pleasure of working with a leader of worship arts more competent and at the same time more gracious.

    Justus Stout, former President and CEO, Renew the Arts, Atlanta, GA

Professional Bio:

Sally Anne Powell, DWS

Dr. Sally Anne Powell has influenced worshiping communities for more than thirty years through her work as an artist, worship practitioner, and teacher. From her doctoral research, Sally developed the Spiritually Formative Worship curriculum series to equip church worship personnel to understand, conduct, and evaluate their work as a discipleship ministry. In addition to serving the broader Church, Sally is Director of Worship Arts at Westminster Presbyterian Church in the beautiful hills of Dayton, TN, where she and her husband raised their two sons. Her favorite title is “Grandma,” and she’s thrilled to watch another generation of her family grow to love the Lord. Dr. Powell’s resources can be found at sallyannepowell.com.