Faith Reformed Church
- Denomination: Reformed Church of America
- Location: Traverse City, MI
- Size: 400
- Website: https://frctc.org/
- Hiring for: Worship Minister
The need
After eight incredible years, Faith Reformed Church’s Worship Minister left behind big shoes to fill. As the leader of the worship team, the new Worship Minister would need to be an anchor to the group, leading and discipling members of the worship team as well as the church congregation, and finding the perfect candidate proved to be a difficult task. Faith Reformed Church tried searching for candidates on their own and through different search firms, but none of them quite fit their vision. And while they were able to find an interim worship pastor, they needed a more permanent solution. But Faith Reformed Church wasn’t simply looking for any musician—they needed someone to lead their team and congregation with grace and by authentic example. The next Worship Pastor would not only lead musical worship but also serve as an integral part of the vision of the church, shaping each service alongside the lead pastor, essential to the function of every corner of the church, so getting this hire right was crucial.
About Faith Reformed Church
Rooted in the Reformed tradition and deeply committed to Christ’s mission, Faith Reformed Church exists to know Christ and make Him known. Since its founding in June 1949, this church has consistently placed the gospel at the center of its identity, shaped by the unchanging truth of Scripture and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Their mission to be Rooted in Christ, Growing in the Spirit, and Sharing the Father’s gifts is more than a slogan, it is the heartbeat of a congregation striving to reflect the love and wisdom of Jesus in every generation.
This season in the life of Faith Reformed Church was both important and strategic. It was also at a crossroads. The church was a thriving, multigenerational community with strong relational bonds, growing ministries for families and children, and a shared passion for outreach—locally and globally. However, at the same time, there was a critical need for leadership that aligned with their values and theological depth. Finding the right individual candidate would be pivotal in helping Faith Reformed Church maintain doctrinal faithfulness while reaching the next generation with grace, truth, and love.
The ideal candidate
Faith Reformed Church was looking for a candidate who could not only fulfill the role of a Worship Minister, but be an individual who had the ability to unite the worship team and lead them well. A candidate who had the musical talent to engage the congregation, but also the wisdom and experience to be a shepherd and decipher on the worship team. They hoped to find:
- A Candidate well versed in Ancient Future Worship: a blend of liturgy, contemporary style music, and reading the Word with worship
- A Team Leader who can both mentor and bring members together
- Instrumentalist proficient on Piano or Guitar
- Someone who can ignite passion for worship in the congregation
- Previous Ministry Experience, ideally at least 3-7 years
Strategy and timing
Time was ticking, and Faith Reformed Church needed to act quickly to gain momentum for their search. That’s when they contacted Vanderbloemen, and Senior Executive Search Consultant Tim Gocha was assigned the case. With nearly 30 years of pastoral experience himself, Tim recognized the importance of a Worship Pastor and the position’s ability to work in tandem with a Senior Pastor to unite a congregation. Alongside Tim was Senior Executive Search Recruiter Christina Mora, a talented and experienced recruiter with a keen eye for detail.
While in the midst of searching for quality candidates, specifically candidates who specialized in ancient future worship, Christina became aware that another Vanderbloemen employee, Executive Search Consultant Sarah Meggers, was very familiar with the style of worship, in part due to her studies at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. With this connection in mind, Christina began reaching out to members of staff at the Institute for Worship Studies in hopes of finding interested candidates. This is how the team found Faith Reformed Church’s perfect fit: Oluwatayo Oloyede.
About Oluwatayo Oloyede
Oluwatayo “Tayo” Oloyede had been serving as the Recruitment and Admissions Director for the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies for over 3 years when he received an email from Christina Mora asking if he had any candidates to recommend. After reading about the position at Faith Reformed Church, Tayo was so intrigued that he sent in his own application and resume.
When Tayo met with Christina on a brief call, he opened up about how he’d been praying about his next move and seeking direction from the Lord when he received the email about the role at Faith Reformed Church, an opportunity that perfectly fit his skill set. Tayo made the first slate of candidates presented to Faith Reformed Church and when he met the lead team and other staff members they loved him. Tayo was offered the role of Worship Minister not only for his extensive skill set that fit exactly what Faith Reformed Church was looking for, but also for passion and magnetic personality. He is their perfect puzzle piece to the leadership team with skills like:
- Passionate about leading a diverse congregation in worship
- Passion for and experience with Ancient Future Worship and liturgy
- 19+ years of experience as a Worship Leader and Minister
- Proficient on Piano, Synthesizer, Bass and Acoustic Guitar
- Experience in Lead and Background Vocal, as well as Music Theory and Composition
