Staff

Interim Music Minister - Nathan Cook is currently serving as our music minister on an interim basis.  Nathan has decades of experience leading musical worship in Baptist churches in Georgia and Texas.  He has also traveled to numerous countries singing with the Singing Men of Texas.  Nathan is no stranger to our church family, having served us in this role in the past.

Youth Minister - Ben Winder  began his ministry with us in the fall of 2009.  Ben is a graduate of Lee University  where he majored in Youth Ministry, and is currently a Master of Divinity student at George W. Truett Theological Seminary.  Ben has been married to Laura since July '09, they both love doing ministry with teenagers, and make their home here in Gatesville.  When he's not doing school or ministry, Ben loves to go mountain biking, cycling, play soccer,  take outdoor adventures, and slurp milkshakes.

Small Group & Children's Minister - Laura Winder joined the First Baptist family after Ben was called to be the Youth Minister in fall of 2009.  She joined the staff in January of 2010.  Laura is a graduate of Lee University where she earned a Discipleship Ministry degree with an emphasis in Small Groups.  She enjoys singing, playing the guitar and piano, as well as interior design, painting, and rock climbing.

Church Secretary - Beth Denney joined the First Baptist staff in July of 2011.  She and her husband Jon are originally from New Mexico.  The army brought them to central Texas and they eventually made their way to Gatesville.  Beth enjoys being a mother to their three children, Jacob, Haley, and Jace as well as camping and scrapbooking.

FBC Academy Director - Jimmie Dell Wicker has served the children of Gatesville through the Academy for years.

Mothers Day Out Director - Cathy Norris serves FBCG as MDO Director every Tuesday.  Cathy and her husband Steve serve in a number of other areas in the life of FBCG, including being in the Sanctuary Choir and serving as Sunday School teachers.

Pianist - Rosie Place has served the Lord all her life with the musical ability that He gave her.  She accompanies the FBCG Sanctuary Choir and also a few Sunday School classes when needed.  She and her husband Dwain have served FBCG in a variety of ways over the years.

Organist - Sharon Streetman plays the Curtis Memorial Pipe Organ each week during our Sunday Morning Worship Service.  Her husband is Charlie.

 

History

Organized in 1856 with only a few dozen members, this congregation has been part of Gatesville for over a century and a half. Their first meeting took place in the Coryell County Courthouse, and early worship services were conducted in members' homes, with Rev. W. A. Mason as the first pastor.

A stone building erected in 1866 served as a community school and house of worship for all denominations. The Baptist congregation met in the Union Church until 1872, when its first sanctuary was built on the corner of Bridge and 7th Streets. Necessitated by a growing membership, a new frame building with a larger sanctuary was built on the current property in 1883.

In 1936, it was also replaced by a larger structure, which has since been joined by additional facilities, allowing the congregation to continue serving the community with ongoing outreach programs.  In 2006, FBCG celebrated 150 years of ministering to the community of Gatesville and being a place of worship for generations.

Why a windmill?