Lead Pastor

Bill and his family moved to Raleigh in June 2000 to start a new church designed to reach people who were not involved in church. After approximately fifteen months of developing relationships and enlisting others to join him, North Raleigh Fellowship began meeting in the home of the Denning’s in November 2001. In January 2003 North Raleigh Fellowship held its first public service with 95 in attendance.

In May 2005 the congregations of North Raleigh Fellowship and River Oaks Community Church merged. The two groups decided to keep the River Oaks name. Bill and David Smith, the pastor of River Oaks shared co-pastor roles after the merger each having a specific focus of ministry. In March 2006 Rev. Smith left to take a senior pastor role in another church and River Oaks called Bill to serve as the Lead Pastor.

Prior to coming to North Carolina Bill served for ten years as the Pastor of the Plymouth Haven Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. During his time there he led the church to accomplish its mission by reaching persons in the community. Under Bill’s leadership the church added staff, raised $2 million for a new 11,000 square foot addition and increased in average attendance from 113 to 277.

From 1983 to 1990 Bill served as the pastor of Second Baptist Church of Dunn, NC. During his time there the weekly attendance increased from an average of 32 to 165. The church also called called four part-time staff members to focus on specific areas of ministry.

Bill and his wife Jenny have three sons. Chris is 22 and lives and works in Winston-Salem, NC. Zac is 20 and attends the UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem where he is a music major studying double bass. Nick is 14 and is a freshman at Leesville Road High School.

Bill is a graduate of Campbell University with a BA in Religion and Philosophy. He also received his Master of Divinity degree (1987) and his Doctor of Ministry degree (1996) from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.