Dr. Stokes graduated from Valdosta State University with a BS in Sociology.  He did some graduate work in the area of Marriage and Family Counseling before earning a Masters and Doctorate from the Luther Rice Baptist Theological Seminary.  Dr. Stokes has served on most of the Committees of the Valdosta Baptist Association as well as serving on numerous Boards and Committees, service as a Revival Consultant with the Evangelism Department, and as a Trustee with the Georgia Baptist Health Care System.  He has been in the Gospel Ministry since 1966 and served several churches before coming to New Bethel Baptist Church.  Briefly stated, his philosophy of ministry has to be broken down into three basic areas:  Expose people to Jesus Christ, once exposed, to Equip them to grow in their faith, and finally to Experience ministry.  Each child of God is uniquely gifted and is an important part of the body of Christ. We are “Laborers Together” in Kingdom service.