Worship Pastor Overflow Church – Benton Harbor/ Saint Joseph, MI
Position Overview
- Organization: Overflow Church
- Location: Southwest Michigan (St. Joseph / Benton Harbor region)
- Position Type: Full-time, salaried (includes evenings and weekends)
- Reports To: Director of Operations
- Primary Relationships: Lead Pastor, Ministry Directors, Pastoral Staff
- Secondary Relationships: Worship Team, Production / AVL Teams, Volunteers
Function
The Worship Pastor will lead, shape, and pastor the worship life of Overflow Church, overseeing weekend gatherings and cultivating a worship culture that forms disciples, proclaims the gospel, and creates space for authentic encounter with God. This is a pastoral leadership role, not merely a musical one. The Worship Pastor is responsible for worship leading, team development, creative planning, and collaboration across ministries to ensure worship gatherings are Christ-centered, theologically grounded, and culturally engaging.
Church Overview
- Congregation: A growing, multiethnic, multigenerational church in Southwest Michigan
- Staff: Full-time and part-time pastoral and ministry staff
- Context: Established church entering a season of significant growth, facility expansion, and community impact
Overflow Church exists to Generate Hope by becoming an overflowing presence of Christ’s love, proclaiming hope to the neighbor and the stranger. Worship is central to our identity as a people shaped by the gospel, prayer, Scripture, and life together.
Position Responsibilities
Worship Leading
- Plan, prepare, and lead weekly worship gatherings (typically 3–4 weeks per month)
- Cultivate a vibrant, Christ-centered worship culture rooted in Scripture, prayer, and the gospel
- Identify, train, and develop worship leaders, vocalists, and musicians
- Provide leadership for special services, church-wide gatherings, and seasonal events
- Oversee and steward worship instruments and musical equipment
Planning & Creativity
- Collaborate with the Lead Pastor and teaching team in service planning and sermon integration
- Lead worship planning meetings with intentionality and spiritual depth
- Develop creative elements that support teaching themes (Scripture readings, prayer moments, liturgical flow)
- Preferred: Encourage original expression and songwriting where appropriate, reflecting what God is doing in the life of the church
Pastoral Responsibilities
- Shepherd and care for worship and production team members spiritually and relationally
- Lead teams with humility, clarity, and a pastoral heart
- Disciple leaders within the worship ministry toward spiritual maturity and healthy leadership
- Foster prayerful preparation and spiritual formation within the team
- Help shape non-musical elements of worship (Scripture, prayer, silence, response)
Weekend Gatherings
- Plan, coordinate, and execute Sunday worship services with excellence and clarity
- Select songs, transitions, and creative components aligned with the sermon and season
- Communicate clearly with musicians, vocalists, and production teams well in advance
- Provide preparation resources (charts, song maps, multitracks, recordings)
- Collaborate on visual elements and service flow
Tech & Production Oversight
- Provide leadership and oversight for production, AVL, and media teams
- Ensure technical systems are prepared, functional, and well maintained
- Partner with tech leaders to develop volunteers and leaders
- Oversee worship-related production planning (slides, lighting, media coordination)
- Support both in-person and online worship experiences
Qualifications
Character
- A growing, authentic relationship with Jesus Christ marked by spiritual fruit
- A life shaped by Scripture, prayer, humility, and obedience
- Demonstrates servant leadership, emotional maturity, and pastoral wisdom
- Loyal, supportive, and aligned with Overflow Church’s mission and leadership
- Spiritual gifts of leadership and shepherding
Chemistry
- Collaborative, teachable, and flexible
- Forward-thinking and organized
- Trustworthy, self-aware, and emotionally healthy
- Embraces diversity and unity within the body of Christ
- Fully aligned with Overflow Church’s theology, vision, and values
Competency
- Proven ability to lead worship and musicians effectively
- Demonstrated pastoral leadership with volunteers and teams
- Ability to develop leaders and multiply ministry capacity
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- Willingness and ability to learn and utilize worship and production technology
Experience
- 3–5 years of ministry experience (minimum of 2–3 years in worship leadership)
- Strong musicianship with an understanding of music theory beyond a basic level, including keys, chord structure, rhythm, arrangement, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with musicians
- Demonstrated ability to lead worship and develop musicians and vocalists
- Proven pastoral leadership and team development experience
- Alignment with Overflow Church’s theology, mission, and vision
- Experience/willingness to play different types of worship genres and at times blend them i.e. CCM, Gospel, Hymns etc.
Who We Are
Overflow Church is a church of 400–500, multiethnic, multigenerational church in Southwest Michigan that has experienced consistent growth coming out of COVID. During the pandemic Overflow experienced a year-long pastoral transition, Overflow averaged around 100 in weekly attendance. In that season, the church faithfully endured leadership transition and uncertainty. In 2021, Overflow Church hired Pastor Elijah Shamenda, and since that time the church has experienced year-over-year growth, renewed clarity of mission, and increasing health across attendance, leadership, and generosity.
Overflow is led by a committed Elder team, pastoral staff, and ministry leaders who believe we are called to be more than a local congregation, we believe we are called to be a regional church. Our vision is to plant five campuses over the next ten years, and we are actively pursuing the launch of our first campus in Kalamazoo.
We are passionate about reaching the neighbor and the stranger those both near and far from God, and we are looking for a Worship Pastor who wants to be part of a big, faith-filled vision that requires sacrifice, teamwork, and long-term commitment.
