Texico Welcomes New Pastors and New Director

CORRALES, N.M. – The Texico Conference was pleased to introduce and welcome several new staff members in 2022. Most recently, Eric Chavez, pictured left with his wife, Shanna, joined the team as the new full-time youth, young adult and club ministries director. Chavez brings with him vast experience and passion for youth ministry. 

Chavez and his wife Shanna are both natives of the Texico Conference as both were born and raised in Amarillo. Eric and Shanna left Amarillo in 2010 to pursue a theology degree at Southern Adventist University after which they pastored in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference and the Upper Columbia Conference for several years. The Wisconsin Conference then called Chavez to be the youth, young adult, club ministries and youth camp director where he served, along with Shanna, for more than six years. Shanna will continue to support Chavez’s ministry and will serve as an assistant in the youth department. Eric and Shanna have been busy since their start and have a full schedule for the upcoming year with exciting Club and Youth Ministry events and activities.

“The Texico Conference is very grateful that God has led Eric and Shanna back to the Texico Conference,” said Phil Robertson, Texico Conference executive secretary/treasurer. “It is our prayer that God will bless them greatly as they continue to share their ministry gifts.”

Texico is also excited to welcome pastors, Ray House (pictured top right) and Samuel Garbi ( pictured bottom right), as the newest pastors of the Texico Conference. House is serving the El Paso Central and El Paso Northeast churches and Garbi is pastoring the Lubbock church. Both Garbi and House have an impressive background. Garbi has pastored in London, and in several churches on the East Coast. Most recently, he pastored a district in Southwest Wisconsin. Garbi is also a skilled and talented violinist who has won multiple awards. House has extensive pastoral experience and most recently he was president of the East Timor Union Mission in the South Pacific Division.

“We are happy to welcome each of these individuals and cannot wait to see how God will use their talents,” said Robertson. “We believe their skills, experience and passion for the things of God will have a real impact and will further our mission to expand God’s kingdom in our territory.”

By Debby Márquez
Communication Director