ABOUT US

We believe in putting Jesus first in all we do, and welcome all to come worship with us. As one of the oldest Baptist churches in Texas, it is not our desire to live in the past. God has given us a vision to reach our world for Christ. Come be a part of the local, state, national and international ministries that make us the unique church we are.


Seeking Christ. Loving Christ. Living Christ.

WHY WE EXIST

We exist for three main reasons that we feel very strongly about. We believe that focusing on these three things is what God calls for us to do. We trust in the Lord and follow his will. 


STAFF

Pastor Joshua Hébert

Senior Pastor

 

Pastor Joshua Hébert was born and raised in Katy, Texas, while Alex was born and raised in Cedar Park. Joshua and Alex met in college, and were married in 2016. They have been blessed with three children: Paul (6), Timothy (3), and Ivy (1).

Joshua graduated from Criswell College with a BA (2012) and MA (2013) in Biblical studies before pursuing additional graduate studies at Wheaton College, where he earned an MA in Biblical Exegesis (2015). He is currently in the dissertation phase of his PhD from Southwestern Seminary.

Joshua presently serves as the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Kemp, Texas, where he has ministered since July 2016. Joshua was mentored through internship programs at FBC Katy, and Hickory Tree Baptist Church (Balch Springs). Joshua has served regularly in

denominational life, including as a member of the SBTC Future Team, the Young Pastor’s Network Leadership Team (SBTC), the Texas Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee, and various roles in his local association. In addition to his pastoral duties, Joshua presently

serves as an adjunct professor of New Testament at Criswell College, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate students. Joshua has regularly presented his theological research at national scholarly conferences.

For fun, Joshua loves reading, playing the guitar, and watching the Astros. Alex loves reading (especially classic English literature), laughing, spending timewith family and friends, and going on adventures. The boys enjoy rough housing, reading, and looking at Corvettes, while Ivy enjoys smiling and getting into any unprotected cabinets.

Dr. Brad Nix

Director of Music and Worship

Dr. Brad Nix serves as Director of Music and Worship for first Baptist Church- Bastrop, TX. His responsibilities at the church include planning worship, leading worship, and directing several choral and instrumental ensembles. He is also honored to serve as the Music Director for Bastrop’s “A Joyous Christmas,” an annual choral concert featuring a mass choir comprised of ensembles from local churches. In addition to his work in church ministry, he serves as an editor for The Lorenz Corporation, where he works in the sacred choral division. With well over 120 pieces in print, Brad is a widely recognized composer and arranger, and has written for many of the nation’s major publishers. He frequently travels throughout the country as a clinician for reading sessions and conferences. Prior to moving to Bastrop, Brad served for many years as associate Professor of Music and Department Chair at Sterling College, located in Sterling, KS. At Sterling College, he taught music theory composition, orchestration, applied piano, and group piano. Brad is originally from Dallas, GA, and received his DMA degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and his BM and MM degrees from Georgia State University in Atlanta. He and his wife, Pattie, along with their three children, are thrilled to make their home in Bastrop.

Michelle Neal

Children's Ministry Coordinator

Michelle grew-up in a Christian home in Austin, Texas. She became a Christian at the age of 8 and began serving in the children’s ministry in her early teens. She married her husband Edward “Jay” Neal in 1987. They have three wonderful children, Andrew, Austin, Amanda, and a son-in-law, Kenneth. Michelle and Jay have been members of First Baptist Church in Bastrop, Texas since 1996.

Children’s Ministry has been a vital part of Michelle’s adult life. She began in the Children’s Ministry at First Baptist Church of Bastrop in 1997. She has led the Children’s Ministry at First Baptist in the Children’s Ministry since 1999 and has been a member of the staff as the Children’s Ministry Coordinator since 2002. Michelle also directs the Kidz Sunday Sessionz, Kidz Chior, VBS, and Kidz Kamp.  She has a great team serving with her in many areas of the Children’s Ministry.

 

“It is a blessing and honor to serve the Lord at First Baptist in the Children’s Ministry, and to serve the children, teaching them who Jesus is and guiding them with Bible truth so they, too, till come to know my Savior. Children are so great to work with and they light up when they are being taught the Word of God.”

-Michelle Neal

Seeking Christ

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Matthew 6:33

Loving Christ

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength."

Mark 12:30

Living Christ

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2:20