Our Lead Pastor Search Team has unanimously recommended Will Browning to serve as the next Lead Pastor of Magnolia Church. He will be preaching at 9:30 and 11:00 on Sunday, May 18th. That evening, we will gather as a church family for a special called business meeting to vote to call Will Browning as Lead Pastor.
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Pastoral Transition
Meet Will Browning
Will grew up in a small town, playing sports and working on his father’s farm. After graduating from Georgia Southern University, he gained three treasures: a degree, a newfound faith in Jesus, and a love for Tarah. The farm boy and the big-city girl from Miami moved to Atlanta, where Will initially felt called to be a Christian businessman. But during a worship service in Alpharetta, God revealed His bigger plan: “I want you to spend the rest of your life seeing your generation come to worship me.”
Will went on to earn his Masters of Divinity, planted Journey Church in Summerville, SC, and grew it from his home to 950 worshipers in multiple locations, with 9 autonomous church plants. He also earned a Doctorate in Ministry in Great Commission Studies. In 2021, God called Will and Tarah to Los Angeles, where Will serves as the Director of Send California and the Los Angeles Send City Missionary for the North American Mission Board. Since Will came to California in 2021, 127 churches have been planted through Send California!
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Tarah is very involved in ministry as well. She's an accomplished worship leader, formally trained music teacher, event planner, and serves today with the California Southern Baptist Convention as their Specialist for Church Planters' Wives Care. Will and Tarah have also led dozens of marriage conferences together.
Will and Tarah have been married for 25 years and have three children, two of whom were adopted from Ukraine. Their daughter, Piper, is a nurse and getting married in June to Phil. Their son, Ethan is a retired Marine and now works as a general contractor. Ethan and his wife, Audrie, just gave Will and Tarah their first grandbaby, Gabriel, with a second, Beau, on the way! Their youngest son, Jed, is a freshman at California Baptist University studying accounting.
God is at work doing exciting things at Magnolia Church. Over 50 people have been baptized on average each year the past several years. Last year, we saw nearly 2,200 gospel conversations and we are seeking to have 2,500 gospel conversations by the end of this year. New people come to Magnolia Church every single Sunday and we have seen our attendance steadily growing over the past several weeks and months. When God is at work, it’s our aim to join Him in what He is doing. In this season, we have found God is moving us into a time of transition.
Our Process
Nomination and Election of Search Team
The officers of our Trustees, Deacons, and Personnel Committee nominated a Lead Pastor Search Team. The team consists of seven members and one alternate. This team was presented to the church and elected by the church membership in a special called business meeting, which was held on Sunday, October 27th.
Lead Pastor Search Team
The Lead Pastor Search Team, consisting of Gaye Hawkins, Ted Hosmer, Terry Lowe, Stacy McIntyre, Jennifer Palmer, David Schiessel, Janette Taylor, and Mike Wyant, began their work in the Fall of 2024. Their work involved developing a candidate profile, interviewing and vetting potential candidates, and seeking God’s man to present to the congregation.
Calling of New Lead Pastor
On Sunday, April 6th, 2025, the Lead Pastor Search Team announced Will Browning as their recommendation to the church to serve as our next Lead Pastor. We will have Will preach on Sunday, May 18th in the morning and then a special called business meeting will be held that evening to hold a vote to call Will as our Lead Pastor.
Transition to New Lead Pastor
At this time, the plan is to create a brief overlap time period where Pastor Montia will still serve as Lead Pastor, but the incoming Lead Pastor will also be on staff. The new Lead Pastor will be installed at a date to be determined, and Pastor Montia will officially retire at that time from the role of Lead Pastor.