Dear Gayton Baptist Church Family,
We are pleased to announce that after 6 months of prayer, searching, vetting, interviewing, and research the Worship Pastor Search Team unanimously believes that we have found the person God has chosen to lead our worship ministry in the days ahead!
Matthew White has over 20 years of experience in worship including leadership, production, performance, teaching, and more. He has spent the past 4 years as the Worship Leader at New Highland Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, VA.
You will have the opportunity to meet Matt this coming weekend, August 17-18, when he comes to Gayton Baptist Church in view of a call. The weekend’s agenda and details are found farther down in this document.
Matt White was baptized by immersion when he was 9 years old. Prior to his ministry at New Highland Baptist he served on the worship team of The Mount in Stafford, VA from 1995-2019. He also did an internship at Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, CA. Over the last 20 years he has performed, recorded, and toured with many different bands of diverse genres. Since 2013 he has been a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and songwriter with the band Unbroken Light. In his current position, the worship ministry at New Highland has grown to include a Praise Band, Adult Choir, Men’s Chorus, and several orchestral instrumental soloists. In 2023, Matt began collaborating with two other local churches to perform choral cantatas for Easter and Christmas.
Additionally, Matt has also led large worship events such as summer camps, retreats, and conferences at numerous locations across multiple states, including leading DNOW Youth Weekends here at GBC with Unbroken Light in 2023 and 2024. In addition, he has also taught private lessons for numerous people to help them develop musical skills and creative expression.
Matt graduated with a BS in Music from Radford University in 2020. His degree included an in-depth study of music therapy including practicum experience with multiple clinical populations, classical voice lessons, music theory, ear training, guitar, piano, percussion, arranging and orchestration, music history, and conducting. Also, Matt has experience in live audio production. And, he co-wrote and recorded an album of original worship music for the Wabaku people of Papua New Guinea in their indigenous tribal language.
Each member of our search team including Pastor Bryon share an excitement about Matt and what he brings to Gayton Baptist. He is a gifted musician, competent in multiple genres of worship styles, and has a deep passion for people of all ages to gather together in worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Matt is a humble and giving team player, with experience working with all ages; and with various teams including praise teams, choirs, a variety of bands and sound teams plus mission teams and church groups.
There were several primary characteristics that our search team sought out in candidates, believing these to be paramount to the next Worship Pastor’s success at GBC. These were:
- Spirit led - It was the team’s firm belief that it is imperative that our Worship Pastor is open to the leading of the Holy Spirit to inspire in both the planning and execution of each and every worship experience.
- Competency in both traditional and contemporary music - GBC has multiple generations of people with a wide range of music preferences, and the team sought someone who could lead in multiple styles of worship music with excellence.
- Non-performative - The Worship Pastor is not a performer; neither are they the center of our worship experience. The search team thought it critical that our Worship Pastor does everything with the goal of pointing people to the cross of Jesus.
- Team player - We have an amazing staff right now, and it is important that our Worship Pastor be someone who intentionally seeks to work in harmony with everyone else, complementing the roles, responsibilities, and gifts of all.
For each of the above, we found Matt to have strong abilities in each of these areas, and this was confirmed and affirmed by his references as well as several of our Gayton folks who have worked with him at church events including DNOW and the Summer Night of Worship. He is very versed at being a worship leader, and knows how to take care of rehearsal in a way that is efficient.
In addition, the search team was impressed by several other things. His ability to play guitar and sing are beautiful and inviting. He has a genuine faith and is looking to point others to Christ instead of focusing on himself, and his flexibility - he wants to find the things that work for Gayton Baptist and not just do what he wants. He is very authentic in his worship and down to earth in conversation. He has a desire to be led by the Holy Spirit in all things - to bring God glory and to see the Church grow and thrive in gospel ministry. Matt exudes a gentle and solid faith built on a passion for prayer, God’s Word and true worship to bring Christ honor and to edify His church. These are great qualities, and we believe that's why the search team was led to recommend Matt to be our next worship pastor.
Matt is earnest in his love of Jesus Christ and in his worship. He has a heart for leading others to grow in their worship life. In his words, “I believe music is an integral part of the human experience, and that worship is an essential means of connecting people with God and each other.”
During their hours of conversations, Pastor Bryon determined that Matt’s personal faith and theology were in alignment with ours at Gayton Baptist Church. He has a strong background in Baptist faith and heritage; and his philosophy and approach to ministry will complement our current staff very well.
Matt is not an ordained minister, which is not unusual for this type of position. Prior to our previous Worship Pastor, GBC had several worship leaders that were not ordained ministers. The position, however, is pastoral in design and the team is confident that Matt will bring a genuine calling, heart, authenticity, and Holy Spirit-led leadership to this vital ministry in our church.
Matt and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 3.5 years, and currently have two dogs that keep them on their toes. Michelle is the Patient Relations Specialist for Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, VA.
Please mark your calendars and plan to be present this coming weekend as you are able, and if you have any questions, you may reach out to the Worship Pastor Search Team via email at worshippastorsearch@gayton.church. We are grateful for your continued prayers as God works in the life of our church.
Stuart Bailey, Worship Team
Ashley Call, Young Adult representative
Tim Crist, Worship Council chairperson
Marybeth Essex, Servant Leadership Council representative
Rev. Bryon LePere, Senior Pastor
Katie Maury, Youth Representative
Rev. Jennifer Mullins, Youth, Young Adult, and Discipleship Pastor
Diana Rogers, Worship Council/Deacons
Aimee Wester, Choir Member/Youth Parent
Agenda for Matthew White’s Call Weekend, August 17-18, 2024
Saturday, August 17, 2024 - 9:30am-11:00am
Worship Ministry Brunch
Worship Center/Commons
All worship ministry participants and music ministry volunteers will gather for a morning of brunch, conversation, and fellowship with Matt White, Candidate for Worship Pastor. This is your unique opportunity to begin building a relationship with Matt and to learn more about his approach to worship especially in the area of music.
Saturday, August 17, 2024 - 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Congregational Fellowship and Town Hall
Worship Center
This is an opportunity for the entire church family to engage with Matt White, Candidate for Worship Pastor, during an interactive Town Hall. Matt will share about his background and his approach to leading a strong, Christ-centered worship ministry. He will then take questions from the congregation. You can submit questions ahead of time at the following link:
Submit questions for the Worship Pastor Candidate here.
Sunday, August 18, 2024 - 10:00am
Sunday Morning Worship Service
Worship Center
Join us for an exciting Sunday morning worship service with music and more led by Matt White, Candidate for Worship Pastor. Matt will lead us in the service with uplifting music, adorations of praise, and offerings of song. Come worship with us and experience the power of connecting with God and community by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sunday, August 18, 2024 ~ 11:05am
Special Called Business Meeting
Worship Center
We will be called into Business Session shortly after the conclusion of the Sunday morning worship service to consider the recommendation from the Worship Pastor Search Committee to call Matt White as our Worship Pastor. The vote will be tallied and results announced promptly before adjourning the meeting.
If you would like to read Matt's resume, please contact office@gayton.church.
