150 Years Under a Bush Arbor
On July 24, 1875, four men - Henry Turner, Claybourne Fletcher, Sidney Mitchell, and Jim Chavis - purchased four acres of land on Leesville Road from J.J. Lynn. The deed, probated on July 29 and filed that September, sat nine miles northwest of Raleigh, North Carolina, in the Leesville Township of Wake County. Under a bush arbor on the land, those first officers began meeting. A church service was held beneath those branches from the beginning until 1878, when the arbor gave way to a one-room white log structure measuring ten by twenty feet, with its back facing Leesville Road. They named the church Baptist Grove Baptist Church. The name came from those worship services held beneath the grove of trees, and the name has remained.
The Reverends Larie Green and Daniel Tucker were selected by the congregation to co-pastor in those first years, with the Wake Association listing Reverend Tucker as pastor from 1878 to 1902. Baptist Grove was received into the Wake Baptist Association in 1885. For many years, services were held only once a month, on the third Sunday, and baptisms were performed in a brook behind the church. In 1919, under the pastorship of the Reverend Robert Jones, the baptismal site was moved to an open spring across the road. The revival services that started each August drew neighbors from miles around, and candidates were baptized on the third Sunday in September at Lake Lynn.
Over the next century and a half, the congregation weathered remodels, the construction of a modern block building in 1958 that brought hot and cold water, indoor restrooms, air conditioning, and a furnace, and the addition of a 12,000 square-foot multi-use facility in 2005. The mortgage on that second building was paid off on April 1, 2011, and the church burned the note in a ceremony that May. Today, the historical cemetery still holds headstones dating back to the 1870s, and the church that began under a bush arbor still sits at the corner of Leesville and Lynn Roads, now streaming its services around the world.
Worship on Sundays, In Person and Online
Baptist Grove holds three Sunday worship services each week. The 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. services meet in person at 7109 Leesville Road in Raleigh and are also streamed online. A third service, at 12:15 p.m., is online only. Worship is led from the brown brick Multi-Use Facility, with parking ministry greeters directing cars and helping visitors find a spot. Visitors are encouraged to arrive at least fifteen minutes before the service begins.
The church describes itself as a progressive, contemporary church with traditional values. It believes all people are an expression of God's image, drawn from Genesis 1:26, and seeks to honor God by expressing love to its community and everyone who enters its doors. The Sanctuary choir and a dance ministry lead in praise and worship alongside the band, with a flag ministry raising standards during the service. Communion is offered to children who have been baptized. Baptism Sundays take place during morning worship - on the third Sunday of each month at 10:00 a.m., immediately after the 10:00 a.m. service, with classes and registration available beforehand.
For those joining online, BGC Anywhere offers a virtual sanctuary and a chat to engage with other worshippers at all three service times. Online attendees can submit prayer requests and access the church's on-demand library of sermons, Bible studies, and youth and children's teachings.
Midweek Bible Study and Daily Prayer
Worship is not the only rhythm at Baptist Grove. Two Bible studies meet online every Wednesday: a noon study and a 7:00 p.m. study with the pastor. Both are streamed on the church's livestream page, Facebook, and YouTube. Viewers can submit questions in advance, and Pastor Akinbinu answers them at the conclusion of a series.
For those who want to pray together daily, the conference line opens at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday. Anyone can dial in, and recordings of missed calls are available afterward by dialing 605-475-3273 with the same meeting ID. The line carries no membership requirement and no agenda beyond lifting up the needs of the day.
From a Bush Arbor to Two Buildings
The main church building constructed in 1959 covers 6,615 square feet. To share its facilities with the surrounding community, the congregation built a 12,000 square-foot Multi-Use Facility, or MUF, in 2005, clearing half of the church's ten acres for the project. The MUF includes four classrooms and a large central area that doubles as a full-court gymnasium, a worship space, and a fellowship hall. Children's church and youth programs meet in the separate white sanctuary building, which houses the Discovery Zone for younger children and a downstairs fellowship hall for grades 6 through 12.
Discovery Kids meets on the first through third Sundays at 10:00 a.m. in the white building, with check-in starting at 9:45 a.m. The Toddler Room serves children ages one through three. All volunteers pass background checks and complete training before working with children, and the BGC security team remains in the building throughout the service. Parents are texted first in case of an emergency, and a number is displayed on the main sanctuary screen if they cannot be reached. Snacks served are nut-free, and families are asked to share any allergies with the children's ministry administrator.
Three Pillars: Faith, Fellowship, and Service
The vision of Baptist Grove Church is captured in a single phrase - Living Faithfully and Fully in Christ - and is organized around three pillars. Living in Faith calls the congregation to know and live the truth as communicated in God's Word. Living in Fellowship means loving all people as image-bearers and fostering strong community among brothers and sisters in Christ. Living to Serve invites every member to discover and use their talents and resources to advance God's mission in the world.
Five values animate those pillars. Truth is anchored in John 8:31-32, the call to know the truth that sets people free. Love comes from John 15:12, the new command to love one another. Friendship rests on Proverbs 17:17, the friend who loves at all times. God's Renewing Work is drawn from Revelation 21:5, the promise of making all things new. Mission flows from Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.
Each pillar has its own rhythm. Faith shows up in Bible studies, devotionals, the on-demand library, and baptism preparation. Fellowship happens in life groups, walking groups, the Young Adult Ministry, BGC Anywhere, and a calendar full of shared meals and outings. Service is expressed through the food pantry, affordable housing partnerships, social justice advocacy, the volunteer page, and a steady stream of outreach projects like March Missions and Together Community Day.
Meet the Pastor and the Staff
Rev. Dr. Bankole Akinbinu has served as Senior Pastor of Baptist Grove Church since January 2012. He accepted Christ at age ten, preached his trial sermon on June 16, 2001, at Community Bible Baptist Church in Prince George's County, Maryland, and was ordained in September 2009 after eight years as a licensed minister. He holds a bachelor's degree in Bible Theology from Washington Bible College, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Duke University, where his thesis explored how congregations form community in a digital age. He now teaches Doctor of Ministry students at Duke Divinity School.
Among his distinctions are the 2010 Aaron E. Gast Award in Urban Ministry, an invitation from President Barack Obama to the 2014 White House Summit on Working Families, and an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology from Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary in 2023. He and his wife Angel, the church's creative arts coordinator, are raising two children, Alivia and Elijah.
Rev. Katrina Tatum serves as Executive Pastor. Rev. Adrienne Aiken Morgan, a clinical psychologist and Campbell Divinity School graduate, serves as Minister of Congregational Care and leads the BGC Cares Ministry. Min. Jordan DeVeaux-Brasley, a fourth-generation AME minister and Duke Divinity School graduate, serves as Next Generation Minister. Julius Petway is the Minister of Worship; he grew up as a pastor's kid in Pontiac, Michigan, and serves with his wife Letitia and their two children. Tosh Young oversees Children's Ministry as Children's Ministry Administrator. Min. Marrilynn Johnson serves as Youth Ministry Administrator, with Deacon Sylvia Jones serving as Youth Curriculum Specialist. Chris Clemons leads the Life Harvest Food Pantry. Robin Smoot and Averee Gentry serve as Program Director and Program Administrator for the Cultivating a Legacy of Living Faith initiative.
Discovery Kids, Immersion Youth, and Abide
Children's ministry is built around Discovery Kids, a program for children from toddlers through fifth grade that uses creative programming rooted in a safe, nurturing environment. Children experience energetic worship, interactive learning, crafts, games, and friendships. A new initiative called The Crossover will serve fourth and fifth graders as a focused, age-appropriate discipleship experience during the 10:00 a.m. hour. Asynchronous weekly videos support family faith formation in the weeks between gatherings. The Toddler Room is open on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. for children ages one through three.
Immersion Youth serves students in grades six through twelve. On the first through third Sundays, students worship in the white sanctuary building, leading prayer, scripture reading, and offering before breaking into table discussions. On fourth Sundays, they worship with adults in the Multi-Use Facility, serving as ushers, greeters, praise team singers, and new life counselors. Fifth Sundays are intergenerational, combining worship and community service. Life groups meet Tuesday nights on Zoom - middle school at 7:00 p.m., high school at 8:00 p.m. - and a Student Leadership Team plans events and advocates for their peers.
Abide is the ministry for emerging adults ages 18 to 24, anchored by a monthly Bible study series for those in that in-between stage of life. The current study, Threads, weaves timeless biblical truths into modern application and meets in room M01 with Min. Jordan DeVeaux.
The Link for Young Adults
The LINK is the Young Adult Ministry for those ages 25 to 39, and its name is an acronym for Living In Kingdom-Purpose. Its mission is to cultivate a Christ-centered community where young adults explore faith in a safe and transformative space, build authentic relationships, and serve in purpose-driven ministry that connects them to something greater than themselves. The ministry is anchored in Hebrews 10:23-24, a call to hold unswervingly to the hope of Christ and to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Three expressions structure The LINK. Real Faith offers monthly Bible Study Watch Parties via Zoom, corporate prayer times, and Pastor's Pour - monthly sessions where Pastor Akinbinu teaches young adults and takes their questions. Real Friends offers LINK Ups on the fourth Friday or Saturday each month, a Heylo app community for staying connected during the week, and Praise and Plates Sundays, where young adults sit together in the sanctuary and then head to brunch after the service. Real Purpose channels young adults into volunteer opportunities inside and outside the church, including outreach projects and the Double Glory Advent giving initiative.
Life Harvest Food Pantry
The Life Harvest Food Pantry is the flagship outreach of the church. Open to members and non-members, the pantry distributes fresh produce, pantry staples, hygiene items, household goods, and culturally relevant food items in partnership with local farms and grocers. The Saturday hours run from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays from January through October, and on the first and third Saturdays from November through December. A new Sunday distribution immediately follows the 10:00 a.m. service outside the Multi-Use Facility under the tent, with pre-packaged bags available on the days food is in stock. No identification is required, and prayer is offered only when requested.
Donations keep the pantry running. The church maintains Amazon Wishlists for food, household, hygiene, and children's items; a printable grocery list for in-person shopping; and an online giving option that lets donors designate the pantry. Volunteers handle check-in, shopping assistance, loading groceries, and prayer. The Backpack Buddy Ministry provides weekend meals for children facing food insecurity.
Outreach, Housing, and Social Justice
The Outreach Ministry is rooted in Matthew 25:35-40 and organized around three core areas: food insecurity, affordable housing, and social justice. The church partners with CASA and Habitat for Humanity on affordable housing initiatives. Its Social Justice Ministry speaks up for the marginalized in the wider community. March Missions is an annual, month-long season of service that brings in a canned food drive, a Feed the Hunger Pack-a-Thon, and Together Community Day, a free event offering health screenings, dental education and cleanings, mental health screenings, gaming stations, and World Vision distributions. Generations compete to see who can give, serve, and advocate the most.
Walking Groups, Dance, and Holistic Fitness
The Holistic Fitness Ministry organizes nine walking groups that meet across the Raleigh area, from Bond Park in Cary to Smith Creek in Wake Forest, from the Duke campus to Durant Park Nature Preserve. Most groups meet once or twice a week; the Wake Forest Worship Walkers gather on Saturday mornings at Smith Creek Soccer Center or Main Street Park in Rolesville; the Walk This Way group walks the indoor track at Joyner Park. Each group is led by a member of the congregation. The five pillars of the ministry are eating well, moving often, resting easily, growing deeply, and sharing boldly. The God Be Glorified Flag Ministry gathers on Thursday evenings for praise, while the Dance Ministry rehearses on the Thursday before the first Sunday of each month and serves during both Sunday morning services with worship movement and mime.
Congregational Care in Every Season
Baptist Grove takes seriously the call of Galatians 6:10 to do good to everyone, especially to those of the household of faith. The BGC Cares Ministry coordinates six teams: a Care Card Team that sends handwritten or digital notes; a Bereavement Team that supports grieving members; a One to Another Visitation Team for the homebound, hospitalized, or those in assisted living; a Yarns of Love Team that knits and crochets items for those in life transitions; a Check-In Team that performs wellness calls for unengaged members; and a Season of Grief Team that walks alongside those who have lost loved ones.
Specific care request forms cover baby dedications, benevolence support for members in financial difficulty, cancer support through the Hope For The Journey Ministry, prayer requests, relational support, visitation requests, wedding requests for members, and reporting a death. A For A Grieving Heart Bible Reading Plan and a YouTube music playlist accompany the Season of Grief Team. For life-threatening emergencies the church directs people to dial 911; for mental health crises the number is 988.
BGC Anywhere and the Global Congregation
BGC Anywhere is the virtual campus of the church, an online community for long-distance members and guests. Its mission is to empower online members and guests to live in faith, fellowship, and service from anywhere in the world. The community streams all three Sunday services, hosts a Wednesday evening Bible study, runs virtual life groups, offers volunteer opportunities to serve virtually, gathers ministries for online meetings, maintains an extensive on-demand library, and plans virtual fellowships exclusive to its members. The ministry is led by Tracy Edwards and De'Nita Moss and operates on a monthly rhythm. For those who live outside commuting distance of Raleigh, BGC Anywhere is the way to live as a full member of the congregation.
Getting Involved, Giving, and Careers
Life Groups run in three-month cycles (January through March, May through July, and September through November) and split between Fellowship Groups for relationship building and Faith Groups for structured biblical learning. Volunteer openings range from A/V support and graphic design to Discovery Kids volunteers, Immersion Youth volunteers, life group leaders, and cancer support volunteers. The Senior Adult Ministry (SAM) and the GAP Education Enrichment Ministry serve older adults and families navigating graduation and promotion milestones, while the Covenant Marriage Matters Ministry provides pre-marital counseling and quarterly gatherings for couples.
The church is served by a Diaconate Ministry chaired by Chad Thompson with Russ Tatum serving as vice-chair, plus thirteen additional deacons and four deacons emeritus. The Trustees are chaired by Morris Mann with Ramsey Connor as co-chair, with sixteen additional trustees and five trustees emeriti. Congregational Care requests can be directed to the diaconate at 919-787-4528 ext. 247.
Those who wish to give can give online, text the word Give to 919-551-3033, mail a check to the P.O. Box, place a gift in one of the in-sanctuary receptacles, or give in stock. Member resources, a business directory highlighting the gifts and talents of the congregation, and an online store carrying apparel for men, women, young adults, and accessories are all available. Career opportunities, including a Media Creative and a Facility and Grounds Coordinator, are posted as they open. Visitors planning a first visit can email life@baptistgrovechurch.org, and the church asks only that they arrive a little early, wear whatever feels right, and bring their family.