Pastor Ricardo Handy Sr.
Pastor Handy was born May 28th to August and Barbara Handy in the small city of Plaquemine la. He received Christ at a very early age at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor W.L. McNell where his grandfather served as the Head Deacon. Pastor Handy has 3 brother Greg, Jeffrey and Gereard.
Just as tragedy opened the door for Isaiah to see the Lord, the same thing happened to Pastor Handy in July of 1994. After the death of his cousin on July 15, 1994 he would accepted his calling to preach the gospel on October 16, 1994 (his father's birthday). He would be ordained within a year and finally called to Pastor within 3 years. In 1997, Pastor Handy became the Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church II and the Assistant Pastor of the New St. John Baptist Church. He later would become Pastor of the New St John B.C. by the appointment of its former pastor, the late Rev. Levy Warner.
When the new Millennium hit the Lord would gave birth to new things in the life of Pastor Handy. In 2000 Pastor Handy became the husband to LaTroya Ware and the father to Sydney J. Handy. The third addition to family would come later with their son Ricardo Leigh Handy Jr. It was a new season in His life and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church II.
Under Pastor Handy's leadership, the Mt. Zion Baptist Church II became one of the fastest growing churches in the city of Plaquemine and grew to the surprise of many including Pastor Handy. In 2005, Pastor Handy led the Mt. Zion Church from a small plantation facility that they never owned to the inner city realm of Plaquemine and purchased the Belleview Health and Racket Club and opened its Inner-City Location.
The heart of the ministry work of Mt. Zion Baptist Church II would begin to show the heart of Pastor Handy. New Ministries were created as Mt. Zion BC II further showed they were no longer the small church of the city but a ministry of excellence. This began a new era for the church as they became known as Mt. Zion Baptist Church Inner-City of Plaquemine. In 2019, Pastor Handy and the Mt Zion Inner City Church of Plaquemine started Mt Zion Inner City of Baton Rouge. Pastor Handy and the MZBCIC believe that great things can be done in a small city. Pastor Handy says 'either you will be influenced by the small mentally of your city or influenced by the greatness of your God. The product of your faith and work is a sign of who’s influencing you.