our staff
RODNEY J. TAYLOR, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Minister Rodney J. Taylor is a servant leader with a passion for ministry, leadership development, and helping people experience the transforming power of Jesus Christ. With a heart for both spiritual growth and operational excellence, he faithfully uses his gifts to strengthen ministry and build the Kingdom of God.
Rodney’s relationship with Christ was shaped through a powerful testimony of redemption and grace. He once pursued temporary fulfillment through unhealthy relationships, financial missteps, and using alcohol to cope with loneliness, while neglecting key spiritual disciplines. In that season of brokenness, God’s mercy met him. Through conviction and a renewed encounter with Christ, Rodney experienced true transformation. His life shifted from worldly pursuits to a commitment to serving God and helping others find freedom, healing, and purpose. His testimony fuels his compassion for those seeking restoration and a deeper relationship with God.
A graduate of Independence High Magnet School (2017), Rodney has built a strong professional background in leadership, sales, and operations. He has served in roles including Retail Store Manager, Sales Manager, Assistant Store Manager, and Sales Consultant, developing expertise in team leadership, organizational management, customer engagement, and strategic growth. He is also a licensed insurance sales agent.
Rodney’s professional experience equips him to serve effectively in ministry leadership and church operations. He faithfully supports the vision and mission of the church by helping ensure that operations run with excellence. He believes effective ministry requires both spiritual passion and intentional stewardship.
His heart for ministry is centered on discipleship, developing leaders, and creating environments where people can encounter God. He is passionate about strengthening church systems, empowering volunteers, and helping ministries operate with clarity and purpose. Whether serving behind the scenes or encouraging others in their faith journey, Rodney remains committed to advancing the Kingdom.
Above all, Rodney desires to honor God, serve with humility, and help build ministries that impact lives for Christ. He believes that when people encounter the love, grace, and truth of Jesus, their lives can be forever changed.
BRANECA RICHARDSON, C. A. R. E. COORDINATOR
Braneca Richardson serves as the Care Coordinator at Faith Temple Church, where she leads efforts to provide compassionate support to individuals and families navigating some of life’s most difficult seasons. Whether facing illness, hospitalization, grief, loss, divorce, death, or other challenging transitions, Braneca helps ensure that no one walks through hardship alone. She coordinates practical care such as meals, flowers, hospital visits, home visits, and ongoing encouragement, helping the church extend Christ’s love in tangible ways.
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and raised in Independence, Braneca’s roots run deep in the local community. A graduate of Independence High School, she dedicated many years of service to the State of Louisiana while remaining actively involved in ministry and community life. A faithful member of Faith Temple Church for most of her life, Braneca is known for her unwavering commitment to serving others. Her ability to organize and mobilize volunteers creates a strong network of care for individuals and families in need, ensuring that support is both meaningful and practical.
Braneca’s love for Jesus Christ and His people reaches far beyond the church walls. She is deeply compassionate toward those who are hurting, grieving, or experiencing difficult seasons of life, and she faithfully organizes “boots on the ground” care to meet both spiritual and practical needs. Through her servant leadership, kindness, and dedication, Braneca helps Faith Temple Church embody the heart of Christ, bringing hope, comfort, and healing to those who need it most.
REGGIE K. RILEY, SR., YOUTH MINISTER
Minister Reggie Riley, Sr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and moved to Natalbany, Louisiana, at the age of two. He was raised in Faith Temple Church, where seeds of faith were planted deep within his heart as a child. Even when life took him on unexpected paths, those seeds never stopped growing.
An honors graduate of Independence High School, Reggie has never been a stranger to diligence, pressure, and perseverance. He understands what it means to navigate the intensity of teenage years…the expectations, the temptations, the identity struggles…and emerge with strength. He furthered his education at Southeastern Louisiana University and Northshore Technical College in Hammond, Louisiana, continuing his pursuit of growth and excellence.
Yet it is not academic achievement that defines his greatest story…it is redemption.
Like the prodigal son, Reggie experienced a season of wandering. He stepped away from what he had been taught. But the Word of God proved true in his life: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” What was spoken over him as a boy called him back as a man.
Jesus Christ met him not with condemnation, but with mercy. Not with shame, but with restoration. Not with distance, but with transforming love.
His return to the Lord was not quiet…it was fiery. It was personal. It was life-changing. What the enemy meant for distraction, God used for development. What looked like detour became divine direction. Today, his testimony is living proof that the transforming power of Jesus Christ still rescues, restores, and reignites purpose.
With more than 15 years of ministry experience as both a skilled drummer and youth minister, Minister Riley serves with humility, wisdom, and conviction. His quiet demeanor carries strength. His resilience carries authority. His lived experience gives him credibility with young people navigating their own prodigal moments. He does not minister from theory…he ministers from testimony.
He has been married to his wife, Melba Golden-Riley, for nearly 10 years. Together they have three beautiful children: Reggie Riley, Jr., Royce Riley, and Reagan Riley. His love for his family reflects the redeemed man he has become…a husband grounded in Christ and a father committed to legacy.
Minister Reggie Riley, Sr. stands as evidence that Jesus still transforms lives. He is not just teaching youth about the power of God…he is walking proof of it.
MELBA GOLDEN-RILEY, CHILDREN'S MINISTER
Melba Golden-Riley is a native of Hammond, Louisiana, who is deeply committed to serving children, families, and her community. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Studies from Southern University and A & M College. She later expanded her professional skills by attending Aveda Institute Covington, where she obtained her cosmetology license.
Melba began her career in education with the Tangipahoa Parish School System as a Special Education teacher, where she developed a strong passion for working with children with special needs. During her time in the classroom, she worked closely with students with autism, providing support, encouragement, and individualized instruction to help them thrive academically and socially.
She currently serves with the Southeastern Louisiana University Upward Bound Program, where she works closely with high school students and their families to help prepare students for postsecondary education. Through mentorship, guidance, and academic support, she is dedicated to helping students recognize their potential and reach their educational goals.Aut
Beyond her professional work, Melba is passionate about ministry and youth development. She serves alongside her husband at Faith Temple Church in Independence, Louisiana as the Children’s Minister, where she loves teaching children about the love of God and creating meaningful, memorable experiences that inspire them to grow in faith. She is committed to making every interaction with children impactful, helping them build confidence, character, and a lasting sense of purpose. Her heart for uplifting the next generation is evident in both her ministry work and her involvement in community programs that support children and families. She is also currently seeking to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree.
Melba has been married for nine years to her husband, whom she believes God thoughtfully created just for her, and who remains her greatest supporter and best friend. Together they are raising two phenomenal children who bring immense joy and laughter to their lives. Family is at the center of everything she does, and she cherishes the moments spent creating memories with those she love. Whether spending time with family and friends, dancing, enjoying a good meal, or simply laughing at her husband’s jokes while watching her children have fun, Melba embraces life with gratitude and joy.
Through her work, faith, and dedication to youth development, Melba strives to empower the next generation to believe in their potential and pursue their dreams.