Pastors/Elders
Pastor Louis R. Blakey Jr. is a native of Richmond, VA. He was educated in the Richmond Public School system and afterward served a 4-year term in the U.S. Air Force as an F15 fighter jet crew chief. Louis is married to Monica A. Blakey. Together they have three children; Louis III, Malcolm, and Malaika.
Louis grew up in a Christian home as the oldest son of a Baptist pastor, Louis R. Blakey Sr., the founder of New Canaan Baptist Church in South-Side Richmond, VA. Louis Jr. has served the church since 1990 in many capacities including the leadership of the Sunday School and the church Deacons' ministry.
He was licensed as a minister in May 2001 and ordained in March 2003 by a council of ministers. 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 also received a Master of Divinity degree in 2010 from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Louis, along with his twin sister Lois, became Co-Pastors of the New Canaan Church in January 2005. Together their mission is to reach, teach, inform, mend, and train disciples to take the "good news" of the Kingdom of God to their community, the nation, and to the world.
He is presently employed with Henrico County as an Automotive Maintenance Technician. He presently also serves as a healing care counselor and caregiver for Healing Care Ministries International where he continues the process of becoming a more effective pastor and servant to the Body of Christ.
His favorite scripture says: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." (Psalm 121:1) With help from God and the power of His spirit, he will continue to preach, teach, and declare that Jesus is Lord of all.
Doctor Lois Blakey-Paige is a native of Richmond, Virginia. She is the Co-Pastor of the New Canaan Worship Center, where she serves with her twin brother Pastor Louis R. Blakey, Jr.
Dr. Paige graduated from Bluefield College with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education. She has a Master of Divinity degree from The Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR) and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in Formational Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary.
Dr. Paige is a counselor with the Healing Place, a ministry of First Shiloh Baptist Church that provides spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, and inner healing prayer. She is also the founder and director of Life-After-Loss Recovery ministry where she is certified as a Grief Recovery Specialist through the Grief Recovery Method. Life-After-Loss Recovery offers counseling, coaching, and workshops to the grieving community.
Doctor Louis R. Blakey, Sr., Pastor Emeritus, born December 12, 1936 in Richmond, Virginia
1942-1953 - Primary/High School Education (Richmond, Virginia)
1954 - Joined in Holy Matrimony to Bessie Marie Thomas (deceased)
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"
Reverend Virgie Banks is a native of Amelia, Virginia and received Christ at an early age. She attended Liberty Baptist Church until relocating to Richmond where she joined the New Canaan Worship Center in 1998. Virgie served as a Greeter, Invitational Counselor, Youth Sunday School Teacher and an Outreach Missions volunteer.
Virgie graduated from the Way of Life Spiritual Development Center in Partnership with Oral Roberts University and received an advancement certificate of Theology and a Diploma of Theological studies. In 2008, she was ordained to the Diaconate ministry of the New Canaan Worship Center.
In 2014, Virgie was called to the ministry and was licensed to preach the gospel by Pastors Louis R. Blakey, Jr., and Lois Blakey Paige. In 2015, she graduated with a certificate in Pastoral care and Counseling from Richmond Hill.
Revered Banks currently serves as leader of the Evangelism Ministry. Her favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me."
Reverend Latasha Corbin is the youngest of three children. She was raised in the church and came to know Christ personally by accepting Him in her heart at age 12. She has served as choir director, choir member, Sunday School teacher, usher, liturgical dance leader, and praise team leader. She is a co-director of New Canaan Worship Center Praise Priest liturgical dance ministry. She is also the Youth Director alongside her husband, Reverend Leon Corbin, Jr. at New Canaan Worship Center. Together they have two sons and five daughters.
Latasha was licensed to the gospel ministry in 2011 at More Than a Conqueror Fellowship. She graduated from the University of Phoenix with a B.A. in Human Services Management in 2012, and M.A. in Professional Counseling at Liberty University in 2016. She plans to become a licensed counselor and provide youth services to the community. Latasha has always had a passion to help children and youth. Her favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13 that says, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me."
Reverend Leon A. Corbin, Jr. was born in Richmond, Virginia. He was baptized and gave his life to Christ at Cedar Street Baptist Church
in Richmond, Virginia where he served on the junior usher board as a child. He was educated in a number of schools districts including Richmond City,
Henrico County, and Baltimore, Maryland.
After graduating from Richmond Community, he attended Penn State University at Behrend College in Erie, Pennsylvania. Leon rededicated his life to
Christ years later, serving as a laborer in a local Pentecostal church. He was later ordained as a deacon, served on the board of trustees, and in 2004
he was licensed as a minister.
Leon joined New Canaan Worship Center in 2007 and now serves in leadership over the Children and Youth Ministry alongside his wife, Reverend
Latasha Corbin. Together they have seven children, Taneisha, Andrea, Leon III, Jamaria, Sanaa, Elton "EJ", and Neriah. Reverend Corbin's favorite
scripture is 2 Corinthians 12:9 that reminds him no matter what he goes through, "God's grace is sufficient and God's power is made perfect in his
weakness."
Elder Linda Maria Jafari graduated from Richmond Public Schools and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics from
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, a Master of Public Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Master of Divinity
degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union.
Linda was called into the gospel ministry in January 2001 and licensed by Rev. Dr. Louis R. Blakey, Sr. in October 2001. She served at Greater
Brook Road Baptist Church for seven years, including being the pastoral assistant. She was ordained Minister of Christian Education on
March 7, 2004. Linda served for five years in different capacities at The Ministries Without Walls. She returned to New Canaan after 12 years
where she is the director of the women's ministry, teaches Sunday School, and preaches. She is being trained in healing care and the Stephen
Ministry to become equipped as a Spirit-led counselor.
Linda is married to Emmett Johnson Jafari, founder and President of AfrAm Tours of Richmond. Together they have three adult daughters,
one adult son, and seven grandchildren.
Elder Doctor Blanche E. Murphy The Reverend Dr. Blanche E. Murphy graduated from Virginia Union University, Samuel DeWitt Proctor
School of Theology in Richmond, VA with a Master of Divinity degree with an emphasis on Pastoral Care. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth
University in Richmond, VA. with a Master of Science degree in Patient Counseling. She continued her education and graduated from Gordon-Conwell
School of Theology, Charlotte, N.C. with a Doctor of Ministry degree with an emphasis on Pastoral and Congregational Care.
Dr. Murphy serves in several ministries at NCWC. She is an Advocate for children serving in Henrico County Juvenile and Delinquent Courts. She also
serves as a Caregiver in Formational Healing Prayer.
Reverend Andrea Rose-Butler is a Licensed Minister of the Gospel, author of "Single Parents in Pursuit of God: Thriving in a Barren
Place" and Becoming a Woman God Can Use: Lessons from God's Female Board of Directors, conference speaker, and lyricist. She is also
the founder and president of The Becoming Woman's Network, LLC, which reaches out to women around the world via the Internet to inspire
them to reach their God-given destiny and purpose; as well as The Becoming Woman's Conference and Life on Purpose workshops.
Andrea currently resides in Richmond, Virginia where she serves the community as a member of New Canaan Worship Center. She serves as
Director of Leadership Development and Training, facilitates adult Sunday School and Bible Study.
Andrea is a single parent of two and has touched the lives of many with her teaching and inspirational testimony of overcoming childhood trauma
and domestic violence.
Reverend Safiya Jafari Simmons was called to the ministry by a desire to encourage and equip God's people, Safiya serves in the Women's and Young
Adult ministries. Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6 because she believes her life is a living example of the goodness of God when we trust Him.
Safiya lives out her commitment to inspiring others to own their stories as the CEO and President of SJS Consultants, a public relations and
communications firm that amplifies unheard voices, advances impactful work, and advocates for catalyzing causes. She received her B.A. in journalism
from Lehigh University and an M.A. in writing studies from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA.
Safiya and her husband Enrique, a Washington, DC police officer, have three children: JuLin, Sanai, and Enrique III. With New Canaan Worship Center
as their home base, they believe God that they're destined to do great exploits for the Lord.
Elder Kay Word is a native of Lancaster, SC. Kay was the Minister of Children and Youth from 2007-2014 at New Canaan Worship Center
where she remains as a teacher. Kay is married to Phillip Word and sharing in their joy are four lovely grown children--Michelle, Lorenzo
(Christine), Allen, and Nikki; and eight grandchildren.
Kay received a Business Administration degree from John Tyler Community College. She graduated from The Way of Life Spiritual Development
Center in Partnership with Oral Roberts University and received a Diploma of Theological Studies and an Advanced Certificate of Theology. She
graduated from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University and received a Master of Divinity degree with an
emphasis on Christian Education. Kay was licensed to preach the gospel in May 2005, at New Canaan Worship Center by Pastors Lois Blakey-Paige
and Louis Blakey, Jr. Even though Kay's primary focus is on the Children and Youth Ministry, she recently formed the Grow and Serve ministry. Kay
worked at Altria as a technical trainer and retired after 36 years.
