Leadership

Pastors & Staff

Shawn Morgan

Lead Pastor

Shawn Morgan serves as the Pastor of Saragossa First Baptist Church, where he is passionate about sharing God’s Word and helping others grow in their faith. With a heart for ministry, he focuses on preaching, teaching, and building strong relationships within the church and the community. He has 14 years of pastoral experience and a deep commitment to fostering spiritual growth and discipleship.

Outside of church, Shawn is the Market President for Synovus Bank. He also enjoys fishing and golf and values spending time with his family. He has been married to Kelley for 29 years and has eight sons, Tyler (Hannah), Jonah (Jordan), Ethan, Eli, Aaron, Tommy, Seth and Hunter.  He also has two grandsons, Carson and Luke.
 
His mission is to glorify God by serving others and leading them to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Kevin Pugh

Associate Pastor

Kevin Pugh serves as the Associate Pastor at Saragossa first Baptist Church, focusing on building meaningful connections with church members and supporting their spiritual growth. With a passion for fostering relationships, he works to ensure everyone feels welcomed, valued, and equipped to serve in the church and community.

Kevin brings 20 years of ministry experience that enables him to guide and encourage others in their faith journey. He is dedicated to organizing engaging worship experiences, small groups, and outreach opportunities that help members deepen their connection with God and each other.

When not serving at the church, Kevin is employed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  He also enjoys hunting and fishing and spending time with his family.  He has been married to Suzanne for 31 years and has two sons, Brady (Anna) and Ryan (Tristin), and two grandchildren Maya and Baylor.

His heart for ministry lies in creating a church community where everyone can grow, serve, and feel like they belong.

Art Werner

Worship Leader

Art Werner serves as the Worship Leader at Saragossa First Baptist Church and loves nothing more than to lead people before God’s throne in worship. His life verse is Psalm 146:2 “ I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

Having served in full-time worship ministry for over 43 years in churches from Virginia to Arizona and in-between, he brings a wide variety of experience and leadership to the worship experience. He has seasoned experience leading traditional, blended, as well as contemporary services. He holds a Bachelor of Sacred Music degree from John Brown University as well as a Master’s Degree in Ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Art is married to Tami and will be celebrating 43 years together this coming August 2025. They have 3 married children, 5 grandchildren and another grandchild on the way. Art loves the outdoors and enjoys hunting, fishing, horseback riding, golf and gardening, just to name a few.

Art’s desire in ministry is to create an opportunity for people to worship freely through a blend of different styles of music that reaches into hearts and connects souls with the Lord and draws them to the Lord.

Brenda Elliott

Children's Ministry Leader

Brenda Elliott became a believer at the age of 9 and has been a devoted member of Saragossa Baptist Church for over 50 years. Throughout her time at the church, she has been an active participant in many areas of ministry, including Children's Church, Vacation Bible School, singing in the choir, and being a part of the Ladies Prayer Group. Brenda has a deep passion for the children’s department, dedicating her time and energy to nurturing the faith of the younger generation.

Alongside her husband, Mike, Brenda is blessed with a son, Brandon, a daughter-in-law, Tina, and two grandsons, Fisher and Camp. She treasures her family and loves being involved in the church community. Brenda is committed to growing in her faith and serving others with a heart full of love and devotion.

One of Brenda's favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Kyle and Haley Elliott

Youth Leaders

Driven by a passion to see young people grow in their relationship with Christ, Kyle and Haley serve as our youth leaders. Their mission is to establish a strong foundation of faith, hope, and love, guiding today's youth to comprehend their significance in society through the teachings of scripture and a devotion to Christ.

Married for 9 years, Kyle and Haley are proud parents of two wonderful children, Easton and Allie. They actively engage with their community by participating in sports and extracurricular activities.