By Nathan Mixter
Pinnacle staff writer
Dean Hallberg is no stranger to the city of Hollister. He’s worn
many different hats, but his newest one may be the most
challenging.
Hallberg, 60, who has lived and worked in the city for more than
30 years, was selected as the new senior pastor of Calvary Baptist
Church after a unanimous vote by members. In addition to his
service with the church, he has also been actively involved in the
community.
By Nathan Mixter
Pinnacle staff writer
Dean Hallberg is no stranger to the city of Hollister. He’s worn many different hats, but his newest one may be the most challenging.
Hallberg, 60, who has lived and worked in the city for more than 30 years, was selected as the new senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church after a unanimous vote by members. In addition to his service with the church, he has also been actively involved in the community.
Hallberg was a Hollister city councilman from 1986 to 1994 and mayor in 1988 and 1992. He served as the director of the San Benito Council of Governments from 1988 to 1994. He was the project director for the Central Coast Tobacco-Free Regional Project from 1993 to 2002 and was actively involved in community theater for several years.
“I’m just really excited to be back here on familiar ground,” Hallberg said. “I love Hollister and the people here. I always have loved the community. It seems like I can’t go anywhere without someone stopping by to say hi.”
While he’s been out of the political spotlight for more than 15 years, he still takes pride in the city and how it has grown.
“It is good to see some of the projects that we worked on get going,” Hallberg said. “It is great to see the new bypass. It really makes it easy to travel around town. And the downtown seems to be alive.”
But those days are behind him as he devotes himself to his new calling.
“Being a pastor is a full-time job plus,” Hallberg said. “I may go to an occasional council meeting but only if it pertains to the church.
“I’ll still be an active member of the community but as the pastor of a church.”
Pastor Dean, as he is affectionately called by those who have grown up with him, is well known to many at the church. Along with his dad, Hallberg helped found Calvary Christian School in 1976, where he served as principal and teacher for 15 years. He has also served as assistant pastor and youth pastor at the church.
It was only in the last couple years that Hallberg said he thought about becoming pastor of a church.
“It really surprised me,” Hallberg said. “Until recently, I was content being a youth pastor and school administrator. It is amazing where the Lord directs in our lives.”
For the last five years, Hallberg was the superintendent of Victory Christian Schools in Carmichael. Although he has not officially been a pastor, he essentially pastored his church in Folsom for about three months while continuing his school administrative job until Pastor Jack Tillman arrived to serve as that church’s interim pastor. Tillman, the current interim pastor at Calvary, said that he believes that the Folsom church would not be in existence today if it were not for the leadership of Pastor Dean.
“He is the perfect person to lead the church,” said Tillman, who taught Hallberg 40 years ago in college. “He knows a lot of people, and he’s already built up relationships with many people in the community. Those things will be an asset to him.”
Hallberg received a bachelor of arts degree in radio/television broadcasting from Bob Jones University in 1973 and a master of science degree in educational administration from Pensacola Christian College in 1981.
The church will hold an instillation service Aug. 1 during Hallberg’s first Sunday of ministry. The public is welcome to attend. For more information, call 637-2909 or visit www.calvaryofhollister.org.
