David Kenneth Enns, Ph.D., M.A.

Where Ideas Inspire, Faith Leads, and Art Transforms

Scholar Pastor Artist

Researcher, creative producer, and ordained pastor bridging the worlds of media scholarship, faith leadership, and performance art with over two decades of professional experience. Always interested in the transformational

Research & Publications

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Enns, D. K. (2025). The lexicon of global evangelicalism: A discourse analysis of Gather25. Journal of Media and Religion. i

Book Chapters

Enns, D. K. (2025). The Call to Folly: Creating a Breakthrough in Teaching and Learning. In From the Outrageous to the Scandalous: Re-imagining Christian Thinking and Scholarship in an Age of Tribalism and Ideological Resentment. Integratio Press. i
Enns, D. K. (2025). Not That Kind of Horn Guy: An Auto-ethnographic Reflection on Faith Leading the Way and Intellect Bringing the Assist. In From the Outrageous to the Scandalous: Re-imagining Christian Thinking and Scholarship in an Age of Tribalism and Ideological Resentment. Integratio Press. i
Enns, D. K. (2025). Horns and Holy Nudges: A Faith-led Journey Beyond the Classroom. In From the Outrageous to the Scandalous: Re-imagining Christian Thinking and Scholarship in an Age of Tribalism and Ideological Resentment. Integratio Press. i

Manuscripts Under Review

Enns, D. K. (Under review). The architecture of holy hostility: Algorithmic schema reinforcement and the stigmatization of religious identity online. i
Enns, D. K. (Under review). Oh, the redefining, frame-upending, reckless rhetoric. i

Books in Progress

Enns, D. K. (Under contract). The rhetorical lexicon of Christianese. Taylor & Francis. i
Woods, R. H. Jr., Enns, D. K., & Fung, E. V. (Eds.). (2025). Stewarding studentship: Christian tradition and faith learning integration in graduate school. Integratio Press. Contributing chapter: “Breath and Word: Pedaling Through the Wilderness of Studentship.” i

Scholarly Presentations

Enns, D. K. (2025). The language of digital revival: A discourse analysis of Gather25. National Communication Association Convention. Top Paper Award OSBR Grant i
Enns, D. K. (2025). Holy hostility: Analyzing religious hate speech in the age of AI moderation. Broadcast Education Association Convention. Top Paper Award OSBR Grant i
Enns, D. K. (2025). Faith, community, and student life. Christian Communication Studies Network Conference. i
Enns, D. K. (2025). A living dialect of faith: Charting, coding, and curating the Christianese lexicon. Christianity & Communication Studies Network Webinar (recorded). i
Enns, D. K. (2024). Faith in the city: An ethnographic study of Christian slang and public perception. National Communication Association Convention. OSBR Grant i
Enns, D. K. (Recorded; publication forthcoming). The talking dead: A guide to speaking like you’re alive. TEDx Talk (invited). i
Christianese
Earnest
Bridge-
building
Biblically
Anchored
Reverent
Clear
Literal
Endearing
Preaching
Lingo
Uplifting
Didactic
Semantic
Precision
Satirical
Wall-
building
Culturally
Crafted
Casual
Ambiguous
Metaphorical
Off-putting
Social
Language
Critical
Performative
Semantic
Drift

The Lexicon of Christianese

Under Contract Target: Fall 2026

A comprehensive reference work documenting specialized insider language of American Evangelicalism, providing multi-dimensional analysis of over 500 phrases that function as rhetorical filters shaping evangelical worldview and identity.

Biblical Connection
Interpretive Risk
Tone
Function
Domain
Subculture
Semantic

Click for Christianese

Interactive Phrase Sampler

Blessed Accept Jesus into their heart Armor-bearer Bless her heart Breaking bread Come to Jesus moment Hedge of protection Personal relationship with Jesus Washed in the blood Spiritual warfare

Keep clicking through 150 samples of our 566 phrases

Awards & Honors

Top Paper Award — NCA Convention (2025)
Top Paper Award — BEA Convention (2025)
OSBR Grant Recipient (2024, 2025)
Graduate with High Distinction (2025)
Omega Nu Lambda Honor Society, Graduated with Honors (2020)
Semi-finalist, America's Got Talent Season 1 (2006)
Winner, The Gong Show (2008)
2nd Place, Billboard World Songwriting Contest (2005)
Audience Favorite, Harmony Sweepstakes (2003, 2004, 2005)

Media Portfolio

A curated selection from over 700 media productions spanning personal narrative, worship, education, and performance.

Stories of Faith & Transformation

Cinematic testimonials, AI-augmented documentaries, and worship music productions

Personal Narrative 1
Personal Narrative 2
Personal Narrative 3
AI Narrative 1
AI Narrative 2
AI Narrative 3
Spiritual Music 1
Spiritual Music 2
Spiritual Music 3

Creative Production & Visual Craft

Multi-layered compositions, chroma-key world-building, and motion-graphic openers

Composited Edit 1
Composited Edit 2
Composited Edit 3
Greenscreen 1
Greenscreen 2
Greenscreen 3
Narrative Intro 1
Narrative Intro 2
Narrative Intro 3

Community & Culture

Short-form community moments, team storytelling, and relational messaging

Vertical Short 1
Vertical Short 2
Vertical Short 3
Team Culture 1
Team Culture 2
Team Culture 3
Occasion 1
Occasion 2
Occasion 3

Teaching, Mission & Reflection

Educational content, missional storytelling, and liturgical meditations

Pedagogical 1
Pedagogical 2
Pedagogical 3
Narrative Short 1
Narrative Short 2
Narrative Short 3
Seasonal 1
Seasonal 2
Seasonal 3

Performance, Events & Adventure

Stage performances, live broadcasts, and high-energy experience montages

Performance 1
Performance 2
Performance 3
Live Event 1
Live Event 2
Adventure 1
Adventure 2
Adventure 3
700+additional media productions available upon request

Ministry Experience

Executive Pastor / Director of Creative Arts
GateWay Bible Church — 2014–Present
Assistant Music Director
River City Christian Church — 1996–2005

Key Accomplishments

  • ~200 orchestrations
  • ~700 videos
  • 6 singles
  • 10 albums
  • ~25 annual productions
  • 5 music premieres
  • ~30 stage designs
  • 5 sound installations
  • 6 website refurbishments
  • ~10 teams to state fairs
  • Full-scale productions with choreography
  • Choir, actors & dance troupe direction
  • Worship leadership & pastoral care

Ordained Pastor since 2014

Keys to the Soul A meditation on my favorite instrument

Words matter. I've learned they can heal or harm, build bridges or walls. But on my favorite bench, I speak in a language older than human words. This language has the ability to slip past intellect and speak directly to the soul. Here, I am less a player than a pilgrim, wandering through chords like a sacred grove, each progression turning the soul toward the Light.

Sometimes the air itself feels thinner, as though the distance between heaven and earth is folding in. I think of David easing Saul's spirit, his music stirring unseen warfare—Frank Peretti could write the rest. And though my fingers may fumble on other instruments, I thank God for this one. Eighty-eight keys, grounded in the Source that carries my worship where words cannot.

Dave the Horn Guy

Dave the Horn Guy at Stadium

Media Appearances

AGT Semi-finalist BGT Gong Show Winner Das Super Talent Tonight Show Graham Norton George Lopez Maury

Performance Types

Corporate (Disney, Apple, Fortune 500s) Ministry Educational Sports (NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS)
Visit davethehornguy.com

A sampling of venues from 2,000+ performances

Teaching & Instructional Topics

Media Production Mentor & Training Lead
GateWay Bible Church — 2014–Present
Educational Outreach Presenter
K–12 Schools, Nationwide — 2005–2020
Forthcoming: Practitioner in Residence
CCSN
Media Production Documentary Filmmaking Visual Rhetoric Digital Storytelling AI Ethics in Media Strategic Communication Communication Theory Media Culture & Religion Broadcast Production Music & Sound Design

Education & Credentials

Degrees

Ph.D., Communication

Liberty University, 2025 — High Distinction

M.A., Christian Ministries

Liberty University, 2020 — Honors

Dual B.M., Theory & Composition
and Music Management

California State University, Sacramento, 1998

Affiliations

  • Broadcast Education Association (BEA)
  • National Communication Association (NCA)
  • Religious Communication Association (RCA)
  • Christian Communication Studies Network (CCSN)
Ordained Pastor

Since 2014

Professional Service

Peer Reviewer

New Media & Society

Contact

Request CV