George Schroeder

Lead Pastor

George is passionate about helping people know and follow Jesus. Called into ministry after a career in journalism, his purpose is to “testify to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24), for God’s glory. He has served at First Baptist since July 2024.

He and Shannon have been married since 1997 and have three children: Elizabeth, a fourth-grade teacher; George, a U.S. Air Force officer; and Christopher, a middle-school student (and a heart and kidney transplant recipient).

Before pastoral ministry, George covered college football for USA Today and was a regular host on SiriusXM’s college sports channels. Before coming to First Baptist, he served at  churches in Colorado and Texas, and in leadership roles at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee.

A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, he holds a Master of Theological Studies with a concentration in cross-culture missions from Southwestern Seminary. He serves as an adjunct faculty member with Baylor University’s Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media, and hosts a weekly podcast – Gridiron and the Gospel: A Faith and College Football Podcast.

Shannon, a graduate of Mississippi State University, loves sharing the Good News of Jesus with children and their families. She has served in children’s ministry in several churches and founded and led a ministry to a local elementary school.

Raised by Christian parents, George became a follower of Christ in his early 20s. He believes there’s nothing better than studying the Bible while drinking a good cup of coffee – unless it’s talking with someone about Jesus while drinking a good cup of coffee. In his free time, he enjoys running, reading, watching football and traveling with family. He finally stopped playing basketball after surgeries to repair a ruptured achilles tendon and a fractured wrist.

But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. 

–  Acts 20:24