Pastor Shan Gilder Sr, is a fourth generation COGIC member. He graduated from Silsbee High School as an Honor Graduate in 1989. He went on to play college baseball at San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas where he was a part of a World Series National Championship team in 1990 and was drafted professionally by the Kansas City Royals baseball organization. He later played collegiate baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree. After several opportunities to continue his career as a professional baseball player with the Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and New York Mets, the Lord gave him a dream one night and showed him that it was time for him to give up his dreams to be a baseball player and to follow Jesus in the ministry.
Pastor Bio
PASTOR SHAN GILDER SR., MBA
After much prayer and consecration, he gave up baseball and accepted Jesus in December of 1993 and later preached his first sermon under the direction of Supt. H. J. Simon on July 24, 1994. He was licensed in 1998 under the late Pastor D. C. Elam, Sr and he was ordained under Bishop Rufus Kyles Sr. in 2014. He served as the Assistant Pastor to Pastor Mark Smith for 8 years at the Holy Temple COGIC. Shan holds two college degrees and he is now the Senior Pastor of Holy Temple COGIC in Silsbee, Texas. He has been with his high school sweetheart Cecilia Gilder for 36 years and they have been married for 30 years. Lady Gilder serves as a school administrative assistant for Beaumont ISD. They have three children: one daughter, Chasity Gilder who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Lamar University, a Master’s Degree from Texas Southern University and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. They have two sons: Caleb Gilder is a former college baseball player, proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and graduate of Prairie View A&M University. The youngest son is Shan Gilder JR who is currently a college baseball player at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.
Baseball Career
- Silsbee High School All State and All Star
- Played at San Jacinto College and Lamar University
- Junior College World Series National Champion
- Drafted by the Kansas City Royals Baseball organization
- 2020 Inductee into the Silsbee High School Athletic Wall of Honor
Education and Service
- Graduated from Lamar University with Bachelors of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree.
- Graduated from Texas Southern University with Masters of Business Administration Degree in Energy Finance with the Highest Male GPA 3.96.
- Inducted to the International Business Society of Beta Gamma Sigma at Texas Southern University.
- Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, the first inter-collegiate black Greek lettered organization.
- Treasurer of the Board of Gamma Tau Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. for 6 years.
- Treasurer of the Board of the Southeast Texas Christian Women Job Corp for 10 years Member of the Hardin County Ministers Alliance.
- Serves as the Assistant to the District Superintendent in the Kountze Evangelistic District.
- Served as Jurisdictional Sunday School Superintendent for the Texas Gulf Coast Jurisdiction.
