MINISTry Team
Pastor
Pastor Murray Ward became pastor of Higgston Baptist Church in August 2022. Trained as a landscape architect at the University of Georgia and working for a civil engineering firm and then in private practice for almost 20 years, God’s call to fulltime ministry came in 1985. Returning to college at New Orleans Theological Seminary, he began serving in the ministry in 1988 at Helena Baptist in McRae, GA. Through the years, he continued his ministry as pastor at Tabernacle Baptist, Cross Timbers Baptist and, currently, Higgston Baptist, all in Vidalia, GA. Cheryl, his wife, died in 2023 after faithfully teaching God’s Word and ministering through a newsletter to countless people whose lives have been impacted through her joint ministry with Pastor Murray.
Worship Pastor
This position has been filled. More information to come soon.
Youth Pastor
Brianna Helms joined our staff in October 2023 as the Youth Minister. She also works for the Toombs County Extension Office as the 4-H educator. She has always had a heart for middle and high school students and has a strong calling to teach and walk alongside them as they grow in a relationship with Christ. Brianna's goal is to create a place where the students of this community can come as they are, grow in their relationship with Christ, build lasting connections with a strong community of believers, and leave feeling equipped to make an impact in the world around them.
CHILDREN’S MINISTER
Sandy Barton joined our staff as Children’s Minister in March of 2024. She is a children’s ministry enthusiast who is passionate about teaching kids God’s Word, God’s character and God’s love. She loves kids, and takes every possible opportunity to build relationships with them and show them the love of the Father. Her desire is to not just teach kids facts about God or the Bible, but to connect kid’s hearts with the heart of God. She has enjoyed serving and ministering to kids through many different capacities including Vacation Bible schools, short term missions’ trips, and teaching Sunday school. She states, “I am passionate about missions and discipleship and consider myself to be a missionary to the world’s largest unreached people group: KIDS!”
