Our Team
Our Worship and Arts Ministry is passionate about finding creative ways to communicate truths about God, His character and His work, and then creatively leading the body in a passionate response to this revelation. We go to great lengths to use the vast artistic gifts from within the body to lead in this response—everything from dance, to painting, to beautiful music, to sculpting, to a well-crafted song...We are driven by our ministry's mission statement that guides all that we do:
We exist to passionately and creatively lead the Body of Christ in an authentic response to all God has revealed Himself to be, actively stewarding the gifts of our body to influence the world for the glory of God.
Rob Howard, Pastor of Worship & Arts
(615) 277-9593
I am the Pastor of Worship & Arts at Fellowship (or as my team has appointed me, “Master Chef”). Some days my responsibilities lead me to feel like a referee and some days like the ringmaster in a circus, but mainly I lead three teams--our worship staff team, our worship leader team, and our worship planning team (the three rings of the circus).
I love working together as a staff, and don’t mind how much they make fun of me. BUT, there really is a right way and a wrong way, or a Rob way and a wrong way. I’ve fallen out of three chairs but only one broke. (Yes, once in the audio booth in the middle of the service—during the quiet part.) I’m pretty sure I was the winner of the first-ever Worship & Arts staff dance contest and might be willing to prove it.
I’ve been on staff at Fellowship since 2005 and love being part of the culture here. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help lead people creatively in an expression of worship and thankful for all God is doing in us, through us, and many times … in spite of us.
My team’s random thoughts about me:
- Most overused phrase: “I can’t think of anything worse.”
- Rob’s superpower is that he can gain and lose weight at will.
- When he gets whiney we call him Melissa.
Joe Blair, Director of Production
(615) 277-9595
I am the Director of Production--producing our weekend services and special events. I spend a lot of my time working on set design, production details and creative planning. I am affectionately referred to by the team as the “Director of Fun & the Arts,” responsible for memorable moments such as “the great bat cave expedition,” “the escape from Wrigley Field,” and in spite of my fear of clowns, brought us our mascot, Mr. Bob Jangles.
My quirks? Yes. I am overly aware of the weather forecast. I like to think I am making sure my team is always safely prepared. More? Shoes … except Heelys. I don’t wear them much anymore since “the incident.” And, I mostly wear my favorite color—black, with a hint of white.
As the longest-tenured Worship & Arts staff member (but not the oldest), I’m more and more thankful for the opportunity I have to give my life for God’s glory—with the team we have, and at a place like Fellowship.
My team’s random thoughts about me:
- Thinks his superpower is that he’s freakishly strong.
- Is a hypochondriac so we’ve blocked WebMD on his browser.
- Has been known to dress like Michael Jackson and calls his office Neverland.
David Mills, Technical Director
(615) 277-9594
As Technical Director (my team calls me “Master Knobulator”), I am responsible for managing the production equipment and the people that operate it … in other words, the conduit for verbal and visual communication. I have a unique blend of technical, creative, and relational characteristics. I love living in the collision between the technical and creative worlds.
I’m proud to say I am the only Worship & Arts staff member that’s not a total Apple sellout. I work on a MacBook Pro but run windows and no, I don’t own an iPhone. I’m always looking for the best deal whether it’s purchasing a projector or a pair of jeans. I will visit every store or website, comparing features and prices before making the purchase. Obsessive? Uh, how about diligent? My team would say I’m diligent in my ability to communicate--painstakingly persevering to effectively describe in the most minute detail every aspect of what we’re discussing. Uh … briefly.
I love being behind the scenes serving those that serve at Fellowship. I have the heart of a teacher and enjoy sharing the knowledge and abilities God has blessed me with.
My team’s random thoughts about me:
- We never know when he’ll bust out in spontaneous break dancing.
- David’s superpower is being five-minutes behind in every conversation.
- Official driver of the Worship & Arts “short bus.”
Erin Tumlin, Worship Coordinator
(615) 277-9598
As the Worship Coordinator at Fellowship (not really sure why the team calls me the “Official Food Connoisseur”), I'm responsible for overseeing the worship team, many weekend service details, and anything music-related. Being a musician, I have a HUGE heart for worship and all kinds of music. I love being part of the creative planning process and developing relationships with the people I serve with at Fellowship.
I love to laugh. I laugh a lot. I laugh loudly. I know people are always laughing “with me” too. I am a self-confessed iPhone addict with 85 apps and counting. Yes, you can dry the water out of your iPhone with a bag of rice when you fall in a frozen pond. I'm also a technology fanatic. I can picture text, regular text, tweet, make a phone call, Facebook, and listen to the radio while driving (not that I've ever done this—especially in relation to “the accident”).
What am I learning in my role at Fellowship? How to function well in a teamily (team/family), how to deal with conflict in a healthy way (hopefully), how to serve others before myself, and how to stay organized and task-oriented in spite of my bend to do otherwise! I am privileged, and constantly growing, being able to serve alongside our team and our volunteers.
My team’s random thoughts about me:
- Loves to make outlandish statements like, “I’m not talking the rest of the day,” or “On Monday I’m joining a gym!”
- Erin’s superpower is that she can watch an entire movie, get to the end and have no idea what just happened … wait, maybe that’s her iPhone’s superpower.
- Has AD…who’s chewing ice?!…text…anybody wanna rollerblade?…please cut your fingernails…HD.
Matt Eldredge
(615) 277-9592
I’m the newest member of the Worship & Arts department. I’m excited about my role as technical associate...also known as the sidekick, helper, and keeper of David Mills. I provide support to the technical production ministry, general production support for events and other ministries, and also serve as lighting and technical director for FSM and Inversion. I am grateful to serve through the technical arts so that our church body can clearly receive the message of Christ!
Before coming to Fellowship, I wore many hats including tour manager, videographer, photographer, editor, Apple specialist, and system options testing engineer in an IBM lab. I felt like a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. I have lived in 12 states and two countries, and no, I'm not a military brat, but maybe all that traveling is what allowed me to try so many different things. I enjoy rocking out to indie bands, trying to feed the traveling bug, being mediocre at bass and snowboarding, summers with my uncle in Alaska hunting wolverines, and quoting movies at inappropriate times.
