THE WATERS EDGE CHURCH STORY

The dream of Waters Edge Church began in late 1997. Our Lead Pastor, Stu Hodges, and his wife, Tabitha, walked away from one of their first seminary chapel services with a clear sense that God had ignited a passion in their hearts—a passion to start a new kind of church and to do church differently.

In 2002, fifty people launched Waters Edge Church with a laser-sharp focus on reaching those far from God. That clear vision has remained the driving force behind everything we do: to change the way people think about church.

On December 3, 2002, the start team met for the first time. Just a few months later, on March 16, 2003, Waters Edge Church held its first service at the Victory Family YMCA, with over 300 people in attendance.
From the beginning, the church experienced significant growth, driven by a culture of excellence, creativity, and a relentless passion for people. As more lives were changed and the need for more space emerged, we began expanding through additional services and eventually adopted a multisite strategy to reach even more people. In 2011, we opened our first additional campus and soon after, launched another—each one extending our reach while staying unified in mission and vision. We are now one church in multiple locations, with the same message, experience, and values shared across every campus—both in-person and online.
And we’re just getting started. With more campuses planned and a strong digital presence, we remain committed to reaching people far from God and leading them to love and follow Jesus.

VISION & MISSION

To change the way people think about church.

CORE VALUES

• We Give Big: We honor God and the Church through generous giving. It’s all His anyway
• Church Should Be Fun: Life has enough boring things, church shouldn’t be one of them
• It’s Not About Me, It’s About Others: We prioritize the needs of guests over our personal preferences to carry out the mission
• WEC Volunteers Get It Done: Our volunteers are scrappy and do whatever it takes to connect people to God and the Church
• We Do a Few Things and Do Them Well: We stay laser-focused on doing a few things with excellence
• Everybody Needs a Group: Groups are where you connect, care, and grow at Waters Edge Church

JOB SUMMARY

Waters Edge Church is seeking a talented, passionate, and driven Worship Leader to join our team full-time. We’re a high-energy, fast-paced, and innovative church committed to changing the way people think about church. If you have a heart for reaching people far from God and creating powerful worship experiences that connect people to Jesus, this could be the role for you. You’ll lead worship with excellence and authenticity, and develop and lead volunteers, collaborate on creative service planning, and help maintain worship and production systems. The ideal candidate is a strong vocalist and instrumentalist (guitar or keys preferred), has experience leading in a contemporary setting, and is skilled with Planning Center, ProPresenter, Ableton, and Logic. You should love building teams, leading with humility, and have a “whatever it takes” mindset. If you’re passionate about the local church and want to use your creative and musical gifts to make an eternal impact, we’d love to hear from you.

PERSONAL PROFILE

• Worship Leadership
• Production Management
• Team Building
• Vision Casting
• Creativity
• Decision-Making
• Project Management
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Integrity
• Authenticity
• Resilience

ESSENTIAL DUTIES &
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead worship on Sundays and for special events
• Contribute to the creative process for Sunday services and special events
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of Programming and Lead Pastor to fulfill the vision of Waters Edge Church
• Oversee the Sunday programming experience at the assigned campus, ensuring excellence in every aspect
• Recruit, manage, and care for volunteers on the Waters Edge Band and Production Team, fostering a passionate and dedicated community
• Coordinate and drive projects by capturing meeting details, overseeing staff and volunteer efforts, and ensuring follow-through on key initiatives
• Organize church events to ensure they are memorable, excellent, and impactful
• Oversee administrative tasks to ensure the smooth operation of daily activities, including timely follow-ups with volunteers, weekly recruitment and scheduling, and maintaining clear, consistent communication

CANDIDATE COMPETENCIES

• Casts a compelling vision that inspires others to take action
• Makes timely and effective decisions that keep the ministry moving forward
• Exceeds expectations consistently, even in challenging situations
• Builds strong relationships and delivers solutions tailored to the church’s needs
• Leads with clear direction, delegates effectively, and removes obstacles to ensure progress
• Earns the trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
• Communicates with clarity and purpose, engaging diverse audiences meaningfully
• Demonstrates resilience by bouncing back from challenges with determination and energy
• Manages resources wisely, striving for excellence in all areas
• Builds cohesive teams that leverage diverse skills to achieve shared goals and deliver an excellent experience

NEWPORT NEWS, VA

Located in the heart of coastal Virginia, our region offers the perfect blend of charm, culture, and opportunity. With beautiful beaches just minutes away, historic landmarks around every corner, and a vibrant, growing community, it’s a place where life feels both relaxed and full of potential. You’ll find top-tier schools, a strong military presence, and easy access to nearby cities like Norfolk, Williamsburg, and Richmond. From catching sunsets along the Chesapeake Bay to exploring local restaurants, farmers’ markets, and festivals, there’s always something happening. It’s more than just a great place to live, it’s a place to thrive, grow, and belong.