Our New Worship Leader: Michael Gomez

We are thrilled to announce that Michael Gomez has joined St. Luke Medical District (SLMD) as our new Worship Leader. A versatile and accomplished songwriter, composer, producer, and performing artist, Michael brings extensive experience in worship ministry and music production. We are very excited to see how God uses his gifts at SLMD, to bless the congregation and our community. Rector James Madden notes,“Music is the heart language of the people situated within God’s story of salvation. Within the Anglican tradition, it provides the emotional resonance to thread word and sacrament to a cohesive experience. We believe Michael is the leader who will be able to facilitate this high calling.”
 
With over a decade of experience in church ministry, Michael was most recently the Executive Producer at Highland Park United Methodist Church for the contemporary Cornerstone Service.  Prior to that, he spent 6 years helping to plant Grove Church. As the principal congregational worship leader, Michael helped develop the identity and culture of Grove Church, formulating a strong philosophy of worship purpose and practice, and developing a unique worship style blending modern and traditional elements, while overseeing all aspects of production for services. He has mastered every element of worship leading, from maintaining audio/video equipment, to song selection, arrangement and band leadership.

Michael holds dual Bachelor's degrees in Latin American Studies and TV/Radio from SMU, as well as a Certificate of Guitar Performance from London Music School. He plays guitar and bass, and sometimes a little piano as well. He is the founder of RoomFour Guitar Studio (www.roomfourguitar.com), where he leads guitar instruction programs and events.
 
A singer/songwriter, Michael started LateNative (www.latenative.com) in 2014. His songwriting and composition skills have earned him recognition, including being named a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Gomez's work is affiliated with BMI, and he has collaborated with notable producers and musicians in the industry. These collaborations include work with Chris Bell (known for his work with Erykah Badu and The Eagles), Warren Huart (who has worked with Aerosmith and The Fray), as well as renowned drummers Blair Sinta (Alanis Morissette, Annie Lennox) and David Palmer (ABC, Rod Stewart).
 
Gomez's musical journey includes performances at prominent venues such as House of Blues and Kessler Theater. He has also gained valuable recording experience at various studios, including Dallas Sound Lab and Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. Additionally, he has shared his storytelling expertise through lectures with groups like the Highland Park Literary Festival.
 
Fluent in Spanish and skilled in various music production and presentation software, his expertise extends to audio/video editing, graphic design, and web design, making him a well-rounded professional in the music industry. Michael brings a full and diverse set of talents to his new role at SLMD.

A native of Garland, TX, Michael was raised in a Pentacostal church with Baptist schooling, and has spent the last 10 years at Methodist churches. But he has been on the path to Anglicanism since his time in England in 2001. While studying music at the London Music School, Michael attended Holy Trinity Brompton, and got to see a fresh expression of traditional faith. There, he developed a taste for liturgical worship and the emphasis on meeting God at the Table. In the last few years, he started a theological journey that led him to NT Wright and CS Lewis. Friends began to tell him that he should explore Anglicanism, and that exploration brought him to SLMD.

Michael and his wife Paloma live in University Park, with their beloved retriever, Lucky. Paloma teaches 3rd grade at Hockaday. His daughter Lucy will be starting her 2nd year at UT next month, and Sophie will be a senior at Highland Park High School. He said recently, “What I love about the Park Cities is the strong sense of community, and that close-knit feeling of people who both live and work here.” He loves walking over to Burger House with his girls for a shake, or grabbing a glass of wine at DL Mack’s - and of course the jam sessions at the studio! Please join us in welcoming Michael to his new church home at St. Luke Medical District!