• Lewis Richerson, Ph.D.

    Lead Pastor

    Pastor Lewis came to Woodlawn in May 2012. He previously served at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in various capacities from 2005-2012 where he also received his Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages (M.Div.) and Doctorate of Philosophy in Preaching (Ph.D.) degrees. Lewis began his pastoral ministry in 1999, while a senior in high school, as an interim pastor in rural Rapides Parish, Louisiana. That experience, along with his other ministry experiences (he served churches in Louisiana and Texas) have given him a passion for people and the Word of God.  In addition to leading in the local church, Pastor Lewis has been instrumental in launching a ministry in India that includes an accredited Bible college and seminary, church planting efforts all over India, an orphan ministry, and pastor training.


    Pastor Lewis believes that the purpose of the local church is "to equip the saints for the work of ministry." This is why he is passionate about expository preaching and discipleship.  He is committed to the expositional preaching and teaching of God’s Word, and he generally works through a book of the Bible in his preaching series.


    He is married to Erica and together they have five children: Dalton, Carlie, Anna, David, and Ella.  His interests include sports, politics, and reading.


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  • Travis McNeely

    Pastor, Students and college

    Travis joined the staff at Woodlawn Baptist Church November 2017. Travis is husband to Jillian and father to 4 kids, Shiloh, Thaddeus, Alden & Emmeline.  Travis is passionate about engaging the secular culture with the gospel, as well as equipping fellow saints to understand and articulate the "whats" and "whys" of their faith, in order for the lost to be saved and discipled. His vocational ministry experience includes working at Christian youth camps, Christian schools, and now in the local church as the Student and College Pastor.


    Travis and Jillian are Floridians who both attended and graduated from Word of Life Bible Institute (where they met) and The College at Southwestern. Travis graduated with two Masters degrees in Spring 2018 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Theology and Christian Apologetics. Travis is currently working on his Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a focus in Biblical Counseling at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.


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  • Ryan hess

    PASTOR, Music and administration

    Ryan joined the Woodlawn staff in August of 2023. He and his wife Amanda are newly married and excited about their new place of service here in Baton Rouge. Ryan graduated from Louisiana College in 2014 with a Bachelors in Worship Leadership. He also attained a Masters of Arts in Worship Leadership from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021. 


    Ryan is passionate about seeing people engage with God through musical worship. He aims to help congregants connect all of who they are (i.e. gifts, talents, resources) with all of who God expresses himself to through his word. He loves to craft services that respond to the revelation of God through scripture. It is his belief that the central element of worship in the bible is revelation and response and aims to reflect that in every Woodlawn service opportunity. 

  • Lyn Bailey

    Children's Minister

    Lyn joined the staff at Woodlawn Baptist Church in September 2015. Lyn married her wonderful husband, Caleb, on March 20, 1999. They have 3 children, Mikayla, Tristan, and Landon. Lyn graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and a Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance. She and Caleb have been members of WBC since March 2002 and are excited to continue to serve the Lord faithfully with the staff of Woodlawn. Lyn desires to bring God glory through the children's ministry and make His name known to future generations.


    Their family enjoys spending time with extended family at LSU football tailgates/games, playing sports, and traveling.


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  • Leslie Talley

    Ministry Assistant

    Leslie joined the staff at Woodlawn Baptist Church in January of 2021. She joined the staff after serving the State of Louisiana for 33 years in various roles. She has been a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church since 2002 and currently serves as a Sunday School Teacher, volunteers in various Childrens' Ministries and Music Ministries, and serves on our Hospitality Team. In addition, Leslie joined Woodlawn on mission trips that have taken her to Canada, Mexico, Egypt, China, and her local community.


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  • Kendra Trahan

    Financial Secretary

    Kendra joined the staff at Woodlawn Baptist Church in July of 2016. She is married to Randy and together they have 2 beautiful daughters. They enjoy spending time together as a family, participating in the music ministry at Woodlawn, and are very active in their Sunday School class where Randy is the teacher.


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  • Terri Davis

    Preschool Director

    Terri is a transplanted Texan from Big Lake, TX. She graduated from LSU with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology. She and her husband, Kenneth, have been married for 17 years. They have seven children: Hunter, Thomas, Logan, Presley, Ian, Colton, and Makinley. Terri enjoys baking, playing games with her children, and serving in the AWANA program at Woodlawn Baptist Church. She has a passion to show others God’s love and to serve Christ by serving others.


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  • Swapna koppula
    Mom's Day Out Director

    Swapna Koppula began her teaching career at MDO in 2023. She started attending church with her husband, Vijay Sen Mallepalli, and their son, Roshan Andrew, after joining the MDO program. The family relocated to LA from Texas in 2023. Born and raised in India, Swapna came from a non-Christian background and placed her faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross in 2003. They began pursuing membership at Woodlawn in the beginning of 2024 and are "excited to see God’s work in our lives through this fellowship."

    Before their move to Baton Rouge, Swapna worked in the children’s ministry as a Sunday School teacher at Fellowship Baptist Church in Nederland, Texas, for 2 years. She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge.


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