Founding Pastor

Dr. James L. Hailstock

Rev. Dr. James L. Hailstock has served four different congregations throughout South Carolina.  He currently pastors the New Day Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC.  He holds the following degrees:  a Bachelor of Science in Management from University of South Carolina-Columbia, a Master of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, SC, and a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies(Church History, Theology of Mission) from Columbia International University, Columbia, SC.  He was inducted into Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International.  Dr. Hailstock is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University with a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling.  His dissertation focus was Practicing Sabbath to Reduce Stress in Ministry. In December 2022, Dr. Hailstock graduated with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Gardner-Webb University with a 4.0 GPA.  

Dr. Hailstock is the past Moderator of the Tyger River Baptist Association.  He teaches in the Tyger River Congress of Christian Education and the South Carolina Congress of Christian Education.  Pastor Hailstock is a Baptist E & M Convention executive board member and assistant secretary. He serves on the board for Morris College. He has past teaching experience in the National Congress of Christian Education and in several local Congresses across South Carolina.  He has been blessed to preach in the State Congress, the State Woman's Convention, the State Brotherhood Convention, the E&M Convention and the National Congress of Christian Education (USA, Inc.).  Pastor Hailstock is a former member of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. Advisory Board. He currently serves as Co-Chair of Spartanburg Interfaith Ministerial Alliance and Spartanburg Clergy Initiative.

Dr. Hailstock was appointed by the S.C. Supreme Court to the Lawyers Ethics Commission.  He was recognized by the S.C. Senate for Leadership in Church and Community.  He has previously served on the Heart Foundation of the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, the Board of Commissioners of Spartanburg Community College, the Comprehensive Health and Education Committee for Spartanburg District 7 Schools, the United Way Board, Spartanburg, SC, the Spartanburg Human Relations Committee, the Fine Arts Partnership Board, and the Arts and Science Division of Greenville Technical College.

Dr. Hailstock is married to Reverend Audrey V. Sweeney Hailstock.  They are the proud parents of two children, Alex & Jessica.

First Lady

Rev. Audrey V. Hailstock

Reverend Audrey V. Hailstock is a woman of God who loves to spread the good news of the Gospel while helping people move forward and into their God-given purpose. She is the daughter of the late Pastor Fred L. Sweeney & the late Rev. Shirley Ann King Sweeney.  She is married to Rev. Dr. James L. Hailstock, founder and pastor of New Day Baptist Church Inc. of Spartanburg SC, and they are blessed with two children, Alex and Jessica. 

Rev. Hailstock is a graduate of Erskine College where she earned a BA in English.  She is a former middle school teacher.  She was the 2006-2007 Teacher of the Year for McCracken Junior High School.

She serves the Lord at New Day Baptist Church as advisor of the Voices of Praise, Sunday School teacher for the Women's Class, a youth Bible study teacher, praise & worship leader, and directress for the New Day Children's Choir. 

She is on the executive committee of Circle 555 (a women’s giving initiative), a member of Church Women United, president of the Spartanburg Ministers’ Wives, and an advisor to the YWA of the Tyger River Baptist Association. She volunteers as a mentor at Anderson Mill Elementary School.

She is presently working on a book that will inspire you to move out of your comfort zone and into your purpose. She has established The Audrey V. Hailstock COMEFORTH Zone Fund at the Spartanburg County Foundation. Donations can be made to the fund that will be awarded to individuals who are working toward making the world a better place one change at a time.

Rev. Audrey Hailstock is an ordained minister who is a committed soldier of the army of God and is honored to speak or teach for workshops, conferences or events that lift up Jesus and draw men, women, boys and girls to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Hailstock enjoys doing whatever causes God to be glorified.  Her verse to stand on is Matthew 5:16--"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."