First Baptist Church Covington, LA
Staff & Leaders

Waylon Bailey

Waylon Bailey is from Brantley, Alabama. He graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with the Master of Theology and Doctor of Theology degrees. At his Master’s graduation Waylon received the Broadman Seminarian Award as the Outstanding Graduate in Biblical Studies. In 2012, New Orleans Seminary bestowed him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. He has served as pastor of churches in Alabama and Louisiana and served as Chairman of the Division of Biblical Studies and J. Wash Watts Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary from 1978 to 1995. Waylon is the author of five books, including The New American Commentary on Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. His latest book, LifeApps: Applying the Word of God to the Difficulties of Life, will be published soon. He is a frequent contributor to biblical and pastoral journals. Dr. Bailey currently serves as President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Dr. Bailey has served Southern Baptists in various capacities, including serving on the Committee on Committees and the Credentials Committee. He recently served as the Chairman of the Committee on Nominations for the Southern Baptist Convention. In 1989, Waylon became the pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington, Louisiana. In the years he has served as pastor, the church has grown in weekly average worship attendance from 300 to 1900. In March 2001, the church relocated from its downtown location to a new 43-acre campus on Highway 1085 in Covington. Waylon is married to his high school sweetheart, the former Martha Layton. They are the parents of two adult daughters, and have three grandsons and one granddaughter.