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The Journey Staff
 Here at Journey we work as a team! I am blessed to work with some of the most talented individuals around, and yes I'm gender outnumbered! Our staff meetings involve theological heritage from such varied backgrounds as Southern Baptist, Roman Catholic, and Assembly of God, as we rally around the Truth defining cry of Sola Scriptura. Welcome to one of the finest teams in church-work!
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Senior Pastor: Rev. John Franklin
mailto: revfranklin@me.com
It only took John 38 years to make his way to the Big Easy, but once he got here, he found a home! He has followed God in professional ministry since going to college at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a BA in Religion with a second major in Family Counseling, after which he studied at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned his full credentials while planting his second church. Having sensed the call of God to preach the Gospel when he was just a young boy and having embraced the grace of Christ when he was six years old, John has spent his lifetime chasing after the footsteps of God as he serves and leads the church.
He has planted several churches, written multiple books, written music and toured the country serving as an evangelist, extending his ministry along the way by aiding other churches to design their organizations around the most ancient, Biblical ideas of our faith. And here at Journey, John has come to lead us into a new era of reaching the Greater New Orleans area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
John and Penny, his wife, love investing into the lives of people following Christ, building Christ-followers, and connecting with those without Christ to extend His grace to everyone they meet. They have two children, Jordan Paige who is five and J.P. who is three… and in John’s words, ‘they light me up!’
For more info about John click here .
For the Rev's blog spot click here.
Children’s Ministry Consultant : Dr. Margaret-Mary Sulentic-Dowell
Dr. M is a woman of many names… to her students, Dr. Sulentic-Dowell, to the kids in Journeytown, M&M, and to most of us here at Journey, she’s just our friend Margaret-Mary. When my boots hit the ground here in NOLA, I began immediately discovering the immense amount of giftedness we have within the rank and file of our congregation… and I’m still finding more and more each week! Margaret-Mary is a prime example. Within our church, faithfully coming and investing each week, were Tony & Margaret-Mary, and as I was praying for God to bring to us someone who could lead our children’s ministry to new heights, I found out that I had a top-shelf professor with a PhD in education sitting right there in the congregation! We met for coffee, I asked her begin reviewing a curriculum I wrote a few years back for use in our children’s ministry, and God started rolling the ball forward for M&M to join our staff! When Dr. M walks onto the deck, the ship starts running like a well-oiled machine, and my confidence in the fact that all our children are being taught and taught-well the things of Christ grows immensely!
I encourage you to get to know her, to volunteer to work within this ministry, and to be a part of the success that God is blessing through her in Journeytown!
Rev. John Franklin
Senior Pastor
Women’s Minister: Rev. Penny Franklin
mailto: penny@journeyneworleans.com
I first met Penny after she had achieved and turned down that wonderful status so many pursue in their professional lives…partnership. Penny received the offer warmly, but sensed the leading of God to throw all her life’s work as a chemist and environmental consultant to the side, and pursue a life of ministry in the clergy; and that meant training to this twenty-nine year old chemist who was living in Austin, Texas. So she demoted herself, took a contract in Arlington, Texas for her firm, and began her graduate studies in theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. A few months later she came to work on my team, a few years later I married her, and now after several years, three church plants, two children, and seven or eight books written for women later, Penny has agreed once again to serve the church I’m privileged to lead as our Women’s Minister.
Her theological acumen is sharp, her love for God is consuming, and her love for and leadership of God’s people amazing. After serving in the clergy for several years, Penny achieved her full ministerial credentials, and leads our Women’s Ministry here, as well as continuing to write books, devotionals, and speak to women about following the life-changing grace of Jesus Christ. It is my pleasure to welcome her to our staff as I look forward to what God will do through her in the life of our professional team and our church!
Rev. John Franklin
Senior Pastor
Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor:
Sarah Newell
It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sarah Newell! In 2009, Sarah joined the team here at Journey as the Executive Assistant and has been instrumental in helping me keep the weekly operations of the church streamlined. From sending out communications to making sure the bills get paid, Sarah is key to the process of keeping all the "plates spinning" around here!
But there's more to Sarah than just administration. Sarah is a theological student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where she is studying in the Master of Divinity program. She holds a Bachelors degree from Moody Bible College, and has sensed a call to ministry since she was a girl. Sarah volunteers beyond her duties as my Executive Assistant in helping to lead worship and missions events, amongst others, and the various other odds and ends you might imagine making their way through a pastor's office! If you get a chance, stop by and have a cup of coffee with Sarah... get to know her and I'm sure you'll quickly understand why we are so glad God has called her to work with us here at Journey!
Rev. John Franklin
Senior Pastor
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