James Johnson
Mechanicsville,VA
Summary
Experienced with pastoral care, including worship leading, counseling, and spiritual guidance. Utilizes strategic planning to develop meaningful programs and sermons that connect with congregants. Track record of fostering strong sense of community and spiritual growth within congregation.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Pastor of Worship and Arts
First Sterling Church
03.2022 - Current
- Provided pastoral care to individuals in need, offering counseling, guidance, and support during difficult times.
- Provided spiritual care through visitation, counseling, and prayer.
- Officiated special services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and nursing home services.
- Planned and conducted worship services, wrote sermons, and worked with key church leaders to carry out church mission.
- Oversaw administration and management of all areas of ministry.
- Upheld church governance structure by effectively managing staff and volunteer teams while ensuring adherence to established policies and procedures.
- Fostered an environment of inclusivity and acceptance within the church, welcoming diverse perspectives and backgrounds while cultivating unity around shared faith values.
- Delivered engaging sermons tailored to the needs of diverse audiences, effectively communicating spiritual teachings and principles.
- Managed financial resources responsibly by developing budgets, tracking expenditures, and identifying cost-saving measures for various church activities.
- Organized and led Bible study sessions for various age groups, promoting spiritual growth and understanding of religious texts.
- Supervised maintenance of sound equipment, ensuring optimal audio quality during services and events.
- Mentored and developed worship team members, fostering a spirit of unity and commitment to excellence in their musical abilities.
- Implemented creative elements in services like multimedia visuals or dramatic presentations to enhance the worship experience.
- Assisted in planning church-wide initiatives involving music, arts, or other creative expressions to engage congregants spiritually.
- Enhanced congregational unity through organizing social events and fostering a welcoming atmosphere.
Music Teacher
Richmond Public Schools
01.2020 - Current
- Developed and implemented various thematic lesson plans, utilizing age-appropriate material and focusing on relevant topics.
- Documented student work in order to exhibit and celebrate learning process of each child.
- Planned and executed targeted lesson plans to instruct on music theory, music history, and performance etiquette.
- Familiarized students with basic concepts of music such as notes, tempo, symphony, beats, compositions, and chords.
- Created learning environment that encouraged fine arts appreciation.
- Identified students' creative needs and collaborated with other staff for fine arts development.
- Enhanced classroom instruction with multimedia presentations.
- Developed and implemented engaging art lessons for students in grades kindergarten through 12th.
Creative Pastor
Speaking Spirit Ministries
01.2019 - 03.2022
- Provided spiritual and administrative leadership to church and managed daily operations.
- Oversaw administration and management of all areas of ministry.
- Officiated special services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and nursing home services.
- Provided spiritual care through visitation, counseling, and prayer.
- Led renovation and expansion project, successfully renovating or remodeling existing sanctuary and media.
- Improved operations through consistent hard work and dedication.
- Worked flexible hours across night, weekend and holiday shifts.
- Participated in team-building activities to enhance working relationships.
- Led projects and analyzed data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Managed over 250 volunteers
- Increased church social media visibility 20%
- Coordinated and spearheaded programs to increase church members' service throughout community
Area Human Resources Manager
United Parcel Service
09.2016 - 01.2021
- Assisted leadership in development and reinforcement of organizational strategies, structure and processes.
- Analyzed statistical data and reports to identify causes of workplace turnover and developed solutions to increase retention.
- Maintained payroll and benefits for employees in various locations and diminished financial discrepancies through expert program management.
- Facilitated onboarding sessions and on-the-job training for new hires, bolstering employee job position knowledge and skillset.
- Maintained company compliance with local, state, and federal laws, in addition to established organizational standards.
- Monitored and handled employee claims involving performance-based and harassment incidents.
- Motivated employees through special events, incentive programs, and constructive feedback.
- Obtained approvals for hiring exceptions and provided director with applicant eligibility and rehire status.
- Devised hiring and recruitment policies for more than 300 employee employees.
Minister of Music
Cedar Street Baptist Church Of God
01.2008 - 01.2019
- Provided inspiring and motivational music ministry during worship services, programs and events to uplift, encourage and entertain people with positive messages and values.
- Planned, organized and led music ministry during worship service by motivating congregational participation and providing direction to choir members and musicians.
- Recruited volunteers for choirs and worship teams.
- Coordinated music and special vocals for worship services.
- Bridged generational and cultural differences by selecting balance of musical styles for every service and presenting spiritual context.
- Rehearsed choir and conducted warm-up prior to services.
- Promoted fellowship within and helped recruit new volunteers into music ministry.
- Managed music ministry budget and submitted required reports, estimates and requests by deadlines.
- Utilized central screen for lyric projection to teach unfamiliar songs to congregation.
- Engaged congregation through musical worship experience by spreading vitality.
- Utilized technology in planning and presenting music to enhance worship message.
- Acquired music, equipment and supplies to perform designated duties in accordance with financial policies.
- Coached and mentored music ministry team members to become lifelong learners with respect to musical talents and spiritual development.
- Promoted and empowered full participation of congregation by singing verses and acclamations designated for choir in dialogue with congregation and enriching liturgy with harmonies.
- Supported pastor in discerning and meeting spiritual needs and helped church members and guests develop sense of belonging.
- Oversaw budget and programming for worship arts ministry and engaged outside services economically and responsibly.
- Led and inspired worship team members and guided team in following church processes, guidelines and mission.
- Developed programs for holidays and unique events.
- Performed as versatile vocalist and instrumentalist to support inspirational worship services.
- Wrote and implemented innovative worship programs and documented worship plans for easy future retrieval.
- Set up PowerPoint presentations with lyrics for congregation.
- Held worship team accountable for facilitating God-inspired worship and continually encouraged, equipped and empowered volunteers.
- Fostered a supportive environment within the music ministry team, emphasizing teamwork and collaboration to achieve common goals.
Minister of Music
First Baptist Church Of South Richmond
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Recruited volunteers for choirs and worship teams.
- Coordinated music and special vocals for worship services.
- Oversaw budget and programming for worship arts ministry and engaged outside services economically and responsibly.
- Performed as versatile vocalist and instrumentalist to support inspirational worship services.
- Supported pastor in discerning and meeting spiritual needs and helped church members and guests develop sense of belonging.
- Wrote and implemented innovative worship programs and documented worship plans for easy future retrieval.
- Developed programs for holidays and unique events.
- Led and inspired worship team members and guided team in following church processes, guidelines and mission.
- Held worship team accountable for facilitating God-inspired worship and continually encouraged, equipped and empowered volunteers.
- Set up PowerPoint presentations with lyrics for congregation.
- Provided spiritual care through visitation, counseling, and prayer.
- Raised congregational awareness of needs and contributions of youth to church life and operations.
Assistant Minister of Music
New Bethlehem Baptist Church
01.2005 - 01.2008
- Recruit and Manage Assigned Ensemble or Choir
- Ensure all Music Distributed to all Band and Volunteers
- Coordinate Worship Flow with Media Team
- Lead Accompanist
- Assist in Worship/Event Planning
- Managed team of employees, overseeing hiring, training and professional growth of employees.
- Developed team communications and information for meetings.
- Prepared variety of different written communications, reports and documents.
Engineering Practicum Instructor
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
01.2005 - 01.2008
- Exhibited understanding of content, discipline and pedagogy as demonstrated through quality of design, execution of lessons and matching objectives and activities to Maryland standards.
- Demonstrated understanding of instructional planning and timely delivery paced by standards-based and data-driven instruction that engaged students, incorporated technology and made learning relevant for learners.
- Developed curricula, lessons and test plans to maximize student success.
- Organized assets by collecting data from camera media, transcoding video, and audio files and managing file backup to digital asset management system.
- Delivered edits with multiple camera angle choices, titles, graphics, audio, and special effects.
- Developed curriculum that focused on sound quality and how to add various sound effects to recordings.
- Prepared students to be able to mixed and master vocal arrangements and music compositions, and optimized songs, and albums.
Elementary School Music Teacher
Empowerment Academy
01.2002 - 01.2005
- Organized musical equipment thoughtfully to develop classroom routines, managing materials efficiently with minimal lost activity time.
- Instructed students on vocal performance, harmonizing, performing scales and proper posturing.
- Taught students to identify different instruments from instrument's sound and shape.
- Coached students to play various songs and jingles on piano, guitar, violin, and bongo.
- Familiarized students with basic concepts of music such as notes, tempo, symphony, beats, compositions, and chords.
Education
Master of Arts - Divinity/Theology
Virginia Union University
Richmond, VA05-2025
Master of Arts - Music Business
Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA06.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Music Performance
Virginia State University
Petersburg, Virginia06.2016
High School Diploma -
The Baltimore School For The Arts
Baltimore, MD06.2001
Skills
- Organizational leadership
- Teaching
- Pastoral care
- Congregational care
- Officiating
- Public speaking
- Preaching
- Discipleship training
- Leading worship
- Biblical studies
- Recruiting volunteers
- Music management
Accomplishments
Gospel Music Stellar Award Winning Song-Writer and Artist
Affiliations
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
- Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
Additional Information
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- Gospel Music Stellar Award Winner
- 2015 Gospel Stellar Award Song of the Year Nominee
- National Recording Artist
Timeline
Pastor of Worship and Arts
First Sterling Church
03.2022 - Current
Music Teacher
Richmond Public Schools
01.2020 - Current
Creative Pastor
Speaking Spirit Ministries
01.2019 - 03.2022
Area Human Resources Manager
United Parcel Service
09.2016 - 01.2021
Minister of Music
First Baptist Church Of South Richmond
01.2016 - 01.2019
Minister of Music
Cedar Street Baptist Church Of God
01.2008 - 01.2019
Assistant Minister of Music
New Bethlehem Baptist Church
01.2005 - 01.2008
Engineering Practicum Instructor
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
01.2005 - 01.2008
Elementary School Music Teacher
Empowerment Academy
01.2002 - 01.2005
Master of Arts - Divinity/Theology
Virginia Union University
Master of Arts - Music Business
Berklee College of Music
Bachelor of Arts - Music Performance
Virginia State University
High School Diploma -
The Baltimore School For The Arts
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