I am currently searching for a full-time position in worship/music ministry. I have extensive experience in traditional, blended, and contemporary worship styles. I am an experienced vocalist, and play electric and acoustic guitar, electric and acoustic bass, drums, and have skills on piano and keyboards. I have been leading worship in various churches for over 13 years, I was a professional military musician for over 21 years, and have been a freelance professional musician for over 29 years. I have experience in a wide variety of musical genres, from classical, to jazz, to rock. I have been called to music ministry since my experience twelve years ago at a small Baptist church in Belgium, and have sought opportunities to serve in every military assignment since then. I also have extensive experience in live audio engineering, audio system design, digital audio recording, mixing and mastering, and contributed as performer or engineer on five commercial CD releases. Finally, I am experienced in lighting design and have wide software familiarity, from the Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite, to digital audio platforms like Cubase and Sonar, the worship administrative software Planning Center, and presentation software such as SongShow Plus and EasyWorship.
I have been married to Amy for over 24 years, and am the proud father of Victoria (22, married) and Lizzy (19), and grandfather of Holly. I attended Temple University as a music education student for three years, then worked outside music for a time before I returned to teach. I eventually earned a position playing electric and acoustic bass with the U.S. Army, and proudly spent over 21 years as a Soldier. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music in 2007 from Thomas Edison State College, and a Master of Arts in Religion (Worship) from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014.
Though I have performed music in a professional and military environment for nearly three decades, I feel that there is no more important music than that which honors and glorifies God. Through theologically rich lyrics and compelling music of the past and present, I desire to be used by God by serving Him and His Church through music. My calling is to lead in all aspects of worship ministry and come alongside likewise called and skilled individuals to develop future worship leaders.
Derek Pearsall 