STEEL PUBLISHING GROUP

A Baltimore native, Billy Stanfield was educated in the Baltimore Public School System through middle school. He excelled in basketball and was recruited for basketball by Cardinal Gibbons High School, one of the top academic and basketball programs in the Baltimore metropolitan area. There he excelled in basketball and became an honorable mention all-American high school basketball player and was one of the top basketball players in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. He graduated in 1987 and went on to play college basketball at Hagerstown Junior College where he also excelled and became one of the top junior college basketball players in the nation and was offered several basketball scholarships from four-year division-1 (one) universities. 

Despite being raised in a two-parent household and having the opportunity to have a successful career in college athletics. He turned to the streets and became a major narcotics drug dealer in Baltimore City. Consequently, because of his choices and decisions he was severely shot in both legs in 1993 and was told by the doctors that he would never lead a normal life again. If it were not for supernatural intervention (an act of God) on the night two masked men shot him, he would not be alive today. His lifestyle eventually led to him being arrested in 1993 by the Baltimore police on kingpin charges. His case was migrated to federal court where he pleaded guilty and was convicted and served six years in federal prison.

While in federal prison, Billy had some time to do introspection and realized he would not be alive if God did not have a purpose for him to fulfill in the earth. It was in prison that he made a sincere decision to follow the Lord and His plan and purpose for his life. Since his release from federal prison in 2000, the Lord has supernaturally blessed his life and restored his family name.

He is founder and pastor of The Impact Church, and founder/executive director of New Vision Youth Services, a youth development organization designed to create an alternative youth culture through mentorship, restorative practices, social-emotional, character development, and life skills training. He has two earned degrees from Ohio Christian University one in Leadership and Ministry where he graduated summa cum laude and a Master of Arts in Practical Theology.

As a modern-day Joseph, Billy Stanfield understands that God has called him to be a bridge builder. Through the ministry of New Vision Youth Services and its Positive Impact Movement Program, The Lord has worked through him developing and implementing ministries for at-risk youth and families in Baltimore City Public Schools and communities in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Baltimore City, and around the country since 2005. The cities include Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Milwaukee, Washington, DC, Richmond, VA, Chicago, Salisbury, MD, Prince George’s County, MD., Chester, PA, Queens, NY, Somerset, NJ, and York, PA.

He was ordained a pastor in 2004 and was consecrated a bishop in 2018. He ministers at churches and speaks motivationally around the country at high schools and penal facilities. He has served as a panelist, presenter and keynote speaker for youth summits and forums across the country. He has received awards for his efforts through New Vision Youth Services including Baltimore Magazine’s “2006 Top Ten Baltimoreans of the Year”; Governor’s Volunteer Service Certificate from Governor Martin O’Malley and Certificate of Recognition from Mayors Sheila Dixon and Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. 

The Baltimore Sun has also featured articles including a front-page article titled, “Suburban Gangland” and “Drug Czar Praises City’s Program” that describes the event where White House’s Drug Czar John P. Walters held a conference to describe the efforts and successes as well as the need for New Vision Youth Services. New Vision Youth Services has been recognized by the Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence for their outstanding work with youth which has resulted in a collaborative partnership.

Bishop Stanfield and his wife Pastor Oleonta (affectionately known as Pastor O) have been married for fifteen years. They have a blended family of eight children and eight grandchildren. Bishop Stanfield believes that every human being was born on purpose for the fulfillment of God’s purpose in the earth.