Worship Leader

Word of Life Church Worship Leader 

Job Overview

Role: We are seeking to hire a Worship Leader. He or she will collaborate with our leadership team and existing worship team to create worship experiences through music that promotes participation from the congregation. He or she will be Jesus-centered, musically and vocally talented, people-oriented, and a team builder.

Meet Word of Life Church 

Word of Life Church is a community of worship and justice, seeking to be an authentic expression of the kingdom of Jesus. We are a medium-sized, regional, non-denominational church founded by Brian and Peri Zahnd in 1981. 

Values of Word of Life Worship  

1. Creativity - we value curating and creating in order to bring new life to all we do 

2. Teamwork - we value every member because though we are many members, we are one body 

3. Christ-Centered - we value keeping Jesus at the center of all we do

4. Servanthood -  we value the kingdom posture of serving

5. New & Old - we value both tradition and innovation as well as seasoned wisdom and youthful energy

6. Excellence - we value doing all things well

7. Kindness - we value an attitude of grace and mercy expressed in kindness

8. Intention - we value preparedness and planning

9. Growth  - we value life as a journey and we are committed to continuing on the journey of discipleship in Christ and development in our craft

10. Authenticity -  we value the character to live out our faith on and off the platform

The Worship Leader Will:

• Have the ability to vocally lead worship with a guitar or piano

• Have strong communication skills and represent the church well

• Have a strong attention to detail

• Remain committed to musical skill set development, both instrumentally and vocally

• Have the ability to build and grow teams both numerically and relationally

• Have strong administrative skills with the ability to organize worship teams and music This includes managing scheduling and weekly song arrangements

• Have a thorough understanding of music technology and the use of software such as click tracks (i.e. Ableton)

• Comfortable with diverse styles of music - everything from a youth service to an Ash Wednesday service

• Have strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of people from children to adults, one on one meetings to the entire congregation, volunteers to paid staff 

The Worship Leader Will Be Responsible For: 

• Planning, organizing, and leading multiple weekly worship experiences

• Recruiting, training, and building teams for multiple services and ministries

• Working in collaboration with ministry departments to provide appropriate worship experiences for Celebrate Recovery, Youth Ministries, and Kids Ministries

• Scheduling worship teams via Planning Center Services

• Writing and maintaining charts

• Arranging songs and editing tracks accordingly

• Leading weekly practices for band and vocal team members

• Caring for and celebrating worship team members

• Develop and implement systems to equip musicians and vocalists to play or sing their parts including vocal harmonies 

• Conduct auditions with potential volunteer team members, providing feedback, placement, and/or assistance for further growth

• Remaining current with worship trends and songs, offering new ideas and best practices for the worship team 

• Facilitating music and worship experiences as needed for various events such as weddings, funerals, retreats, and a Christmas Eve production

Additional Responsibilities of the Worship Leader: 

• Strengthen overall WOLC worship philosophy in collaboration with the Lead Pastor and Sunday Morning Service Director

• Contribute and help implement creative ideas for weekly worship services

• Be an active participant in the life of the church, building relationships and serving our congregation both on and off the platform

• Be able to manage the department budget as well as set yearly goals and objectives.

• Participate in weekly staff meetings

• Coordinate with the tech team for all services 
  

What You Bring: 

Education & Experience

 The ideal candidate will: 

• Have some sort of higher education - a B.A. or B.S. degree is preferred

• Have three or more years of full-time paid experience leading a worship team of 10+ people. (In a church of 300+ people in attendance preferred)

• Have five or more years of experience leading worship

• Be proficient in music theory

• Experience directing a choir is a plus

• Possess a successful track record of being a leader-developer who seeks to do ministry through others, and does not try to do it all by himself/herself

Personal Characteristics

Character Essentials/Values

• A committed follower of Jesus

• Organized and efficient, especially with time management

• Teachable with a desire to learn

• Strong passion and calling to serve in a local church

• Well-spoken of by those who know him/her and have worked alongside them

• Displays appropriate and respectful behavior towards all people

• Serves, leads, and works by “putting our whole heart in it as unto the Lord”

• Shows mutual respect for the gifting, differences, and experiences of co-workers

• Deals with conflict in a way that values and protects relationships

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
  
  

Chemistry Factor

• Presents a favorable first impression

• Is a proven team player and knows the power/value of healthy relationships

• Organized yet flexible

• Must be a self-starter

• Possesses a strong work ethic

• Theologically aligned with Word of Life Church

• Embody a creative, contemplative, and contemporary Christianity
  
  

Working Environment and Physical Demands

• Schedule will include working weekends, evenings, and extended hours as required by ministry needs. This includes holidays such as Christmas Eve and Easter

• Extensive standing, walking, and sitting for extended periods of time

• May require lifting up to 45lbs

Compensation

• Competitive Salary

• Health Insurance

• Paid time off
  

What It’s Like To Live In St. Joseph, MO: 

Located at the crossroads of Interstate 29 and MO Highway 36 and only 30 minutes from Kansas City, puts St. Joseph within easy driving distance of over 17 metropolitan areas. 

Once a thriving trade stop and the starting point of the Pony Express, the town has held firm to its roots. Fascinating historical sites and museums commemorate the generations of folks who have made this area their home.

Even the most discerning visitor will appreciate St. Joseph’s cultural arts. From a world-class art museum to a renowned symphony orchestra, it’s easy to find an event or experience that is perfect for you.

The St. Joseph Parkway winds through the City of St. Joseph for 26 miles. Developed in 1918 by architect George Burnap, St. Joseph was one of the first cities in the United States to develop an imaginative and comprehensive parkway plan. Popular for hiking and biking activities, the completed system connects principal parks and recreation facilities throughout the city. 

Word of Life Church has had an established presence in St. Joseph for over 40 years. We are respected in our community because of our stability, our social justice work, and popular community-wide holiday events. We believe the opportunity for growth and ministry in our city, the surrounding communities, and globally online is tremendous. 

Interested in applying for this position? Both those interested in part and full-time employment are encouraged to apply.

Please email the following to:

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• 3 Personal References and 3 Professional References

• A link to a video of you leading worship in a church service