Cory Adams

Senior pastor and expository preacher with six years of pastoral ministry and nearly a decade of lay ministry in churches from 100 to 1,200. Since 2023, has led South Apalachin Baptist Church through three weekly services and a season of growth in attendance, giving, discipleship, outreach, and missions. Committed to faithful preaching, biblical counseling, and shepherding the flock well beyond Sunday through hospitality, discipleship, and visitation.

Senior Pastor at South Apalachin Baptist Church (2023-07 – Present)

• Lead and preach three weekly services (Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening), primarily expositional, including studies through Galatians, Ruth, James, 1 Samuel, 1 & 3 John, Esther, Jude, the Joseph narrative in Genesis, and summer series in the Psalms.
• Teach topical series on the attributes of God, essential doctrines, spiritual disciplines, church history, religions and worldviews, and Old and New Testament overviews.
• Saw average attendance grow from about 120 to 160+ on a typical Sunday, with record giving every year that raised the annual budget from $313K to $450K for 2026.
• Founded an annual Spring Conference equipping the congregation to apply Scripture to practical life and worldview questions; lead the annual fall Missions Conference.
• Deepened the church's missionary relationships through visits, intentional care, closer alignment, and broader support.
• Established discipleship groups for men and women; lead a men's discipleship group in the parsonage.
• Co-lead a twice-monthly young adult night at the parsonage with my wife, and open our home for weekly hospitality.
• Reach the community through a weekly volleyball ministry, VBS in the park, outdoor outreach services, community events, personal evangelism, and the establishment of a homeschool co-op.
• Lead congregational business meetings and led significant building improvements and maintenance.
• Develop new leaders for ministry roles and train men to teach.
• Built intentional partnerships with local churches and pastors, strengthening the church's ties to the community.
• Shepherd the flock well beyond Sunday through hospital visits, home visitation, discipleship, and hospitality.

Youth and College Pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church (2021-11 – 2023-07)

• Shepherded students and young adults through expositional teaching applied to their stage of life; fulfilled pastoral duties when the senior pastor was away on vacation, sabbatical, or other occasions, and provided pulpit supply.
• Assisted the senior pastor in casting and carrying out church vision, filling a broad associate pastor role.
• Raised up and trained volunteer leaders, and helped lead and support college and young adult ministry alongside lay leaders.
• Planned, promoted, and ran events for church youth (including a Nerf war), and raised funds for events and activities.
• Kept students, leaders, parents, and the church informed through regular, clear communication.
• Planned community outreach events in low-income neighborhoods, and assisted in mercy ministry to neighbors experiencing homelessness.
• Built bridges between the church, a local foster care agency, and foster families.
• Joined forces with area churches to host community youth events, including Disciple Now (DNOW).
• Carried pastoral care into hospital rooms and living rooms, visiting widows, the homebound, and the sick; worked alongside, counseled, and encouraged the music minister.

Youth and Activities Pastor at First Baptist Church of Mount Washington (2020-03 – 2021-03)

• Preached expository sermons twice weekly and provided pulpit supply.
• Discipled and counseled students and leaders, then equipped them to disciple, teach, and counsel others in turn.
• Built and presented budgets for youth ministry and church-wide activities.
• Planned events and activities for community engagement, church fellowship, and youth ministry.
• Kept communication clear and consistent with students, parents, and the church as a whole.
• Ran the church's recreation facility and community center, overseeing a secretary and a volunteer team.
• Partnered with local schools to meet the needs of students and the wider community.
• Helped set church-wide direction as part of the weekly staff team; administered baptism and the Lord's Supper.
• Assisted across the church's ministries, from VBS to senior adult ministry.
• Created a resource library to help parents, leaders, and students grow in Christ.

Youth and Children's Ministry Intern / Active Member at Riverbend Community Church (2010-08 – 2020-03)

• Preached Christ-centered sermons and lessons across every age group, from children's ministry to senior adults.
• Planned summer events for youth and children's ministry.
• Organized and took part in mission trips to Romania and England, along with local outreach events.
• Took ministry beyond the church walls into retirement homes and addiction recovery settings; discipled students and handled communications for several ministries.

Production & Quality Control at Daytona Glass Works (2013-06 – 2020-03)

Produced products under demanding conditions, inspected them to customers' specifications for quality control, and facilitated shipments to customers.

Church Ministry & Christian Leadership – Boyce College

Church-based seminary – Christ Theological Seminary