Greenwood Baptist welcomes new pastor

SALTILLO—Greenwood Baptist Church near the Saltillo community is happy to welcome new pastor Dr. Bryan Crittendon. With nearly 40 years experience in both the ministerial and military fields, Crittendon is excited to share his life experiences with what he calls his “second home” in Hopkins County.

Crittendon is from rural Jeff Davis County in West Texas and grew up on a cattle ranch in a community called Valentine, he said.

“It’s a community with a basketball-only high school,” he said. “Really, it’s a lot like Saltillo.”

After graduating, Crittendon attended Texas A&M University but felt the call of service to his country. He served as a helicopter pilot in the Marines. Upon his discharge, he returned to what he calls “the corporate world,” but he again felt a calling— this time to work in service to the Lord.

Crittendon traveled all around west Texas acting in spiritual roles, and then an event changed everyone’s lives—9/11/2001. As Crittendon already had both a military background and Biblical training, he petitioned the Navy to act as a chaplain. His request was granted.

“God made it possible,” Crittendon said. “I was able to act as a chaplain to all three branches, the Navy, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard.”

Crittendon was deployed overseas multiple times and also domestically, as he assisted with Hurricane Ike in Houston.

“I got to see all of them doing what they do,” Crittendon noted.

The capstones of Crittendon’s chaplaincy were a position at the Navy base in Fort Worth and another position as senior chaplain at the Navy base in Pensacola, Fla.

Now is a homecoming of sorts, said Crittendon, as his wife is from the Weaver community, and he has spent much time in Hopkins County over the years. The first church he pastored, in fact, was Saltillo Baptist Church.

“I’ve known Hopkins County for most of my life,” he laughed. “It’s like coming home to come back to Hopkins County.”

Crittendon said he’s looking forward to sharing his experiences with his congregation in the hopes that they can share in the joys faith has brought to his life.

“I would like to be able to share how God has worked in my life as an encouragement to people of the community and the county,” he said. “I hope I can point them to the love of God in the midst of life. I want them to join in the journey with me. I want to be Christians with them.”

Crittendon thinks Greenwood Baptist Church is especially compelling for its role as a community linchpin.

“This church has been part of the lives of the community since the turn of the Civil War in the far-eastern part of Hopkins County. It’s been around for generations, and the heritage and what the members have done and invested through the years is an encouragement to me. It’s still alive and it’s a shining beacon here in Hopkins County.”

Greenwood Baptist Church is located 5 miles south of Interstate 30 on Farm Road 900. Sunday School starts at 10 a.m. and services begin at 11 a.m.