We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aaron Wesley Davis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Aaron Wesley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I have always thrived in creative environments, and being a Creative Director is both deeply rewarding and uniquely challenging. There’s an undeniable joy in bringing ideas to life, shaping stories, and crafting experiences that resonate with people. But at the same time, there’s a persistent question that lingers in the back of my mind: “What if I had a normal 9-to-5 job—one where I wasn’t expected to create something new every single day, for everyone, all the time?” The pressure to constantly produce, innovate, and meet expectations can be exhausting. Creativity is exhilarating, but when it feels like a never-ending cycle of pleasing others, it can also become draining.
For over a decade, I’ve worked in both church ministry and the marketplace, navigating the intersection of faith, creativity, and leadership. About five years ago, I made the difficult decision to step away from my job. I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but I had unknowingly placed my entire identity in my creativity. When that role was stripped away, I felt lost—purposeless and without direction. It was in that season of uncertainty that I had to confront a hard truth: “Our identity cannot be solely defined by what we create.” Creativity is an outpouring of who we are, not the foundation of our worth. If we build our identity around our work, we will constantly wrestle with insecurity, doubt, and an ongoing search for significance. But when our creativity flows from a strong sense of security, it becomes more than just a job—it becomes an expression of something deeper.
This is why recharging creatively is not optional; it’s essential. If creativity is part of your career, it’s even more important to find ways to create just for yourself—without deadlines, expectations, or the need for approval. Engaging in personal creative projects that bring joy and fulfillment not only refreshes your spirit but also replenishes your creative energy. If you’re constantly pouring out without refilling, you’ll eventually hit a wall of burnout. Creativity thrives on inspiration, and when we neglect to nurture that, we end up producing from a place of emptiness rather than passion.
I’ve come to believe that burnout isn’t just the result of working long hours—it’s the result of creating without vision or purpose. When creativity becomes a mechanical process rather than a meaningful pursuit, it starts to feel like just another task on a to-do list. Whether you create for a living or as a hobby, you need a sense of direction—an understanding of “why” you create. Without purpose, creative work loses its spark, and without vision, it becomes unsustainable. At the core of it all, I think we can all agree that we create because we long for meaning. We want our creativity to matter, to connect, to impact people in some way. And when we create with intention, that’s when our work truly comes alive.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
From a young age, I knew that music was my passion, and I felt called to use that passion within the context of church ministry. At the time, the role of a full-time “worship leader” wasn’t as common or structured as it is today, but that didn’t deter me—I pursued it anyway. Determined to integrate my faith and my musical abilities, I went to college to study music while minoring in biblical studies. I wanted my education to be more than just technical proficiency; I wanted it to be deeply rooted in my faith and purpose.
After graduating, I stepped directly into a part-time role at a church while simultaneously working as a creative director for a local college. It was during this season that my creative world began to expand beyond music. I discovered a deep love for storytelling in all its forms—video production, writing, and branding. I wasn’t just writing songs or leading worship; I was crafting visual stories, helping execute vision, and creating narratives that resonated with people. This discovery was a turning point for me. I realized that creativity wasn’t limited to music alone—it was an expansive and powerful tool for communication and impact.
Today, I serve as the creative director for a larger, multi-campus church in the Kansas City area, where I have the privilege of overseeing creative projects and helping support global missions efforts. This role has taken me across the world, allowing me to document and share powerful stories through video—stories of transformation, faith, and the testimony of Jesus. In addition to my work in ministry, I’ve extended my passion for storytelling into the marketplace, taking on freelance projects that range from corporate branding initiatives to music video production. No matter the medium or the client, my goal remains the same: to create something meaningful that inspires action.
At the heart of my work is a deep conviction that every person has the innate, God given ability to create. Creativity isn’t reserved for artists, designers, or musicians—it’s a gift embedded within each of us, waiting to be activated. Unfortunately, society has conditioned people to believe that creativity is exclusive to a certain type of individual, placing limits on who can create and how they should do it. I am passionate about breaking down those misconceptions and helping people step into their full creative potential, regardless of their perceived skill set or background.
To further this mission, I recently wrote and published my first book, “Create & Activate.” In it, I explore the idea that creativity is not just a talent but a calling—one that can be used to share the testimony of Jesus and make a lasting impact for the gospel. My hope is that through this book, people will begin to see themselves as creators, empowered to use their unique abilities to bring light, truth, and transformation to the world around them.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
In today’s culture, effective communication is more challenging than ever—especially for churches. Messages often get lost in the noise of oversaturation, dismissed due to desensitization, or outright rejected by those unwilling to engage with certain topics. This makes sharing the gospel of Jesus more difficult than it has ever been. Traditional methods of communication are often met with skepticism or indifference, and as a result, many churches struggle to connect with the very people they are trying to reach.
However, I firmly believe that creativity—specifically through storytelling and artistic expression—is the most powerful tool we have for cutting through that noise. Regardless of the topic, creative storytelling has a unique ability to capture attention, stir emotion, and create moments of reflection that traditional communication often cannot. Art, in all its forms, transcends barriers. It speaks to the heart, not just the mind. It allows people to experience truth rather than simply hear it.
That’s why my mission is to help people discover and develop their God-given creative ability. If we can teach individuals how to tap into their innate creativity and use it with purpose, they can communicate their vision in a way that truly resonates. More importantly, they can reach people who might otherwise reject their message. Creativity opens doors where words alone may not be enough.
I believe that creative storytelling and artistic expression are among the most impactful ways to inspire action and transformation. When people see themselves as creators—capable of using their gifts to share meaningful stories—they can make a lasting difference in the world around them. My goal is to equip and empower others to embrace their creative potential so that they can not only share their message but do so in a way that captivates, connects, and compels people toward something greater.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I personally believe that misunderstanding—or even outright rejection of another person—often stems from the assumption that we have nothing in common with them. When we perceive someone as fundamentally different from us, it becomes easier to dismiss their perspective, devalue their contributions, or even alienate them entirely. But what if we could shift that perspective? What if we could highlight a universal thread that connects us all?
I believe that creativity is that common thread. Every person, regardless of their skill set, profession, or background, has the capacity to create. I’m sounding like a broken record at this point, but creativity isn’t just reserved for artists, musicians, or designers—it’s something we all engage with daily, whether we realize it or not. Some jobs may be more obviously creative, but creativity is embedded in problem-solving, innovation, strategy, and even the way we interact with others. The challenge is getting people to see themselves as creative, even if their creativity doesn’t fit into the traditional definitions of art or design.
If we can help people recognize and embrace their creative potential, we can bridge the gap between the so-called “dreamers” and “executors.” Too often, society places individuals into rigid categories—those who generate ideas and those who implement them—as if the two are mutually exclusive. But when we take a step back, we realize that both roles require creativity in different ways. The visionary needs the strategist, and the strategist needs the visionary. Rather than seeing these differences as barriers, we should view them as complementary strengths—essential pieces of a larger puzzle.
When we start to recognize the creativity within ourselves and others, we move beyond surface-level differences and find deeper points of connection. Instead of division, we cultivate appreciation. Instead of competition, we foster collaboration. And instead of misunderstanding, we create space for unity. Creativity isn’t just about making something—it’s about seeing the world differently. And when we begin to see ourselves and each other through that lens, we open the door for greater understanding, respect, and shared purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aaronwesley.com
