Craig Webb to serve as HPBC executive director-treasurer

By HPBC Staff

HONOLULU (BP) – The Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention (HPBC) Executive Board voted to affirm Craig Webb as its next executive director-treasurer on Friday (Aug. 18). Webb has served as the assistant executive director for the past six years and brings years of church and convention experience to the role.

“I am so honored to serve you,” Webb said. “I am profoundly grateful for the confidence that the search committee and the full board have placed in me to provide leadership to the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention in this next season.”

At the Executive Board meeting, the HPBC Executive Board thanked the interim executive director-treasurer, Pastor John Endriss, for his six months of service. The HPBC Executive Search Committee chair, Pastor Brian Frable, thanked the search committee for its diligent work. Members of the search committee included Naomi Ashman, recording secretary, John Endriss, Larry Hale, Paula Higuchi, James Kinoshita and Sterling Lee.

Webb follows former executive director Chris Martin, who left in January to take a position with the International Mission Board.

Webb was born on Oahu and spent his first three years in Manoa when his father, Henry Webb, was the Baptist Student Union director. He then spent his elementary years in Kalihi (Island of Oahu), where the elder Webb was pastor of Kalihi Baptist. The family moved to Tennessee when Craig was 11.

After graduating from Samford University (BA) and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Webb served as a pastor in Clarksville, Tenn., from 1991-1994, then as pastor at Lahaina Baptist Church on Maui from 1994-2003.

He worked at Lifeway Christian Resources from 2003-2008, at The Glade Church in Mount Juliet, Tenn., from 2006-2015, and at First Baptist Mount Juliet from 2015-2017. Craig received his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2010 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Craig and Barbara have three grown children and two grandsons.

BGCT Executive Director Search Committee selects candidate

By BGCT Staff

DALLAS (BP) – The Texas Baptists Executive Director Search Committee has chosen a candidate to present for consideration to the BGCT Executive Board at its regularly scheduled meeting Sept. 18-19 in Dallas.


In an update released by the committee and posted to the committee’s webpage, the committee said it is “pleased to announce that a recommendation and candidate for the position of Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas will be presented at the next Executive Board meeting.”

Per the update, final interviews with four candidates took place in late July and early August.

“Each candidate proved an effective and significant leader with impeccable character and a heart of service to the Lord and to the mission of Texas Baptists,” the statement said.

The committee thanked members of the Texas Baptists family for their prayer support and called for continued prayers as the process moves forward.

“We deeply appreciate the monumental prayers offered over the past year for this Committee and its work,” the statement said. “Please continue in your faithfulness to pray for the candidate who will be presented, for the Executive Board, and for the exciting days ahead.”

Prior to the announcement, the committee last provided an update during its report to messengers and visitors at the Family Gathering July 16-18 in McAllen, Texas. In that report, the committee shared that the candidate pool had been “considerably narrowed” and that the committee was “in an extensive, comprehensive process with a small handful of candidates.”

In acknowledging the caliber of candidates considered, the Committee noted that “all nominees considered from the beginning of our search have shown themselves to be equally gifted and well-qualified Servant Leaders.”

Additional announcements from the Committee related to the candidate and process will be published to the committee webpage at txb.org/edsc.

The Executive Director Search Committee is chaired by Wendell Wright, member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, and co-chaired by Suzanne Liner, member of First Baptist Church in Lubbock. David Mahfouz, pastor of First Baptist Church in Warren, preceded Wright as the committee’s chair.

The committee was formed in July 2022 following executive director David Hardage’s retirement announcement earlier that month. Hardage held Texas Baptists’ top post for more than 10 years.