Cory A. Graves
Cory A. Graves currently serves as the Lead Pastor of White Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church located in Greensboro, NC. He was born and raised in Brown Summit, NC, the youngest child born to the late Floyd and Hallie Graves.
Pastor Graves is a graduate of East Carolina University where he majored in Special Education and Psychology. He is a former educator and taught as a special education teacher, working with behavioral and emotional disordered adolescents in Kindergarten through the 12th grade.
He was ordained in the ministry in September 1993. He served faithfully in the Edgecombe County area as a minister and an educator until he accepted the call as Shepherd of White Oak Grove in September 2003.
He serves on several boards throughout the Triad area that focuses on children and adults with mental and physical disabilities, as well as at risk youth and adolescents. He is the founder of a mentoring group known as SFC (Strong, Focused and Confident) that mentors African-American boys and young men. He teaches that “every challenge and/or adversity should be used as a reason to succeed as opposed to an excuse to fail”.
Pastor Graves is a well sought after messenger, and has traveled extensively sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. His favorite scripture, Psalms 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want”, exemplifies his walk of faith. He believes God, no matter what the situation looks like. His vision is to transform lives, while building God’s Kingdom; to continue to reach not only those that are within the walls of our ministry, but to reach those in our communities that are searching for a deeper, wealthier relationship with the Lord. As God continues to show him the vision for White Oak Grove, Pastor Graves remains obedient to doing God’s will. He has proven himself to be anointed and appointed by God to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has a sincere love for his church family and daily lives the life that he preaches about. Pastor Graves is a true man of God and a Pastor at heart.