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 Vanderbloemen 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)
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.
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.
