The long-time lead pastor of San Saba’s First Baptist Church, Sam Crosby, has followed the Lord’s calling to pastor another church. We thank God for the 24 years of service and leadership that we experienced with Brother Sam, and pray the Lord’s protection and blessing on him and his wife, Jan, as they move on to a new chapter of their lives.
In this time of transition, as SSFBC searches for a new lead pastor, we look to the Lord, our Redeemer, to lead us in the way we should go, knowing that He is sovereign and that all things work together for good to those who love God.
Many will doubtless have questions about the process for finding and hiring a new lead pastor. A detailed look at this process can be found in SSFBC’s Policy Manual on page 3. Here is a quick overview:
Nominating Committee nominates the Pastor Search Committee.
Pastor Search Committee is voted on by the church membership.
Pastor Search Committee creates a church profile and a pastor profile.
Pastor Search Committee seeks out a suitable candidate for pastor.
Pastor Search Committee nominates a candidate to be voted on at a church meeting.
The vote must pass with at least 90% voting in the affirmative.
In the meantime, the deacon body will select an interim pastor to fill the pulpit until a lead pastor is hired.
SSFBC wants this to be an open and transparent process. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the church office at (325)340-9832 or email us here.
SSFBC covets your prayers, knowing that if we ask anything according to the Lord’s will, He hears us. We ask that you would join us in praying for:
Unity for our church.
Wisdom for church leadership.
Clarity in hiring a new lead pastor.
Faithfulness to continue in the work set before us.
Discernment for the Pastor Search Committee.
Here are the latest updates:
April 21, 2024
San Saba's First Baptist Church is pleased to announce Alan Arthur as our new lead pastor. We are so excited for Alan and his wife, Jenna, to join the SSFBC family!
MARCH 10, 2024
The Pastor Search Committee is excited to announce Alan Arthur as their proposed candidate for SSFBC’s senior pastor position.
Alan graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton with a degree in Christian Ministry and a concentration in Pastoral Ministry. He was the top Greek student while at UMHB. Alan is currently pursuing his Masters of Divinity at Southwestern Theological Seminary. He has been married to his wife, Jenna, since December of 2022.
Alan served at Hyde Park Baptist Church for several years, first as the pastoral assistant to Dr. Kie Bowman, and more recently as the evangelism, outreach, and young adults pastor. Jenna was also on staff at Hyde Park Baptist Church as the Children’s Minister.
Alan will preach at San Saba’s First Baptist Church in view of a call during the Worship Service on Sunday, April 21, 2024. At the conclusion of that service members of SSFBC will hold a business meeting during which they will vote on affirming Alan as the next senior pastor of SSFBC.
Per SSFBC’s policy “The election shall be by secret ballot and an affirmative vote of at least ninety percent (90%) of those voting members present shall be necessary to extend a call to a candidate for Pastor.”
You can watch a video of Alan preaching at Hyde Park Baptist church here:
JANUARY 24, 2024
The Pastor Search Committee is no longer receiving recommendations or resumes for the lead pastor position. Please continue to be in prayer for our Pastor Search Committee as they narrow down the field of applicants.
December 6, 2023
The Pastor Search Committee is no longer pursuing the former candidate. They are currently accepting resumes and recommendations as they continue to seek the man that God has for San Saba’s First Baptist Church. Please join the PSC and the church as we continue to pray:
For the Lord to make His will known
For the Lord to continue to grant the PSC unity, insight, and discernment
For patience for the church as we wait upon the Lord and His perfect timing
For the man that God is calling to pastor San Saba’s First Baptist Church to follow the Lord’s leading in his life
If you would like to submit a resume or recommendation to the PSC for consideration, please email them at pastorsearch@sansabafbc.org.
July 10, 2023
The Pastor Search Committee is now pursuing their final candidate and is beginning the interview process with him. Please join the PSC and the church in praying for the Lord to:
Continue to give the PSC members unity, insight, and discernment as they near their decision
Be working in the life of the final candidate to confirm the call to SSFBC if this is the place where the Lord wants Him
Give the church membership patience in the waiting and trust in the Lord’s sovereign hand in this process
MAY 22, 2023
The Pastor Search Committee has narrowed the field to the final candidates. Please join the PSC in praying for the Lord to:
Confirm His chosen pastor for SSFBC
Stir the heart of the man He has for SSFBC that he might be drawn to San Saba
Unify the members of the PSC in confirming the man to pursue for this position
FEBRUARY 15, 2023
The Pastor Search Committee is no longer receiving recommendations or resumes for the lead pastor position. Please continue to be in prayer for our Pastor Search Committee as they narrow down the field of applicants.
January 15, 2023
The Pastor Search Committee has created three profiles to help guide the search for a new lead pastor- a pastor profile, a church profile, and a community profile. Now that these profiles have been created, the job opening has been posted on two websites- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southern Baptist of Texas Convention.
The Pastor Search Committee will be receiving recommendations and resumes from January 16 through February 15. If you would like to recommend a pastor to be considered, please send an email to: pastorsearch@sansabafbc.org
All recommendations should include name and contact information for the pastor.
November 18, 2022
On October 30 in a special called business meeting, SSFBC’s Pastor Search Committee was voted on and accepted. Here is a little information about each of our Pastor Search Committee members:
Luke Cox (Chairman) Luke Cox has been a member of SSFBC for 20 years. He is the husband of Maranda Cox. He is involved in youth ministries as well as multiple other Bible study groups throughout each week.
Robert Berryhill (Vice Chairman) Robert Berryhill has been a member of SSFBC for the second time for about 7 years. The first time was as a youth. He is the husband of Debra Norris Berryhill for 47 years and is the father of three and grandfather of three. Robert currently works as a cattle rancher after 39 years in financial institutions.
Meredith Houck Meredith Houck has been involved in SSFBC since 2010. SSFBC has played a foundational role throughout her high school and college years. In the summer of 2021, she moved back to San Saba with her husband, Phillip Houck. They are both teachers at San Saba Elementary School and are active members in the church congregation.
Janie Potts Janie Potts has been a member of SSFBC since 1976. She and her husband, David, have two children, and two grandchildren. Janie taught children’s Sunday School for over 40 years, and currently serves in SSFBC’s children’s ministry and sings in the choir.
Karen Whiting (Secretary) Karen Whiting has been a member of SSFBC for twenty years. Her passion is teaching children about Jesus and singing praises to the Lord. She and her husband, Craig, love to travel and have served together on mission teams to Siberia, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Alaska. They love spending time with their three grown children and six grandchildren.
Wesley Robertson (alternate) Wesley Robertson has been involved with the SSFBC for 24 years. He is married to Kathryn Robertson and is the father of two children, Christine and Ty. Wesley owns his own dozing and gravel-hauling business. He helps with security on Wednesday evenings to help keep the children and staff safe that participate in AWANA's and serves on the media team. He served on The Constitution and Policy Committee, the Youth Committee, and is currently serving on The Committee on Committees.
October 21, 2022
Through much prayer and discussion the Nominating Committee is recommending the following persons to serve on the Pastor Search Committee: Robert Berryhill, Luke Cox, Meredith Houck, Janie Potts, Karen Whiting, and Wesley Robertson (alternate).
There will be a special called business meeting immediately following the worship service on October 30 to vote on accepting the Nominating Committee’s recommended Pastor Search Committee members. The vote will be for the group as a whole, not individual nominees.
Please be in prayer for the Pastor Search Committee nominees— for protection, guidance, wisdom, and humility.
Please be in prayer for our church— for unity, humility, and trust in each other and the Lord. Let us remember “that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone he wants…” (Daniel 4:17)
Please be in prayer for the man that the Lord will bring to San Saba’s First Baptist Church as our new lead pastor— pray for protection, wisdom, and trust in the Lord.
October 10, 2022
Nominations for the Pastor Search Committee are now closed. The Pastor Search Committee carries a heavy and sacred responsibility as they seek the Lord on behalf of the congregation about who He is calling to be SSFBC’s next senior pastor. We stopped receiving nomination forms at 4:00 PM today. All nominations will be prayerfully considered. Obviously, not all will be able to serve . We ask you to pray for our Nominating Committee to lean on the Holy Spirit of God for wisdom and discernment as they choose the Pastor Search Committee. Pray also, for protection from spiritual attacks from the enemy as he will certainly be on the prowl.
September 23, 2022
The Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations for the Pastor Search Committee. The following criteria should be kept in mind as you prayerfully nominate candidates:
Members of the Committee will be expected to be a part of a team committed to working together in unity as the Committee seeks to find God’s choice for SSFBC’s next pastor.
Members of the Committee will be asked to maintain strict confidentiality as to the conversations and the work of the Committee.
Members of the Committee must have been a member of San Saba’s First Baptist Church for at least six months. Nominees should be active in worship, Bible studies, and church service.
The Committee will be doing one of the most important tasks in the life of the church, therefore the nominees sought are to be spiritual mature individuals who are able to put the needs of the church ahead of their own. Nominees should also be familiar with, and in agreement with, the Baptist Faith and Message.
Most of the Committee’s work will involve participating in training sessions and meetings. The frequency will vary, but at times might be as often as every week.
There will be some tasks outside of the meetings (e.g., listening to recorded sermons by candidates). This is expected to average several hours per month once resumes have been received. Members of the Pastor Search Committee should make the Committee’s work a very high priority and be willing to commit a significant amount of time to the process. Some travel is possible.
You may nominate up to two people. A separate form should be completed for each nomination. Nominations are due by the end of the day on Monday, October 10, 2022.
September 4, 2022
The Nominating Committee met on August 25, 2022. This committee is in prayer and developing the process for submitting nominations for consideration for the Pastor Search Committee. They will meet again on September 12, 2022.
