OUR PASTOR

Pastor Lonnie R. Tucker was born and raised in Hammond, Louisiana, where his early life was shaped by faith, family, and a clear call to ministry. He is the Senior Pastor of Faith Temple Church in Independence, Louisiana. With more than two decades in pastoral leadership, his ministry is marked by strong biblical preaching, intentional discipleship, and a deep commitment to both spiritual formation and community transformation.

Pastor Tucker completed undergraduate studies at Southern University and Southeastern Louisiana University, and received formal seminary training from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His theological preparation, combined with decades of practical ministry, has equipped him to lead with both conviction and clarity across diverse ministry contexts.

A visionary church planter and strategic leader, Pastor Tucker has helped establish more than 80 churches throughout Southeast Louisiana and Northeast Texas. His passion for strengthening the local church led him to found Go Network, a ministry focused on equipping pastors, developing leaders, and supporting churches locally, nationally, and internationally. Through this network, he has provided mentoring, training, and accountability to pastors navigating both the spiritual and practical demands of ministry.

Pastor Tucker is widely recognized for his guiding conviction and signature phrase, “More People Need Jesus.” This declaration reflects both his personal ministry philosophy and his latest Community Impact Initiative, which mobilizes churches to move beyond their walls and engage communities with compassion, relevance, and the transformative power of the Gospel.

He has been married for 24 years to Frankeya L. Riley-Tucker, whom he affectionately calls his “Gift from God.”Lady Tucker is a seasoned ministry leader and Christian educator extensive training in Christian Education and incalculable experience in women’s discipleship, leadership development, and community outreach. She has served in regional and national ministry capacities and leads several faith-based initiatives focused on mentoring, spiritual formation, and purpose-driven living, with a forthcoming faith-centered work currently in development. Together, Pastor and Lady Tucker model a unified, purpose-driven life committed to advancing the Kingdom of God through faith, service, and transformational leadership.