Hey First Baptist Family,

After a lot of prayer and thoughtful, focused consideration, the Executive Pastor Search Committee, with the unanimous support of our Personnel Team, and Elders, is excited to announce Casey Ross as a candidate for Executive Pastor. And we’d like to invite you to join us on Sunday, June 22, at 5:00 pm to affirm this direction.

Casey and his family were attending FBC before he applied in February. Since he applied, we have learned that Casey is uniquely gifted and experienced in the primary areas we are looking for with the Executive Pastor role. Over the course of his close to thirty years of ministry experience, whether in churches smaller than ours or larger than ours, Casey has demonstrated an unmistakable ability to develop staff, improve ministries, all with a pastoral sensitivity and relational heart. 

During the interview process, we examined Casey’s character, his beliefs, his competencies, and his calling. He whole-heartedly affirms the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, our doctrinal confession. The elders interviewed him as a part of this process as well, focusing on theological, leadership, staff culture, and pastoral issues. And he believes that God is calling him to FBC. 

Since Casey has lived in the area for over a decade, we had the opportunity to talk with a number of people who he worked for, worked for him, or walked closely with him in a variety of contexts. We consistently heard of his high character, his care for people, and his ministry abilities. 

Shepherd Staff, the staffing firm used in the Lead Pastor Search, interviewed Casey as well. They gave Casey a strong recommendation. 

Currently, Casey works with the leading churches on the East Coast for Pushpay. But before this, he worked at the following churches and ministries since 1996: Lakewood Baptist Church, Spring Valley Baptist Church, Spartanburg Community Church, Edwards Road Baptist Church, Catalyst Church, Browns Bridge Church, North Point Community Church, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and most recently at Local Church.

He graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. And he’s written for Lifeway Christian Resources.

Throughout this process, Casey has demonstrated a giftedness for leading in transition, problem solving, and influencing ministry culture in healthy ways that will position us for even greater future growth and impact both inside and outside the church.

Casey and his wife, Julie, have been married for thirty years and have three children, one son-in-law, and one granddaughter.

If affirmed, Casey will join the FBC staff in July. 

If you have any questions, you can email us, or you can find one of the search team at the Next Steps area this Sunday or next Sunday morning.  

Bill McIver (search committee chairman) - bill.mciver@comcast.net

Page Arnette - pagearnette@gmail.com

Tim Hearn (elder chairman) - timhearn169@icloud.com

Travis Billingsley - travis.billingsley@yahoo.com

Thank you for your faithful prayers during this search. 

Hope to see you Sunday,

Pastor Jed