Pastor Candidate

Meet Our New Pastor Joshua Hébert!

The Pastor Search Committee and the leadership of First Baptist Church is pleased to announce that Joshua Hébert has been called as the next Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Bastrop. The church voted on Sunday, February 9, 2025 after particpating in In View of a Call weekend meet and greets and hearing a sermon shared by Pastor Hébert. The vote was 126 For and 5 Against, with that knowledge Pastor Hébert and his family excitedly accepted the call to Pastoral Ministry at First Baptist Church of Bastrop. We are encouraged and enthusiastic about the future of our church and the gospel work to be accomplished by our church family under his leadership. Not only has Pastor Hébert met our criteria, but he has also demonstrated his ability to lead effectively, organize ministries, build relationships, and teach clearly and compassionately. Pastor Hébert previously served as the senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Kemp, TX.

Since October of 2023, it has been a pleasure and an honor to serve you in this most important capacity. Your trust in our team and your prayers for our team have been a motivation for us. As we began looking for a pastor for the first time in 27 years, we knew our decision as a church was a historic and monumental event. This decision will be pivotal for the life and future of First Baptist Church of Bastrop. As a committee, we unanimously recommend without reservation Joshua Hébert to lead us as our next senior pastor. We believe God has answered our prayers and has led us to His man for our church. Thank you and we love you all!

Biography

Joshua 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.

Ministerial Experience

Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Kemp, TX, 2016–Present.
Pastoral Intern, First Baptist Church, Katy, TX, 2014.
Pastoral Intern, Hickory Tree Baptist Church, Balch Springs, TX, 2012–2013.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, ABD (New Testament; Minor in Church History and Historical Theology), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Master of Arts (Biblical Exegesis), Wheaton College Graduate School
Master of Arts (Biblical and Theological Studies), Criswell College
Bachelor of Arts (Biblical Studies), Criswell College

Denominational Service

Young Pastor’s Network Leadership Team, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, 2024
SBTC Future Team, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, 2022–2023.
Texas Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee (TERLC), Southern Baptists of Texas Convention,
2018—2021.
Missions Committee, Kauf-Van Baptist Association, 2018—2020.
Executive Board, Kauf-Van Baptist Association, 2016—Present