Staff

Senior Pastor

Pete Keough

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Dr. Peter E. “Pete” Keough is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Gatesville, Texas. Prior to accepting the call to FBCG, he served in the United States Army as a Chaplain endorsed by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) for over 20 of his 32-year Army career. He served in numerous leadership positions in Washington DC, Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas, Germany, and Hawaii as well as serving multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. Keough is a 1989 graduate of St. Augustine High School in St. Augustine, Florida; a 1999 graduate of The Baptist College of Florida [now the Baptist University of Florida], Graceville, Florida; a 2003 graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary [MDiv], New Orleans, Louisiana; a 2014 graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College [Graduate Diploma – Strategic Leadership]; and a 2016 graduate of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary [DMin – Leadership], Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Keough has served as a doctoral dissertation reader and adjunct professor of leadership at Midwestern since 2016.

Pete and his wife Amy [married since 1993] are the parents of two sons, Haden [married to Courtney and father to Emma and Avery] in Loveland, Colorado; Austin in Leesville, LA; and one daughter, Kaitlyn, in Monroe, Louisiana.




Youth Director

Chris Blanchard

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Christopher (Spoon) Blanchard is the Youth Director at First Baptist Church of Gatesville. Christopher began his love of teaching the youth of Gatesville through Martial Arts. He opened his first school here in Gatesville, Gatesville Martial Arts Academy in 2003 after his father retired from teaching for 20 years. You may also recognize Christopher as the Manager of The Movie Store for over 20 years where he fell in love with the Gatesville community.

Christopher is a Gatesville graduate of 2004, where he then began his higher education getting his associate in education degree and is working his way to getting his bachelor’s in elementary education. Christopher has always had a love for teaching. He has been involved in youth either as a leader or in music ministry since 2004. Now, God has allowed him to serve his church and community as FBCG’s Youth Director where he plans to not only grow the youth in the church but also grow the presence of the Lord in the Gatesville community. Empowering the youth with the love of God and preparing them for the trials that await them when they enter into adulthood so that they may carry and spread God’s grace with them.

Christopher is blessed with his amazing family. His wonderful wife Sarah Blanchard is a Biology teacher here at Gatesville High School. They are High School sweethearts meeting here in Gatesville. And his darling (and maybe disastrous) 7-year-old twin daughters Sadie and Penny, who have him tightly wrapped around their fingers.




Children's Director

Abi Cozart

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Abi Cozart is the Children’s Director of First Baptist Church of Gatesville. God gave Abi a passion and love for children at a very young age. She has consistently served in children’s ministry since 2013. From overseas to our local community, her call to children’s ministry is evident. God brought Abi to FBCG as a visitor in 2022, where he later opened the door and placed her right where he intended for her to serve - Children’s Ministry.

Abi was born and raised right here in Gatesville. She was a 2016 graduate of Gatesville High School. She has been a familiar face for Extraco Banks since 2018. Many recognize her from her 5 years of dedication to this community as she served on the Gatesville Chamber of Commerce board.

Though Abi has held many titles, her favorite one is “momma”. God called Abi to the foster ministry in 2021, to this day she continues to open her heart and home to many children.




Office Manager

Sarah Hukel

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Sarah Hukel is the Office Manager of First Baptist Church of Gatesville, Texas. Sarah began her work at FBCG in 2019 as the ProPresenter technician and quickly fell in love with the people and the church. God had bigger plans and called her to serve in the church office in 2020. Sarah manages the day-to-day operations of the church as well as serves the FBCG family. Sarah truly enjoys her time at the church and takes pride in what God has called her to do. 

Prior to FBCG she spent time working as an administrative assistant for a construction company, a salesclerk at a local boutique, and most importantly before that, was a stay-at-home mom.

Sarah is a Gatesville native and a 2009 graduate of Gatesville High School. Sarah has been married to Nick Hukel, also a Gatesville native and lifelong member of FBCG, since 2012. Together they have one son, Colt. As a family, they enjoy going hunting, attending concerts and MLB games, and spending time at home with their two dogs, Buck, a Brittany and Nugget, a mini/toy Aussie.