Tayana Holland

Church: Epicenter of Worship, Lansing

Nominated by Brittiany of Lansing
Tayana Holland affectionately known as Sister Toy is one of the most humble women you will ever meet. She has a meek spirit and is always willing to sacrifice herself for the benefit of others. There is a scripture in the Bible that says that the greatest among you should be the servant of all. I think this scripture accurately describes Sister Toy. Without regard for herself or her family, Sister Toy has faithfully served the thousands of students across Michigan college campuses including the students of: Vision Christian Campus Michigan (MSU), V.O.C. (Lansing Community College), Place of Praise (Western), Focus Campus Ministry (Kettering University, Flint) and Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids). She and her family drove from Flint for over two years to meet the needs of these ministries through weekly Bible studies. Sister Toy has a strong desire to see people succeed, especially women. Personally, as a member of the Women's Ministry under Sister Toy's leadership I have learned valuable skills as I transitioned from being a single woman into being a married woman. Sister Toy counseled me through the duration of my engagement period and in true Sister Toy fashion served me on the day of my wedding. I could not have imagined surviving that stage of my life without her and am truly grateful for having an example of what it means to be not only a conduit for God's love but to also be an embodiment of what it means to bring the love of God to the world within your reach.

Nominated by Elon of Holt
Pastor Tayana Holland is a remarkable woman of strength, character and integrity. In 2006 Pastor Tayana and her husband Pastor Sean accepted a call to full time ministry to start a church with a small group of college students at Michigan State University. She traveled several times in a week from Flint to Lansing to minister to college students on the campus of MSU. From the first day she accepted God's calling to pastor, Tayana makes herself available morning, noon and night. She has mentored and ministered to young women who have been abused, abandoned, and discarded. She is a meek and powerful example of compassion and patience. Not only does she pastor full time but she, with her husband, are raising 3 young children and never miss a service, or an opportunity to be a blessing to the Lansing community and international communities abroad.