Associate Pastor for Music and Worship

The job of Associate Pastor for Music and Worship is extremely important in that he is vital to the worship experience of the church.  Through music, he must be committed to sharing the love of Christ with the church, West Memphis, Arkansas and the rest of the world.  The Minister of Music should be assured of his salvation, convinced of his calling, and committed to joyfully sharing his gifts and abilities in the music ministry assigned to him.  As with all called ministers, his primary responsibility is to obey God in his calling.  He will be responsible to First Baptist Church with the pastor serving as his direct supervisor.  The Minister of Music will lead the church in corporate worship in all of the scheduled times of church worship.  It is his responsibility to choose and use quality music which glorifies the Lord, helps believers truly worship Him, helps unbelievers to be attracted to the Lord, and in general, helps others to experience a deeper fellowship with the Lord.

• Through prayerful planning with the pastor, select Christ-centered music to be used in leading the congregation in worship.
• Prepare Media for worship services.
• Emphasize strong congregational participation and choral or group music where the strength of the presentation is always emphasized as more important than the personality of the musicians.
• Seek to relate and correlate music with the message of the worship hour using soloists, ensembles, etc.
• Organize the potential music groups within the church to the highest possible level.
• Enlist and train leaders and accompanists for the various music service groups.
• Either direct or supervise the direction of all music groups.
• Assist in special ministry opportunities and responsibilities:
  • Weddings: counsel and assist in providing quality music.
  • Funerals: assist with appropriate music
  • Revivals: direct or assist a guest director
• Maintain the music library utilizing a representative from all music groups so that they can help keep it in order as well as know what is available.
• See that instruments are maintained, supplies obtained, and guide in the selection of new music to be purchased within budgeted limits.
• Maintain weekly messages for podcast.
• Create weekly announcement video/slideshow for preservice display, screens surrounding sanctuary, and screens in the FLC.
• The Minister of Music must accept and carry out as promptly as possible all other duties as they may be assigned to him by the pastor.

Our church has a rich history of lifelong, servant-hearted, and loving believers. Nestled in the Delta there are many economic challenges but you would be hard-pressed to find a more loving and caring community anywhere in the world.

At the crossroads of two major interstates (I40/I55), West Memphis is a hub of travel and commerce. As our name indicates, we are just west of Memphis on the other side of the banks of the Mississippi River. Our proximity to Memphis in the low lying farmlands of Arkansas create an environment that is uniquely both agricultural and suburban.

We have excellent School Districts. West Memphis and Marion school districts, which primarily make up our church, have excellent music and athletic programs, as well as academically challenging programs.

Our community is well served by having the advantages of a big city next door. Just across the river are tremendous resources for healthcare, shopping, entertainment and many more activities.

We won’t mince words on the challenges of our area.

Many of the families of our community live underneath the line of poverty. Many of the families in our community are broken with only one parent (usually the mother). There are many families who struggle with the painful effects of addiction.

As far as we are concerned, that is why we are here.

First Baptist is a beacon of light and hope serving our community and sharing the gospel.