Our Staff

Phil Herrington

Senior Pastor

Phil was born and raised in a small rural community in Mississippi.  He has lived in the Houston area since his teen years.  Phil and Jennifer married in 1986. They have experienced the joys and challenges of raising four children.  Together, Phil and Jennifer have started four churches and began serving FBC Coldspring, February, 2018.

Phil is passionate about helping people on their spiritual journey discover a personal relationship with God.  He believes the Church is the hope for our world.  Phil strongly feels the church is to be an authentic community of believers on mission to advance God’s Kingdom on earth.  His life verse, 1 Corinthians 9:22, “… I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”

It has been said about Phil, “He uses real life stories and humor to communicate God’s Word in a relevant and understanding manner.”  Phil earned a BA from Houston Baptist and MDIV from Southwestern Theological Seminary.

When Phil is not serving the church, he enjoys a wide range of activities.  Phil is an outdoorsman who loves to hunt and fish (though he seldom brings home meat).  He gets his “exercise” by working as a Sporting Official for Texas High School athletics. Phil relaxes as he rides his horses and looks “cool” driving his 1966 Convertible Mustang (when it runs).  His best golf is played when on a good foursome.  Phil’s three favorite movies: “Brother Where art Thou”, “The Notebook”, and “The Passion of Christ”.

April Haggard Lilley

Children’s Director/Ministry Assistant

April Haggard Lilley joined our ministry team March 2019. She received her BA in Christian Counseling @ East Texas Baptist University.  ETBU was also where she met her late husband, Matt, of 22 1/2 years and has two amazing sons-Samuel and Brenden. 

April has been in ministry positions since she was 23 years old.  Started with youth ministry and has had the privilege of serving children, youth, ladies and senior adults.  

Since 2018 April moved to Coldspring after losing her husband to take care of her family. God opened a door to join FBC Coldspring ministry team.  What a blessing it has been for her.  

In December of 2020 April got married to Ben Lilley who grew up here and now serves as a deacon  at FBC Coldspring.  

April cherishes spending quality time with her family and friends. Enjoys listening to her sons play and sing in a praise band called Born to Witness,  has a heart to help people, and share the Hope of Jesus Christ with others. 

April has a passion to speak God’s Truth into young lives. Her desire is to speak words that bring encouragement, healing, love, comfort, and truth. 

Her hobbies are learning sign language, hanging out at the lake, bike riding, playing volleyball, singing and playing games.  

Favorite songs: The Answer, Just Breath, O Come to the Alter. Lord I Need You, All My Hope

Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 40:31

Favorite movies: the Marvel movies, and Facing the Giants.  

Stacey Whitt

Interim Youth Pastor

Stacey joined our team in August 2021 and has been working along side students and student workers for over 36 years. His strategy for Student Ministry is to simply LINK students with Christ, LOAD them up with God’s Word and LAUNCH them into their mission field as Christ Followers.

Stacey has been married to Tammy for 30 years and has three kids. Seth, Aubrey and Spencer. He currently lives in Kingwood Texas since 2001.

Stacey loves to run, watch movies and hang out with family and friends, so he is open to any lunch invitation on Sunday’s after big church.

His life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6…

Troy Fortenberry

Worship Leader

Troy Fortenberry joined our staff in October of 2022. He is currently enrolled at General Chenault’s Aviation Academy in Conroe, TX and has his private pilot license. He is working on getting the rest of his certification to become a Certified Flight Instructor.  Troy and his family moved to Point Blank in 2016 and has lived here ever since.  He graduated from Coldspring-Oakhurst High School in June 2021.

Troy has had a love for music since a very young age. In high school he played the bassoon and percussion. He was the drum major for the marching band.  His goal is to lead the people of  FBC in worshiping God and making it a worshipful experience for all ages. 

When Troy isn’t leading worship on Sunday morning or Wednesday night, he enjoys taking his friends and family on flights and perfecting his skills in the cockpit.  Troy enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Brittany Hartley, of two years. He plays disc golf and loves to hangout around the house watching movies and cooking meals. 

Janet Sweeney

Business Administrator

Janet Sweeney joined our ministry staff in 2020. She and her husband Luke live in Coldspring full time, and have a combined total of five children.

Janet was born into one of the original families of Pearland, Texas, and spent her childhood years actively involved in school and church.  After graduating from PHS, Janet attended Tyler Junior College then transferred to University of Houston, where she earned her BBA in Finance. She met her late husband Kenneth Irving during college, and they married and lived in the Clear Lake/League City area for almost 20 years.  Before starting their family, Janet worked in downtown Houston for Merrill Lynch & Co., and then Lehman Brothers. After becoming a mom, she switched to small business bookkeeping, which she continues today.

After losing her husband to cancer in 2012, Janet never imagined her life’s journey would bring her to Coldspring, Texas but God had a plan…what an Awesome Father we have!

Faith, Family, and Friends are important to Janet and most summer weekends you can catch her and Luke out on the lake hauling teens on a tube! Janet loves to travel and is always up for an adventure, whether it is a weekend trip to the Hill Country, or an extended stay somewhere she has never been before! Also, she and Luke have invested years of sweat equity into the major remodeling of their home…and joke that when (or if) they ever finish they are selling and downsizing to a RV!

Favorite Verse: “The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts Him. I was helped, my heart rejoiced, and I thank him with my song.” Psalm 28:7

Favorite Movies: August Rush, The Holiday, and Crazy Stupid Love!

Meredith Null

Interim Tech Team Lead

Meredith Null joined our ministry team in February of 2022. She has lived in Coldspring and has been apart of the our church family since July of 2004. 

Meredith was born in Houston. She is a graduate of our local high school. After high school Meredith furthered her education. She attending Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Tx for two years, then transferred and graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications. 

Meredith loves to spend her free time with family and friends. 

Favorite songs: Any song by The King George Strait, Glorious Day, Unstoppable God, 80’s Rock & Pop, 

Favorite movie: Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken

Favorite Bible Verse: 1 John 4:10 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

  • Staff Pic

  • Courthouse staff pic

    Sundays: 9:00am Small Groups and 10:30am Worship
    Wednesdays: 5:30pm (Youth/Team Kid)
    First Baptist Church Coldspring
    100 E. Pine Ave
    Coldspring, TX 77331