Dear Brother or Sister in Christ,
My name is John Hardie, and I am the pastor of City Church in Corpus Christi. This is an open letter of recommendation for Steven Hansen, our Director of Music and Media. I'll begin by saying that I've worked in congregational ministry for 37 years, and working with Steven has been one of the most rewarding professional relationships I've ever had.
Who is Steven? What is he like? Personally, he is considerate, confident, and candid. Professionally, he is respected throughout Corpus Christi. His colleagues know him as someone who takes Christian worship seriously.
Week after week, we plan worship services together. Steven is mindful of the flow of a service. He cares deeply about words. He appreciates organization, yet he knows it is the Holy Spirit who breathes life into our worship.
As an artist, Steven is a gifted interpreter and arranger. He weaves instruments together in a beautifully complementary manner, and people respond well to his leadership. I often find myself preferring his arrangements of worship songs over the versions I hear on YouTube.
His invitations to worship are simple and warm. He sings beautifully and has a remarkable ability to draw attention to the message of a song without drawing attention to himself. That is a rare gift.
I would also add that Steven performs well under pressure. I've seen it many times. He possesses an inner strength, maintains high standards, and knows when and how to turn to the Lord for wisdom and strength.
When working through matters of pastoral leadership, I have come to value his insight and counsel. In every respect, Steven would be an asset to any church.
I sincerely pray he has the opportunity to serve our Lord in a church larger than ours. The Church at large needs leaders like Steven, and I believe he has earned that opportunity.
Our church and I will greatly miss his ministry, his warm smile, and his wonderful family.
Please feel free to contact me if I can provide any additional information.
In Christ Jesus,
Rev. John Hardie
Pastor, City Church Corpus Christi
jhardie@citychurchcc.com
361-443-4916
"You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." — Jeremiah 29:13
Travis Lockyer
To Whom It May Concern:
It is my privilege to recommend Steven Hansen for a position in worship ministry. I served as Head of School at Annapolis Christian Academy from 2017 to 2026, and during that time Steven served the school in various capacities, most recently as a part-time instructor on our faculty. I supervised his work directly and came to know him as a musician, a teacher, and a man of consistent Christian character.
Steven led our chapel bands for students in grades seven through twelve. He met with students twice a week and built a comprehensive student-led worship team. Steven showed the discernment to build worship sets that served corporate worship rather than performance, and the spiritual maturity to help students understand that they were leading their peers before the Lord, not simply playing songs. He drew in students who might otherwise have stood at the margins, gave them real responsibility, and held them to a standard they rose to meet. Our chapel worship was markedly stronger because of his leadership, and many students grew in both skill and faith under his care.
Steven also carried significant responsibility for the school's technical infrastructure, overseeing lighting and sound for a wide range of events. He was central to our spring theatrical productions, both in planning and in executing the technical and audio elements of each performance. Steven combines technical fluency with genuine servant-heartedness and is an exceptionally skilled musician. Any church that hires him will gain not only a worship leader, but someone who understands the entire scope of the worship experience.
Steven is humble and gracious with students and colleagues alike. What I valued most as his supervisor was how little supervision he actually required. He took ownership of projects and carried them through from beginning to end—whether leading a worship team, solving a sound issue hours before a performance, or navigating the technical demands of a production. He consistently gave time well beyond school hours to ensure the work was done well. When something needed solving, he solved it rather than bringing the problem back to me. He worked cooperatively with me and with other staff members throughout, but he never needed to be managed and never looked for credit.
I would also add a word about his family. Steven and his wife are raising four children—Valor, Honor, Selah, and Trinity—and I had the privilege of having them as students at Annapolis Christian Academy. They are respectful, warm, and genuinely enjoyable young people who reflect well on the home that formed them. I watched them flourish at school, contributing to our chapel worship bands and theater program. They would be an asset to any congregation they join.
I recommend Steven Hansen without reservation. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if I can answer any questions or speak to his qualifications in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Travis Lockyer
Former Head of School, Annapolis Christian Academy (2017–2026)
tjlockyer@gmail.com
(402) 486-9924
Kris Redus
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Kris Redus, and I serve as the Worship Minister at Second Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. I am also a professional producer, songwriter, and recording artist. It is my privilege to recommend Steven Hansen, whom I have had the opportunity to know as both a close friend and a fellow worship ministry leader for the past fourteen years. During that time, we've led worship gatherings together, written songs, backed up folk artists, collaborated on studio recordings, and shared a great deal of life together. Because of that, I've had a unique opportunity to observe both his character and his exceptional breadth of talent.
Steven's skill set is incredibly expansive, and I'm continually amazed by the high level of excellence and precision he brings to everything he does.
As a vocalist, Steven is a true artist. He's crafted a sonic signature that is unmistakably his own and is a real joy to listen to. His sound is natural and inviting—equally at home leading a large worship gathering or performing as a folk artist in an intimate listening room. I've brought him into my studio as a background vocalist for many different artists, and he has an exceptional ability to blend and harmonize in a way that serves every song beautifully. Steven is also a highly skilled acoustic guitarist, able to cover a wide range of musical styles with the power, precision, and musicality needed to hold a live band together.
If that weren't enough, Steven is also an outstanding live sound professional. It's always a treat when I have the opportunity to play at his church because I know it's going to be the best monitor mix I'll experience anywhere. He has a true musician's ear for mixing, and that makes all the difference. Whether in a small church or a large venue, he knows how to make a system sound rich, natural, and musical. He's equally at home engineering and producing in the studio as well. The times he's brought me in as a session player have always been wonderful experiences.
Steven is a dynamic worship leader and service planner. He has a humble, unassuming way of speaking to the congregation. I regularly see people's defenses come down and genuine engagement begin as he leads. He has a remarkable ability to meet people where they are rather than singing over their heads.
Leading a team through rehearsal is an undervalued skill, and Steven excels at coaching a band toward its highest potential. He tailors his instruction to each person's skill level, demonstrates tremendous patience, and continually encourages individuals to grow into the next stage of their development. These are difficult qualities to cultivate, and I have watched Steven demonstrate them consistently.
Finally, Steven is a thoughtful conversationalist, a deeply caring friend, an invested father, a devoted husband, and a committed follower of Christ. We've walked together through many joys and challenges in both family life and ministry. I have the utmost respect for his character, his integrity, and his calling in the Kingdom of God.
I recommend Steven without reservation to any church seeking a worship leader of exceptional musical ability, technical expertise, pastoral sensitivity, and Christlike character. I have every confidence that he will faithfully serve wherever God calls him.
Sincerely,
Kris Redus
Worship Minister
Second Baptist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas
Professional Producer, Songwriter & Recording Artist
kristopher.redus@gmail.com
(903) 495-1607