Family Church Leaders
Dean Ross
Pastor of Preaching & Vison
Dean Ross serves Family Church as our pastor of preaching and vision. He is a native of Kenner, LA, who surrendered to full-time ministry following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. After serving Christ for nearly a decade in parachurch ministry including the founding and pioneering of Abandon Productions (later rebranded as The Restoration Collective), Dean answered the call to pastoral ministry and church planting with Restoration Church in Metairie, LA, before serving as associate pastor for his home church, Williams Blvd. Baptist Church. Dean holds a business degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and a masters degree in urban missions from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to Laura Ross for over 18 years and they have 3 boys: Colden, Braden, and Ashden.
ELIJAH BURNS
Pastor of FC Students / Church Planting Resident
Elijah Burns serves Family Church as pastor of FC Students and as a church planting resident. Growing up as the son of a pastor, his family moved across the south with the Lord calling them to serve churches and communities from Louisiana to Mississippi to Tennessee. He began to sense the call into ministry as a freshman while attending school and playing football for Southwest Mississippi Community College and eventually a brief stint at the University of Arkansas-Monticello. Before moving to attend the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for his undergraduate degree, Elijah completed an internship for the First Baptist Church of Pitkin, LA. He is married to Anna Burns recently welcoming their first child, a baby boy named Roman.
Abby Spires serves Family Church as director of worship. Growing up in a family of musicians, her family served churches in Mississippi including their current work at First Baptist Church of Vicksburg where her father serves in worship ministry. She completed her undergraduate degree at Mississippi College before moving to New Orleans to work on her graduate degree in worship ministry and in the financial department at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
LAURA ROSS
Director of Creativity / Interim Director of FC Kids
Laura Ross serves Family Church as director of creativity and interim director of FC Kids in addition to her larger role as pastor's wife. A native of Greater New Orleans, she works locally as a physical therapist assistant. Along with her husband, she answered the call to long-term ministry in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. She has been married to Dean Ross for over 18 years and they have 3 boys: Colden, Braden, and Ashden.
anna burns
Assistant Director of FC Kids / Church Planting Intern
Anna Burns serves Family Church as assistant director of FC Kids and as a church planting intern. She is a Louisiana native and is currently working on completing her undergraduate degree in ministry at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Additionally, Anna is a musician and vocalist on our worship team as well as assisting weekly with FC Students. She is married to Elijah Burns recently welcoming their first child, a baby boy named Roman.
Ryan McDonald serves Family Church as a church planting intern. He serves in a variety of roles within our ministry as he prepares for pastoral ministry. A native of Longview, Texas, he moved to New Orleans to begin a degree at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Ryan served with our sister church Bridge Church in Covington, LA, for a year through the Pathfinder's program before joining our team.
