Willard Maxwell

Pastor Maxwell is a native of Atlanta, GA. He is a 2002 Master of Divinity Graduate from the Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center – Atlanta, GA. His other educational milestones include a Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Education from Georgia Southern University (1997), Pastoral Counseling Certification from Emory University Health Care Center – Atlanta, GA (2001), and a Specialist Leadership in Educational Administration from Jacksonville State University (2004). On July 7, 2011 he was selected as pastor of New Beech Grove Baptist Church. Since that time New Beech Grove has witnessed tremendous growth in membership and overall weekly attendance. The congregation has received over 300 new saints with over 100 of them being candidates for Baptism. Pastor Maxwell has traveled to Kenya on a mission trip with other ministries to supply food, clothing and money for building churches. Under his leadership continued support has been pledged by sending other missionaries annually to Africa, Haiti and abroad to spread the gospel. He has spearheaded an initiative to support 40 Churches in Pokot a region of Kenya.

Prior to moving to Newport News, VA, Pastor Maxwell had a long successful career in the Atlanta Metropolitan school system as an educator, administrator, and principal. While in the educational system, he remained faithful to his local church and ministry. He served diligently as Youth Pastor, Evangelism Coordinator, and Minister of Economic Empowerment and Community Development at Greenforest Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA and Youth Pastor and Evangelism Coordinator at Good Hope Baptist Church in August, GA. During his time as an evangelism coordinator, he focused his energy on the prison ministry and community organization. In fact, while at Greenforest he served as the “live in” Resident Community Pastor of a low economic housing complex and established relationships with the residents of the community, and local law enforcement. As a result, the community saw a decrease in car thefts, drugs, and violent crimes. Although his residence changed his passion to impact the lives of children is still apparent through his partnership with Newport News Public Schools to assist with a mentoring program designed to encourage good decision making skills and produce positive outcomes. Pastor Maxwell serves on Senator John Miller’s Educational Advisory Committee and was recently selected as Director of Christian Education of The Tidewater Peninsula Baptist Association.

Pastor Maxwell is also an entrepreneur and business owner. In addition to preaching and teaching, he holds a real estate broker’s license and uses his business and leadership skills to conduct workshops for churches and communities in the area of real estate investing, financial management, and community and economic development. He is using his business skills and networking to connect with businesses, business owners, and community leaders in the Newport News area. Pastor Maxwell is a volunteer chaplain for the Newport News Police Department to ensure that a spiritual presence has a solid foundation in our neighborhoods. As a Silver Lifetime Member of the NAACP, he has been offered opportunities to work with and partner with organizations in the local and regional area(s) that serve the community. As a respected musician and gospel comedian, he is often called upon to use his gifts of music and comedy at churches, conventions, and ministry events. He is an effective leader and understands that ministry is about serving others. Pastor Maxwell has embraced his call to Pastor with the focus, dedication and commitment necessary to affect a dynamic and earth shattering change in the world.