Leadership

Pastors & Staff

Bill Dye

Lead Pastor

Bill is responsible for the overall ministry focus of the church. He provides oversight and direction to the ministry staff, offers leadership and vision for the church, and preaches on Sunday mornings. Bill also teaches periodically on Wednesday nights.

Bill has been at North Monroe since 2001 Prior to that, he ministered in churches in Groves, Houston and Bridgeport, Texas. Bill received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth and a Doctorate of Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas.

Bill and Amy have been married for 37 years and they have four sons, three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren. As a recovering former Dallas Cowboys fan, Bill now pulls for the ULM Warhawks, the New Orleans Saints, and the LSU Tigers. When he's not at work, he's usually fixing something that one of his sons broke.

Cody Albritton

Discipleship Pastor

Cody coordinates adult LifeGroups and Wednesday Bible studies. He also helps people connect to the ministries and groups at North Monroe. Prior to coming to North Monroe, Cody served in college ministries in Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama. He loves helping people grow into mature followers of Christ. Both LA Tech graduates, Cody and Christina have been married since 2008. Cody also has a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The Albrittons and their three kids (Kayleigh, Whitlee, and Watson) love playing outside and being with friends.

Kenneth Clark

Young Families & Children's Pastor

Kenneth gives oversight to the children’s ministries at both of our campuses. Kenneth delights in seeing children of all ages come to a life-changing knowledge of Christ as their Lord and Savior. Prior to joining the staff at North Monroe in 2005, Kenneth served as the Worship and Children’s Pastor at FBC Groves, Texas for seven years. He taught in the public school system for sixteen years. Kenneth received his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He earned a Masters of Elementary Education with a concentration in Administration from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Outside of working at North Monroe, Kenneth loves spending time with his wife, Tammy, and their three daughters, especially at the beach!

Kevin Crim

Bastrop Campus Pastor

Kevin works to lead the vision of North Monroe at North Church Bastrop, our Bastrop campus. He has a passion to share the love of Christ with others and help them become fully devoted followers of Christ in how they live and serve. Kevin has been in ministry for over 2 decades, serving Christ in various roles in churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and California before coming to North Monroe. Kevin's wife Nichole is a teacher at Beekman Charter School and serves on our North Church Bastrop worship team. Kevin's children and their spouses also serve at North Monroe and North Church Bastrop. His daughter Mary Beth is married to Dylan Breshears. His son Nathan is married to Courtney. Kevin's favorite pastime is spoiling his grandchildren - Annabelle, Rori and Theo.

Blake Davis

Worship Pastor

Blake is a local boy, born & raised in the promised land of West Monroe. Blake has been leading worship for over 20 years and began his ministry at NMBC in 2005. He serves as the Worship Pastor, overseeing the worship ministry and leading in our contemporary service on Sunday mornings. Blake oversees the marketing, advertising, and publications of the church, as well. Blake is an OCS and ULM graduate. He and his wife, Kelli, have been married since 2006 and have two children: Kami & Hudson.

Warren Eckhardt

Pastoral Care & Administrative Pastor

Warren has served at North Monroe since May of 1992. He has seen many changes in buildings and staff, however, his love for serving North Monroe and its people is still very intense and rewarding. He serves as the Pastoral Care Pastor. Warren takes care of hospital visits and homebound members and oversees the Senior Adult ministry of NMBC. Warren also serves as the Administration Pastor which means he oversees the finances of the church. Warren and Donna have been married since 1978 and enjoy traveling and doing projects around the house. They have three adult children, Cody, Shana, and Tyler who all grew up in North Monroe.

Ministry Team

Valerie Barley

Graphic Artist/Vocalist

Valerie was born in Texas and raised in West Monroe, LA. She attended West Monroe High School (Go Rebs!) and graduated from ULM with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree. She has been on staff at North Monroe since 2010 as a Graphic Artist and vocalist on the worship team. She works with the Creative Team and helps oversee the planning, coordination, and implementation of graphic design in the various ministries of the church. She has a passion for others to know the love of God through Jesus Christ and worship him in Spirit and truth.

Bridget Clarkson

Preschool Ministry Associate

Bridget and her husband Billy --along with the 3 youngest (Rebekah, Jesi & Josi) of their 7 children-- moved to Louisiana in 2014 from Fairfield, TX. Jesi & Josi are homeschooled, and Rebekah attends Sterlington High School as a sophomore. Eager to get connected in Monroe, she was first introduced to the Mother’s Day Out Program at NMBC, and from there she was introduced to MOPS where she was able to bring the twins so they could meet other kids and hear about Jesus. Bridget worked with Mother’s Day Out as a teacher from 2015 until the summer of 2018 where she took a fulltime job at a golf course. After being away for several years, Bridget is thrilled to be a part of the children’s ministry of North Monroe as the Preschool Ministry Associate.

Chris Craighead, Jr.

College Pastor

Chris grew up in Calhoun, LA before attending Louisiana Tech to get a BA in Business Management. He and his wife Gaelin have done college ministry at LSU, Florida State and Louisiana Tech. They have two sweet kids, Caroline and Christopher III. Chris loves the impact the local church can have on students during their college years. As they are becoming the person they will be for the rest of their lives, the college ministry can help strengthen them in their walk with Christ. The college campus is also the most strategic mission field because the students on the campus are the leaders of tomorrow. Reach them now with the Gospel and you will reach generations to come.

Wendy Driedger

Local Missions & Hospitality Director

Wendy and her husband, Isaac, moved to Louisiana in 2009 from Borger, TX. Eager to get connected in Monroe. She joined MOPS at NMBC, and from there she was introduced to the Mother's Day Out Program where both of her children, Ariana and Madelyn attended. Wendy began as an assistant teacher in the 3 year old classroom in 2013 and became the MDO Director in 2016. In 2021, she moved into the role of Local Missions and Online Ministries Director. Wendy also heads up our First Impressions Ministry and helps find a place for people to plug in and serve in our church and all over our community.

Katie Gordy

Bastrop Children's Minister

Katie is a North Louisiana native having been raised in Monroe. She married Waylon in 2022, and they became parents in 2023. She is an OCS and Louisiana Christian University graduate. Katie has served in several different roles involving children’s ministry at churches in Monroe, Leesville, and Calcasieu before coming to North Monroe. She found her true love for serving children and their families while serving at Seeker Springs!
Katie has always had the passion and calling of helping children and their families love and serve Jesus and is thrilled to be able to do so in Bastrop!

Steven Keirsey

Student Pastor

Steven is a North Louisiana native having been born in Monroe, raised in West Monroe, and attaining his B.L.A at Louisiana Tech in Ruston. He married the woman of his dreams, Kelsea, in 2021. He brings years of camp/ministry experience to the table. Formerly, he worked as the Associate Summer Camp Director at Seeker Springs as well has holding many other positions there. Now a part of the North Monroe family, he serves the student ministry to help them develop a sense of belonging and leads Bible studies to help them become more like Christ.

Jackson Kimball

Bastrop Student Minister

Jackson is a recent graduate of Ouachita Parish High School and an education major at Louisiana Delta Community College. Before becoming Student Minister at North Church Bastrop, Jackson was a summer intern with us for 2 summers and one of Jeff McPherson’s most trusted interns! Jackson has been attending North Monroe since 8th grade and has loved every second of it! In his free time, Jackson is an avid fishermen and frequent customer at Granny’s Buffet with Middle School Pastor, Chase Nance. Jackson loves his co-workers and church family. Jackson is thrilled to continue serving alongside his closest friends and for his new found church family in Bastrop!

Michael Lachney

Media Director

Michael serves North Monroe as our Media Director. He plans, coordinates, and implements the Media Ministries of the church. Prior to joining the staff at North Monroe in 2018, Michael worked for an engineering firm as an Instrumentation Engineer and as a System Integrator with a leading company in the field. Michael holds an Electrical Engineering degree from LA Tech University in Ruston. Michael is from Tioga, LA and has been married to his wife, Holly, since 2007. They have three children: Aaron, Anna & Ethan.

Jeff McPherson

Director of Facilities & Men's Ministry

Jeff was born and raised in East Texas. He grew up in a pastor’s home and spent years in Student Ministry before moving to Louisiana in February of 2012 with his wife Jennifer and 2 kids, Rachel and Matthew, to work as a district retail manager. It didn’t take long for them to find North Monroe Baptist Church and fall in love with their church family. Six years later, Jeff joined the staff at North Monroe as the Director of Facilities. He has been in that position since June of 2018 and now also serves as the Director of Men’s Ministry.

Elizabeth Miller

Women's Ministry Director

Elizabeth has been a part of NMBC for her entire life. She was born and raised in Monroe. Elizabeth attended ULM where she earned a Masters in the Arts of Teaching and a Masters in Education. She met her husband Josh, there, too and they married in 2007. After being a stay-at-home mom with her three boys (Thomas, William, & James) for 11 years, Elizabeth joined the North Monroe staff in 2023. In addition to being the go-to person for all things women's ministry and coordinating/planning big events at North Monroe, Elizabeth loves to spend time at home with her family and to watch baking shows.

Chase Nance

Middle School Pastor

Born just an hour and a half from our church, Chase has made Monroe his home after moving to the area for college. He enjoys fishing, golfing, and long walks on the beach with his beautiful dog "CJ" (Which stands for Chase Junior). As the Middle School Pastor, Chase's duties include whatever Steven tells him to do. Chase has a copious amount of experience in child leadership roles ranging from daycares to Northwest Louisiana Special Olympics. Chase also has a beautiful wife, Hannah, who somehow manages to put up with him. Chase and his wife Hannah were wed in holy matrimony in 2020; the year the world fell apart. They welcomed their first child, Tiger, in 2023.

Anna Pitts

Preschool Minister

Anna is the mother to 3 beautiful girls, Ada, Chloe, and Dani. They are very good at keeping her on her toes as well as making sure she has been asked at least 500 questions in a day. Anna has a wonderful and supportive husband, Tim. They married in 2008 and love where God is leading them. She spent 4 years in the corporate world after graduating from ULM, then was blessed to become a stay at home mom for a few years. God opened a door to Mother's Day Out at NMBC where she taught the one year old class before moving into full time ministry as the Children's Minister at our Bastrop campus in 2016. After 7 years in Bastrop, Anna moved to our Monroe campus in 2023 as a part of the Children's Ministry team. She counts it such a blessing to be a part of kids’ lives and to be able to tell them about Jesus.

Matt Powell

Associate Worship Pastor

Matt was born in Texas, but grew up in Morgan City, LA. He was raised in a musical family, his mom a piano teacher and his dad a music minister. He has been leading worship since 2008 and in full-time music ministry since 2014. Matt leads worship in the traditional service on Sundays, administrates student and college worship, and works alongside Blake in other areas of worship ministry. Matt and his wife Keri Beth both have music degrees from Louisiana College and have been married since 2014. They have two daughters, Clarke and KJ (Kara Jane).

Rudy Turner

Mother's Day Out Director

Rudy is the director of out Mother's Day Out Program, and has served in our program since 2015. Rudy is very passionate about this ministry and teaching the students in our program about Jesus. Rudy and Rob were married in 2007 and have two handsome boys, Nehemiah and Elias. Her love for teaching crosses over into her family as well as she homeschools both of their boys. Rudy graduated from the University of Denver with her bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education and Behavioral Science with a minor in Sociology. She has been teaching since 2009. Fun fact about Rudy - Both of her children race BMX competitively and they travel all over the United States for it!

Chanan Van De Brake

Children's Ministry Associate

Chanan (pronounced “cannon”) is a former WinShape Camps Staffer who fell in love with the NMBC community the week he served here this past summer. Before coming to North Monroe, he was a Ministry Major at Biola University in La Mirada, California. His heart for kids ministry began from his own camp experience when, as a kid, his leader made him feel known and valued as though he wasn’t “just a kid.” He has sought to replicate this ministry model to the best of his abilities in his years of volunteering at camps and working with WinShape. Chanan is excited to continue ministering to kids in this way, full-time, for however long God wants him to! Also, his nickname is “Boom,” please call him Boom, not Boomer.

Joey Young

International Missions Pastor

Joey and his wife Lori have a heart for international missions and stepped in to oversee the program at NMBC in 2020. Joey and Lori got married in 1984 and have three sons (Andrew, Christopher & Nicholas,) three daughters-in-law (Laura, Emily & Bailey,) and five grandchildren (Camille, Caroline, Margaret, Charlie & Elizabeth Brooke.) “I am a product of others discipling me in my life. I enjoy leading others to Christ & the aspect of discipling others. There is something special about connecting with students. When I see them grasp the material & understand it & then pass it on… that’s what it’s all about.”

Administrative Team

Carla Knox

Financial Director

Carla Knox is originally from Maracay, Venezuela. A city girl at heart! Right after graduating from High School at the age of 17, she came to the US to learn English and stayed with her aunt in Hattiesburg, MS. She knew God had a plan for her in the US. After the ESL program at the University of Southern Mississippi, she decided to get her degree from there and received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She met her husband Tyrone in MS, a country boy at heart! They’ve been married since 2008. They have 2 beautiful children Gabriella and Jacoby. Her husband's job brought them to Northeast Louisiana. Carla has worked at North Monroe Mother’s Day Out since 2009 as a preschool teacher and was at Pine Grove Church as the financial secretary for 4 years.

Teresa Lockwood

Educational Assistant

After working at State Farm for 26 years, Teresa joined the North Monroe family in 2006. She maintains the church database and assists primarily with discipleship and student ministry. She and her husband Eddie are enjoying life as empty nesters caring for their new chickens while they wait on the children to give them grandkids. Teresa is affectionately called Granny T by all the staff kids.

Sharon Moore

Administrative Assistant

If she's not in Branson, MO, you can find Sharon taking care of everyone at North Monroe. Sharon joined the North Monroe staff in 2008 as the Lead Pastor's administrative assistant. She also volunteers in the Student Ministry where she runs the Student Café making sure every student has a grilled cheese and an ICEE. Sharon and her husband, Richard, have 2 adult sons, Adam & Andrew and the love of their life, Bandit, a dog.

Coty Brooke White

Worship & Children's Ministry Assistant

Coty Brooke joined the North Monroe staff in 2021 as the Worship & Children's Ministry Assistant. She also is a part of our Financial Team, working closely with our Financial Director. Coty & her husband, Will, have twins: Emmett & Eleanor and two furry children: Ellie & Opal.