Our Staff

The Reverend Doctor Ray Cannata
Senior Pastor

Ray was raised in New York City and New Jersey. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University (B.A.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div. and Th.M.), and Westminster Theological Seminary (D.Min.) in Philadelphia. He came in January 2006 to restart Redeemer, after pastoring a church in New Jersey. He and his wife Kathy have two children: Andrew and Rachel. Kathy was raised in Miami, but has deep roots in New Orleans. Her maiden name was Fortier. (Fortier High School and Fortier Hall at Tulane are named for her great-uncle.)

The Reverend Shane Gibson
Assistant Pastor

Shane Gibson grew up in a suburb of Dallas and attended Texas State University where he graduated with a major in philosophy and minor in history.  While in school he worked for a compassion organization called New Start where he was the coordinator of an after school program for underprivileged kids in Austin.  He married Kim in 2002 and in Jan. 2004 moved to St. Louis to enroll at Covenant Theological Seminary.  He graduated from seminary with a Masters in Divinity.  They have a daughter, Adison, a son Deacon, a son George Owen and last but not least another son, Jude.

Ken Kostrzewa
Disaster Relief Coordinator

Ken Kostrzewa grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 2004, Ken graduated from the University of Virginia where he studied religion. During the summer of 2006, he decided to move to New Orleans and help organize college students to help with Katrina relief. Upon arrival to New Orleans Ken met Melanie, who also coordinated relief efforts, and the couple was married in August 2008. Ken now works as the relief coordinator for Redeemer, while Melanie has become a public school teacher. They are expecting their first child in September.