Leadership

Cory Bruce currently serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Ferriday, Louisiana. He received his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated with his Doctor of Ministry back in 2019 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  Bro. Cory comes to us with almost 20 years of pastoral experience having served as Senior Pastor in four other churches throughout Northeast Louisiana and Southeast Texas.

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 a love of both American and Church history and weaves them both into his preaching for powerful illustrations. In his doctoral work, he developed a Church Growth Strategy for a small, rural church and brings that expertise to Ferriday. He is married to Melissa and they have two adult children, Cooper and Madison. 

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.