Sunday, May 5, 2024
Gatesville is proud to have one of its native sons return home to pastor at Trinity Baptist Church. It could be considered a family tradition at Trinity – at least in the case of the Crosby brothers.
A few months ago, Sam Crosby was named the pastor of the church following in the footsteps of two of his brothers, David Crosby and Tim Crosby.
In May of 1981, David Crosby was named the pastor of Trinity and remained there until 1987. He was followed by his brother, Tim, in 1997, who remained pastor until his retirement in 2021 after 24 years. Now, brother Sam Crosby has assumed the pastorship.
Sam, son of Donna Crosby and the late Russell Crosby, comes from a family consisting of 13 brothers and sisters. Several members of his family were pastors including grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Today, members of the Crosby family are part of churches across the state of Texas and beyond serving as children and student volunteers, Sunday school teachers, deacons, elders, and worship leaders, to name a few of the roles in which they now serve. Of the 13 Crosby siblings, four are pastors and 10 of the grandchildren are either serving in ministry positions or are preparing for them, and the importance of ministry continues to be evidenced among the Crosby great-grandchildren.
The same year he graduated from Gatesville High School, Sam began his ministry at the age of 18 when he pastored the Osage Baptist Church. While doing so, he continued his education at Baylor University, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. In 1993, he graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He pastored in Osage for six years before moving on to the First Baptist Church of Lometa in 1991 followed by pastoring at the First Baptist Church of Paducah in 1995. He was called to become the pastor of the First Baptist Church of San Saba in 1998 – serving there for 24 years.
Upon his recent departure from the First Baptist Church in San Saba, Sam stated “Our family is going through a time of transition and change as we uproot our comfortable lives in San Saba to move to Gatesville and pastor the Trinity Baptist Church. God has a way of shaking us up – stirring our spirits and shifting our focus for the next chapter of life. This decision was not something we planned or expected, but doors began to open, and the spirit of God began to nudge.”
When asked if he had received any advice from his brothers who were two of the previous pastors at Trinity, Sam said “They really did not give me any advice. They assured me of their prayers. They were thankful that I was coming to the church. I have sought advice from them and will continue to do that.”
Sam Crosby is married to Jan Davis Crosby, who graduated from Gatesville High School in 1980. They will mark 37 years of marriage this month. They are the parents of four daughters, Sarah, Hannah, Tarah, and Joannah, and the grandparents of 12.
“We are excited at what God has in store in the next phase of the journey,” Sam said.
