About

Welcome to White Rock Baptist Church!  We’re thrilled to invite you to be part of our vibrant community.  Since 1866, it has been our privilege and blessing to serve the Durham area, embodying the teachings of the New Testament as we share the Good News with others.

Our congregation welcomes members of all ages. From infants to seniors, as we continually strive to fulfill God’s vision for us.  As a Bible-based church, we are committed to learning and living out the Word of God in our daily lives.

At White Rock, we take pride in our rich legacy of charitable service and strong traditions.  Our worship experiences are filled with vibrant praise, and we offer intense teaching and training to help deepen your faith.  Our various outreach ministries are dedicated to uplifting and caring for our community.

We eagerly look forward to sharing the Gospel of Jesus the Christ and supporting others in their spiritual journeys.  With open doors, we welcome everyone—regardless of your life stage or spiritual background.  We invite you to explore our site and hope to see you soon at one of our gatherings!

At White Rock Baptist Church, our mission is to exalt the Name of Jesus Christ.  We do this through sacred worship, empowering families, nurturing disciples, transforming lives through outreach and service, and boldly proclaiming the gospel.

But what does it mean to be saved?  Salvation is not just a concept; it’s the profound, spiritual deliverance that God grants to those who embrace His requirements of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.  This gift of salvation is exclusively found in Jesus, as affirmed in Scripture— “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and “Salvation is found in no one else” (Acts 4:12).  It hinges solely on God’s grace, offering us assurance and security that we can never earn on our own.

At its core, salvation signifies deliverance from danger or suffering.  To save means to protect and deliver, embodying concepts of victory, health, and preservation.  While the Bible sometimes refers to salvation in a temporal sense—like Paul’s miraculous escape from prison (Philippians 1:19)—its true essence is often about eternal, spiritual liberation.  When Paul spoke to the Philippian jailer about what he must do to be saved, he was pointing to a destiny that transcends this life (Acts 16:30-31).

Jesus made it clear that salvation is synonymous with entering the kingdom of God, highlighting its eternal significance (Matthew 19:24-25).

At White Rock Baptist Church, we believe that through Jesus Christ, all can find true salvation—an eternal promise of hope, security, and transformation.

White Rock Baptist Church engages in a variety of activities to fulfill its mission of exalting the Name of Jesus Christ and serving the community.  Here are some main ministries:

Worship Services

• Sunday Services: Regular weekly gatherings for communal worship, prayer, and teaching/preaching.
• Special Worship Events: Holiday services, themed worship services, Palm Sunday, etc.

Family Strengthening Programs

• Couples Workshops: Offering workshops, seminars, and support for couples.
• Children’s Ministry: Sunday Morning Live program for children that teaches biblical principles and foster spiritual growth.

 Discipleship Development

• Bible Discovery Classes: Weekly Bible study class, facilitated by either the Senior Pastor or Associate Ministers, to deepen understanding of Scripture.

Community Outreach

• Service Projects: Organizing volunteer opportunities to serve local neighborhoods and communities.
• Food Drives and Assistance Programs: Providing food and emergency relief resources to those in need.

Evangelism Initiatives

• Personal Evangelism Training: Equipping ministry members with tools and confidence to share their faith.
• Outreach Ministry Activities: Organizing events that share the message of Jesus with the broader community.

Youth Programs

• Youth Groups: Activities and teachings aimed at youth and teenagers to foster spiritual development.

Prayer Ministries

• Prayer Ministry Meetings: Weekly gatherings focused on prayer.

Social and Fellowship Activities

• Retreats and Conferences: Offering spiritual retreats and conferences to deepen faith, leadership, and fellowship.
• Community Events: Hosting social gatherings, such as picnics, barbecues, and Jazz on the Lawn, to deepen faith and fellowship.

Dr. Reginald Van Stephens was born and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He was ordained for the Gospel ministry in October 1982 at Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He currently resides in the Durham, North Carolina, vicinity with his wife, Miriam Phillips-Stephens. He has been Pastor of White Rock Baptist Church since 1995. Dr. Stephens formerly served as Pastor of Consolidated Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, from 1986 to 1994.

Dr. Stephens received the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1979 where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He received his Master of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Now Palmer Seminary) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1985, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary, in Dayton, Ohio, in 1992, as a Samuel Proctor-Charles Booth Fellow.

Under the leadership of Pastor Stephens, White Rock’s church administrative model has been redesigned to successfully accomplish the church’s well-defined mission. There are more than 50 significant ministries developed to meet the goals of this steadily growing congregation of Christian disciples. Some of these ministries include partnering with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina—operating food distribution once a month; adoption of the neighboring W.G. Pearson Elementary School—providing school supplies and tutoring services; and ministries that assist with various social services to disadvantaged people in the Durham community. White Rock also provides funding for missions outside of the United States.

With his guidance, the church sanctuary has undergone a beautiful $1.2 million renovation, which includes a historic 32-rank Moeller/Letourneau pipe organ. All to the glory of GOD! Presently, plans are for a state-of-the-art facility expansion to address recreational, educational, and social needs of the community and church.

Dr. Stephens served 17 years as Professor of Homiletics at Shaw University Divinity School. He has been privileged to preach in the Annual Session of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, American Baptist Convention, and local churches throughout the South and Midwest. He has been honored to be included in the publication, The Best of PNBC: Inter-generational Messages of Hope, Volume 1.