Suite is a big fan of “bold,” so we were happy to speak with Travis a bit about his path to “Found” and its freedoms.
“When I started playing worship music ten years ago, the style was much more folkie, built mostly around acoustic guitars. But I decided back then that I was going to do what I do, rather than try to fashion what I do around what the market’s doing. I was a worship leader, and that always worked. Worship music always works,” he adds. “But I always continued to do my broader stuff live, and on my custom records. I was completely happy to do that, but then when that kind of music began to take off in a commercial way, it gave me a new opportunity with Indelible. I really didn’t change what I’ve been doing, but I finally had a vehicle to share it in a broader way.”
We talked briefly of the positive impact and vision of the Indelible Creative Group, and its founder Chris Thomason and his wide vision. When I comment that Travis seems to share that same broad spectrum of ministry, reaching and caring across generational and style gaps, he just laughs. “I’m thankful for that, but I’m just weird. I’ve traveled with Beth Moore’s ministries since ’98, going on ten years now,” he explains. “It’s afforded me the opportunity to really get to know a lot of different kinds of people. The chance to do that comes with its challenges and blessings. So early on in ministry I set my heart. I knew it was more important that I lead these people to Jesus than I follow some narrow musical road. So I want to venture into different musical styles in order to serve God, to serve the broad base of His people. Musically speaking, not everybody gets there the same way.”
That thought leads into a discussion of the role of worship leaders and their use of freedom. Travis is honest when I ask him where he might foresee worship music going, confessing his own uncertainty. “I have a tendency to think more like a worship leader than a worship songwriter,” he shares. “I think in terms of the experience of worship more than the actual music. I think as a worship leader we’re called to servanthood more than we’re called to deliver the coolest songs. So I try to keep focused on that, to think, how can I serve these people rather than think in terms of what worship record can I release that’s going to revolutionize the Christian music industry,” he laughs.
His attitude leads me to ask him about his own spiritual guidance. “I’ve learned a lot from a guy who I consider my own worship mentor, Dick Hill. He’s a worship pastor at Champion Forest Church in Houston, TX, but he served here in Nashville at a church I was at for a while and we became best friends and co-workers in ministry. He taught me the importance of humility and service. He never came to church with anything to prove musically. He never imposed his abilities on the people he led in any way, and he taught me this: people will follow who they trust. And they’ll trust people who are humble and vulnerable before them. The most important lesson I’ve ever learned as a worship leader or a pastor,” he continues, “is that before people will trust you, you have to be real. You have to be vulnerable, to be willing to mess up. You have to be willing to be weak before them, and if you are, they’ll trust you. They’ll go with you where God has sent you to lead them.”
It sure looks like Dick Hill’s wise advice has worked in the ministry and heart of Travis Cottrell, doesn’t it?
Click here to read Suite's review of "Found," and check Travis' website for tour information.
