ABOUT OUR PASTOR: REV. ULRIC L. ELEY, JR.

Rev. Ulric L. Eley, Jr. is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia. Rev. Eley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia and a Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia.

Rev. Eley has a passion for ministry and being a life-long learner and educator.  Rev. Eley served as a teacher in several private and public schools in North Carolina and Virginia teaching World History, US History and Biblical Studies.  He currently serves as the US History and Bible Teacher at Richmond Christian School in Chesterfield, Virginia. While living in North Carolina, Rev. Eley had the privilege of serving as the Minister of Christian Education at the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina where the pastor is Dr. Carl E. Brinkley, Jr. Rev. Eley now serves as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Waverly, Virginia. 

As a pastor, preacher, and teacher, Rev. Eley believes in ministering to and liberating the downtrodden, disenfranchised, and oppressed.  Rev. Eley is considered a student of preaching. When preaching, he believes his assignment is to bridge the gap of distance between the biblical text and the meaning of the text.  While attending seminary, Rev. Eley was awarded the distinguished honor of receiving the 2015 Miles Jerome Jones Preaching Award of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology.  In addition to his 18 years of ministerial experience, he has been active in community service and missions. He is passionate about the development and transformation of the community and youth. He has served as a mentor for Spring Hill Middle School’s Spartan Men Club and currently as coach of the Golf Team at Richmond Christian School. Also, Rev. Eley is the Vice President of the United Fellowship of Churches of Sussex & Vicinity and the Chairman of the Commission of Christian Faith Formation of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia.   

Rev. Eley is married to his amazing partner in life and ministry, Rev. Candice L. Eley