Meet the Team

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Brian Crain / Elder & Lead Pastor

Meet Brian. He has been fortunate to serve with Progression Church since its start in 2014. He serves as Lead Pastor and preaches itinerantly all over Louisiana. He is married to Hannah and dad to James and Jordan. He loves sports (especially LSU), hunting, fishing, and hanging with people. Brian has a passion to see all generations fall in love with Jesus.

Person with a beard and glasses smiling, wearing a gray sweatshirt, standing outdoors with trees in the background.

Joe Handy / Elder & Executive Pastor

Meet Joe. He has been fortunate to serve with Progression Church since its start in 2014. He is the lucky husband to Jessica and proud father to Vanny, Abram, and Shepherd. He enjoys people, sports, comedy, and coffee. Joe is driven to help people discover and know the God of the universe. You’ll likely find him in a local coffee shop, investing in people and doing other work (be sure to say hello!)

Smiling person wearing glasses and a light green shirt standing outside a building with a brick exterior and a metal railing.

Owen Clower / Elder & College Pastor

Meet Owen. He is honored to serve on the elder team at Progression Church. A few things about him: he loves chic-fil-a, reading books written by dead theologians (puritans), and exploring God’s glorious creation. A pastor during his college years really kickstarted his relationship with God and he truly desires to help college students do the same.

Smiling person in black shirt standing outdoors on a brick path with a tree and building in the background on a sunny day.

Aryel Andress / Children’s Director

Meet Aryel. She serves as Children’s Director at Progression Church. She is married to Ryan and together they have 3 kids. Aryel has a desire to know God and help others know Him through discipleship, from youngsters to young at heart. She enjoys traveling with her family and friends, and reading a good book.

A person with a beard wearing a black shirt and red plaid jacket standing outdoors in front of a brick fountain and Mediterranean-style building.

Ryan Andress / Worship Pastor

Meet Ryan. He’s grateful to have been able to serve Progression Church since its launch in 2014. Ryan is happily married to Aryel (the children’s director) and is thankful for their three kids, Hosea, Mercy, and Micah. Ryan enjoys helping people connect with God through musical worship while also helping people develop their gifts to serve the local church and ultimately the kingdom of God. Outside of church, Ryan enjoys sandwiches and watching sports.

A simple line drawing of Batman.