Cory Pitts - Senior pastor
Ministry Experience EDUCATION
Cory holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Speech Communication from Samford University, a Master's of Divinity in Pastoral Studies and Languages from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Spirituality from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His doctoral work centered on leading families to a biblical understanding and practice of Sabbath Rest. Cory is also a trained Leadership Coach through the Professional Christian Coaching Institute. MINISTRY EXPERIENCE Cory has served at New Work Fellowship in Hopkinsville, Kentucky for over 15 years. He has led in every aspect of ministry at New Work Fellowship as the Lord has blessed the church to grow from 300 to over 1100, post-covid. PREACHING Cory is a regular part of the preaching team where he develops sermon series for the church, and serves on the worship/sermon planning team. LEADERSHIP Cory is one of two Pastor/Elders and serves as a pastoral team supervisor, mentor, and coach. He has been responsible for team leadership development, serving on the Executive Team, and leading the weekly pastoral and administrative team meetings. He has planned and led Elder and Pastoral Team retreats. He has led in the budget development process and hiring for team positions. Cory created and currently leads a residency program for the church that trains the next generation of church leadership. SHEPHERDING Cory is responsible for Adult Discipleship and the pastoral care and counseling process. He leads the marriage enrichment ministry of the church (Grace Marriage, couples marriage coaching, premarital counseling) and is responsible for the men's ministry. In addition, he also performs weddings, funerals, and baptisms. Over the years, Cory has been blessed to lead in the areas of administration, outreach, discipleship, assimilation, worship, missions, student ministry, kids ministry, building and capital fundraising campaigns, vision development, and marketing. PREVIOUS FULL-TIME EXPERIENCE Before serving at New Work Fellowship, Pastor Cory served as the Minister of Students and Outreach at Immanuel Baptist Church (grew to 1000 weekly attendance) in Tallahassee, Florida where he was responsible for separate student and college ministries. He also led a comprehensive church-wide outreach program. Cory also served as the Student Minister at Huffman Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama (800 in attendance) where he led separate student and collegiate ministries. |
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The Pitts Family
Cory grew up in Panama City attending First Baptist Church with his parents, Charles and Mary Ann Pitts, and brothers Brian and David. He was a Callaway Cougar, Everitt Eagle, and Rutherford Ram! While at FBC Panama City he was saved and baptized at age nine by Dr. N.B. Lankford. At nineteen, while attending Gulf Coast, Cory surrendered to the call of local church ministry. After speaking with his family and pastor, he made his decision public and was licensed by FBC Panama City.
Cory transferred to Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama to pursue a degree in Religion and Communication. He received his Master's Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and Janey met at Samford and quickly fell in love. Janey was studying PR and Journalism with a minor in Religion after answering her own call to ministry. She too had planned on pursuing a degree at Southwestern. God was up to something special! Cory and Janey have been married 27 years and have a son, Charlie, and a daughter, Elizabeth. Can you guess where Charlie and Elizabeth are in school? That's right, Samford University!
Janey grew up in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Her father is a retired ophthalmologist and her mother was his surgical nurse. Each year her parents would take a month away from their practice and serve as short-term medical missionaries. Janey holds a Masters of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has served the local church full-time in the areas of student ministry, adult education, and missions. She has served on staff at New Work Fellowship for 15 years where she is currently the Missions Mobilizer. Janey is a published author, (Deeply Defined: Understanding Who You Are in Christ), women's speaker, and Bible study leader.
Elizabeth is a Junior at Samford University pursuing a double major in Religion and Mass Communication. She has surrendered to full-time ministry and will attend seminary for her master's work. Like her Mom, she is an ADPi at Samford. She is a member of the Student Recruitment Team, and hosts a national award winning podcast entitled Bible Said What. Elizabeth has also worked for Centrifuge and MissionFuge Student camps, most recently as the Missions Mobilizer at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary location.
Charlie is in his third year of the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Samford's McWhorter School of Pharmacy. He also serves as a leader for a number of student organizations, is regularly involved at Brookwood Baptist Church, and enjoys playing guitar. He has one more semester of academic work before entering rotations to help decide on his future field of Pharmacy.
Panama City has always been "home" for Cory. But the Lord used an experience to deepen his connection to Panama City and the region. In October 2018, Cory, Janey, and Elizabeth were visiting PCB while on sabbatical when Hurricane Michael ravaged the area. After riding out the storm at Cory's parent's home in Wewahitchka, he became involved in storm recovery. He led an effort to raise funds and created a disaster relief team to replace a roof on a church in Gulf County. Since then he has kept up with news in the area and stayed connected through his parents. This experience led Cory to develop an even deeper heart for the people of Bay County and surrounding areas to be reached with the Gospel.
Community Involvement & Interests
ALPHA PREGNANCY CARE CENTER
Cory currently serves as vice-chair on the board of directors for Alpha Pregnancy Care Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Alpha serves young mothers by providing pregnancy care and alternatives to abortion.
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Cory served as the board chair and member for a private Christian school in Hopkinsville. HCC provides a biblically based education for preschool through high school. He also was involved with the school as a chapel speaker and parent volunteer.
THE ATHENAEUM SOCIETY
Cory is a member of The Athenaeum Society of Hopkinsville. The organization has been in existence since 1902. The group meets monthly for the purpose of presenting papers in all areas of knowledge. This has been a great way for Cory to create relationships with people in the community.
Cory currently serves as vice-chair on the board of directors for Alpha Pregnancy Care Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Alpha serves young mothers by providing pregnancy care and alternatives to abortion.
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Cory served as the board chair and member for a private Christian school in Hopkinsville. HCC provides a biblically based education for preschool through high school. He also was involved with the school as a chapel speaker and parent volunteer.
THE ATHENAEUM SOCIETY
Cory is a member of The Athenaeum Society of Hopkinsville. The organization has been in existence since 1902. The group meets monthly for the purpose of presenting papers in all areas of knowledge. This has been a great way for Cory to create relationships with people in the community.
MISSIONS MOBILIZER
As the missions mobilizer at New Work Fellowship, Janey is very connected to the local community. She created partnerships with 25 local ministries and many other state, national, and international ministries. She loves helping people in the church connect to the mission opportunities in their "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth."
AUTHOR & SPEAKER
Janey is the author of Deeply Defined: Understanding Who You Are In Christ. She is also a speaker who has a vivacious spirit and a calling to serve the Lord. Being a published author has given her the opportunity to encourage and inspire women to become the person God created them to be in their families, relationships, and lives. Janey enjoys using her knowledge of first-century biblical culture and biblical languages to communicate biblical truth with modern day relevance.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Cory and Janey enjoy a number of interests together. They both enjoy all things coffee (he roasts his own coffee beans!), outdoor walks, reading, biblical study, and cooking (you'll find Cory on the smoker and Janey trying a new gourmet recipe.) Cory grew up hunting, fishing, and enjoying watersports. If he had to choose one thing he enjoys most, it's fishing. He loves inshore fishing from West Bay all the way to the Big Bend. He grew up scalloping St. Joe Bay and Shell Island, waterskiing on Deer Point Lake, and scuba diving the jetties and other sites in the area.
As the missions mobilizer at New Work Fellowship, Janey is very connected to the local community. She created partnerships with 25 local ministries and many other state, national, and international ministries. She loves helping people in the church connect to the mission opportunities in their "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth."
AUTHOR & SPEAKER
Janey is the author of Deeply Defined: Understanding Who You Are In Christ. She is also a speaker who has a vivacious spirit and a calling to serve the Lord. Being a published author has given her the opportunity to encourage and inspire women to become the person God created them to be in their families, relationships, and lives. Janey enjoys using her knowledge of first-century biblical culture and biblical languages to communicate biblical truth with modern day relevance.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Cory and Janey enjoy a number of interests together. They both enjoy all things coffee (he roasts his own coffee beans!), outdoor walks, reading, biblical study, and cooking (you'll find Cory on the smoker and Janey trying a new gourmet recipe.) Cory grew up hunting, fishing, and enjoying watersports. If he had to choose one thing he enjoys most, it's fishing. He loves inshore fishing from West Bay all the way to the Big Bend. He grew up scalloping St. Joe Bay and Shell Island, waterskiing on Deer Point Lake, and scuba diving the jetties and other sites in the area.