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Ministry
Objective
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I desire to lead God's people before His throne in meaningful times of corporate worship, working with a creative team as I use the gifts and skills God has given me to contribute and minister in a local body of believers, creatively use music and the arts to help people see the truths of God's Word and worship Him in fresh ways, and nurture others in their walk with God and in the exercise of their spiritual and musical gifts.
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Experience
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PASTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES (2005-present)
Christ Community Church of Plainfield
Plainfield, Illinois
I provide leadership to the music ministry and plan & lead worship in
most Sunday services and special events. I also lead the Praise Team,
the Creative Arts Team, and the Web Team. Currently I am helping to
establish and resource the Youth Praise Team. In the near future, I
will working with the Meridian Leadership Team to restart Meridian,
our twenty-somethings group.
WORSHIP ASSOCIATE (2003-2005)
Calvary Church
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
My responsibilities include planning and leading worship for Sunday PM services, assisting in planning Sunday morning services, leading Wednesday night rehearsals for several vocal worship teams and the upcoming Sunday's praise band, composing or arranging music as needed, notating music in Sibelius music notation software, participating in services musically and technically as needed, evaluating and incorporating new worship music, stage setup and teardown, providing technical support within the Worship Ministries department, and generally assisting the Pastor of Worship Ministries. Until recently, I also provided leadership for the audiovisual ministry of the church and created the budget for that ministry (now that has become a separate full-time position).
WORSHIP MINISTRIES INTERN (summer 2002)
Colonial Baptist Church
Cary, North Carolina
This internship fulfilled specific degree requirements for Cedarville. During this time, I was able to assist the worship pastor by planning and leading several rehearsals and performances of the choir and orchestra, leading worship in services and youth meetings, planning services, using Finale music notation software, writing transitions for the praise band and arranging a piece for the orchestra, playing piano for a weekly summer children's music program, and helping the sound, light, and video crews.
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Education
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BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN CHURCH MUSIC MINISTRIES (1999-2003)
Cedarville University
Cedarville, Ohio Graduated with highest honors and a Bible minor, having completed Cedarville's Honors Program. My training included courses of study in the history and theology of worship, music theory, aural skills, conducting, choral methods, planning of services and rehearsals, and other relevant areas. Honors classes sparked my interest in philosophy and showed me the importance of thoughtfully integrating faith, learning, and life. Classes in my Bible minor helped to deepen my understanding of the Bible and methods of Bible study. The passion and authenticity I saw in the lives of my professors made me want not only to study academic subjects, but also to know God and pursue Him deeply.
While at Cedarville, I had opportunities
to gain experience through
extracurricular activities such as leading corporate worship at
chapel services, youth retreats, and churches; traveling to England
with a music and drama missions team; serving as Resident Assistant
in my dormitory hall of 25 men; and ministering as part of the
Advisory Seven, a group of students responsible for planning,
speaking, and leading worship at Sunday and Wednesday night Campus
Fellowship services.
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Skills
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Piano (my degree concentration), acous./electr./bass guitar, voice, percussion
· Leading worship in various styles and instrumentations (I prefer praise band)
· Rehearsing and conducting worship teams, praise bands, choir, and orchestra
· Setting up and operating audio, video, and lighting systems
· Sibelius and Finale music notation software
· Writing and arranging music in various styles and instrumentations
· Computer/technical support
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Philosophy
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PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY: The first priority of the Church, as with
the individual, should be to glorify God. God acts with us, the
Church, to bring Himself glory as we: 1. Corporately worship Him
(together declaring His glory), 2. Edify believers through teaching,
discipleship, fellowship, exhortation, and confrontation (together
growing to bring Him greater glory), and 3. Help unbelievers become
believing worshipers through evangelism and missions (together
seeking more worshipers to bring Him glory). How these three
intertwined and inseparable activities (worship, edification, and
evangelism) are practically worked out in each local church will be
different depending on the specific gifts and culture of that
body.
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: As a follower of Christ, my purpose is to live to the praise of God's glory (Eph 1:11-12). Every day I want to be actively involved in what God is accomplishing, bringing Him glory by my attitude, my words, and my actions. As I live for His glory, my priorities are as follows: First, I want to love God with all that I am (Mt 22:37), so that everything I do flows from my underlying worship of God. Second, I want to love my near ones as myself (Mt 22:38). My first and most important "near one" is my wife. My next important near ones are my family, my friends and those in my local church, and finally anyone else to whom God gives me an opportunity to show love.
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Goals
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1. To seek ways to help the Church transition wisely and creatively into ministry to postmodern people.
2. To help increase the sum total of good songs the Church has available to sing, both by writing new songs and by rediscovering old treasures and making them accessible.
3. To mentor and train younger worship leaders as they grow in ministry.
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Personal
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I grew up in south-central Pennsylvania, and when I was five years old I placed my faith in
Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. In high school I decided I wanted to be an acoustical
engineer, but on three separate occasions over the period of several months, different men
in my home church came to me and told me that someday I would be serving the Lord in
vocational ministry. At first I struggled against God calling me in a different direction,
but gradually He worked in my heart and changed my desires until I deeply wanted to serve
Him in this way. In my first year of college I changed my major to church music ministries,
and I have pursued that path ever since. My hobbies include playing and writing music,
reading, martial arts, grilling, photography, and almost anything else I can learn about
and attempt. My wife, Sharon, graduated from Cedarville with BA degrees in Comprehensive
Communications and Philosophy. She is currently attending graduate school with the goal of
receiving a M.A. in Philosophy. Sharon and I were married on August 2, 2003.
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References
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Available
upon request.
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