Meet Brian Croak

Brian Croak grew up on the Jersey shore, the fifth of six children, in a church going family. By his late teen years, however, Brian began questioning his faith and soon drifted from the institutional church. When he could find no satisfying answers for his soul's hunger, he accepted a friend's invitation to attend a summer evening service in a local church, and there received Christ as his personal Lord.

Soon the joy of the Christian life became transformational. A Christian world-view informed all of life and academic disciplines. Brian got very involved in the Christian campus ministry at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ, and upon graduation, joined the staff of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, building student led ministries at Rutgers University.

In 1988, with the encouragement of his wife Marian, Brian enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary. There he enjoyed a deepening of the Reformed heritage of his campus ministry days, and became a Presbyterian. He came under care of the Presbytery of Monmouth and accepted his first call in Rumson, NJ, focusing on youth ministry. Since that time, junior high kids have reserved a special place in Brian's heart.

In 1994, Brian accepted a call as the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of South Amboy. He had been attracted to the congregation's emphasis on small group ministry, its outreach programs and its warm, caring personality.

Under Rev. Croak's leadership, the church remains a growing, vibrant center of worship and mission. He believes that it is the Holy Spirit, through the power of the Scriptures and the community of God's people, who transforms lives and gives us true purpose. He steadily encouraged the congregation to reach out to new families, so that others too may experience the love and "amazing grace" of Jesus Christ.

Since 1991, Brian has also been steadily involved with Congregational Redevelopment within Monmouth Presbytery, and has helped develop a liaison program to churches seeking renewed mission and transformation. He is also the co-moderator of the synod's "Moveable Feast," a decentralized mission effort designed to bring redevelopment resources and training events to the various presbyteries within the synod.

Brian's wife Marian has worked at AT&T Labs in Middletown for over twenty years. They and their three children Justin, Christina, and Dylan, have lived in Fair Haven since 1990. Brian enjoys gardening, basketball and traveling (if there's even time left over!).