We were lucky to catch up with Ashlee Truitt recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ashlee, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Towing the line between producing inspiring content, products, or events and maintaining a humble, creative spirit can often feel like a strain. It can seem like creativity and productivity begin to wither under the pressure. How can one balance modesty with vision; discipline with spontaneity; consistency with constant innovation? And how do we manage these expectations without burning out, getting frustrated, or experiencing a creativity block?
The answer, I believe, is community.
We were designed as creative beings whose creativity thrives in community and stagnates in isolation. This is built into our very nature, because the ultimate Creator is communal – both in His own nature (God, Son, and Holy Spirit) and in how He engages with His creation. In Genesis 1:26-27, God says, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness,” and in Genesis 2:18, God declares, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” As creation was brought to completion and humanity was set to rule and subdue the earth, Genesis 3:8 describes how God “walked in the garden in the cool of the day,” communing alongside His creation. When sin fractured humanity’s relationship with God, Jesus came to restore it. His sacrifice on the cross not only reconciled us to God but also restored the potential for true community. Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus healed the rift caused by sin, restoring our relationship with God and with each other. His work on the cross brings us back to the original design for community—where creativity and collaboration can thrive once again.
I may have many unique ideas and ambitious goals, but there always comes a point where I inevitably hit my creativity ceiling, no matter how passionate I am or how crazy the idea. We are finite beings with limitations, time constraints, perfectionism-complexes, and often skewed perspectives due to self-induced stress resulting in heightened emotions. Creativity should be fun, spontaneous, exciting, and energizing and we have probably found ourselves in a creative role because of an innate passion. So when that passion begins to drain and you watch the life go out of the eyes of what once brought you joy and fulfillment, it can spiral us into a crisis of identity and lack of purpose or direction. At that point, pride begins to infiltrate as a defense mechanism, which only pushes us further into isolation, shame, anxiety, and defeat.
What’s the solution? Go back to the original model: live in community with each other and with God. Embrace your identity as someone made in the image of the Creator and partner your gifts with others who are also drawing their purpose from that same source. Ecclesiastes 1:9 reminds us, “What has been will be again; what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Your creativity is not solely yours but an outflow of divine creativity. Instead of grinding away alone, tap into the deeper creativity that flows from God through community.
Working in collaboration doesn’t diminish our individuality. Just like various parts of the body have unique functions but work together for the good of the whole, our strengths complement each other (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). By offering our talents and seeking help in our weaknesses, we strengthen not just our own creativity, but the creative community as a whole.
In my 22 years of working across creative fields—music, photography, writing, graphic design, and videography—I’ve found that this partnership and collaboration have been the sustaining forces behind my work. Much of this has been in a church setting, where I’ve experienced the power of community among other Christ-followers.
Despite the stigma that churches can be out of touch or behind the times, I’ve seen firsthand the wealth of raw talent and passion within the Church. My vision is for the Church—not just a single congregation or specific denomination —to be recognized as a vital, creative asset in local communities.
To bring this vision to life, I founded Creative Tides, a nonprofit that empowers creativity within the Church and helps it ripple out into the community. We curate accessible, expert-level resources and build church-to-church partnerships through free workshops and cohorts that develop creative skills in areas like instrumentation, sound engineering, photography, writing, and more. These skills don’t just serve the Church—they ripple outward, contributing to the local economy and the thriving of the community.
As we lean into community, share resources, and grow together, not only do we flourish as individuals, but we also bring life and purpose to the communities around us. In doing so, we reflect the divine design for creativity, unity, and service.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have been the Worship Pastor at Red Hills Church in Newberg, OR for the last 4 years. As of 2024, I also founded Creative Tides ministry, which is a non-profit that empowers creativity to flow within the Church and ripple out to the local community by curating accessible, expert-level resources and building church-to-church partnerships. We do this by offering free workshops, cohorts, and events that partner local experts with church ministry teams or individual creatives. The model is built around connecting local churches as a support-network for one another, as well as training and excelling creatives to hone skills which can serve their church, local community, and/or their own professional development.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The most impactful and life-changing element of my life has undoubtedly been my faith in Jesus. Growing up as a pastor’s kid, I was immersed in church culture from the very beginning. But it wasn’t until my teenage years that I began to truly explore faith for myself—not just as a set of beliefs handed down by my parents, but as a personal conviction. Delving deep into Scripture, discovering God’s nature as both the cosmic Creator and our personal Savior in Jesus, and nurturing a relationship with Him has given me a sense of identity, direction, and purpose that I believe would be unattainable apart from a life centered on following Jesus.
Another vital lesson I’ve learned has been the importance of asking for help, trusting others, and learning to delegate. It’s an ongoing challenge, but an essential one for my well-being. I strive for excellence in everything I do, and it often feels risky—both to my pride and reputation—to admit areas where I fall short and let others step in. Yet, I’ve learned that for creativity to thrive and for community to flourish, it’s critical to invite others into the process, to release control, and to resist the urge to micromanage. This is a tension I’ll likely wrestle with for the rest of my life, but it’s the kind of “growing pain” I need to ensure my mental, physical, and creative health don’t stagnate or deteriorate.
For other creatives who struggle with perfectionism, my advice would be: never let your work overshadow or consume your self-care or relationships. In addition to leading a nonprofit, I work full-time as a Worship Pastor, which is deeply fulfilling work—ministering to people, walking alongside them in trials and victories, facilitating worship, and helping glorify God. But even in the midst of good work, it’s crucial that I don’t neglect my personal health and the people who matter most. Work will always be there, with deadlines and high expectations, but the moments with your loved ones and the care of your own body won’t wait.
So, take time for the things that replenish you: get enough sleep, eat well, take a walk, connect with friends, spend time in prayer or meditation, date your spouse, show up for your kids. These are the moments that matter, and they’re the ones you can’t get back. Deadlines come and go, and good work will always be waiting for you tomorrow. Learn when to step away from the screen, silence your phone, and go be present with the people who matter most.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
At Creative Tides, our core mission is centered on collaboration and partnership. We are committed to building a network of church partnerships, equipping creatives, and sharing resources and knowledge in a way that benefits everyone involved. Collaboration is at the heart of our ministry, and we are always seeking individuals and churches who are passionate about joining us in this shared vision.
As a Christian-based non-profit, we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and we hold the Bible as the ultimate source of truth. Many of our events focus on topics that can serve both the Church and the broader creative community—sound, instrumentation, photography, graphic design, and more—so you don’t need to be a Christian or part of a church to benefit from our resources.
That said, the second aspect of our mission is to grow our network of church partnerships. Most of our gatherings take place in church settings, and many of our participants are Christians, either volunteering or serving on staff at churches. If you’re interested in actively partnering with us or contributing to shared content, please note that we do adhere to a set of Fundamental Truths and would ask that any partner or contributor agree with these core values, even if there is diversity of perspectives, expressions, or experiences.
To learn more or explore partnership opportunities, feel free to visit our website or connect with us on Instagram: Website: www.creative-tides.com
Instagram: @creative.tides
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.creative-tides.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creative.tides/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/info.creative.tides
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Creative_Tides
Image Credits
Ashlee Truitt Media
https://www.ashleetruitt.com/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
