Playing for Eternity: Resource Guide for the Electric Guitarist in Worship

Playing for Eternity is a resource guide for electric guitarists serving on their music teams at their local church. A variety of topics are discussed: strumming and picking, scales, chords and theory, creative rhythm parts, lead guitar solo techniques, effects, and more. Worship theology is also discussed; helping to equip the guitarist to grow spiritually, love God and others, and serve their local congregation with skill, creativity and integrity.

Ryan Sheeler has served on the worship arts ministry at Christ Community Church (formerly First Evangelical Free Church) in Ames IA for over 20 years as guitarist. Ryan also plays some bass and keyboards, and writes and arranges music for the ministry as well. He is a strong advocate for Christian arts and ministry; having attended worship conferences by Maranatha Music Group and Willow Creek Community Church (Barrington IL) . At Ames EFree, Ryan serves under Lead Pastor David Staff, and Worship Arts Pastor Wayne Stewart. He holds the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (major: music composition/literature) and the Bachelor of Arts in Music from Iowa State University; with additional graduate studies at the University of Iowa School of Music. He has studied guitar under Kathy Stuart, Todd Seelye, and Howard Nord; brass under David Stuart and Robert Yeats; composition/theory under Jeff Prater, Craig Weston, Michael Buchler, D. Martin Jenni, and David Gompper; and conducting under James Hannon. Ryan is co-author of From Bakersfield to Beale Street: A Regional History of American Rock 'n Roll (Kendall-Hunt, 2006). He has five solo CDs of his own, and several other projects and releases.