Leadership

Kevin Ulmer currently serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Ferriday, Louisiana. He is also presently pursuing a PhD in Preaching and Church History from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Before coming to Louisiana, while at Southwestern, he completed a Master of Theology (ThM) degree (May 2021) earning the Albert Venting award for academic excellence and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree (May 2019) earning the C. W. Brister pastoral ministry award. While pursuing his seminary education, he served as senior pastor of a Maplewood Baptist in North Richland Hills, Texas. Prior to relocating to Texas, he served as children’s pastor in Laurel, Mississippi at Salem Heights Baptist. He graduated with a B.A. in Religion from Luther Rice University (May 2015). Before entering the ministry, he was a design engineer in Bay Springs, Mississippi.

He is passionate about preaching and teaching in the local church in an effort to shepherd the people of God and advance the kingdom of God. He has contributed multiple articles to the seminary’s preaching website (preachingsource.com). He has an interest in the preaching of the Great Awakening with specific interest in the preaching of Jonathan Edwards. He is married to Melanie and they have two adult children. 

Dan Ratcliff currently serves as Associate Pastor of Worship and Family Ministry at First Baptist Church Ferriday, Louisiana. He completed a Master of Divinity in Biblical Languages degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary in 1992. He graduated summa cum laude. While completing his MDiv, he served under the youth ministry of Wedgwood Baptist Church and youth pastor/mentor Steve Hayes. He graduated in 1988 from Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Through the BSU, NAMB and IMB, he also served (2) ten - week stints as a summer missionary. In 1986 he was with Graffiti Baptist Church in the lower east side of New York City and in 1988 he served at Rabat Protestant Fellowship in Rabat, Morocco. Lifelong ministry experience was learned from these 2 appointments. He was born and raised in Ferriday, Louisiana, so now God has him to serve the Lord with his home church. Following Seminary, He served as Minister of Music/Youth/Children at Bardwell Baptist Church in Kentucky from 1993- 1995. God called him to Central Baptist Church in Selma, Alabama as Minister of Youth/Music from 1995 to 1998. His longest ministry service prior to coming to Ferriday was as Minister of Youth/Activities and Youth Choir at FBC Natchez, Mississippi for over 20 years. While in Natchez, his ministry title changed to Associate Pastor of Student Ministries. 
He has a heart for the Lord and loves teaching and discipling youth and parents and looks forward to serving the entire family of faith here at FBC Ferriday. We must be on mission together, daily, as God’s church to reach others in this post-Christian world. We do this through dedication to praying, seeking God daily through bible study and fellowshipping with other Christians, as well as discipleship and evangelism. Bro. Dan loves Christian music, weather, sports, working out and eating healthy most days. He is married to Alisa and they have 3 adult children.

Micki Smith currently serves as the ministry assistant at First Baptist Church Ferriday. 

Leah Ready currently serves as Pianist and Worship Ministry Assistant at First Baptist Church Ferriday.