Pastor J. Phillip Betts

Pastor James Phillip Betts was born September 16th, in Granville County, North Carolina. He is the 2nd child and oldest son of James William Betts and Rosetta Bagby Betts. He grew up with his four sisters and two brothers in the Toler Community. Pastor Betts is a 1970 graduate of Toler School. While a student there he was very active in sports, where he soared as an Eagle, participating on the basketball and baseball teams. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle. As a young man Pastor Betts was genuinely inspired not only by his parents but also by his grandfather, Mr. Robert Betts Sr. and his grandmother Mrs. Esther Bagby.

After graduating from High School, he furthered his studies at Durham Tech, in Durham NC where he received an Associate Degree in Business Administration.

He furthered his studies at North Carolina Central University where he majored in Business Administration. Later, he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies from Central Christian University, Lexington, NC.

At an early age Pastor Betts became a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Moses Hardy. In those days you could find him singing the praises of God in the Mixed Choir of St. Matthew and/or keeping the door as an usher.

Pastor Betts later moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where he met and fell in love with Ms. Teresa Carrington. Realizing that a man that finds a wife finds a good thing, he asked Ms. Carrington for her hand in marriage. The two became one flesh in Raleigh, NC. They celebrate 28 years of wedded happiness. From this bond of love was born two sons, Phillip Maurice and James David Betts.

In the early 80’s, Pastor Betts sensed the call to enter the Ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He accepted this call in 1983 and was ordained in 1985 under the leadership of Rev. G. A. Jones, Jr. at the Wake Chapel Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC. He later served as the interim pastor of Wake Chapel. While there, Pastor Betts also began a small Bible Study fellowship at the Holiday Inn in Oxford, NC. Under the divine leading of the Holy Spirit, Word of Hope Ministry was birthed forth. Many were set free and delivered through the words of hope that came from God through His servant during those years. We, as a congregation, came to know that the Lord truly knows the way through the wilderness; all we have to do is follow - follow Him (Jesus) and His Word. That’s what Pastor Betts did and the Lord began to stir his heart to begin a ministry right back in the area where he grew up. In 1992 Pastor Betts founded the Cornerstone Christian Community Church in Oxford, NC, where he currently serves as Senior Pastor.

Pastor Betts is the founder and chairman of Isaiah 58:12, Inc., a non-profit and outreach organization that oversees the Men & Women’s shelter and two non-profit businesses. He also serves as Local Executive Director of the Jobs for Life program; he is on the Granville County Education Task Force, a member of the Smart-Start Board of Directors, a member of the Kerr Tar Regional Workforce Development Board of Directors, and on the Task Force of the Second Chance Program for Felons. If you need a word of hope, tune in to WCBQ Radio Station 1340AM on Sunday mornings where Pastor Betts boldly proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Betts’ main focus is to see the church take her God ordained position in the community – that is to see the lost come to Christ and serve the broken, bruised, and battered people in his community and in the world at large.

Pastor Betts encourages many by letting them know “That No Matter What You Are Facing, God is Good and He Does All Things Well” so you can’t stop, you can’t give up but you must go “All the Way” for “To Have Enough is to Commit All”.