Louis R. Blakey Jr. is a native of Richmond, VA. He was educated in the Richmond public school system. He served his country for a four-year term in the U.S.Airforce as an F-15 fighter jet crew chief. He is married to Monica A. Blakey, his wife of 25 years. They have three children: Louis III, Malcolm, & Malaika.

Louis grew up in a Christian home as the oldest son of Pastor Louis R. Blakey, Sr., founder & former pastor of New Canaan Baptist Church in Southside Richmond, VA. He has served his church since 1990 in many capacities, including leadership of the Sunday School and Deacons ministry.

He was licensed as a minister in May 2001, and ordained in March 2003 by a counsel of ministers. Louis, along with his twin sister, Lois, became co-pastors of the New Canaan Baptist Church in January 2005. Together their mission is to reach, inform, mend, teach, and train disciples to take the good news of the Kingdom of God to their community, their community nation, and the world.

He is presently employed with Henrico County as an automotive maintenance technician. In 2005, Louis received his diploma in advanced theological studies from the Way of Life Spiritual Development Center in partnership with Oral Roberts University. He is presently attending the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University and will graduate in May 2010.

_________________________

Lois Blakey Paige, born May 12, 1961, to Pastor Louis R. and Bessie T. Blakey was born a fraternal twin to Louis R. Blakey, Jr. She attended schools in Richmond, VA and graduated from George Wythe High School. On November 8, 1981, she was married in holy matrimony to James Paige, Jr. From this union are three children, James III (Trey), Reginald (Reggie), and Lauren. Lois received an Associate degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Richmond, an undergraduate degree in Christian Education from Bluefield College, and a Masters of Divinity degree from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling and Christian Education. She is training as a pastoral counselor and therapist through the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care and Virginia Union University. Her Doctorate of Ministry degree program will begin in September 2010 with a concentration in Formational Counseling.

Lois has served the church as co-pastor since April 2006. In June 2007, she retired from Verizon in Richmond, Virginia, where she was employed for 28 years. She commenced her teaching and preaching ministry in May 2001 and was ordained by a Counsel of Ministers March 22, 2003. 

_________________________

Louis R. Blakey, Sr., Pastor Emeritus, born December 12, 1936 in Richmond, Virginia
1942-1953 - Primary/High School Education (Richmond, Virginia)
1954 - Present Holy Matrimony - Former Bessie Marie Thomas
1954 - Present Six Children - Thirteen Grandchildren - Two Great-Grandchildren
1960 - Active Member of Cedar Street Memorial Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia)
1967 - Bachelor of Theology Degree - Lynchburg Seminary & College (Lynchburg, Virginia)
1967-1974 - Pastor of the Greater Nazarene Baptist Church (Mechanicsville, Virginia) and Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church (Chesterfield, Virginia)
1974-2004 - Founder of New Canaan Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia)
1987 - Bachelor of Arts - Richmond Virginia Seminary
1988 - Master of Divinity - Richmond Virginia Seminary
1989 - Doctor of Divinity - Richmond Virginia Seminary
December 31, 2004 - Retired as Pastor of New Canaan Baptist Church

Civic Organizations (Past and Present) - Trans-African Support Community of Richmond; Virginia Council of Churches; NAACP; Southside Ministerial Alliance; Baptist Ministers Conference; Oak Grove Civic Association

Goals "Fulfilling God's Vision of Spiritual Growth"

_________________________

Elder Johnnie L. Brown was licensed and ordained to the gospel ministry in 1996 at Destiny Christian Church (Sandston, VA). He pursued an Associate degree in Business Administration at Atlantic Community College (Cologne, NJ) from 1975-1977. He conducted weekly Bible studies at Atlantic County Prison (Mayslanding, NJ) from 1987-1992. He led three mission trips to Falmouth, Jamaica in 1995, 1997, and 1998, and conducted a one-week revival in Guyana, South America in August 1997. Since 1993, he has been the weekly Bible Study Teacher at Union Prospect Baptist Church (Cologne, VA) and the West Point Senior Center (West Point, VA).

Elder William Mickey, Jr. was licensed to the gospel ministry in 1995 at New Canaan Baptist Church and ordained and installed as an Assistant Pastor in 2001 at Immanuel Church where he also was appointed Ruling Elder in 2003. He was ordained as a deacon at New Canaan Baptist Church in 1989. He completed Evans Smith Leadership Training at Virginia Union University in 1995. In 2005, he received a Certificate in Evangelism from Evangelism Explosion in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He is the Minister of Missions, Outreach, and Evangelism at New Canaan Baptist Church.

Elder Margaret Minnicks was licensed to the gospel ministry in 1995 and ordained in 1996 at Trinity Baptist Church. She graduated from Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA with a B.A. in English and Literature in 1968. In 1998, she graduated with a Masters Degree in Christian Education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education and a Masters Degree in Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA. She is the founder and director of The Way of Life Spiritual Development Center in Partnership with Oral Roberts University, where she teaches 22 religious courses. She also teaches religion courses at Averett University, Richmond, VA.

_________________________

Elder JoAnne E. Scott was licensed to the gospel ministry in 2001 and was ordained in 2004 at New Canaan Baptist Church. She graduated in 2003 and 2005 from Faith International Bible College in Richmond, VA, receiving both a Bachelors and Masters in Theology. She received Certification for Pastoral Care and Counseling in 2002 from Richmond Hill and is currently working on her Doctorate for Pastoral Care and Doctorate of Ministry at Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, GA. She is a chaplain for Henrico Doctors Hospital.