Staff/Ministries

Pastor Colley was called to preach at the age of 12. Back then he always felt a strong call to pastor and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1987 Pastor Colley began a small church just outside Conyers GA called Calvary Baptist Church. Since the Southern Baptist did not accept gays and lesbians, the church went independent and changed it's name to Calvary Christian Church. Pastor Colley started with only 7 member's and quickly grew to over 2200 during his three years while Pastor at Calvary. After about 3 1/2 years in 1991 Pastor Colley felt the call to come back to Columbus where he and his parents lived since 1984 to get settled in this area. He attended a small church in his hometown until 1996 where they told him he had to either "change" his orientation or leave the church for being gay. He tried for years to change but when he saw he could not change they told Pastor Colley he had to leave until he changed. Pastor Colley left the church crushed and left the ministry for a time.

Pastor Colley heard of a church in Columbus at that time that accepted gays and lesbians and he decided to go and check it out. When he walked in he felt at home and began coming back to the Lord once he knew that God did in fact accept him for being gay. During his time at Fellowship Of Love Christian Church which is now closed, he met his spouse Pastor Danny Davenport at a church conference in Chattanooga TN in October 1999. After meeting Pastor Danny the Lord laid it on Pastor Danny's heart to move to Columbus. During the 6 months that they dated Pastor Danny felt God said for him to move to Columbus so in April 2000 Pastor Danny and Pastor Colley made their Covenant to be one in Jesus and to do what God had set out for them to do.

Since that time He has worked his way back up into leadership and was called in February 2000 to start the first gay affirming Pentecostal church ever in Columbus. Since then God has brought Pastor Colley and his spouse Pastor Danny through a tough road but they have kept the faith knowing that God still had a plan for this church in Columbus. They stopped meeting in Columbus in 2005 and started meeting at their home. The funds were not there for the building they were renting.

They met at their home for 2 years from 2006-2008 and after feeling that God was ready for them to return to Columbus in October 2008, they once again obeyed God and started meeting at a local hotel. During this time God started sending people from this area to worship before Him. Since September 2009 God has exploded New Life and they have had over 30 new member's join in the last year of 2009 and until September 2010.

As we go into 2011 God has placed a vision of 2011 being the year of the harvest in Columbus GA. This is not just the gay community but also the straight community as well. As God continues to pour out His love and grace on us here at New Life we are ready to receive the new people that we know are coming home to worship God and not feel condemned. If you have not found a church home, either gay or straight, I encourage you to come to New Life In Messiah and give this church a chance. You will see we are a loving and caring church and accept ALL people.

We invite you to come see what God is doing at New Life In Messiah where the Spirit Of God is being poured out on ALL People.

Pastor (Chaplain) Sharon Smith comes to us with experience in teaching middle and high schools, and was a missionary for several years in Greece and Germany, before returning stateside to continue her education at seminary. Pastor Smith has been a Chaplain at Columbus Hospice, Inc. since February, 2001. She received her B.A. in Secondary Education Social Science from Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL; her Masters in Secondary Education at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA; her Masters of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, OH, and 2 years Clinical Pastoral Education at Emory Center for Pastoral Services in Atlanta, GA. Pastor Smith is excited about all that is happening at New Life in Messiah Fellowship and counts it an honor God has led her here. She looks forward to serving the Lord as we move into a new facility and begin reaching out to the community and loving each one who comes to worship with us. God bless you all! See you at church…

These Ministries will be filled at the annual business meeting on January 10, 2010. If you are interested in one of these positions, please see Pastor Colley for more information on how to apply for these ministries.

New Life In Messiah Fellowship
A Church sharing the true love of Jesus Christ for ALL people

Last modified: 01/02/12

New Life In Messiah Fellowship A Church sharing the true love of Jesus Christ for ALL people

Last modified: 01/02/12

New Life In Messiah Fellowship
A Church sharing the true love of Jesus Christ for ALL people