The Heart of the Artist written by Rory Noland

March 2010

Rory Noland served for twenty years as music director at Willow Creek Community Church (Bill Hybels). His book “The Heart of the Artist” is a very practical and personal book addressing issues like: Servanthood Versus Stardom – Excellence Versus Perfectionism – The Spiritual Disciplines of the Artist – The Artist in Community and more. 

This book is a MUST for anyone in creative work including worship ministry. The situations Rory describes make you recognize your own responses and reactions – and I must say that it hit me right on a few times! Rory Noland has a profound insight and broad experience when it comes to human relations and the issues of our human nature – his teaching and comments on how to serve in ministry with a character of Christ is essential in our time of individualism.

No doubt that Rory has a passion for Christian artists to be living lives of integrity and godly character and the book is dealing with issues that we all know from church life: How can I get people to serve with a servant’s heart – How can I cultivate unity on the team – What should I do about the attitude problems of a few of my musicians?

The book is also very useful as a study book for worship teams as it includes provocative discussion questions!

Steffen Bay
Worship leader at International Apostolic Bible College