Founder- John Rainey

Combining his genuine love of sports and people, John Rainey founded Goalline in 2007 to reach out to student athletes on the Thomas University campus. Prior to starting this ministry, John served as Minister of Youth and Activities at First Baptist Church in Thomasville, Georgia. He also served in a similar position prior to that at First Baptist Church in Tupelo, Mississippi..

John Rainey attended Brewton Parker College in 1972 and graduated from Georgia Southern College in 1975. Additionally, he received his master’s in Religious Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Rainey is married to Carolyn, who joins him in this ministry. They have been blessed with 9 grandchildren so far.

Although he loves all sports, John is an avid football and baseball fan (Go Dawgs! Go Braves!) He enjoys attending the Braves games when he can, but would not pass up an Alaskan cruise either!

Executive Director- Cory Wise

Cory Wise grew up in Thomasville, so when he moved back in 2023, it felt like coming full circle. Cory has a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministry from Dallas Baptist University, and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership from Liberty University.

While serving in the Air Force in the 1990’s, Cory was blessed to volunteer as a youth director in a small church in the Fort Worth, Texas area. It was that experience that caused him to seek out counsel from his former youth pastor, John Rainey, about whether he was called to ministry. Honorably discharged in 1996 from the Air Force, Cory began a satisfying 29 years of pastoral ministry, serving in places like Texas, North Dakota, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Arizona, Colorado, and Georgia.

Alongside pastoring, Cory helped to start a university-model school and served as headmaster of a Christian school which transitioned from a traditional model to a classical program.

Cory is married to Nichole, aka Niki, and they have four grown children, Michael (married to Moriah), Jordan (married to Amber), Andrew (married to Abby), and Sophia. The Wises have 5 grandchildren (Kason, Brackston, Gracelyn, Ella, and Teagan) and are looking forward to meeting their sixth grandchild (Isla Jeanne) who is to be born in the fall of 2023.

If you were to ask him what he does to relax, Cory would probably talk to you about riding motorcycles, outdoor activities, and hanging out with family and friends. Whatever Cory is doing, he will tell you that he is living a blessed life.

As the full-time Executive Director and Men’s Sports Division Head at Goalline Ministries, he will work closely with Thomas University’s administration and the other Goalline staff to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the students and coaches.