Congregational Update #3

You have prayed and God has answered. We’ve gone from three finalists to one. All along, we have prayed that God would reveal the man He has anointed to lead Magnolia Church into the next generation. We have met with all three of the finalists, interviewed them multiple times, reviewed references, and ensured we have doctrinal and scriptural compatibility. God has shown his favor on the work of our church and our Search Team. The man He has anointed is Will Browning. 

The Search Team was unanimous in voting for Will Browning. There are several factors that had Will stand out. First, his heart as a Shepherd. He loves the local church and his first calling is that of a Pastor. Will is a gifted leader that has mentored leaders, sending Pastors and missionaries forth from his church; he has a passion and pedigree of leadership. Will loves working with the local Southern Baptist (SBC) university, having previously led a church for fourteen years with an SBC university down the street, Charleston Southern University. Will has a heart for missions, having led missions to Bolivia, Niger, Senegal, Nigeria, Honduras, El Salvador, Egypt, and Italy. 

Will received his Masters in Divinity from SBC’s Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY and his Doctorate in Ministry from SBC’s Southeastern Seminary. He currently works as the Director of Send California and Send Los Angeles. Since 2021, 93 churches have been planted in Los Angeles under Will’s tenure. Will has overseen the planting of 127 churches throughout California during that same time. 

Will’s wife of 25 years, Tarah Browning, serves alongside Will, focusing on supporting the wives of church planters here in California. Tarah also has a passion for Women’s Ministry, the worship team, and speaking at marriage conferences with Will. They have three grown children - Piper (a nurse), Ethan (retired Marine, now General Contractor), and Jed (a student enrolled at CBU). 

We rejoice in God’s provision through this work and look forward to presenting Will Browning to preach in view of a call on May 18, 2025. Please set aside that day to hear Will preach in both services, answer Q&A in a Town Hall, and plan to attend our Special Called Business meeting to vote on calling Will Browning as Lead Pastor in the evening. 

Finally, Magnolia Church, I want to challenge you to pray for Will and Tarah Browning and the whole Browning family. A dear friend of mine who serves as Chairman of the Deacons for an SBC church in East Texas, has warned of the potential for spiritual attack on a man who is called to lead a church. This friend has seen this three times with three lead pastor searches over 25 years. You have been praying. Please continue praying. It is critically important in this time. Now is the time to finish praying for the Lead Pastor Search Team and shift those prayers to Will and Tarah Browning and their family. Your Magnolia Lead Pastor Search Team appreciates your support and will lead the way in praying for this family. 

Thank you for the opportunity to serve this Kingdom work and Magnolia Church. 

Mike Wyant 

Chairman, Lead Pastor Search Team 

If you would like to review video of Will Browning preaching or learn more about Will, we recommend going to WillBrowning.com. 

Here’s an excerpt from Will Browning’s Bio: 

Will Browning grew up living the typical small-town American life: playing sports and working on his father's farm. Will graduated from Georgia Southern University with three things: a degree, a newfound faith in Jesus, and a love for Tarah. The big-city girl from Miami and the farm-boy from small town U.S.A. set out to start a life together in Atlanta, Georgia because initially, Will felt God's call on his life was to be Christian businessman. But at a worship service in Alpharetta, Georgia, the Lord said to Will, "I want you to spend the rest of your life seeing your generation come to worship me." So Will completed his Masters of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and moved from Kentucky to Summerville, SC to plant Journey Church. While planting Journey Church, Will continued his doctoral studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, soon completing a Doctorate in Ministry in Great Commission Studies. He grew that church that started in his home to serve 950 worshipers, plant 9 autonomous churches, and become a church planting coaching center.  

In 2021, God called Will and Tarah to the city and people of Los Angeles. Will currently serves as the Director of Send California & the Los Angeles Send City Missionary for the North American Mission Board.​ He and Tarah have been married for 25 years and have three children, two of whom were adopted from the Ukraine: a daughter who is a nurse, a son in the Marine Corps (who is married to a fellow Marine and just gave Will & Tarah their first grandbaby, Gabriel), and a son who is a freshman at California Baptist University. He enjoys reading, sports, and documentaries. 

Here's an excerpt from Tarah Browning’s bio: 

Tarah Toy Browning met Christ and her husband in college and has never looked back. She married her husband, Will, soon after, and they have been married for 25 years. She has been a music teacher, events director, and helped her husband plant Journey Church in Charleston, South Carolina. She has a passion for coming alongside women, especially church planter pastors’ wives, because she understands the unique struggles of balancing a healthy marriage and budding ministry. 

Tarah and Will moved to Los Angeles in Summer 2021, where he serves as the Director of Send California and the Los Angeles Send City Missionary. Tarah and Will have been married for 25 years and have three children, two of whom were adopted from the Ukraine: a daughter who is a nurse, a son in the Marine Corps (who is married to a fellow Marine and just gave Will & Tarah their first grandbaby, Gabriel), and a son who is a rising college freshman at California Baptist University. She is a fan of coffee dates, Christmas trees, and any and all thrift stores!