New Pilgrim Baptist Church, Salt Lake City UT

COREY J. HODGES

Pastor Corey J. Hodges is the lead pastor of New Pilgrim Baptist Church (NPBC). A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, he was called to pastor NPBC in 1998. At the age of 28, he was the youngest pastor to lead the congregation. Under his leadership NPBC, which began as an African-American congregation, has grown to include members from over 30 nations that span every continent expect Antarctica. In June 2007, NPBC embarked on its first World Missions trip, with plans to minister in every nation represented at the church.

In January 2007, Pastor Hodges began a Spanish language service at NPBC. In the first month following its installation, the service added 25 new members and performed 10 baptisms. Awana youth program, weekly Sunday School and Bible Study classes are also offered in Spanish. In the same month, Pastor Hodges founded the New Pilgrim School of Fine Arts which offers instruction in music, dance and theatre.

His vision for the church includes the construction of a new worship and ministry facility in Kearns, Utah. The $4.2 million building project opened on July 31, 2011.

Pastor Hodges is a columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune’s Faith section. The Salt Lake Tribune is Utah’s largest daily newspaper with circulation that exceeds 140,000. He is a regular co-host of the television program “This Week in the Word” which airs weekly on Utah’s KTMW Channel 20. Pastor Hodges is a nationally and internationally sought after preacher.

Pastor Hodges served two consecutive terms as the president of the tri-state Intermountain General Baptist Convention Inc. and was on the board of directors of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. In 2006, Pastor Hodges was appointed to serve on the Initiative on Utah Children in Foster Care (IOU) board by Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham. He previously served on the Governor’s Olene Walker Board of Economic Development. He is a 2006 recipient of the Community of Peace Award given to outstanding citizens that model peace and make a personal commitment towards making Salt Lake County a community of peace; He was nominated by Taylorsville City's Mayor Russ Wall. In 2009, he received the City of Taylorsville citizen’s award and in 2010, Utah Governor Gary Herbert presented him with an award for his outstanding service to the Utah community. Pastor Hodges is also the 2010 recipient of the NAACP Salt Lake Branch Albert B. Fritz Humanitarian Worker of the Year Award.

Pastor Hodges holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelors Degree in Marketing both from American Intercontinental University, in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. He also holds a Masters of Arts in Practical Theology with a concentration in Church and Ministry from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is working on a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Ecclesiastical Leadership and Practice at Regent University School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Pastor Hodges is married to Mrs. Benita Newkirk Hodges, also of St. Petersburg, Florida and together they have three sons, Quentin Lamar, Cameron and Aubrey Jamir (A.J.).