New Departmental Directors

DALLAS – On Sunday, Dec.10, 2023, the Southwest Region Conference Executive Committee met and voted the following three individuals as new departmental directors: Darriel Hoy as community services director; Lawanna McCoy as educational superintendent and Raynell Smith as family ministries director. 

Darriel Hoy has a strong 20-year background in pastoral and departmental ministry service in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Hoy has previously served as the community services director of the Central States Conference, assistant community services director of the Allegheny East Conference and the executive director of the Baltimore Adventist Community Services Center. 

Hoy is a graduate of Duke University and the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. She currently serves as the pastor of the Baton Rouge Faith and Lafayette Morning Star Seventh-day Adventist churches district in Southern Louisiana. She will concurrently serve as departmental director while pastoring her local churches.

Lawanna McCoy is a seasoned educator with over 30 years of educational experience as a principal and teacher in the Carolina, South Atlantic and Southeastern Conferences, coupled with serving in the public education sector. 

McCoy holds bachelor of science degrees in both business management and accounting, a master of science degree in management, a master of arts degree in mathematics education and is a doctoral candidate in instructional leadership – coaching and mentoring.

Raynell Smith has served the Southwest Region Conference in pastoral ministry for 23 years and is currently the pastor of the Hammond Emmanuel and Covington Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist churches in Southern Louisiana. 

Smith has certifications and experience as a chaplain and bereavement coordinator, marriage and family counselor and was a grief counselor in local Southern Louisiana hospitals. Smith will also remain as the pastor of our Hammond and Covington Seventh-day Adventist churches in this new role. 

The Southwest Region Conference Executive Committee also voted Anysia Archibald to remain as our conference women’s ministries director and Ken Scott to remain as the safety officer of our conference.

We welcome our new leaders, confident that their commitment to God and the Adventist church will help further the Kingdom in our Conference territory.