Longtime pastor steps away from the pulpit to retire

By Cory Smith | news@campcountynow.com

The year was 1995. 
The Houston Rockets won the NBA Championship, Sony released the PlayStation, EBay made its debut, Beanie Babies flew off store shelves, and Steve Packer was called to be the pastor of First Baptist Church-Pittsburg.
“I was serving the Dallas Baptist Association as administrator of Mount Lebanon Encampment, one of the largest church camping facilities in the state and Donna was an elementary school teacher at Cedar Hill ISD. But God was speaking to me to return to the pastorate, my first calling. So, in October of that year, we moved with Daniel, our 14-year-old son just beginning high school, and my saintly 78-year-old mother to the best east Texas town ever becoming your pastor here at FBC, Pittsburg,” Packer wrote in a resignation letter to his church.
Packer has guided the church through many transformations over the years including adding over 10 acres of property, building of the Family Life Center in 2000, adding services and staff members, purchasing new equipment and remodeling facilities, constructing of the Lighthouse building and the Life Solutions Counseling Center. 
In his 20-plus years leading the flock at FBC-Pittsburg, Packer said the people are what has made it so great.

For complete story, see April 20 issue