Are you a worship leader? Songwriter?
Is God calling you into creating music to glorify His kingdom?
Founded in 2011 in Franklin, TN to answer the call to serve kingdom-minded female songwriters through community, knowing the impact that will make in families, churches, industry, and the kingdom of God. Brave Worship believes the voices of mothers and daughters are not only valued but needed.
Mission:
To build up the heart of women, songs, and kingdom for this generation and beyond.
Krissy Nordhoff
Krissy Nordhoff is a Grammy® nominated and two-time Dove Award® winning (Worship Song of the Year 2012, Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year 2021) professional songwriter, author, and mentor.
A Michigan native, Krissy grew up in a Christian home, learning a love for church music from her pianist grandmother. That love carried through the years as she attended Anderson University, studying songwriting with the legendary Gloria Gaither.
After college, Krissy knew God was calling her to Music City. She became an independent artist, and eventually found her sweet spot in the writing room. She garnered three Dove Award nominations for her efforts and won a Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year for the beloved anthem “Your Great Name,” inspired by her own health battle and God’s healing. She was most recently nominated for a Grammy® Award and won a Dove Award for her song “Famous For (I Believe). Her songs have been recorded by a variety of artists and churches including Natalie Grant, Tauren Wells, Jenn Johnson (Bethel Music), Jordan St. Cyr, Jon Reddick, Cade Thompson, Tasha Cobbs, Mandisa, Darlene Zschech, Evan Craft, Meredith Andrews, David and Nicole Binion, Life Church, and Cross Point Worship.
Passionate about training and encouraging the next generation of worship songwriters, Krissy has mentored many through communities she co-founded: Brave Worship (Women) and Writing Worship. She has also created resources for songwriters including: her books–Writing Worship How To Craft Heartfelt Songs for the Church (David C Cook,) and Psalming, an online course–The Worship Songwriter Mentorship, and The Songwriter Personality Test.
Krissy, Eric, and their three children live in the suburbs of Nashville, TN.
Blog Writers
Aimee Jenkins
Aimee Jenkins is a full time Project Management Professional in the field of healthcare technology and is passionate about singing, songwriting, blogging and advocating for her daughter who has Down syndrome. She blogs at www.thejenkinsjoys.com to share her journey and the joys of being a mother of a child with special needs. Aimee and her husband have served in worship ministry for the past 10 years. She loves Jesus, her family, bible study, reading and laughing. Aimee resides in Gallatin, TN with her husband, two daughters and two dogs.
Allison Goodman
Allison Goodman is a pastor’s wife, worship leader and songwriter for over 30 years. She has served in children and youth ministries, ladies ministry, missions and in all things church life. Currently, she has come full circle to serve as Coordinator of a thriving Nursery ministry. Her greatest joy has been to raise her children and grandchildren and to inspire them to love God, love the church and love their parents. You would find her most mornings at her baby grand piano writing worship as she prays for words and melodies to make known the everlasting wonder of who, “God is.”
Anna Austin
Grace-filled and Gritty. Rooted and Wild…
Anna lives a creative, adventure filled life on a 52 acre farm in Middle Tennessee with her husband, Mark, and their 4 children, Jacob (16) Elizabeth (15) Rebekah (14) and Paul (12).
Anna grew up as a pastor’s daughter in Salem, OR. where she met her husband the summer before her senior year in highschool. An unplanned pregnancy just a month after graduation changed Anna’s life as she became a stay-at-home mom at the age of 18.
Having 4 kids in 4 years, then deciding to homeschool her children, quickly taught Anna much about life, marriage, and parenting. She spent all of her 20’s staying home with the kids while faithfully serving at her local church as a worship leader and children’s choir director.
In February of 2021, Anna and her family of 6 took a great leap of faith and sold everything they owned and moved across the country to Middle Tennessee to start a farm from scratch. This allowed Anna to be more involved with her writing and music community in the Nashville area, while providing a beautiful, vibrant background for her family to grow as they followed the Lord’s voice.
Just 3 years into their full-time farming adventure, Anna and her family have continued to flourish while overcoming many obstacles, not the least of which was having to rebuild their old farmhouse with their own hands after a freak cold snap caused their pipes to burst and flood their home.
Anna’s message is one of Grace and Strength through life’s most difficult and mundane circumstances. She lives a full and productive life from a place of rest and confidence in the character of God. Accolades and titles mean nothing to her as her hidden lifestyle is offered up as worship for her Lord, while she loves with her whole heart.
Anna Austin 503-580-4158
Instagram: https://Instagram.com/anna_austin
Website: https://www.truebluefarmtn.com
Bria Jean
Bria Jean Valderrama is a Nashville-based worship leader and songwriter. She is passionate about seeing people encounter Jesus, discover their identity and pursue their dreams. She serves at her local church The Belonging Co, as well as in leadership with Brave Worship. Her songs Beyond My Wildest Dreams, Communion, and Teach Me To Obey have impacted the globe, but nothing beats a back porch sunset view with her three daughters, her husband Robby, and her chickens. Bria sees strangers as future friends and will enjoy traveling to just about anywhere on earth an airplane can get her.
Deanna Porterfield
Coming from a long line of storytellers allowed this rural Kentucky girl’s imagination to run as wild as the fauna that surrounded her. Although struggling through school seemed to be a constant companion, Deanna Porterfield didn’t let that hold her back as she slowly realized she had a knack and love for any and all things creative. Writing, stories and music are some of her favorite outlets for expressing individualism. She enjoys serving on the Brave Worship ministry team which encourages women in their God given musical talents. She also enjoys singing, traveling, and laughing with friends until she’s red in the face. She has two amazing sons, one precious daughter-in-law, and four of THE best grandkids on the planet. She and her husband, her high school sweetheart, reside in Nashville, Tennessee.
Debra Hughes
My name is Debra Hughes. I am a wife, a mother of five beautiful children, Deedee (aka grandmother) to six gorgeous babies, daughter, sister, and friend. If you dig a bit deeper, at the very core of all that I am, you will find Jesus; you will find worship. Writing and worship make up a large portion of my DNA. My favorite way to express myself is through words, whether it is telling a story, sharing a prayer, or writing lyrics; words are my instrument. I have served on worship teams many years, co-written a few songs with some beautiful friends, and have even had the opportunity to do some traveling to small venues as a worshiper and speaker. I have been a part of Brave Worship since their very first conference back in November of 2016 (I believe that was the year). That was the year that unhinged me. I found that the writer in me could no longer be contained. I am discovering that it is never too late in life’s journey to walk in the gifts God has placed within us. Currently, I continue to write for Brave; prayers and blogs. Over the course of the past year my husband and I have sold a home, bought a home, and our family, consisting of two teenagers, two dogs, my spouse and my mother, have been settling into our new city, new church, and new surroundings. What a whirlwind it has all been. I have come to the realization that life simply moves faster than we would like, we are not in control of its speedometer and that is okay. If you dig a bit deeper, at the core of it all, you will find Jesus; you will find worship, and you will find me.
Leah Paschall
Leah Paschall is passionate about helping others grow into a deeper relationship with Christ through understanding and applying the truth of God’s word. For many years, she has come alongside women to help with life’s challenges through Biblical Counseling and as a Life Group Leader. As an artist/songwriter and worship leader, Leah’s desire is the same, to usher people into the presence of God as they grow closer to Him.
Rachael Thomas
Rachael Thomas is a wife, mom, worship leader and songwriter who spent most of her formative years living the military life while bugging her siblings with late night songwriting sessions on the piano. A former music business grad, multi generational worship became a resounding theme in her heart and led to her writing music for kid’s projects and churches where she’s served on staff as both worship leader and director.
Now residing in Nashville, TN, Rachael is passionate about empowering others to create from their identity in Christ and serves as a mentor for the Writing Worship songwriting course as well as serving within the Brave Worship community. Currently, she’s finishing up her first full length EP centered around renewing the mind (release date in Spring of 2024).
A loyal coffee drinker and taco enthusiast, she believes that community and collaboration are key components to caring less about what others think, and running more in the lane God has called you to.
Stacy Riddle
Before moving to Nashville in 2020, Stacy served as a worship leader for National Community Church. She homeschooled and raised her children along with her husband Chuck in the Northern VA area. Stacy wrote her first song over 30 years ago and has since had several cuts. However, she has only recently been able to see the fulfillment of the long held dream of releasing her own music. Stacy lives out the motto that “it’s never to late to be who you might have been.” You can find Stacy’s music on all streaming platforms and at https://www.stacyriddlemusic.com
Emily Weeks
Emily was raised in San Diego, CA, and moved to TN for graduate school with her husband when they were fresh out of college. She loves Franklin, TN, but sand and saltwater make her feel the most at home, and she’s written many a poem and song walking along the Pacific with a baby Taylor guitar and journal in hand. She has been a worship leader and writer since she first started walking with Jesus, and loves teaming up with her husband, and friends along the way, to share truth through song. Emily enjoys getting her passport stamped, being outside, laughing, reflecting on life with an iced coffee, co-writing, and being in community, especially with her Brave worship pals!
Are you a worship leader? Songwriter?
Is God calling you into creating music to glorify His kingdom?
Founded in 2011 in Franklin, TN to answer the call to serve kingdom-minded female songwriters through community, knowing the impact that will make in families, churches, industry, and the kingdom of God. Brave Worship believes the voices of mothers and daughters are not only valued but needed.
Mission:
To build up the heart of women, songs, and kingdom for this generation and beyond.
Krissy Nordhoff
Krissy Nordhoff is a Grammy® nominated and two-time Dove Award® winning (Worship Song of the Year 2012, Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year 2021) professional songwriter, author, and mentor.
A Michigan native, Krissy grew up in a Christian home, learning a love for church music from her pianist grandmother. That love carried through the years as she attended Anderson University, studying songwriting with the legendary Gloria Gaither.
After college, Krissy knew God was calling her to Music City. She became an independent artist, and eventually found her sweet spot in the writing room. She garnered three Dove Award nominations for her efforts and won a Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year for the beloved anthem “Your Great Name,” inspired by her own health battle and God’s healing. She was most recently nominated for a Grammy® Award and won a Dove Award for her song “Famous For (I Believe). Her songs have been recorded by a variety of artists and churches including Natalie Grant, Tauren Wells, Jenn Johnson (Bethel Music), Jordan St. Cyr, Jon Reddick, Cade Thompson, Tasha Cobbs, Mandisa, Darlene Zschech, Evan Craft, Meredith Andrews, David and Nicole Binion, Life Church, and Cross Point Worship.
Passionate about training and encouraging the next generation of worship songwriters, Krissy has mentored many through communities she co-founded: Brave Worship (Women) and Writing Worship. She has also created resources for songwriters including: her books–Writing Worship How To Craft Heartfelt Songs for the Church (David C Cook,) and Psalming, an online course–The Worship Songwriter Mentorship, and The Songwriter Personality Test.
Krissy, Eric, and their three children live in the suburbs of Nashville, TN.
Blog Writers
Aimee Jenkins
About Aimee
Allison Goodman
About Allison
Bria Jean
About Bria
Deanna Porterfield
About Deanna
Debra Hughes
About Debra
Leah Paschall
About Leah
Rachael Thomas
About Rachael
Stacy Riddle
About Stacy
Emily Weeks
Emily Weeks
Aimee Jenkins
Aimee Jenkins is a full time Project Management Professional in the field of healthcare technology and is passionate about singing, songwriting, blogging and advocating for her daughter who has Down syndrome. She blogs at www.thejenkinsjoys.com to share her journey and the joys of being a mother of a child with special needs. Aimee and her husband have served in worship ministry for the past 10 years. She loves Jesus, her family, bible study, reading and laughing. Aimee resides in Gallatin, TN with her husband, two daughters and two dogs.
Allison Goodman
Allison Goodman is a pastor’s wife, worship leader and songwriter for over 30 years. She has served in children and youth ministries, ladies ministry, missions and in all things church life. Currently, she has come full circle to serve as Coordinator of a thriving Nursery ministry. Her greatest joy has been to raise her children and grandchildren and to inspire them to love God, love the church and love their parents. You would find her most mornings at her baby grand piano writing worship as she prays for words and melodies to make known the everlasting wonder of who, “God is.”
Anna Austin
Anna grew up as a pastor’s daughter in Salem, OR. where she met her husband the summer before her senior year in high school. An unplanned pregnancy just a month after graduation changed Anna’s life as she became a stay-at-home mom at the age of 18.
Having 4 kids in 4 years, then deciding to homeschool her children, quickly taught Anna much about life, marriage, and parenting. She spent all of her 20’s staying home with the kids while faithfully serving at her local church as a worship leader and children’s choir director.
Anna’s message is one of Grace and Strength through life’s most difficult and mundane circumstances. She lives a full and productive life from a place of rest and confidence in the character of God. Accolades and titles mean nothing to her as her hidden lifestyle is offered up as worship for her Lord, while she loves with her whole heart.
annaaustin06@gmail.com
Instagram: https://Instagram.com/anna_austin
Website: https://www.truebluefarmtn.com
Bria Jean
Bria Jean Valderrama is a Nashville-based worship leader and songwriter. She is passionate about seeing people encounter Jesus, discover their identity and pursue their dreams. She serves at her local church The Belonging Co, as well as in leadership with Brave Worship. Her songs Beyond My Wildest Dreams, Communion, and Teach Me To Obey have impacted the globe, but nothing beats a back porch sunset view with her three daughters, her husband Robby, and her chickens. Bria sees strangers as future friends and will enjoy traveling to just about anywhere on earth an airplane can get her. https://www.briajean.com https://www.instagram.com/itsbriajean https://www.facebook.com/briajeanmusic
Deanna Porterfield
Coming from a long line of storytellers allowed this rural Kentucky girl’s imagination to run as wild as the fauna that surrounded her. Although struggling through school seemed to be a constant companion, Deanna Porterfield didn’t let that hold her back as she slowly realized she had a knack and love for any and all things creative. Writing, stories and music are some of her favorite outlets for expressing individualism. She enjoys serving on the Brave Worship ministry team which encourages women in their God given musical talents. She also enjoys singing, traveling, and laughing with friends until she’s red in the face. She has two amazing sons, one precious daughter-in-law, and four of THE best grandkids on the planet. She and her husband, her high school sweetheart, reside in Nashville, Tennessee.
Debra Hughes
A wife, mother of five beautiful children, Deedee to six gorgeous grand babies, daughter, sister, and friend. If you dig a bit deeper, at the very core of all that I am, you will find Jesus; you will find worship. Writing and worship make up a large portion of my DNA. My favorite way to express myself is through words, whether it is telling a story, sharing a prayer, or writing lyrics; words are my instrument. I have served on worship teams many years, co-written a few songs with some beautiful friends, and have even had the opportunity to do some traveling to small venues as a worshiper and speaker. Currently, I write for Brave; prayers and blogs. Over the course of the past year my husband and I have sold and bought a home, and our family, consisting of two teenagers, two dogs, my spouse and my mother. What a whirlwind it has all been. I have come to the realization that life simply moves faster than we would like, we are not in control of its speedometer and that is okay. If you dig a bit deeper, at the core of it all, you will find Jesus; you will find worship, and you will find me.
Leah Paschall
Leah Paschall is passionate about helping others grow into a deeper relationship with Christ through understanding and applying the truth of God’s word. For many years, she has come alongside women to help with life’s challenges through Biblical Counseling and as a Life Group Leader. As an artist/songwriter and worship leader, Leah’s desire is the same, to usher people into the presence of God as they grow closer to Him.
Rachael Thomas
Rachael Thomas is a wife, mom, worship leader and songwriter who spent most of her formative years living the military life while bugging her siblings with late night songwriting sessions on the piano. A former music business grad, multi generational worship became a resounding theme in her heart and led to her writing music for kid’s projects and churches where she’s served on staff as both worship leader and director. Now residing in Nashville, TN, Rachael is passionate about empowering others to create from their identity in Christ and serves as a mentor for the Writing Worship songwriting course as well as serving within the Brave Worship community. Currently, she’s finishing up her first full length EP centered around renewing the mind (release date in Spring of 2024). A loyal coffee drinker and taco enthusiast, she believes that community and collaboration are key components to caring less about what others think, and running more in the lane God has called you to.
Stacy Riddle
Before moving to Nashville in 2020, Stacy served as a worship leader for National Community Church. She homeschooled and raised her children along with her husband Chuck in the Northern VA area. Stacy wrote her first song over 30 years ago and has since had several cuts. However, she has only recently been able to see the fulfillment of the long held dream of releasing her own music. Stacy lives out the motto that “it’s never to late to be who you might have been.” You can find Stacy’s music on all streaming platforms and at www.stacyriddlemusic.com.
Emily Weeks
Emily was raised in San Diego, CA, and moved to TN for graduate school with her husband when they were fresh out of college. She loves Franklin, TN, but sand and saltwater make her feel the most at home, and she's written many a poem and song walking along the Pacific with a baby Taylor guitar and journal in hand. She has been a worship leader and writer since she first started walking with Jesus, and loves teaming up with her husband, and friends along the way, to share truth through song. Emily enjoys getting her passport stamped, being outside, laughing, reflecting on life with an iced coffee, co-writing, and being in community, especially with her Brave worship pals!