Stephen Robert Cass Church Musician History

I want to say how excited me and my wife, Lisa, are about finding Redemption Gilbert. We are quite taken with conviction of Pastor Jeremy that if we say we are Christian to then be on the road toward transformation. And Lisa and I have been on the transformation journey for years, but recently we have been attending a church that has not been dedicated to transformation.

We’re so happy now to be attending Redemption Gilbert, and we thank you for the opportunity to serve.

I have been a musician in church since 1970, singing, playing, and leading worship. I say none of that with any bravado other than to let you know of my conviction by Jesus to serve the church with my hands and voice. It is truly my life’s work.

I am a multi-instrumentalist (acoustic, electric, and bass guitars) and strong vocalist and would like to make myself available to play at Redemption Gilbert up to two times per month, dependent upon your needs.

If, for example, you already have a ton of guitar players, I am also an excellent bass guitarist.

Briefly, I have been on the worship teams of 7 churches in the Phoenix area, been the worship leader at a church plant, and spent 2-3 years as a travelling musician for the Worship Support Network, https://worshipsn.com/, here in the Phoenix area. My detailed church musician history is below.

Thanks for your consideration of me.

Stephen Robert Cass

Church Musician History

Here is my experience in making music and leading worship in the church. I write none of this to brag or to place attention on me, but rather to show how serious I am in fulfilling my call from God to be a musician for Jesus Christ until I no longer have breath. I am open to playing for any church that professes Jesus and the Triune God.

I have played and sang in 100 churches or more.

1970 – 1985 The Catholic Diocese of Des Moines

  • Acoustic guitar and singing in church since 12 years old
    • Among the first guitar players in the U.S. to play in a Catholic church due to Vatican II changes, 1965
      • The priest faced the people rather than the tabernacle and said or sang the Mass in the local language rather than Latin (BIG change to modernize the church)
    • Played and sang at numerous weddings and church gatherings
    • Youth events
      • The Warehouse (a gathering for youth for Mass and other weekend retreats)
      • Teens Encounter Christ (a weekend programmed designed to introduce Jesus to high school seniors)
        • I volunteered to lead or be on the support team in greater than 20 weekend gatherings, where I played and sang for the kids 4 times a day or greater.
        • I played lead guitar and lead vocal in a “house” band for greater than 50 concert celebrations for TEC during this season of life.
      • Employed by the Diocese of Des Moines as a full-time musician from 1976-1979 while a member of the band Followers of the Way.
        • we travelled to and played for the majority of the 84 churches in the Des Moines diocese as well as churches in Fall River, MA, St. Louis, MO, and Galena, IL in their parish halls and for Mass, each session over a weekend period.

Church and worship team membership in Phoenix, AZ Area

1993 – 2000 Friendship Community Church of Ahwatukee (now called Pima Canyon)

  • Worship team – acoustic guitar, lead and back vocals
  • Church Elder

2000 – 2004 Canyon Creek Community Church (closed)

  • Worship team – acoustic and electric guitars, lead and back vocals
  • Sound Engineer

2004 – 2007 Hope Covenant Church

  • Worship team – acoustic and electric guitars, lead and back vocals
  • Assistant Worship Leader
  • Sound Engineer

2007 – 2012 Bridge Covenant Church

  • Planting Worship Pastor
  • Worship team – acoustic and electric guitars, lead and back vocals
  • Sound Engineer
  • Presentation Engineer
  • All worship planning and administration (Planning Center, etc.)

2013 – 2015 Sunrise Church of the East Valley (now a New Day is Dawning)

  • Worship Pastor
  • Worship team – acoustic and electric guitars, lead and back vocals
  • Sound Engineer
  • All worship and planning administration (Planning Center, etc.)

2016 – 2018 Missio Dei

  • Worship team – acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, lead and back vocals
  • Sound Engineer
  • People planning administration (Planning Center)

2016 – 2018 Worship Support Network

Church music support organization – musician for hire

  • Travelled and played at over 30 churches in Phoenix and surrounding area, Tucson, and Wickenburg
  • Lead, acoustic and bass guitars, lead and back vocals

2018 – 2023 The Well

  • Worship team – acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, lead and back vocals

Related ministry activities:

Author with 5 books on songwriting, worship leading, and mixing audio in church:

https://youube.com@StephenRobertCass

https://cravebooks.com/author/stephen-robert-cass?tab=about

https://books2read.com/StephenRobertCass/

Monthly Newsletter – Empowering Worshipers and Songwriters

Classic rock band musician with The Big Zephyr Band.