With 27 years of dedicated service to the church, Malcolm has held various senior leadership roles, bringing a wealth of experience and insight to the table. His journey began in ministry, where he served as an Executive Pastor, Community Life Pastor, and Lead Pastor across three vibrant congregations. Transitioning to the Leadership Team at Outreach, Inc. in 2012, Malcolm contributed to empowering churches with effective communication strategies to engage their communities.
In 2018, Malcolm took on the role of VP of Recruiting at a prominent national executive search firm, specializing in placing pastors, leaders, and executives within churches and faith-based nonprofits. Praised as "the best recruiter I've hired in 20+ years" by the firm's Founder, Malcolm's proficiency in church leadership, recruiting, marketing, and communications contributed to his outstanding success, resulting in the highest number of placements for the firm during his tenure.
Now, as the Managing Partner of BlueSearch.Co, Malcolm leverages his extensive background to serve as your dedicated recruiter. He is committed to working closely with you to ensure that candidates of the utmost character and competency are presented and ultimately selected for the role.
Outside of his role, Malcolm finds fulfillment in his family life. Married to Rebecca for 29 years, they, along with their three wonderful children - Emily, Andrew, and Olivia - and their family Goldendoodle, Honey, call Colorado home. For further insights into Malcolm's leadership and career journey, feel free to explore his LinkedIn profile.
Malcolm's recent demonstrated experience...
Executive Pastor - Encounter Church, Ventura, CA
Lead Pastor - The Pointe Church, Fort Wayne, IN
Lead Pastor - Mountainview Christian Church, Highlands Ranch, CO
Lead Pastor - Palos Verdes Baptist Church, Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Lead Pastor - Encounter Church, Ventura, CA
Lead Pastor - Longmont Calvary, Longmont, CO
Lead Pastor - High Desert Church, Victorville, CA
Christian Ministries Director - Elim Park (Independent Living), Cheshire, CT
President/CEO - Full Strength Network, Fort Wayne, IN
Pastor of Family Ministries - Calvary Church, Los Gatos, CA
Lead Pastor - Valley Community Baptist - Avon, CT
CFO - Food for the Hungry, Phoenix, AZ
“Our experience with Malcolm Schaad at Blue Search was nothing short of exceptional. Throughout our nationwide search, Malcolm presented us with a deep pool of stellar candidates who aligned with the ethos of ENCOUNTER. From the initial consultation to the final placement, Malcolm’s swift responses, personable approach, and keen understanding of our church's DNA made the process seamless. His dedication led us to an outstanding addition to our ministry team. We couldn't be happier with the outcome and highly recommend his services to any church seeking top-tier pastoral candidates.” - Lead Pastor, Jon Field - ENCOUNTER Church
"Thanks to Malcolm for his help and superior services! Without question, we would choose to use him again."
"I highly recommend Malcolm! We are so pleased with how everything turned out, especially in a season with less viable candidates available."
"Malcolm had a clear vision of the type of pastor we were looking for and was diligent in identifying candidates who matched our criteria. I also appreciated that Malcolm prayed with and for us throughout the process."
"Many of our Search Team members commented that “it felt like we had another pastoral care leader” on the team due to Malcolm's leadership and sensitivity to the needs of our search process. "
"Malcolm was very personal and treated us as a friend who they cared about rather than a project to be completed."
"Malcolm was not just very thorough and helpful in this process, but he genuinely cared for and prayed for us throughout the whole process. "
Testimony from Final Candidates...
“From the first phone call I had with Malcolm until the day I signed my offer letter, he led the process with significant intentional communication, direction, followup, questions and inquiry. Throughout the process I never experienced the sense that I was just a number in the pool of candidates but that as a person, my story and the role I was looking for, mattered.” - Executive Pastor, Danny Bowers - ENCOUNTER Church
"Malcolm's professionalism, communication and help was significant in solidifying my next position as a pastor. I am grateful for his efforts to discern God’s best on both sides. I'd highly recommend working with Malcolm."
"Malcolm did a great job in not only helping me understand the role but also made sure I was the right candidate and then helped me through the whole process. Malcolm asked great questions that helped me to understand if the role was the right fit for me. His understanding of the role and what they were looking for was a huge help. Their questionnaire was also very detailed and forced me to really understand if I would be the right candidate for the job."
"My conversations with the recruiter (Malcolm Schaad), and the process he took me through allowed God's will and spirit to lead the way."
"I really appreciated the entire process of working with Malcolm Schaad as a candidate for the Senior Pastor position. I felt as though Malcolm really cared for me - not just for filling a position. He cared about not only what was at hand the search but also how things were going for me at the church where I was serving. "
"I am so grateful to God for the incredible opportunity to get to know Malcolm. I was personally cared for and encouraged by his pastoral heart, clear communication throughout the process, and his personal visit to my home."
"Malcolm provided encouragement and spiritual counsel that was extremely helpful in discerning God's leading. Malcolm provided care not only for me as a pastor considering a new ministry call but also for our family during the entire process. "
"Malcom Schaad clearly communicated the process each step of the way, while providing a safe place for me to share openly about various aspects of my personal and ministry life. I appreciate Malcom’s intuition and care as a pastor, as well as his expertise in church consulting."
"Malcolm's communication went above and beyond what I have experienced in the past. Having been a pastor--he gets ministry and the process. He was able to walk the church well through their part of the process, helping prepare them to navigate through the various stages and steps of the candidating process."
"Malcolm cared and prayed for me while being incredibly detailed to ensure the best fit for the church and for me."
Fees: Our fee structure is straightforward and often lower compared to similar search partners. Blue Search eliminates unnecessary administrative or marketing fees, ensuring transparency. The fee stated in the agreement is the only one associated with the search. Expenses are limited to client/candidate travel. Background checks, education verification, and reference checks are all included.
Follow-up: Blue Search commits to post-placement quarterly check-ins for one year with both the candidate and the church. We prioritize cultural fit, organizational alignment, and profile congruence to foster long-term relationships.
Pastor Wellness Program: Our placements receive a complimentary one-year membership to a Pastor wellness program. This program offers peer-to-peer engagement, leadership coaching, and counseling services to ministry leaders.
Guarantee: Should the placed candidate depart your church within a year, Blue Search will conduct a new search with no additional fee.
Q: Who is the recruiter for our search and are they full-time with your organization?
Your recruiter will be Malcolm Schaad, who dedicates himself to this role full-time - all day, every day. It's essential to ensure your recruiter isn't contracted (1099) or part-time, as they may lack experience or commitment.
Q: How much experience does our recruiter have with Lead Pastor searches?
Malcolm Schaad has successfully placed numerous Lead Pastors in recent years. With a diverse range of churches, from 100-person congregations to those with staff teams exceeding 100, Malcolm brings a wealth of experience in placing Lead Pastors in medium to large churches.
Q: How many searches will our recruiter be working on concurrently (at the same time)?
Malcolm commits to handling no more than four searches concurrently. With our emphasis on engagement and personalized care, managing four searches ensures dedicated attention to each client. It's important to avoid recruiters handling more than four searches, as it may dilute their focus across competing priorities.
Q: Why should we consider a boutique firm like Blue Search over larger search firms with extensive databases and research teams?
While larger search firms may have more resources and research capabilities, it's important to recognize the unique advantages boutique firms offer. At Blue Search, as a solo executive recruiter, Malcolm has consistently delivered top-tier candidates within the same timeframe as larger firms. Here's why:
Personalized Attention: Boutique firms prioritize personalized service and direct communication. You work directly with Malcolm throughout the entire process, ensuring clear understanding and alignment with your needs.
Tailored Approach: With a boutique firm, your Pastor Search receives specialized attention. Malcolm invests time to understand your church's culture, congregational life, and ministry objectives, tailoring the search strategy accordingly.
Agility and Flexibility: Boutique firms are agile and adaptable. We can pivot quickly to accommodate evolving needs and provide customized solutions without the bureaucracy often found in larger organizations.
Extensive Networks: Despite being smaller in size, boutique firms like Blue Search have extensive networks and connections with Pastors and ministry circles. This enables Malcolm to tap into high-quality cohorts and access top-tier pastoral candidates efficiently.
Proven Track Record: Malcolm's track record speaks for itself. Consistently placing top-tier candidates in competitive timeframes demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of our boutique approach.
In summary, while larger firms may offer scale and resources, boutique firms like Blue Search provide personalized attention, tailored approaches, agility, extensive networks, and a proven track record of success—all of which contribute to delivering exceptional results for your Pastor Search.
We Find Great Pastors!