Josiah Woods
Josiah’s a filmmaker and creative director pursuing his dreams from North Carolina.
Whether it’s leading a team of creatives, bringing a scene to life through film, or putting on an Elevation Rhythm Night, Josiah puts his all into everything he’s a part of.
At the core of all he does, there’s a heart that beats for those who haven’t met God, and others who need to be reintroduced to Him in a new way.
As a storyteller and filmmaker, Josiah delivers faith-driven content that reaches beyond the surface and connects with the soul.
What dream are you currently turning into reality?
In this season, I feel like I’ve found a passion for creating in different types of formats, not just film.
At the core, I’ve always wanted to help create spaces or experiences that reach people and cause them to ask questions. Maybe someone who has struggled with feeling like there’s a God, but not really sure what it looks like. I want to create pieces that open the door to their salvation.
Being a part of the “Elevation YTH Creative” team, I get the privilege to do what I’m passionate about every day - Especially with our “Rhythm Nights.” Through these nights, we have the creative freedom to analyze every part of the experience and ask ourselves - “Is this song or creative piece opening an opportunity for others to experience Jesus, or is it just getting in the way?”
We don’t always get it right, but at the core of everything we do, we’re creating a space for people to meet Jesus. I’ve really felt re-energized this season, because, I feel like we aren’t making work for someone’s approval or for praise. We’re just using the gifts God gave us to reach people who need it.
When did you first realize you discovered your dream?
Growing up, I always felt a pull towards film and videography, but I wasn’t sure what it looked like as my career.
I remember watching a Hillsong 2015 conference promo made by Salomon Ligthelm, and being in awe of the piece. I had never seen video and faith merge together so well before. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to create pieces that would present the Gospel to people who might be struggling with the faith, or had never heard the Gospel before.
I also remember reading the book, “Piercing Darkness,” by the author Frank E Peretti, and feeling that I was gonna turn this book into a movie. I never really understood how that would happen. But, I think that dream is what really started the fire inside me of wanting to make videos about faith, ultimately leading me to where I am today.
How does your faith go hand in hand with pursuing your dream?
Creativity is how God speaks to me most often. There are these moments where I’ll be trying to brainstorm a new video, looking for inspiration, and I’ll suddenly have a breakthrough. I always know it’s God that breathed life into that moment - I can just feel His presence on it.
The more I’ve taken leaps of faith in a project, & relied on Him during the process, the more I’ve seen Him move through the piece. He makes it into something I never could’ve done on my own. It’s these intimate moments with God that I love most.
Even if I quit my job today and started working in a different industry, creating videos would still be a major outlet I would use to connect with God.
What’s one or two practical steps you take to keep moving forward?
The first thing I tell myself, or my team when we get stuck, is that we want to create an E.P.I.C culture.
The “E” stands for “Energize”, where you take time to energize yourself. This looks different for everyone. It could mean going for a hike, taking photos, or watching a Christopher Nolan film. Whatever you do, it’s about being intentional with the free time you have to get energized and excited to create something.
The “P” stands for “Play With It “, which came from a teaching Pastor Steven Furtick did with our creative team. It may sound funny, but are you taking the time to play with the idea? I always feel like my first idea is pretty rough, but when I play around with it, I start to get somewhere.
The “I” stands for “Integrating”, which really means - Are you integrating the idea with your team or friends? I really feel like God intended for us to create with people, not just by ourselves.
The last part is “C”, which stands for “Celebrate”. No matter what the project is, are you taking the time to encourage yourself and the people around you?
When I’m feeling stuck on a project, and I do these things, I’m always able to get a breakthrough.
What encouragement would you share with someone who’s going after their dream?
When I first started as an intern at Elevation Church, I was struggling, not doing a good job at all. During that time, one of my bosses took me aside and said, “Just focus on working hard in this season. Don’t let anyone outwork you.” I really took that to heart and made sure I wouldn’t be outworked.
Five years later, I can look back and say my drive to work hard is one of my biggest strengths. That’s something I would tell any creative going after their dreams. Don’t be outworked - Focus on developing your skills, and keep pushing yourself to new levels by being a workhorse. Don't focus so much on whether the branding is perfect, or the edit is 100% done, but work hard and put out as much content as you can.
The other big thing I’d say is to find your “Why”. At the core of everything, why are you doing this? There have been so many late nights where I’ve wanted to quit and go home, but when I think about my “Why”, it gives me the motivation to keep going.