Nicholas McLean1045 10 Mile Rd. NEComstock Park, MI

(616) 212-7390nmclean2@gmail.com

Objective

Experienced songwriter and worship leader seeking to serve the church through a full-time position as a worship pastor or director of church music.

Education

Bachelor of Arts – Worship Arts (Music) 2010 – 2014 Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, MI

Co-led worship team for university chapel service; regular attendance of 700 students Wrote and arranged congregational song for Redemption City Church worship service Co-wrote two congregational songs as part of an annual student-led, collaborative retreat Developed skill in live sound; evaluated surrounding area churches’ sound equipment, and

discussed best purchases for limited church budgets Produced audio projects using Pro Tools software to edit, mix, and master final tracks Conducted small brass and woodwind ensemble in a classroom setting under direction of

Grand Rapids Symphony associate conductor, John Varineau Sang in university choir as baritone/tenor for four years Studied the fundamentals of Biblical hermeneutics and strengthened skills in exegetical

writing Formulated personal philosophies of music and worship and developed songwriting skills

under direction of Matthew Westerholm, current pastor of music and worship at Bethlehem Baptist Church

Mechanical Engineering 2004 – 2006 Muskegon Community College, Muskegon, MI

Related Experience

Redemption City Church – Grand Rapids, MI Pastor – Mike Bartlett

Redemption City Church is a church plant of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The church exists to pursue a relationship with God, his people, and the advance of his kingdom for the glory of God and the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. The vision is to be a redemption movement in the heart of the city that transforms lives, forms community, renews the city, and impacts the world through church planting.

Worship Leader Jan. 2014 – Dec. 2014 Led band rehearsals and Sunday worship services with guitar and vocals Coordinated with pastor to plan and implement weekly worship services Arranged worship songs to cater to the strengths of worship team members Engaged with church members through prayer and Bible study at men’s discipleship

groups and mixed community groups

Worship Intern Jan. 2013 – May 2013 Mentored by pastor and previous worship leader in areas of service planning and

team leadership Played acoustic guitar as a band member Alternated between playing on stage and running sound Arrived at 7am each Sunday for weekly set up of live sound equipment and tore

down each week after service Sound Tech Sept. 2012 – Jan. 2013

Served by simultaneously running sound, lyric slides, and recording of the sermon for weekly worship services

Cornerstone University Learning Center – Grand Rapids, MI Coordinator – Carol Sprague

Music Theory and Aural Perception Tutor Sept. 2011 – May 2012 Anticipated needs of students and modeled effective practice habits Explained and explored music theory concepts and sight singing techniques Coordinated with professors to help students meet goals and course requirements Administered make-up tests in a one-on-one setting

Lakeshore Baptist Church and Academy – Grand Haven, MI Supervisor – Mark George

Guitar Player Sept. 2009 – Sept. 2010

Played acoustic guitar as part of team for traditional style worship service Attended weekly planning meetings for music selection and service flow

Janitor/Maintenance May 2010 – May 2011 Worked second shift most week nights while commuting two hours round trip daily

to Cornerstone University Set-up and rearranged desks and chairs to meet church and academy weekly

needs Cleaned bathrooms, vacuumed sanctuary and classrooms, performed basic

electrical maintenance, refinished gymnasium floors

Lakeshore Guitar Studio – Grand Haven, MI Self-Employed

Private Guitar Instructor Jan. 2009 – Aug. 2010 Taught students ranging from kindergarten to 6th grade Assigned weekly exercises to develop skills in rhythm, sight reading, chart reading,

and various guitar styles Communicated individual student progress with parents Built positive relationships with students and parents to encourage optimal growth

Harbor Hospice – Muskegon, MI Pastor & Bereavement Facilitator – Jonathan Rager

Hospice Volunteer Jan. 2004 – Dec. 2004 Played and sang hymns on guitar, prayed with residents, and read Scripture with

terminal patients Completed routine tasks such as yard work and house upkeep for patients’ families Received one-on-one training and adhered to confidentiality agreements to maintain

patients’ privacy

Hesperia Baptist Church – Hesperia, MI Pastor – Nate

Youth Group Leader 2004 – 2006 Led small group teenage Bible study Delivered public testimony and Gospel message to group of 50 high school

students Coordinated with other leaders and planned various activities for outreach and

fellowship

Other Work Experience

West Michigan Painting and Remodeling – Grand Rapids, MI Supervisor – Dimitri Oct. 2014 – present

Painter & Interior Remodeler Painted interior walls and ceilings using professional techniques Demonstrated flexibility by arriving promptly to varying scheduled jobs across the

greater Grand Rapids area Showed commitment to learning new skills through on-the-job training Replaced drywall, worked with PVC piping, and installed cupboards and cabinetry Remained on task while working without direct supervision

A Christian Ministry in the National Parks – Moran, WY River Boss – Bill MonroeGrand Teton National Park May 2011 – Sep. 2011

ACMNP provides an opportunity for Christian men and women to grow as leaders and explore and express their faith through service and outreach in a beautiful outdoor setting. Team leaders plan, coordinate, and implement elements of non-denominational worship services, which are attended by people working in, living in, and visiting the national park. Team members are required to secure and work a full-time job while serving as part of the ministry.

Ministry Team Leader Experienced leading every element of an outdoor worship service: led worship with

guitar and vocals, delivered 15 minute sermons, administered offering and communion, led responsive readings, and prayed publically

Attended outreach and ministry training conference with ACMNP executive director, Rev. Dr. Spencer L. Lundgaard

Van Driver/Tour Guide Transported guests in a 15-passenger van to and from the Snake River for scenic

rafting tours Assisted river guides with loading and unloading of raft and equipment

Panera Bread – Grand Rapids, MI General Manager – Jenn Karcher

May 2012 – June 2014 Grand Haven, MI General Manager – Beth Flermoen

March 2008 – May 2010Trainer

Remembered regular guests’ names and orders to establish rapport Prioritized customers by attending to their requests, maintaining clean dining

environment, suggesting favorite menu items, listening to their suggestions, and serving orders in a timely fashion

Assisted fellow employees by helping with secondary duties during down time

Confession on Worship

Our worship is a response to God who seeks our worship and who has shown His love and mercy to us through Jesus Christ. John 4:23 says that “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in [the Holy] Spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him”.

Jesus Christ is our means of true worship of God. Jesus Christ is the only one capable of worshipping God perfectly. “We are heirs with Christ” and “we share in His inheritance”. Because we are heirs with Christ it is Christ’s ability to truly worship that counts for us as we attempt to honor God with our lives.

Worship is no longer confined to a certain time or location. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, believers in Him have the Holy Spirit who enables us to worship God at any time and place.

True worship of the heart spills over into outward forms of praising God. True worship is not merely singing to God at church on Sunday. Singing and praising God on Sunday should be an outpouring of the true worship that took place during our week.

It is the worship leader’s job to help unify a body of believers who come ready to offer songs of praise to God. It is God who provides a worship experience for believers, not the musicians.

Confession on Music

The ability to play music is a gift from God to be enjoyed.

As Christian musicians, music should be used to point to the “Creation, fall, redemption” story of our world for the ultimate glory of God. The tension and resolution of music is a great illustration of how our created world is at unrest until it is fully redeemed by Jesus Christ.

The Christian musician must be involved in the church. By being involved in the church we demonstrate to the world what it looks like for a body of believers to live a new life in Christ.

The main community for the Christian musician is the church. We are called by God to live life with other believers, even believers who have no interest in music.

Music is the division of time into rhythms and beats, and sounds into specific pitches and notes. Different cultures use different systems of dividing rhythms and pitches. Western music divides sound into twelve distinct pitches that we call the chromatic scale.

The constraints that we find in musical systems allow for more creativity than if we had no constraints or rules. Musical form allows for creativity in improvisation.

Music is a physical phenomenon, not a spiritual one. The physical nature of music is not a bad thing. Music consists of physical vibrations which are produced on instruments made with physical materials, transmitted through physical airwaves and heard through our physical ears all of which God created.

The composition and performance of music does not enable one to transform the world. It is not a means by which we realize our own selfish wants and desires.

Change and order can coexist in music. Music shows us that change and order are not mutually exclusive things. Music is something that goes through several changes but is highly organized at the same time.

Good music is something that gets better with time. There is a strong cultural notion in America that things are better the sooner you can enjoy them, but a good song is only something that can be fully enjoyed by listening to the whole thing. We learn patience by learning to enjoy music in its entirety.