I spent 2023 learning about publishing and obsessively refining my book proposal for Spirit-Filled Singing: Bearing Fruit as We Worship Together. Then, when I had the joy of signing a contract with Crossway, I spent 2024 deep in drafting and revising my manuscript. Throughout 2025, I’ve had the delight of watching everything else come together—from the beautiful cover design to the uploading of my Amazon author page to the selection of endorsers. It’s been a lovely season and I can’t wait for the actual release of my book on November 4th.
In the meantime, I wanted to share a bit about my book’s endorsers and why I am so grateful for their support.
First, I am grateful to author and blogger Tim Challies, who wrote the foreword for Spirit-Filled Singing. He says:
“I invite every Christian to read this book and, as you read it, to deepen not only your understanding of congregational worship but also your experience of it. May God use this book to help us all bear fruit through the songs we sing!”
I wanted Tim Challies to write the foreword if possible because I love how he writes about congregational worship. In fact, he has a book on worship around the world coming out soon, which I am eager to read and recommend.
More personally, Tim Challies was one of the first major writers to discover and share my writing. In 2020, he included my satirical post “Dear Mr. Potter” in his daily A La Carte collection, and has shared a few more of my pieces since then. By 2020, I had been blogging away for well over seven years, but this was the first time any of my posts found a wider readership than my family and friends. I am so grateful for Tim’s generosity in encouraging me as a blogger and, now, author.
Thank you, Tim Challies, for championing other writers.
As an aside, I wonder whether Tim remembers this since, at the time, I was writing under my maiden name (Ryanne McLaren) and my blog was known as “A Bookish Charm.”
Next, composer, pianist, and educator Dan Forrest describes Spirit-Filled Singing as:
“A refreshing vision of worship and ministry that offers a fresh perspective and new energy for musicians and worshipers. Drawing from personal experience, church history, broad musical examples, personal reflection, and well-placed humor, Ryanne Molinari’s writing breathes new life into our calling, both musically and spiritually.”
These are encouraging words, but they are rendered even sweeter when I reflect on why Dan Forrest’s endorsement means so much to me. As a college freshman at Biola University, I experienced unprecedented levels of anxiety. At one point, the composition department tried to recruit me and I began to doubt my choice to major in piano performance. (Writing music alone in a dark room still appeals to me more than the spotlight.)
Wrestling with my anxiety, I returned to Dan Forrest’s beautiful setting of Ruth 1:16, “Entreat Me Not,” which was a source immense comfort. I remembered suddenly that he, a composer and conductor, has degrees in piano performance. On a whim, I sent him an email asking for advice. To my surprise, Dr. Forrest replied within a few hours. He wrote with compassion and wisdom, telling me to stay the course and trust that a piano performance degree would prove an excellent foundation for a career in music—whether that career involved collaboration, composition, or conducting.
This small act of kindness by a world-renowned artist meant the world to me. It is a testament to Dan Forrest’s character as a follower of Jesus. Now, I am thrilled to have him endorse my book. He was right; my piano performance degree has opened so many doors for me as a musician, writer, and worshiper. Without it, I would never have written Spirit-Filled Singing.
Thank you, Dr. Forrest, for taking the time to encourage a terrified college freshman.
Then, Reawaken Hymns founder Nathan Drake says:
“A must-read for every student of worship. Spirit-Filled Singing offers a biblical framework for worship leaders of all types and traditions. What better way to seek the Spirit in worship than by modeling our worship leadership after the fruit of the Spirit. I wish I had read this book twenty years ago.”
Throughout 2023, I was hit again and again with the words so many writers fear: “We like your idea and your writing but you don’t have a big enough platform.” I was coached by agents and editors to focus on building my social media presence and doing speaking engagements. Although I never wanted to let promotion overtake my actual work, I did as much as I could, reaching out to worship podcasts and artists and scheduling a speaking tour.
Nathan Drake, of Reawaken Hymns, was one of the first to respond positively. He invited me to join him for a YouTube live stream to talk about my book and offered to be an endorser even before I had a publishing contract. I enjoyed our YouTube conversation immensely and continue to enjoy his masterful contemporary arrangements of hymns. If you love hymns (and even if you don’t!), you should check out the Reawaken Hymns website, which is full of excellent resources for worship.
Thank you, Nathan, for sharing your platform with a random organist.
Finally, Bruce Benedict, Worship Arts Chaplain at Hope College and founder of Cardiphonia Music, writes:
“As both a college chaplain shepherding student worship leaders and a local church musician steeped in weekly congregational life, I find Spirit-Filled Singing to be a rare gift―deeply theological, pastorally wise, and musically grounded. Ryanne Molinari beautifully tunes our hearts to the harmony between worship and discipleship, showing how Spirit-filled singing is not just emotional expression but a formation into the fruit-bearing life of Christ. Whether you’re leading a worship team, writing songs for your church, or simply longing for more rootedness in your music ministry, this book sings with grace, clarity, and conviction. It’s a must-read for those who believe our songs can shape souls.”
I have enjoyed Cardiphonia Music for quite some time now. Their songs are theologically rich and delightful to sing, perfect for private devotional listening or corporate worship. Cardiphonia’s repertoire beautifully captures the sort of music I recommend throughout Spirit-Filled Singing: saturated with Scripture, connected to tradition yet unafraid of innovation, and authentic and humble without compromising artistic quality.
As a Biola University alumnus, I also have a deep love for Christian higher education. From early on, I wanted Spirit-Filled Singing to be a resource not only for current worship leaders but Christian music students, a little handbook for spiritually fruitful music-making. To have a college chaplain recommend my book is marvelous, for it suggests that I met this goal and that my book will, Lord willing, minister to young worship leaders.
Conclusion
I am so grateful to have endorsers who are not only accomplished artists but generous and kind Christ followers. It is daunting to send a book into the world, no matter how carefully it has been edited. However, the encouragement of these men has made me more excited than apprehensive. I pray that my book equips and encourages all who read it, preparing them to cultivate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control through congregational singing.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoy my writing, would you consider supporting my work by becoming a free subscriber?
You might also consider pre-ordering my book from any of the following sources:
Spirit-Filled Singing: Bearing Fruit as We Worship Together is set for release on November 4th, 2025, in print, e-book, and audio formats.
Ryanne Molinari 