OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR FRIDAY MORNING AT 9 A.M.

We are thrilled to welcome our special keynote speaker for Friday morning of Write About Jesus— John Mays. 

John is one of Christian music’s longest-serving executives with a career spanning over four decades. He began in A&R at Word Records and EMI Christian Music Group before serving as president of Benson Records. During his tenure he signed and worked with artists such as Cindy Morgan, Point of Grace, Matt Redman, Nichole Nordeman, Newsboys, and the Passion Worship projects. In 2002, Mays helped establish Centricity Music, where his A&R efforts led to signing and developing artists like Jason Gray, Aaron Shust, Unspoken, Jordan Feliz, Lauren Daigle, Natalie Layne, and Katy Nichole.

HERE IS OUR 2026 SCHEDULE OF CLASSES

1-3 p.m. - Final Registration and Check-in - Gym

2 p.m. - Master Class concert - Worship Center

3 p.m. - Welcome to Write About Jesus, Introductions - Worship  Center

3:45 p.m. - Compass Groups Meet - Assigned Rooms

THURSDAY, 4:15 P.M. - SESSION 1

The Art of Writing a Great Lyric

Dave Clark

Room #216

How To Write A Great Melody

(The Guitar Session)

Zane King, Jason Cox

Room #220

Writing on Assignment

Lee Black

Room #116

PANEL: How I Got My Foot In The Door in Christian Music

Dusty Wells, moderator, Daniel Doss, Joe Dan Cornett, Donna King,

Room #222

Open Critiquing

Joel Lindsey - Room #221

Alumni One-on-Ones - Fellowship Hall

Randy Cox, Bryan Ward, Holly Zabka

(Meet your publisher or pro in the gym for your 20 minute session.)

5:15 - DINNER - GYM

THURSDAY, 6:15 P.M. - SESSION 2

Live Co-Write

Donna King, Zane King, Daryl Mosley

Worship Center

How to Write A Great Melody (The Keyboard Session)

Lee Black, Daniel Doss

Room #116

What’s a Great Demo Now?

Dennis Dearing

Room #216

PANEL: How to get the most from this weekend

Sue C. Smith, moderator, Rick Shelton, Dave Clark, Joel Lindsey, Dusty Wells

Room #222

Open Critiquing

Johnathan Crumpton - Room #221, Kenna West - Room 223

Alumni One-on-Ones - Fellowship Hall

Belinda Smith

THURSDAY, 7:15 P.M. - SESSION 3

Secrets of Making a Lyric Great

Tony Wood

Room #216

Structure Matters

Sue C. Smith

Room #116

A Conversation Across Career Stages

Mary Alice Lovelace, moderator, Zane and Donna King, Gabrielle Lovelace, Kenna West

Room #220

PANEL: Co-writing Do’s and Don’t’s

Dennis Dearing (moderator), Belinda Smith, Lee Black, Daniel Doss

Room #222

Alumni One-on-Ones - Fellowship Hall

Rick Shelton, Randy Cox

8:15 P.M. - DISMISS

,  -8 A.M. BREAKFAST - Gym

9 A.M. - Worship and Announcements - Worship Center

Special Guest Speaker - John Mays

FRIDAY, 10:15 A.M.

SESSION 4

What Makes This Song Work?

Bryan Ward, Holly Zabka 

Room #116

Showing Up For Your Writing Life

Gina Boe

Room #220

Writing Songs For the Bluegrass Market

Daryl Mosley

Room #216

PUBLISHER PANEL: What I Look For In A Writer

Sue Smith (moderator), Rick Shelton, Joe Dan Cornett, Randy Cox, Joel Lindsey

Room #222

Open Critiquing

Kenna West - Room #223, Sam Hart - Room #221

Alumni One-on-Ones - Fellowship Hall

Dennis Dearing

FRIDAY 11:15 A.M.

SESSION 5

Making a Demo with SUNO—Successfully and Ethically

(This session will be repeated on Saturday at 9 a.m.)

Zane King

Room #216

“Coloring Within the Lanes:”

Understanding the Genres and Sub-Genres of the Christian Music Industry, 

and the Artists That Comprise Them.

Kenna West

Room #220

How To Write A Worship Song

Daniel Doss

Room #116

PANEL: What makes a song great? 

Dennis Dearing (moderator), Dave Clark, Jason Cox, Sam Hart, Gina Boe

Room #222

Open Critiquing

Joe Dan Cornett  - Room 223, Daryl Mosley - Room #221

Alumni One-on-Ones - Fellowship Hall

Donna King, Randy Cox

12:15 - LUNCH - GYM

FRIDAY, 1:15 P.M.

SESSION 6

SONGWRITING COMPETITION

Worship Group 1

Holly Zabka, Daniel Doss

Room #216

Worship Group 2

Bryan Ward, Jason Co

Room #218

Pop/AC/CCM Group 1

Tony Wood, Sam Hart

Room #220

Pop/AC/CCM Group 2

Randy Cox, Dennis Dearing

Room #222

Southern Gospel, Group 1

Lee Black, Belinda Smith

Room #223

Southern Gospel, Group 2

Joel Lindsey, Sue C. Smith

Room #116

Country/Inspiratonal Country

Joe Dan Cornett, Daryl Mosley

Room #114

Print/Choral

Dave Clark, Johnathan Crumpton

Room #117

Kids/Special Occasions/Novelty

Donna King, Zane King

Room #208

Non-Competing Registrants

(Registrants who decide not to enter the competition

will spend an hour with songwriter and mentor Kenna West, in an open

critique session that will be fun, informative, and inspirational.)

Fellowship Hall

FRI, 3:45 P.M.

SESSION 7

7 Habits of Highly Successful Writers

Bryan Ward

Room #220

How To Be Your Own Publisher

Zane King

Room #216

Writing Pop/AC/CCM Songs

Tony Wood, Sam Hart

Room #116

PANEL: Where To Find Your Next Song Idea

Mary Alice Lovelace (moderator), Joel Lindsey, Daniel Doss, Dave Clark

Room 222

Open Critiquing

Sue C. Smith - 223, Donna King - 221

Alumni One-on-Ones - Fellowship Hall

Dusty Wells, Dennis Dearing

4:45 P.M.- Compass Group Meeting

Assigned Rooms

5:15 P.M. - Group Picture - Worship Center

5:30 P.M. - DINNER - GYM

5:30 P.M. - DINNER

6:45 P.M. - Worship - Worship Center

7 P.M. - Writers in the Round Concert

9 P.M. - DISMISS

SATURDAY 8 A.M.

BREAKFAST - GYM

SATURDAY, 9 A.M.

SESSION 8

Writing Southern Gospel

Belinda Smith, Jason Cox

Room #116

Making a Demo with SUNO—Successfully and Ethically

Zane King

Room #216

Commercial Songwriting:

The Questions We Should Be Asking Ourselves As Songwriters.

Kenna West

Room #222

You Say You Want To Write A Musical? 

Johnathan Crumpton, Gina Boe, Sue Smith

Room #220

Open Critiquing 

Randy Cox -  Room #223

Alumni One-on-Ones - Fellowship Hall

Holly Zabka, Bryan Ward, Dusty Wells

SATURDAY, 10 A.M.

SESSION 9

Writing a Country Song

Daryl Mosley, Donna King

Room #216

Music Business 101

Joe Dan Cornett

Room #220

Words and Music by JUST ME

Joel Lindsey

Room #116

PANEL: What I do to stay creative and inspired

Mary Alice Lovelace (moderator), Lee Black, Belinda smith, Tony Wood

Room #222

Open Critiquing

Kenna West - Room #223

Alumni One-on-Ones - Fellowship Hall

Rick Shelton, Randy Cox, Johnathan Crumpton,

SATURDAY, 11 A.M.

SESSION 10

Pitching Your Songs and Getting Results

Kenna West

Room #216

Come With Nothing, Leave With Hooks

Belinda Smith

Room #116

PANEL: What to do when you get home from WAJ

Dennis Dearing (moderator), Joe Dan Cornett, Tony Wood, Bryan Ward, Holly Zabka

Room 222

Open Critiquing

Jason Cox - Room 223,  Donna King - Room 221

Alumni One-on-Ones - Fellowship Hall

Dusty Wells, Randy Cox

SATURDAY, NOON - Worship Center

Kids Write About Jesus Concert

Thank yous and Awards

1 P.M. - DISMISS