REVEREND DOCTOR
VICTOR EWING GOODEN
Doctor Victor E. Gooden was born October 12, 1956 to the late Dr. R.N. Gooden and Mrs. Janet Davis Gooden in Milton Florida. He is a 1974 graduate of Milton High School. He attended Florida State University and the University of West Florida where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications, March 1979. He also earned a Bachelor and Master of Religious Education degrees from Faith Bible Theological Seminary, June 1987; Master of Divinity Degree, Asbury Theological Seminary, August 2006; the Honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from by St. Thomas Christian College, February 2004. He earned his Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Interdenominational Center, Morehouse School of Religion, Atlanta, Georgia, May 2022.
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He received his ministerial license on May 15, 1977, and ordination on September 10, 1978. He was called to his first church in October 1979. His pastoral career spans over 38 years as the pastor of four churches and 42 years in Ministry. He has traveled the country as a Revivalist, Organist, and Singer.
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Through the leading of the Holy Spirit he organized New Life Missionary Baptist Church on May 26, 1991, as the Founding Pastor, and he continues to serve as Senior Pastor. Under his leadership, New Life purchased its own Church campus in its third year of existence located at 1625 Derbyshire Road, Daytona Beach, Florida, moved in on October 1, 1994, and paid off the Mortgage in July 2014. On October 19, 2014, a Mortgage Burning Celebration was held to commemorate this historic endeavor.
As a college educator, he was Interim Chaplain/Director of Religious Affairs at Bethune-Cookman University from August 2006 to November 2011. During his tenure at the University, he held several positions: (1) Student Affairs Coordinator, (2) Governmental Relations Officer for the office of the President, in addition to his teaching responsibility as an instructor in the Department of Religion, Philosophy & Humanities.
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He has also been an Exceptional Student Education teacher in the public schools of Volusia County. From November 1991 to June 1998, he taught at Holly Hill Middle School. During his tenure at Holly Hill Middle School, he was department chairperson for Exceptional Student Education for two years, as well as a part-time choral teacher for four years. In September 1996, he was honored by his colleagues as Holly Hill Middle School’s “Teacher of the Year.”
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He also has a background in Human Resources as a Personnel Technician for the Escambia County Civil Service Board and the University of West Florida.
He was elected by his peers to serve as President of the Daytona Beach Black Clergy for 2018-present, he also served as President from 2010-2012. He was also appointed to the Board of Directors for Volusia Volunteers in Medicine. He has also served on the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce Governmental Relations Committee, Nuisance & Abatement Board for the City of Daytona Beach, International Speedway Coalition Group, and served as university advisor to the Midtown Redevelopment Board. Lifetime member of the NAACP, and serves as 3rd Vice President of the Daytona Beach Branch, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, and the Economic Development of the City of Daytona Beach, Florida.
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His recognitions include Bethune-Cookman University for Outstanding Community Involvement and Civic Participation on the Mary McLeod Bethune Community Round Table, September 2008; Recognition for Hometown Hero June 2005; Meritorious Service, 2003, Bethune-Cookman College; Pathfinder of Excellence Award, April 2000, Volusia Branch NAACP; Teacher of the Year, Holly Hill Middle School, March 1996; and Florida League of Middle Schools Recognition of Valuable Service, November 1996.
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He has been blessed to give the opening prayer at the Daytona 500, in 2007, the Daytona 300, in 2008 and the Daytona 400 in 2010. He is married to the former Charline Robinson of Daytona Beach, and they have six daughters, fourteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
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