May 12, 2026
Search Team Update

  • Today, the Search Team met to review information and notes gathered while Zoom interviewing the 3 candidates for Technical Director. It was the decision of the Team that none of the candidates were a good fit for the position. 
  • The Team also decided that perhaps some revisions in the Position Description might make it clearer to prospective candidates exactly what is expected of them. The revisions were made and the revised description was forwarded to Brett at Vanderbloeman.
  • One revision was that of changing the title of the position. It is now Director of Technical Ministries. 
  • The Team also contacted Brett, our Vanderbloeman consultant, to ask for an additional slate of candidates to consider. That is forthcoming. 
  • Meanwhile, plans and details are being worked on to assist with the relocation of our two new pastors. They are busy looking at homes and making plans to move. They are excited and eager to get settled and begin ministering to and with our church family. 

May 10, 2026
Search Team Update

  • Today, at the close of our worship service, the Search Team shared their recommendations for our two pastoral positions.  
  • Dr. Tony Bowen is being recommended as our new Worship Pastor. 
    • Tony, and his wife Karen, come to us from Virginia.
    • He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education with a choral emphasis from Toccoa Falls College, and a Master's and Doctoral degree in Worship Studies from Liberty University.  Both of these degrees have a Leadership emphasis. 
    • Tony leads worship vocally from the piano and has a beautiful tenor voice. 
    • He is skilled in choral conducting with experience directing large worship choirs and praise teams. He is also experienced with leading worship bands.
    • Tony's hire date is set for Monday, June 15,  pending the church's affirmation of the Search Team's recommendation on Sunday, May 24.

  • Dr. Frank Banfill is being recommended as our Pastor of Discipleship and Administration.
    • Frank, and his wife, Beth, come to us from Texas, just northwest of Dallas, where they are members of a large Southern Baptist Church and serve as volunteers ministering to a large group of single adults. Frank has also served on the church's Personnel Committee. 
    • He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pastoral Ministry from Liberty University, a Master of Arts degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Global Leadership and Organizational Management from Indiana Institute of Technology. He was ordained in 1991 and began his ministry as senior pastor at North Ridgeville Baptist Church in North Ridgeville, Ohio. He served there until 1998. 
    • He is also a Senior Certified HR Professional.  
    • Seeing a strong background in adminstration and management, the Search Team modified its interviewing a bit and instead of offering Frank only the Pastor of Discipleship position he was offered a position which includes some administrative function and Frank accepted our offer. He will bear the title Pastor of Discipleship and Administration. .
    • Frank will begin his duties with us Sunday, June 7, pending the church's affirmation of the Search Team's recommendation on Sunday, May 24.*

*Be sure to join us on Confirmation Sunday, May 24
  • Pastor Frank will be delivering the sermon and Pastor Tony will lead worship as he directs the choir, praise team, and band.
  • All church members will have the opportunity to affirm the recommendations of the Search Team during the worship service that day. 

Tony and Karen Bowen
Frank and Beth Banfill

May 7, 2026
Search Team Update

  • Our final candidates for Worship Pastor and Pastor of Discipleship and Administration have accepted our offer to join our pastoral staff and the Search Team is ready to recommend them to the church family for confirmation. 
  • So...we will end our Mother's Day service with this great news and a short introduction to these two men of God who will be part of our church family very soon.   
  • Please join us this Sunday for the Team's recommendation and be ready to vote on the recommendation on Sunday, May 24.  
  • And, watch for additional exciting news of when they will actually be here to meet all of you and worship with us. That's coming very soon!
  • Meanwhile the Team will be busy assisting them with all the details surrounding their move to The Villages.
  • Our new Pastor of Discipleship's first day "on the job" will be June 7 and our Worship Pastor will begin June 15.
  • Other news...on Tuesday, May 5, the Team completed Zoom interviews with all three candidates for the Technology and Communications position and will meet next Tuesday, May 12, to recap and make a decision about making an offer to one of these hopeful candidates. 

May 5, 2026
Search Team Update

  • The Team met Monday, May 4, to recap the in-person visit of Candidate #2 for the Pastor of Disipleship position and receive news of Pastor Alan's choice for Worship Pastor.
  • Offers have been made to the final candidates for Worship Pastor and Pastor of Discipleship. There are still a few i's to dot and t's to cross in the process so watch this webpage for updates as the Team follows through on all the details. 
  • If all goes as planned, the Team will be sharing news of the men God has sent to join our pastoral staff as early as this coming Sunday, May 10. 
  • Today, the Team will be Zoom interviewing 3 candidates for the Technology and Media Director.

May 3, 2026
Search Team Update

  • The Team met with Worship Pastor #2 on Monday, Apr 27. Monday was spent getting to know the candidate (and his wife) and completing the Team's interview which had started with the Zoom meeting. 
  • Tuesday, April 28, the usual day the Praise Team and Band meet for rehearsal of Sunday's worship music, the candidate was invited to work with the singers and the band in rehearsal. It would be sort of an "audition" just like that of Candidate #1. The Team was impressed by his ability to play the piano and he has very nice voice. He would lead worship from the piano as Charles did.
  • Wednesday, April 29, the Team met briefly with the candidate to allow him to ask questions he might have. After the Worship Pastor Candidate’s departure the Team reconvened to recap their time with him. The Candidate (#2) was compared and/or contrasted with Candidate #1. Many positives and a few possible negatives of both candidates were brought to the table.
  • After much discussion, Otis decided the decision between Worship Pastor Candidates #1 and #2, if put to a vote, would or could be an even vote. Both candidates are very gifted and qualified. For that reason, Pastor Alan was asked to make the choice rather than the team voting. Pastor Alan accepted Otis’ decision and request and will have his choice of Worship Pastor made by the beginning of next week (Monday, May 4).
  • On Thursday and Friday, April 30 and May1, the Team met with Candidate #2 for Pastor of Discipleship. The candidate is very qualified and Pastor Alan has asked him to further consider some revisions in the Position Description that he already has in his position. Revisions will be made to include some church administrator responsibilities and the Team will connect with him early this coming week to review the revisions and make a final decision on the candidate. 
  • Tuesday Afternoon, May 5, the Team will Zoom interview all three candidates for Director of Technology and Media. The Team has asked Mike Strawn, who has been serving in a volunteer capacity in the AV Booth since the beginning of the year, to sit in on the interviews to assist the Team with the technology questions that will undoubtedly come up.

April 24, 2026
Search Team Update

  • The Search Team met with Vanderbloeman consultant, Brett Connolly, yesterday afternoon, to receive resumes from candidates for the Teachnical and Communications Director position. 
  • Brett brought us 3 very qualified candidates and Zoom interviews have been scheduled with each of the three on Tuesday afternoon, May 5. 
  • In-person interviews are scheduled for next week, beginning Monday, Apr 27, with Worship Pastor Candidate #2 and with Discipleship Candidate #2. 
  • Pray for God's direction as we determine the candidates that will be recommended to the Church family members for their vote of confirmation.  

Apri1 19, 2026
Search Team Update

  • Last Thursday, April 16, The Team met to evaluate Candidate #1 for the Worship Pastor position after his visit. 
  • Worship Pastor Candidate #2 has been scheduled to meet with the Team in person on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 28 & 29.
  • Tomorrow, Monday, April 20, the Team will meet for its first in-person interview with a candidate for the Pastor of Discipleship position.
  • On Thursday and Friday, April 30 and May 1, the Team will welcome Candidate #2 for the Pastor of Discipleship position.
  • The Team is still looking forward to meeting with Brett this week, April 23, to receive candidates' resumes for the Technical Director position.   

April 15, 2026
Search Team Update

  • The Search Team has met with our first candidate for Worship Pastor. 
  • Monday, April 13, The Search Team welcomed him and his wife and 3 children - ages 11, 9, and 3.
  • Lisa and Karen Perry spent the day having fun with the children while our candidate and his wife spent most of the day with the Search team and had some one-on-one time with Pastor Alan.  
  • The Search Team had just a few more questions, left over from the Zoom interview, but also gave them an opportunity to ask their questions. 
  • It was a great time of fellowship and sharing.  
  • Tuesday, April 14, the usual day the Praise Team and Band meet for rehearsal of Sunday's worship music, the candidate was invited to work with the singers and the band in rehearsal - sort of an informal audition - and he did a great job! 
  • Today, the family is returning home.
  • Tomorrow, April 15, the Search Team will meet to evaluate the visit.
  • Again, pray for their safe travel.

April 9, 2026
Search Team Update

  • From the slates of six candidates for the Pastor of Discipleship and five for the Worship Pastor position- two for each position have advanced to the next level of consideration and have been invited to meet, in person, with the Team. 
  • The pastors' wives have also been invited so we will have an opportunity to meet them as well. 
  • In-person interviews will begin next week. Interviews will be with the Team as a group and one-on-one with Pastor Hugh and Pastor Alan.
  • Pray for their safe journey as they travel. 

April 1, 2026
Search Team Update

  • The Search Team has been blessed by your prayers as we continue with the work of searching for our new pastoral staff members. 
  • Monday, March 30, the Search Team completed Zoom interviews with all the candidates - 6 for the position of Pastor of Discipleship and 5 for the position of Worship Pastor. 
  • Today, the Team began evaluating all the information gathered about each candidate. 
  • The evaluation process will take several days and will result in identifying those candidates who best fit the criteria for each position and the candidates we wish to invite to meet us in person.
  • We have also been contacted by Brett, our Vanderbloeman consultant, saying he is ready to bring a slate of candidates for the position of Technical Director. The Team expects to meet with  him the last week of April to receive resumes and introductory videos.

March 22, 2026
Search Team Update

Today was a wonderful busy day!
  • Brett shared worship with us this morning and met with the Team all afternoon to personally deliver a slate of 6 Pastor of Discipleship candidates and 5 Worship Pastor candidates. He shared the introductory videos candidates had made for us and shared additonal information he had gathered from his personal interviews of each candidate. 
  • The Team will begin tomorrow scheduling our own Zoom interviews with each candidate for later this week. 
  • After the Zoom interviews are completed, those candidates the Team wishes to talk to in person will be invited for a visit. 

March 17, 2026
Search Team Update

The Search Team just received more exciting news from Brett yesterday.
  • He will be bringing with him on Sunday, March 22, a slate of 5 candidates for our Worship Pastor position and a slate of 5, possibly 6, candidates for our Pastor of Disciplship position. 
  • He has also begun his interview and vetting process with 7 possible candidates for the Technical and Communications position (Zack's position). 
  • The Search Team is looking forward to Brett's presentation of all these candidates and covets your prayers as we begin our process of interviewing. 

March 11, 2026
Search Team Update

Plans are complete for a special Sunday, March 22, when we begin 7 Days In One Accord...A Time of Focused Prayer
  • Dr. Ronnie Walker will be leading us into a directed time of prayer for the next 7 days as the Search Team begins reviewing resumes and meeting candidates. He has prepared a Prayer Guide for us which will focus on a different scripture and specific prayer for Monday, March 23 thru Sunday, March 29 - 7 Days in One Accord.  
  • Sunday, March 22 will also be the day when our Vanderbloemen Consultant, Brett Connolly, will be worshipping with us before meeting with the Search Team. He comes to bring us our first slate of candidates for Worship Pastor and Pastor of Discipleship and to speak to the church family briefly about progress they are making with finding and vetting candidates for the two positions as well as those to fill the position formerly held by Zack Ryer. The Search Team is looking forward to worshipping with Brett and spending the afternoon with him as we see our first candidates.
  • On Monday, March 24, we will begin scheduling Zoom interviews with the candidates over the next few days. After the Zoom interviews are completed, the Search Team will invite viable candidates to visit and meet with us in person. Check back here, on our website, for further news and updates as we begin the process of interviewing. 

March 2, 2026:
Search Team Update

We just received great news from Brett today that there's a chance he will be bringing an additional candidate for the Worship Pastor position when he comes on March 22. We could also see our first candidates for Pastor of Discipleship. We will have a long day that Sunday so please pray for the team and for Brett's safe travel to meet with us. 

Feb 28, 2026:
Search Team Update 

The Pastor Search Team will be welcoming our Vanderbloemen Consultant, Brett Connolly, on Sunday, March 22. Brett will worship with us that morning and then meet with the Search Team after lunch to present the first slate of 5 candidates for our Worship Pastor position.  The Search Team will have the opportunity to view the candidates' introductory videos and will immediately begin scheduling Zoom interviews with the candidates. Watch this website page for additional news as the search process continues for our Worship Pastor, our Pastor of Discipleship and our new Technical and Communications Director. Read more about Brett below. 

Feb 23, 2026:
Introducing Vanderbloemen and Our Consultant, Brett Connolly



The foundation for Vanderbloemen began long before the firm began helping churches find key leaders. For 15 years, William Vanderbloemen was active in local church ministry, the bulk of which was spent as a Senior Pastor of churches ranging from 350 to over 5,000 people. That active church leadership, combined with William's work experience in a Fortune 200 company doing talent integration and retention, laid the groundwork for Vanderbloemen.
Through extensive experience in both ministry and business, God placed a desire in William to build a search firm that could help churches find key leaders. In 2008, William sought out and received top-notch training in executive search practices, learning from an expert in the field who has served over two decades in retained executive search, including time at Russell Reynolds.

In 2010, God birthed a firm that has since gone further and wider in executive search work than William or anyone on the team ever foresaw. The firm has over 30 full-time staff members and boasts the only executive search firm built solely for the church with full-time staff, real corporate training, and active church leadership experience. Vanderbloemen has worked in nearly every state in the United States and has a blossoming international practice, including work in India, Canada, Australia, Uganda, and Bermuda.

The firm works with churches of every size, ranging from 70 to over 70,000 in weekly attendance. Vanderbloemen has successfully executed searches in over 75 different denominations or types of churches, ranging broadly in ethnicity, theological bent, and philosophy of ministry.

Providing guidance to churches looking for a new Senior or Lead Pastor has become an area of particular expertise for the firm. Succession planning and helping churches transition after a long-time pastorate is a special passion for William, and the firm has become known for its work in this area. William’s book, Next: Pastoral Succession That Works, was published by Baker Books in September of 2014, and quickly sold out of its first printing. After multiple printings of the book, Vanderbloemen saw a need in the church for a deeper step into succession planning through succession consultation. To that end, the firm established a succession consultation practice that has helped many ministries talk and plan through a successful succession. (Taken from SUCCESSION CONSULTATION REPORT By Brian Dunks, July 2023)

Executive Search Consultant, Brett Connolly 

Brett helps ensure that highly qualified candidates fit the ministerial and spiritual needs of the clients, and he guides candidates through the Vanderbloemen interview process as well as proactively searches for candidates on behalf of Vanderbloemen’s clients. Brett has completed over 150 searches during his time at Vanderbloemen.

He is a Houstonian born and raised, growing up in Kingwood, and currently living in Cypress. Brett attended Dallas Baptist University where he studied communication theory and Christian studies. He and his wife, Mackey, have been married for 11 years and they love chasing their toddler around.
Brett has nearly a decade of full-time pastoral experience. He served on staff at Second Baptist Church, and most recently West Conroe Baptist Church.

In his free time, Brett enjoys going to sporting events with his family (rooting on the Rockets and Astros!), going to the movies, and relaxing at home with a cup of coffee in his hand while reading or streaming a movie.