Meet John Raymond
John's diverse professional career has honed a well-developed leadership skill set, with experience as a professional financial planner, pastor, radio station owner and broadcaster, school headmaster and business owner. John is an elected official on the Republican State Central Committee. He is the founder of The Raymond Collective and is accompanied by his wife and three children.
Founder of The Raymond Collective
JOHN RAYMOND IS A NATIVE OF NEW ORLEANS, BORN IN 1962, AND GREW UP ON THE NORTHSHORE WITH A NATURAL LOVE FOR LOUISIANA AND OUR DIVERSE CULTURE.
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John grew up learning the responsibility of being the oldest male in the family at the young age of twelve after his father died. His mother never remarried and worked as a nurse to raise all five children on her own. John knows first-hand the struggles of the working class and the value of every dollar.
​Church activities and high school athletics provided John with the environment he needed to develop character and commitment. Between football, basketball, and track & field, John learned the importance of teamwork, dedication and leadership.
​Married to his college sweetheart since 1986, John and Liz have raised three incredible children. John Derek is a Slidell firefighter, Monica is an LSU graduate and Benjamin is a Bible college grad serving at his church in Slidell!
Professional Experience
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JOHN’S DIVERSE PROFESSIONAL CAREER HAS HONED A WELL-DEVELOPED LEADERSHIP SKILL SET. AS A PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL PLANNER, PASTOR, RADIO STATION OWNER, SCHOOL HEADMASTER & BUSINESS OWNER, JOHN HAS PROVEN LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE.
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During his fifteen-year career as a professional financial planner, licensed with the Federal Securities & Exchange Commission; he has helped hundreds of individuals and small business owners evaluate their priorities, analyze their assets, navigate legal hurdles and make tough decisions for a better future while solving short-term problems.
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"I know what it’s like to carry the pressure of meeting a payroll and squeezing every penny out of a tight budget. I understand how to balance the risks and rewards of business so that it results in quality and growth."
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New Horizon Church
John founded New Horizon as a non-denominational church and has ministered to the needs of hundreds in our community spiritually, emotionally, and relationally for almost 25 years.
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The Bridge Radio 88.7 FM ​
The Bridge Radio was founded by John in 2013 as the most powerful non-profit radio FM station in Louisiana. As General Manager of the station, he is constantly speaking to business owners and community leaders about the things that really matter to them.
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Lakeside Christian Academy
Lakeside was launched to help meet the growing need for affordable private Christian education in Slidell. As the founder of this Pre-K through 12th grade school, John understands what it takes to develop a dedicated faculty team and create a safe and effective environment to raise a generation of future leaders for Slidell and for Louisiana.
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Disciple's Cross
John Raymond began Disciple's Cross™ as a craft idea at a summer youth camp in Louisiana. After wearing one of his unique, hand-made crosses on the show, interest skyrocketed and Disciple’s Cross™ was born.
John and his family operated out of their small home. A spare bedroom was the office and the garage housed the inventory and shipping department. Now, they are blessed to be a part of an amazing network of our producers that help keep this ministry thriving. They would love to have you join our Disciple’s Cross™ family of producers.
"I am blessed to have surrounded myself with a dedicated team of self-motivated, capable leaders who can perform incredibly well while I am engaged in the duties of an elected office. My family and my team are the wind beneath my wings."
Political Biography​​
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RSCC Member District 11F
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8-year member of the RPEC, former Vice-Chairman
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Member of the Chamber of Commerce East
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Member of the Slidell Minister’s Association
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President of Leadership Northshore Class of 2018
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2017 Graduate of the Slidell Citizen’s Police Academy
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2018 Vice-President of the Slidell Morning Rotary Club
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​2016 Graduate of the St. Tammany Citizens Fireman’s Academy
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Deputized Chaplain with the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s office
Personal Biography​
JOHN IS GRATEFUL THAT HE HAS LIVED SUCH A FULFILLING LIFE. BEYOND HIS LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY AND MISSION FOR MINISTRY, JOHN HAS ALSO ENJOYED A WIDE VARIETY OF CREATIVE ADVENTURES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.​
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Certified Scuba Diver in five countries
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Certified Sky Diver with over 40 solo jumps
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SAG-qualified actor in movies & commercials
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Publishes a weekly article in the local Newspaper
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Castaway on CBS reality show Survivor Thailand
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Radio Broadcaster with a daily radio show
• Songwriter with Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI)
• Internationally Certified Speaker, Leadership Trainer & Life Coach with the highly acclaimed John Maxwell Team ®
• Graduate of multiple professional development courses on Leadership, Communication, Project Management, Public Speaking, Sales, and more.
John has a broad perspective to understand what Louisiana needs. From his childhood in the city to growing up in the country and enjoying hunting and fishing in the Sportsman’s Paradise, John has experienced life from many vantage points.
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As a shipbuilder in his younger years, John became acclimated to the heat and sweat of a shipyard and the feeling of pride knowing he worked hard for his paycheck and built something that would last.
After his freshman year at SLU, John attended Bible College and Jr. College where he simultaneously obtained an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and also a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and Pastoral Ministry. After his pastoral internship, John decided to enter the business world and became a licensed financial planner.