Reverend Corey J. Hodges Pastor Corey J. Hodges is the Senior Pastor of New Pilgrim Baptist Church. A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, he was called to pastor NPBC on February 22, 1998. At the age of 28, he was the youngest pastor to lead the congregation, become NPBC membership has grown tremendously under his guidance and has of the leading churches in the state of Utah. Pastor Hodges has initiated one numerous ministries, including: (Approved Workman Are Not Multicultural, Ashamed), Health Family and newsletter, “Wings,” Theatre, Life and Community licensed and ordained several ministers, bringing the NPBC website and the bi-monthly Fitness, AWANA Outreach. He has pastoral staff to 13. The N PBC 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 multi-level dome-shaped worship and ministry facility. to build the Salt Dome, | | a In recent years, Pastor Hodges has taken deliberate steps towards growing a multicultural church. The churches motto was Puerto-Rican native, Lillian Montes, changed to “A was Multicultural appointed Pastor Christian of Ethnic representing NPBC membership nations were erected in the sanctuary. began appointing more culturally diverse leadership and challenged deliberately diversify their ministries and committees. also continues to include cultural sensitivity and NPBC’s diversity F ellowship,” Affairs and the flags Pastor Hodges also existing leaders to annual leadership training 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 (LOU). 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 Inc., and was on the Board Intermountain 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.