JOB OPENINGS
Director of Worship - International Church, Honolulu
The Position
Title: Director of Worship (FT)
Church: International Church of Oahu
Affiliation: Pacific Church Network (part of the Venture Church Network)
Location: Honolulu, HI
Website: intchurch.com
We are a growing non-denominational church family with Baptist roots in Honolulu that is looking for a full-time Worship Director to oversee and lead our worship ministry. This position functions as the director of all worship and music ministries at International for our in-person and online attendees. This includes overseeing all the elements of the worship services, musicians and vocalists, tech equipment and volunteers, under the supervision of the
Lead Pastor.
It’s likely that leadership of the worship ministry will not require all of the position’s weekly full-time hours. Therefore, we expect the Worship Director to spend a portion of their time in another ministry area. For example, they might oversee the production and distribution of quality media for International. This may include worship- and church-related graphics, photos, videos, banners, newsletters, bulletins, websites, and social media posts. (Other potential ministry areas could be: overseeing and supporting groups, directing youth or children’s ministries, or coordinating facility maintenance and improvements.)
About International
International Church has been in Nu’uanu valley since 1968, carrying the good news about Jesus and his kingdom to the island of Oahu and around the world. We are a gospel-centered, Bible-believing faith family who want to know Christ and make him known. Currently, we have one 80-minute worship service on Sundays at 10:30 am. The average in-person attendance is 130 adults and approximately 30 kids. Another 20-30 people usually join via our livestream. The worship style at International is contemporary with a variety of hymns or older praise songs included from time to time. The general vibe for dress on Sundays is island casual. It is our desire to extend the heart and hands of Christ to all our neighbors, across the island and around the world. Because we were founded by a former missionary to Sri Lanka and the Philippines, missions has been a big part of our church’s DNA from the beginning. Our current Lead Pastor grew up a missionary kid and the Associate Pastor is a former missionary. It is our heart to build bridges into the community because we believe that gospel-shaped people ought to engage the world for human flourishing.
We are a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-generational faith family. The ages of our adult attendees can be split into three same-sized segments of 18-35, 35-55, and 55+. Our people come from all over the island, the United States, and other countries around the Pacific region. Our adult congregation is a mix of long-time and recent Hawaii residents of varied occupations including white-collar, blue-collar, active military, as well as college students, homemakers, and retirees. We are a tight-knit and relational family – warm, welcoming, and community-oriented. After the worship service, it's not unusual for people to talk story for over an hour. (And we love sharing meals together!)
MISSION
Together, we aim to help people love God, love people, serve, and engage the world. This is also our Discipleship Process:
• To help people love God, we have Sunday morning worship services.
• To help them grow in their love for people, we have Community Groups.• To help them serve, we have various Ministry Teams.
• To equip people to engage the world, we have various Classes and Growth Groups.
Most of our time, energy, and resources are geared toward making these ministries successful and effective for adults, students, and children.
VALUES
1. Trust God's Word as our Guide (The Bible, the Gospel)
We love God and trust the good news he has communicated to us through the Bible. We grow in our faith when we explore and obey the Scriptures.
2. Extend Aloha (Love, Humility, Kindness, Warmth)
Because God has loved and welcomed us we seek to love and welcome others. We want everyone to know that they are loved and valued by God.
3. Live on Mission (A Church that Sends and Goes)
God is for us and desires all people in all places to experience the abundant life that he intends for them. That is why we seek to extend the heart and hands of Christ to our neighbors – both on Oahu and around the world.
4. Demonstrate Courageous Vulnerability (Real, Authentic, Relational)
We are imperfect, messy people. Instead of hiding our failures and our true selves, we want to share life together in honest, transparent, life-giving relationships. Vulnerability fosters trust and combats shame.
5. Go Above & Beyond (Generosity, Care, Hospitality)
We want to be generous people who give freely to God and our neighbor s. Our time, our abilities, our money, our relationships are God’s and we aim to be open-handed stewards of what he has given us.
6. Embrace the Variety in our Unity (Welcoming, Focus on the Gospel)
We value and welcome people of all ages and backgrounds. We understand that not all followers of Christ will agree on everything and that’s okay. We avoid divisive labels and keep our focus on the essentials of the faith.
7. Trust God's Work (Identity in Christ, Trust the Spirit to Transform)
Disciples are new creations in Christ, not merely saved sinners. We are now God’s children – deeply loved, totally forgiven, and fully accepted. Since God alone saves us and grows us we trust the Holy Spirit to transform people. He will finish what he started.
Tasks & Responsibilities
The Worship Director builds and leads our worship ministries:
• Work closely with the pastors to establish plans for the overall worship ministry and each worship service
• Oversee, plan, and lead worship services and rehearsals
• Serve as the primary worship leader
• Recruit, assess, train, develop, and build the praise and tech teams
• Provide musical and technical leadership to pursue excellence for the worship ministry
• If needed, plan and provide support for various special services such as weddings, funerals, holiday services (e.g.: Good Friday and Christmas Eve), and other occasional functions/ministries (e.g.: Kids, Students, Young Adults, Ohana Camp, etc.)
• Manage and maintain instruments, tech equipment, and communion supplies
• Build and maintain music libraries and support materials for praise bands
• Manage the worship ministry budget
• Shepherd, coach, and care for all worship and tech team volunteers, creating a cohesive and caring team
• Take key leaders to other services, conferences, and meetings that will help equip them for the work of the ministry
Other Administrative Duties:
• Maintain regular office hours in cooperation with staff (up to 25% remote work allowed)
• Maintain timely communication with staff, elders, and volunteers
• Manage design of liturgical, seasonal, decorative aids to worship
• Attend staff meetings and worship planning meetings
• Develop and manage annual goals and worship/music budget
• Complete other ministry-related duties, as assigned
Skills & Strengths
It is important for the Worship Director to have the following abilities and traits:
• Passionate about bringing God’s people close to His heart in worship
• Talented vocalist
• Proficient playing guitar, keys, and/or other instruments
• Knowledgeable about audio-visual setups, soundboards, tech and light equipment
• Strong theological understanding of and deep commitment to the historic Christian faith
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A good team player and team builder who is able to supervise, motivate, and encourage others
• Familiarity with Livestreaming, Planning Center Services, Pro-Presenter, Zoom, Microsoft Office
• Able to keep calm under pressure and respond in a measured way in stressful situations
• Conducts life with the utmost integrity
• Able to maintain confidentiality and discretion
• Strong organizational and administrative skills
• Able to set realistic goals and targets and be able to set a pace of work that is sustainable in the long-term
Goals & Expectations
A successful Worship Director will have a growth mindset demonstrated by:
• Growing in faith and Christlikeness
• Developing skills as a musician and leader of congregational worship, and training others to do the same
• Making progress in ministry, staying open to feedback and new developments
An effective Worship Director will have achieved the following goals during their first 18 months:
• Demonstrated a passion for the worship ministry, leading meaningful services, and helping people experience deeper connection with God
• Created unified worship team characterized by care for each other
• Have chemistry with the staff, volunteers, and people of International Church so that their presence is considered a bonus in every room and with every team
• Connected with our island community
• Consistently led quality worship services
Candidate Profile
The following describes some of the many characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Director of Worship.
Education
• An undergraduate degree in Music, Performance, or Biblical Studies is preferred
Experience
• A gifted vocalist, skilled musician, relational leader with experience in a diverse environment, community, and church/organization.
• 3 years of related worship-leading experience
• Familiarity with AV-related technology like cameras, lights, stages, soundboards, computers, and various hardware and software programs
Personal Characteristics
• A love for Jesus, people, the gospel, and a passion for God’s Word. A humble, Spirit-filled leader who loves and leads relationally well at home, work, and in the community.
• Valuable experience in and deep enjoyment of multicultural environments. Empathy for and openness to learn from people of different backgrounds.
• A person of high integrity, with a servant’s attitude, and a steward’s mindset who is committed to growing themselves and improving their ministries
About Hawai’i
To many outsiders, Hawai’i can appear to be a blissful paradise of never-ending summers. Yes, the tropical breezes are heavenly, the water warm, the beaches beautiful, the food delicious, and the mountains stunning. The Aloha spirit that permeates Hawai’ian culture is a shared blessing for all to experience.
But Hawai’i also has one of the highest costs of living in the nation, skyrocketing housing costs for shrinking spaces, insufferable traffic, crumbling infrastructure, and a poor public education system. In addition, Hawai'i is one of the most geographically isolated places on earth and the expensive airfares make connecting with family and friends extremely difficult for people who have relocated from other places. It is a beautiful place to live, but it also has its challenges.
Instead of being discouraged by this, we see this as a great ministry opportunity! The harvest is ripe for the gospel. Opportunities to bless, reach, and connect people with their Maker abound. We are confident that the right candidate will not be deterred by this reality but is prepared to serve God and meet the people of Oahu “where they are at.” The Worship Director will do well if they and their family enjoy the multicultural, urban, and tropical environments that Hawai’i offers.
Application
To apply for the Worship Director position at International Church, please send your resume and a link to a video of you leading a worship service to worshipsearch@intchurch.com.
APPLICANTS
Pastoral Placement Forms
Some churches in the Pacific Church Network use a Pastoral Placement Form as a vital tool to assist them in this important ministry. We recognize that some have put together their own résumés for use in the churches, but the information we request is what some search committees may ask for, so we are able to make this available to you if interested.
*Please call us at 909-944-5900 if you have any questions.