Meet me Greene County - Pastor Brick Crowder
Snow Hill - Neuse News is continuing our series to introduce Greene County readers to some of the influential, interesting, and decision-making leaders of our community. Consider this “Meet Me Greene County” column a look into what makes Greene County the special place it is to live, work, and play. This week we are featuring one of the area Pastors, Pastor Brick Crowder of First Baptist Church of Snow Hill.
Brick Crowder is originally from Alabama. He shared that he moved to Kinston when he was in elementary school and grew up there attending Arendall Parrot Academy for Jr and Sr High School. While at Parrott he played Football, Basketball and Baseball. After Graduating, he attended Greensboro College, playing Div III football. While at Greensboro he met his future wife Allison. Today he and Allison have three children and are proud to be part of not only the community but with Allison joining the staff at GCMS this fall, the schools too. All three of his children attend Greene County Schools.
Crowder shared that his story is just like so many other pastors, it started out not part of his plan. “About 12 years ago, Pastor Archie Ratliff and Pastor Chris Truett of Bethel Free Will Baptist in Kinston invited Allison and I to fill in for the summer as interim youth leaders. After about 3 months, we both felt this was definitely what we needed to be doing and eventually Brother Archie invited us to join the staff as youth pastors.”
Crowder shared that although he was a History Major, that was not his calling. He shares that he was excited to be both a youth pastor and teacher at BCA and eventually their football coach. That was until “ A Pastor friend of mine approached me about the opening for Lead Pastor at First Baptist. We started praying about whether we were meant to be youth ministers or move on to the next role. Eventually, God led us to take this move.” He went on to say that the previous lead pastor “ left the church in a way that allowed for a seamless transition and helped to grow in many, many ways.”
When asked what was the most important aspect of his role, he said “ My most important job is to shepherd my people in a way that helps them grow, and through growing them we can become a church that will lead and serve our community.”
Crowder said that he sees the biggest challenges for Greene County through the lens of a pastor. He said things like poverty, lack of easy communication, and infrastructure are all major challenges but “that's what excites me the most about being called to Greene County, the endless potential to do good for the community.”
That theme of shepherding and serving was summed up in his words of wisdom. He shared first that “The hope and fulfillment that everyone is looking for can be found in the person of Jesus Christ”. He also gave a Charge to the community “it is to Love Jesus and Love People. If we can grasp that we will see a world of change.”
First Baptist is located at 509 Kingold Blvd in Snow Hill and Pastor Brick invites you to come visit at 11:00 on Sundays. If you go tell them Neuse News sent you.
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