Reverend Corey J. Hodges Pastor Corey J. Hodges is the Senior Pastor of New Pilgrim Baptist Church. 5 native of St. Petersburg, Florida, he was called to pastor NPBC on F ebruary 22, 1998. At the age of 28, he was the youngest pastor to lead the congregation. NPBC membership has grown tremendously under his guidance and has become one of the leading churches in the state of Utah. Pastor Hodges has initiated numerous ministries, including: Multicultural, Health and Fitness, Theatre, AWANA (Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed), Family Life and Community Outreach. He has licensed and ordained several ministers, bringing the NPBC pastoral staff to 13. The NPBC website and the bi- -monthly newsletter,‘ “Wings,” were launched under his leadership. He was instrumental in the negotiations that led to NPBC retiring its mortgage several years before maturity and in 2003, he unveiled “Vision 2010” a 7-year plan to build the Salt Dome, a: multi-level dome-shaped worship and ministry facility. In recent years, Pastor Hodges has taken deliberate steps towards growing a multicultural church. The churches motto was changed to “A Multicultural Christian F ellowship,” the — Puerto-Rican native, Lillian Montes, was appointed Pastor of Ethnic Affairs and flags | | representing NPBC membership nations were erected in the sanctuary. Pastor Hodges also began appointing more culturally diverse leadership and challenged existing leaders to deliberately diversify their ministries and committees. NPBC’s annual leadership training also continues to include cultural sensitivity and diversity training. As a result of Pastor Hodges' efforts, the membership has grown to include people from over 20 different nations. Pastor Hodges is a weekly columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune’s Faith section on moral and religious issues; the Salt Lake Tribune is Utah’s largest daily newspaper with a circulation that exceeds 140,000. In 2006, Utah Supreme Court Justice, Christine Durham, appointed Pastor Hodges to serve on the board of the Initiative on Utah Children in Foster Care (IOV). In 2000, the Governor of the State of Utah, the Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, appointed Hodges to sit on the Olene Walker Board of Economic Development. He served on the board for several years, and upon his resignation, the Governor honored him for his contributions. Pastor Hodges served two consecutive General Baptist Convention, terms as President of the tri-state Intermountain Inc., and was on the Board of Directors of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. He holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration from American InterContinental University and is currently working on his Bachelors Degree in Marketing. Pastor Hodges is married to the former Ms. Benita Newkirk also of St. Petersburg, Florida. They have three sons, Quentin Lamar, Cameron Steven and Aubrey Jamir.