Pastor Obie Lee Worley, Sr. loves the Lord and has a heart for all people. He is excited about preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and is committed to the people he serves. His motto is, “If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can tell somebody that they are traveling wrong, then my living will not be in vain.”

Born the only son of four children to the late Deacon James Edward Worley and Deaconess Mary Emma Council in White Oak, NC, he has three sisters: Velvaline Washington, Virginia McNeill, and Yvonne Benning. He received his education by attending Tar Heel High School, Fayetteville Technical Community College, and Carolina College of Biblical Studies.

At the age of eleven, Pastor Worley confessed Christ as Lord of his life and joined the First New Light Missionary Baptist Church, White Oak, NC. As a member of First New Light, Pastor Worley served on many auxiliaries which included the Youth Choir, Young Adult Choir, Gospel Choir, Male Choir, Senior Choir, Usher Board, Sunday School Teacher, Assistant Sunday School Superintendent, Junior Deacon, Church Treasurer, Church Financial Secretary, and twelve years as Chair of the Board of Deacons. Pastor Worley accepted the call to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ on June 25, 2000. His initial sermon entitled, “When Your Faith Is Under Fire, God Will Deliver.” (Daniel 3:15-18) Pastor Worley was licensed to preach in October 2000 and served as the Interim Pastor at First New Light until he was installed as Pastor on June 24, 2001.

Pastor Worley has served in many capacities in the Union Missionary Baptist Association. He has served as Vice-President of the Pastors and Ministers Conference, Member of the Ministerial Council, First Vice-President in the Union of Unions, President of the Union of Unions, and First Vice-Moderator-UMBA. He currently serves as Moderator-UMBA. Since being Moderator, he has installed the second female pastor selected by a UMBA church, Rev. Amanda Pone, Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. He has also appointed Rev. Michael E. Smith as the third in succession as Executive Secretary-UMBA.

Pastor Worley is married to the former Glenda McLean, and they have been married for 51 years. They are the proud parents of three wonderful children: Obie L. Worley, Jr. (Tasha), Glenn C. Worley (Olenka), and Inga D. Jackson (Windell). They are the proud grandparents of nine grandchildren and two great grandsons.
Pastor and Mrs. Worley reside in Fayetteville, NC, where he is enjoying being retired after forty-three years from Bass Air Conditioning Company as the Residential Superintendent.