Pastor Joey is originally from New Jersey. Growing up, Joey spent the majority of his time playing sports and performing in music. Between the age of 5-15, he spent a large majority of his hours on the basketball court, football field, gym, or training in the martial arts.

He later attended Pillar College in the city of Newark, NJ, where he graduated with a degree in Psychology and Counseling. During his time in undergrad, he worked in the social work field. Joey took on a variety of jobs ranging from work in group homes, security work, halfway homes, juvenile detention, and drug rehabilitation centers, working alongside of both at risk youth, developmentally disabled population, and adult offenders in hopes to build his resume for a pursued career in psychology.

However, God had other plans for his life and called him to leave behind his pursuit for psychology and counseling to follow him in a life of full time vocational ministry. As a result, he spent two full years working for a youth missional organization known as Young Life as a local youth missionary in the city of Salem, NJ.

Following Young Life, he went on staff at a local church called Sharptown UMC in the small town Pilesgrove, NJ. It was at Sharptown where Pastor Joey’s full time call to pastoral ministry was affirmed. Pastor Joey served at Sharptown as an Assistant Pastor for one year before transitioning to Asbury Theological Seminary full time. While in Seminary, Pastor Joey served as Senior Pastor of a small rural church in Lexington, Kentucky, known as New Zion. He also met his wonderful wife, Grace Hambrick, while in seminary. 

Pastor Joey would describe his wife, Grace, as his best friend and the love of his life. She is the best thing that has happened to Pastor Joey after Jesus. Grace has played an instrumental role in helping Pastor Joey serve local churches in front and behind the scenes. They love to spend their free time traveling, reading, learning, building things together, decorating, cooking, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.

Pastor Joey describes walking away from the field of psychology and counseling to follow God’s calling on his life to full time vocational ministry to be one of the best decisions he ever made. His heartbeat in ministry after Jesus is people. As a result, what he is most excited about is the journey of walking alongside of people. In the words of Joey, “After all that’s done if what is accomplished hasn’t been established in love than it all amounts to nothing (1 st Corinthians 13:1-3). The love that I convey is not one that can be conjured up in my own strength. Rather, it’s poured out in a deep abiding pursuit of God and service to others with the empowerment of his hand. May the rest of my life be laid down for the full pursuit of love…”

I have worked with kids since 2002 and currently work with special needs children at a local private school. I love when kids of all ages light up when they accomplish something new or learn how much our God loves them.

I am married to my wonderful husband, Richard, mom of 3 girls and 3 pups. When I’m not working, I’m most likely at Disney World with my family eating all the Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bars I can.

Favorite bible verse:
Matt 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so they might see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”