I am John W. Crowder, a follower of Christ. I have served as pastor of First Baptist Church in West, Texas since 1994, and I am the author of Anchor Point, a guide for ministry leaders on leading people through crisis and disaster recovery. This blog is where I share reflections on faith, life, and leadership.
I have been the pastor of First Baptist Church in West, Texas since October of 1994. West is a small town with a big heart, and I cannot imagine a better place to spend a life in ministry. Over the years I have had the privilege of walking with people through the highest moments of their lives and the lowest — weddings and funerals, baptisms and heartbreaks, seasons of growth and seasons of grief. That is the sacred work of a pastor, and I would not trade it for anything.
On April 17, 2013, our community was changed forever when the West Fertilizer Plant exploded, killing fifteen people, injuring hundreds more, and leaving a wide path of destruction through our town. In the days, months, and years that followed, I found myself not only grieving alongside my congregation but learning what it truly means to lead people through crisis. That experience shaped me deeply. It also gave me a message I felt compelled to share.
That message became my book, Anchor Point: How to Lead with Faith, Find Strength, and Rebuild with Hope After Crisis. It is written for ministry leaders who find themselves in the middle of disaster — whether a community tragedy, an institutional crisis, or a moment that threatens to undo everything they have built. If you lead people and you have ever wondered how to hold things together when everything is falling apart, this book was written for you. You can find it on Amazon here.
Since the explosion, I have had the opportunity to walk with other pastors through times of disaster. That is a role I never would have chosen for myself, but it is one that I am committed to.
Beyond the crisis work, I am simply a pastor who loves preaching and teaching, and loves the people God has placed in my care. First Baptist West is in the middle of an exciting season right now — we are relocating to a new facility because God has been blessing us with growth for a long time, and we have outgrown our current home. We are building, as we like to say, “a home for the family, a lighthouse for the lost, and a legacy for the next generation.”
Away from the pulpit, life is full in the best ways. My wife Lisa is my partner in all of it. Our daughter Ashley is married to Bryson, and they have blessed us with grandchildren who call me Papa John — which I consider one of the best titles I have ever been given.
This blog, View from the Vine, is where I write about faith, life, leadership, and the things I am learning along the way. It is not a theology journal or a ministry newsletter. It is simply the honest reflections of a pastor who is still growing, still asking questions, and still convinced that the Word of God has something to say about every corner of life. I hope something here encourages you.
John W. Crowder 