Matthew Delaughter

Lead Pastor (Staff)
Matthew Delaughter serves as the Lead Pastor of Immanuel Community Church. He has been married to Annie since 2009 and they have four children. The DeLaughter’s are originally from southwest Mississippi and have lived in New Orleans since 2015. Matthew graduated with an M.A. in Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has been serving vocationally as a pastor since 2016.

Ben Curtis

Pastor
Ben Curtis has served as a pastor for the past 8 years at Immanuel Community Church. Ben and Jordan are originally from Wilmer, Alabama ( Mobile County), but they have lived in New Orleans since 2015. They have been married since 2009 and have three children. Ben works for a national bank selling business credit cards in the city while Jordan operates Iron Tribe Fitness in downtown New Orleans. Ben graduated from Boyce College, earning his bachelor’s degree in biblical and theological studies.

Josh Koenig

Pastor
Josh Koenig has served as a lay elder at Immanuel since 2021. He grew up in central Kentucky (Go Wildcats!) and met the love of his life, Kristen while at college at Western Kentucky University where he also graduated with a business management degree. Josh and Kristen were married in 2004 in Indiana and joined Kristen’s family as devoted Colts fans (Go Colts!). They have 4 beautiful daughters: Abbey, Hannah, Nestie, and Lucy. Through a series of twist and turns, the Lord taught them the importance of the local church and they moved from Louisville, KY to New Orleans in 2016 to join the core team that would plant Immanuel Community Church. Josh’s day job is global missions mobilization with Reaching & Teaching International Ministries.

Charlie Ray III

Pastor
Charlie Ray serves as one of the pastors at Immanuel Community Church. He has been married to Lisa since 2003 and they have three children. Charlie grew up in South Korea and New Orleans, and Lisa is from Florida. Charlie graduated with a Ph.D. in New Testament from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a pastor full-time from 2007 to 2019, and now teaches at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary while serving as a pastor at Immanuel.

David Batten

Pastor
David Batten has been one of the pastors at Immanuel since 2024. He works full time as an accountant, and he and his wife Franki have three kids. Both David and Franki graduated from Tulane University in 2012, and they have lived in New Orleans ever since.

Harrison Kossover

Pastoral Assistant (Staff)
Harrison Kossover serves as the pastoral assistant. He has been married to Baily since May 2021, and they have one child. The Kossovers are originally from Marietta, GA, but have lived in New Orleans since July 2021. Harrison graduated with a bachelor’s in business marketing from Georgia Southern University, an MDiv from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Christian Ethics.

Our Leadership

Matthew Delaughter

Lead Pastor (Staff)
Matthew Delaughter serves as the Lead Pastor of Immanuel Community Church. He has been married to Annie since 2009 and they have four children. The DeLaughter’s are originally from southwest Mississippi and have lived in New Orleans since 2015. Matthew graduated with an M.A. in Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has been serving vocationally as a pastor since 2016.

Ben Curtis

Pastor
Ben Curtis has served as a pastor for the past 8 years at Immanuel Community Church. Ben and Jordan are originally from Wilmer, Alabama ( Mobile County), but they have lived in New Orleans since 2015. They have been married since 2009 and have three children. Ben works for a national bank selling business credit cards in the city while Jordan operates Iron Tribe Fitness in downtown New Orleans. Ben graduated from Boyce College, earning his bachelor’s degree in biblical and theological studies.

Josh Koenig

Pastor
Josh Koenig has served as a lay elder at Immanuel since 2021. He grew up in central Kentucky (Go Wildcats!) and met the love of his life, Kristen while at college at Western Kentucky University where he also graduated with a business management degree. Josh and Kristen were married in 2004 in Indiana and joined Kristen’s family as devoted Colts fans (Go Colts!). They have 4 beautiful daughters: Abbey, Hannah, Nestie, and Lucy. Through a series of twist and turns, the Lord taught them the importance of the local church and they moved from Louisville, KY to New Orleans in 2016 to join the core team that would plant Immanuel Community Church. Josh’s day job is global missions mobilization with Reaching & Teaching International Ministries.

Charlie Ray III

Pastor
Charlie Ray serves as one of the pastors at Immanuel Community Church. He has been married to Lisa since 2003 and they have three children. Charlie grew up in South Korea and New Orleans, and Lisa is from Florida. Charlie graduated with a Ph.D. in New Testament from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a pastor full-time from 2007 to 2019, and now teaches at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary while serving as a pastor at Immanuel.

David Batten

Pastor
David Batten has been one of the pastors at Immanuel since 2024. He works full time as an accountant, and he and his wife Franki have three kids. Both David and Franki graduated from Tulane University in 2012, and they have lived in New Orleans ever since.

Harrison Kossover

Pastoral Assistant (Staff)
Harrison Kossover serves as the pastoral assistant. He has been married to Baily since May 2021, and they have one child. The Kossovers are originally from Marietta, GA, but have lived in New Orleans since July 2021. Harrison graduated with a bachelor’s in business marketing from Georgia Southern University, an MDiv from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Christian Ethics.