Steven is a Worship Arts Director. He picks the songs, leads the musicians, wrangles volunteers, fixes technical problems, and creates space for something bigger than the performance.
Most people see the music on Sunday morning. They don't see the week of planning that makes it happen.
Steven has spent more than eleven years working in worship ministry. His job involves selecting music, organizing bands, coordinating rehearsals, helping plan worship services, and managing the technology behind them.
The song choices aren't random, either. Steven works with teaching pastors to understand the themes of upcoming messages, then arranges the music to help people move through the service. He describes it as a funnel: start broad, then gradually focus on something more specific.
“How invisible can I be while still executing this incredibly well?”
— STEVEN, ON HIS APPROACH TO WORSHIP LEADERSHIPSteven considers what people might be feeling when they walk into church, even after a stressful morning getting the family out the door. The music should meet them where they are and help prepare them for what comes next.
Instead of demanding that every musician reproduce a recording exactly, Steven works with the strengths of whoever is available. Different volunteers bring different gifts, and he wants those gifts to fit together.
People sometimes ask Steven what he does for his real job. But coordinating volunteers, managing schedules, preparing services, overseeing livestreams, and solving technical problems can easily fill the week.
His favorite moments come from watching students develop their talents, find community, and eventually take those skills somewhere new. When talented students leave, he thinks of it as launching them rather than losing them.
Steven's love for music started in the car, singing along to '90s country music with his mom.
A school musical led to choir, guitar lessons, and eventually involvement with his church's student worship team. Later, at Concordia University Irvine, he pursued a minor in worship arts.
Outside of work, he's getting into golf, enjoys woodworking, and likes pickleball, camping, hiking, and spending time with his family.
Watching students discover gifts and find a place to belong.
The livestream and equipment still need to work, even when troubleshooting isn't his favorite thing.
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