Dave Samples - Lead Pastor
Pastor Dave has been in the ministry for over thirty years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Union University, Jackson, TN and Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Biblical languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX. He has served churches in Tennessee, Colorado, and Texas. He has held leadership positions both at the state convention level as well as within the Southern Baptist Convention. Dave’s greatest accomplishment was marrying the love of his life, Tina, almost thirty years ago. He has been recognized by Southwestern Seminary as well as by multiple state conventions for his evangelistic effectiveness. He was honored to be nominated Person of the Year in Windsor, Colorado for his leadership in providing disaster relief following an EF3 tornado that devastated the community in 2008. Dave has served his country as a chaplain within the US Navy as well as providing chaplain services for multiple law enforcement and fire departments. Dave has had the opportunity to teach and provide pastoral leadership for the Gospel Music Association as well as numerous camps and conferences. He has two children, Jaren and Zachery, and one grand-daughter, Abigail.
Dave is the co-author of his first book with wife Tina - titled Messed Up Men of the Bible: Seeing The Men in Your Life Through God’s Eyes.
- Facebook: Dave Samples
- Email: davidjsamples@hotmail.com
Blaine Bernstein - Pastor to Students
Blaine Bernstein is the Pastor to Students here at Tolar Baptist. He is a gifted leader, teacher, and communicator. He feels very blessed to have been in student ministry for over 20 years and is stoked for many more years to come. Pastor Blaine's desire is to see students and adults come to Jesus and understand His great love for them and to fall in love with the Bible.
Blaine enjoys hanging out with students, a night at the movies, a good cup of coffee, playing golf, watching football and rooting on THE University of Texas (HOOK ‘EM). He is married to the love of his life Misty, and they have four children: Tancy, Tannah, Brennan, and Bryce. He still can’t believe Jesus blessed him with this amazing family.
- Facebook: Blaine Bernstein
- Email: blaine@tolarbaptist.com
Shane Greer - Worship Pastor
Shane grew up in the small west Texas town of Kermit, where at the age of 7, he recognized his need for a Savior and prayed to receive Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. At the age of 14, his family moved to Irving, Texas, and it was there, at the age of 15, that Shane felt the call to surrender to ministry. By the age of 19, Shane was serving in full-time ministry. He is now going on 25 years of full-time ministry and still has a passion for serving God and loving people.
Shane graduated from Irving Nimitz High School in 1993 and graduated from The Criswell College in Dallas, TX with a Bachelors in Biblical Studies in 2003. He married the love of his life, Misty, in 1998 and together they have two amazing children, Madison and Noah.
Shane loves sports! He is a die-hard Dallas Mavericks fan and a die-hard Olkahoma Sooner fan - go BOOMER SOONERS! He also likes the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.
Shane counts it an honor and privilege to serve the people of Tolar and the surrounding areas.
"I look forward to seeing what God is up to here. I believe He is up to something big and I want to be right in the middle of it all".
Be Humble, Serve Well - Pastor Shane
Facebook: Shane Greer
Email: shane@tolarbaptist.com
John Valentine - Pastor Emeritus
John was born in Lubbock. He moved to California for his preschool years, and grew up in Hillsboro, Texas. He attended Texas Tech University and Southwestern Seminary. After Southwestern, he moved to the Pacific Northwest where he served as Minister of Education for two churches in Longview, Washington. In 1986, he and Pat moved back to Texas and served at First Baptist Church, Alvarado for 21 years where he was the Minister of Education and Administration. He finished in Lubbock where he was Executive Pastor and retired in June, 2013 after 42 years ministering in SBC churches. He retired as an active staff member at the end of 2019. He and Pat have been married for 45 years and have two daughters and four grandchildren.
John still seeks to serve as needed in many different areas of the church.
Facebook: John Valentine
Email: johnwval@hotmail.com
Erica Jenkins - Children's Minister
Email: jenkinsmom5@gmail.com
Servando Landeros - Hispanic Pastor
Email: servando_hortencialr@hotmail.com
Cheryl Barron - Office Administrator
Cheryl grew up in Houston, TX, where she met and married high-school sweetheart Jeff. Married for 40 years, they currently live in Bluff Dale, TX. Their grown children are Angela (Jody) Gallant and Brian. Cheryl and Jeff both graduated from UT Austin, with Fine Arts and Petroleum Engineering degrees respectively. Cheryl has served at several different churches and ministries: First Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church of Alice, TX, First Baptist Colleyville, Valiant Hearts in Colleyville and currently here at TBC. She and Jeff attend Bluff Dale Baptist Church, where she serves as worship leader on Sundays.
Email: office@tolarbaptist.com
