Meet Our Pastor

Corey Smallwood is the pastor of New Life Baptist Church. He was born and raised here in New Hope, Va. He graduated from Fort Defiance High School in 2003 and went on to earn his degree from Atlanta Baptist Bible College. With over 20 years of pastoral experience, he has served in various outreach programs and revivals. Corey married his wife Danielle in 2006, and they have two beautiful daughters, Allie and Emma, who actively participate and serve in the church alongside them. At the age of 16, Corey felt a calling from God to start a church at the New Hope Community Center. As he looked at the shut-down, overgrown building and recalled the great memories of attending school there, God spoke to his heart, saying, "You will start a church here." This was a defining moment in Corey’s life and one of his most powerful encounters with God. That moment drove him for years as he worked to make that vision a reality. In 2016, a group of 12 gathered in Pastor Corey’s living room to begin preparing and praying for a church plant. Today, that 16 year old country boys vision has become a reality with the official launch of New Life in 2017. Corey feels a deep connection to the people of New Hope and the surrounding areas, making it his mission to share the love of God and Jesus Christ with them. He believes that sharing the good news starts at home but also values mission work and spreading the gospel globally. The Church supports Training2Send, an organization that trains local natives to share the gospel throughout Africa. Most recently, Corey traveled to Senegal, Africa, to see and participate in the work being done daily to reach the most inaccessible and dangerous parts of the continent. Pastor Corey is known for his dynamic and engaging sermons. He uses real-life examples and experiences, frequently incorporating humor and passion to resonate with both long-time churchgoers and newcomers. Listeners walk away with a deeper understanding of the Word of God. Any given Sunday, you may hear him say, “I’m just being serious,” or, “Worst case scenario, die and go to heaven”—a sample of how he integrates humor into profound teachings. Come and experience firsthand pastor Corey’s unique approach to delivering God’s Word.

Pictured: Pastor Corey Smallwood, his wife Danielle, and their two daughters, Allie and Emma.