Our Staff
Jason Latta
Senior Pastor
Mark Brown
Adult Minister
Mark Brown is our Minister to Adults. Mark is from Missouri and Iowa originally. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa. At age twenty-five God called him into ministry. He earned his Master's degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He has served as minister of youth and education at Central Baptist Church in Italy, Tx, First Baptist Church, Miami, Ok, and First Baptist Church Garden City, Ga. He has served as youth minister of Connell Baptist from 2001 to 2006, and then at Bisbee Baptist Church in Mansfield, Tx until coming to us as Minister to Adults in 2016. Mark's wife is Cindy, a licensed nurse. The Browns have three grown children and have adopted two preschoolers that keep Mark and Cindy young. Mark is passionate about reaching adults and families and helping them grow into mature followers of Christ.
Zachary South
Youth Minister
Zachary South is our Interim Youth Minister. Zach is from Southeast Texas and originally Louisiana. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Stephen F. Austin State University and graduated in the fall of 2019. Zach is now attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in pursuit of a Master of Divinity. Zach is passionate about building relationships and making disciples who make disciples for the Kingdom.
Lisa Arnold
Children's Minister
Lisa Arnold, a native of Dayton, Texas, has served as our Children's Minister since 1992. Lisa is a graduate of East Texas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Lisa and her husband, Curt, have two children. Curt is employed as a financial analyst by an aerospace company in Fort Worth. Prior to coming to Connell, Lisa served as Children's Minister at Williams Road Baptist Church in Fort Worth.
Josefina Chavez
Director of Hispanic Ministries
Josefina Chavez came to the U.S. at age thirteen from Rio Grande Zacatecas Mexico. She attended El Paso Community College and certified as a nurse assistant. She moved to Fort Worth to continue her education in the medical field but in the process she changed her major to family counseling and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, getting her certification as a Biblical Family Counselor in 2010. She gave her life to Christ in the Fall of 1998. In 2003 she came to Connell Baptist Church and found her calling as a teacher and missions leader. She began teaching in the E.S.L. ministry where she had the privilege of presenting the gospel to hundreds of students who came to learn English. Later she became the leader of the E.S.L. ministry. Later she became the lead translator during the worship services where the service and sermon are translated live into Spanish. In 2017 Josefina was called as Director of Connell’s Hispanic Ministries. She enjoys spending time with her children Martin and Kate. Her life scripture is “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Adela Castellon
Administrative Secretary
Adela Castelon has been Administrative Secretary at Connell since 2008. Adela is a graduate of TWU and has served as an officer in the United States Air Force. Adela and her husband, Mario, are members of Mission de Paz in Fort Worth where they both teach and serve in the youth ministry. They have three daughters and three grandchildren.
