Our Pastors
Pastor Louis R. Blakey Jr. is a native of Richmond, VA. He was educated in the Richmond Public School system and afterwards served a 4-year term in the U.S. Air Force as an F-15 fighter jet crew chief. Louis is married to Monica A. Blakey, his wife of 29 years. 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. Louis, along with his twin sister, Lois became Co-Pastors of the New Canaan 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, the nation, and to the world.
He is presently employed with Henrico County as an Automotive Maintenance Technician. In 2005, Louis receive 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. He presently also serves as a healing care counselor and care giver 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.
Pastor Lois Blakey-Paige is Co-Pastor of the New Canaan Worship Center of South Richmond, where she pastors with her fraternal twin brother, Louis Blakey, Jr. She received her early education from the Richmond Public School system. She has three children, James III (Trey), Reginald (Reggie), and Lauren.
Lois received her undergraduate degree in Christian Education from Bluefield College, Bluefield, Virginia, 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 currently completing her Doctorate of Ministry degree with a concentration in Formational Counseling from Ashland Seminary, Ashland, Ohio.
Lois is also a Stephen's Care Minister, a Certified Grief and Loss Specialist through Grief Recovery, Sherman Oaks, CA, and a the Caregiver with The Healing Place in Mechanicsville, Virginia. The Healing Place is a healing and formational prayer ministry under the direction of Dr. Neil Siler. One of her passions is to position the people of God in the healing presence of Jesus, helping the hurting, helpless, broken and bruised find healing and comfort through the power of the Holy Spirit, according to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
Doctor 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 Daniel Webster Bradley is a native of Youngstown Ohio. He and his wife, Elder Wendy Bradley, moved to Richmond, VA in 2009 to continue their Naked But Not Ashamed Ministry.
Daniel graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and from ChoffIn Career Center with a Certificate of Completion in welding in 1986. Currently, he is employed with MS Marketing as a customer service agent.
Daniel's ministry focus is to pastor in the ministry transparency to those suffering from emotional and mental trauma, to those abused, to the elderly, who have little or no family support, and to those who are in transition in life.
Daniel's favorite scripture text is John 15, where this scripture speaks to him about absolute dependency and consecration in Christ Jesus.
Elder Wendy L. Bradley is from Clairton/Pittsburgh, PA. She is married to Daniel Bradley, and they have three children, Andre, Terah, and Adriana. They are also the proud grandparents of one grandson, Adrian.
Wendy graduated from Clairton High School and Steel Valley Technical Institute, where she majored in Retail Marketing. She also attended John Robert Powers Career for Fashion Merchandising and Modeling, Carnegie Mellon University for Accounting and Creative Writing and Community College of Allegheny College for Oral Communications. Much of her spiritual training has been provided through various seminars, classes, and conferences throughout her spiritual journey. Wendy is a retiree of Carnegie Mellon University.
Wendy formally accepted the call to ministry and gave her inaugural sermon in July 2006. She moved to Richmond with her husband, Daniel Bradley, in 2009, to continue their Naked But Not Ashamed Ministry.
Wendy's ministry focus is to feed and care for the Father's sheep through preaching, teaching, loving, encouraging, counseling, ministering to the broken, and making and building the body through discipleship. She is also called to minister to married couples, to women, to those in transition, to the elderly, and to the hurting.
Elder JoAnne E. Evans was licensed to the gospel ministry in 2001 and was ordained in 2004 at New Canaan Worship Center. She received Certification for Pastoral Care and Counseling in 2002 from Richmond Hill, a Doctorate of Theology in Pastoral Care in 2011, and a Doctorate of Divinity, FIBCS in 2012. JoAnne is a member of Preaching Woman Ministry; AACC; BAACC; EW; WOW Bible Study Ministry; SJUH Women Ministry and BBC Women book club. She is also the founder and counselor of the Spiritual Journey Support Ministry.
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 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 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 Worship Center 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, Florida. His wife, Rev. Jacqueline T. Mickey, serves along with him in missions, outreach, and evangelism at New Canaan Worship Center.
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. degree 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.
Margaret was the founder and director of The Way of Life Spiritual Development Center in Partnership with Oral Roberts University from 1998-2014, where she taught 22 courses in religion and biblical studies. She still teaches religion courses and facilitates workshops throughout the Richmond area. She taught religion at Averett University and Trinity Episcopal School. Margaret is the elder assigned to training at New Canaan Worship Center. She is the older sister to Elder Blanche Murphy, also at New Canaan.
Eldler Blanche E. Murphy is a native of Sussex County, VA. After graduating from Central High School, she attended J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, VA. In 2005, she graduated from The Way of Life in Partnership with Oral Roberts University with a Diploma of Theological Studies and an Advanced Certificate of Theology. Blanche graduated from Samuel Dewitt School of Theology, Virginia Union University with a Master of Divinity degree in 2008. In 2009, she graduated with a Master of Science degree in Patient Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Blanche was licensed in 2006 as an associate minister at New Canaan Worship Center where her ministry focus is Pastoral Care and Christian Education. She is a caregiver and facilitator of small groups in Formational Prayer Healing. She is also a Stephen Ministry Leader in a support ministry. Blanche is the Elder assigned to the Support and Mending Ministry with a definite calling to Grief Ministry. She is furthering her education by pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in NC. Blanche retired from the United States Postal Service after 36 years. She volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused children with Henrico County. She is the younger sister to Elder Margaret Minnicks, also at New Canaan Worship Center.
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 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 Kay recently formed the Grow and Serve ministry. Kay worked at Altria as a technical trainer and retired after 36 years.
