A Heritage Reaching Back to 1872
Falling Run Missionary Baptist Church stands along Cedar Creek Road in the Cedar Creek area of Cumberland County, southeast of Fayetteville, North Carolina. The congregation traces its beginning to 1872, when Reverend William Devane, accompanied by Reverend Ransom Royal, was sent out by the First Baptist Church of Fayetteville to organize a church in this part of the county. The two ministers had come at the request of James Kelly, Sr., and Washington Evans, who had met Reverend Devane at a meeting then known as the Old Grays Creek Association. He made the journey up the Cape Fear River by steamboat in the latter part of 1871, and on his second attempt succeeded in finding people from the community, including Allen McDaniel and his wife, Margrett. Reverend Devane quickly sensed the spiritual need of a people who had recently come out from under the chains of slavery, and the church grew from those humble beginnings.
The original meeting place stood near the east banks of the Cape Fear River, about three miles from where the present sanctuary now stands. The name Falling Run comes from a small falling stream that ran down to the river, and the church has carried that name ever since. Through more than a century and a half of continuous ministry, twenty-two pastors have served Falling Run, beginning with Reverend William Devane and continuing through Reverend Solomon Devane, Reverend Hayes Peterson, Reverend G. W. Moore, Reverend Elijah Tate, Reverend F. R. Robinson, Reverend J. D. Cowan, Reverend M. L. Dawson, Reverend G. H. Corbett, Reverend F. R. Devane, Reverend A. H. Dixon, Reverend W. H. Hill, Reverend B. B. Bethea, Reverend G. W. White, Reverend A. A. Heartly, Reverend Sampson David, Reverend H. R. Cogdell, Reverend O. L. Bennett, Reverend Rudolph Tripp, Reverend John D. McDonald, Reverend Tommie W. Campbell, Reverend Dr. Leonard R. Faison, Sr., and the current pastor, Reverend Dr. Reginald A. Wells.
A Pastor With Four Decades of Preaching
Reverend Dr. Reginald A. Wells preached his first sermon on his sixteenth birthday and was licensed to preach at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Holt, Alabama. He was later ordained by the Union Association in Fayetteville, North Carolina. After high school he enlisted in the United States Army and served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Following the conviction that "a call to preach is a call to preparation," he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Shaw University, a Master of Divinity from Shaw University Divinity School in Raleigh, and a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching and Leadership from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, completed in May 2015. He has served as pastor of Falling Run since February 2013.
Across the wider community, Dr. Wells has served as Moderator of the Middle District Missionary Baptist Association for two consecutive terms. He serves as the 3rd Vice President of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Inc., and sits on its General Board and Executive Committee. He is also chair of the Development Committee on the Foundation Board of Fayetteville State University. He has preached and lectured on the continents of Africa and Asia and is the author of "Leading When You Don't Know the Answers." An active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, Beta Chi Chapter, in Fayetteville, he and his wife, Dr. Roxie Cannon Wells, have been married for thirty-five years and share one daughter, Jalyn Reid, an attorney in Washington, DC. Deacon Fletcher W. Fort, Sr. serves as Chair of Deacons.
Sunday Worship and the Two Ordinances
The church gathers for one Sunday worship service each week, beginning at 10 AM and continuing until noon. Members come expecting a steady diet of preaching, prayer, and the two ordinances Christ left for his church.
Water Baptism is reserved for older children and adults, because it always follows a conscious decision to accept Christ's offer of salvation. Believers are baptized by full immersion in water. The act does not save a person; it is a public testimony signifying the death of the believer's sinful past and the new birth in Christ. Several opportunities throughout the year are provided for individuals to make this commitment.
Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month. The solemn commemoration reflects on the loving sacrifice of Jesus, remembering his suffering, his death, and his glorious resurrection. It is a worshipful reminder of the great price Jesus paid for salvation and a call to deeper devotion to Christ.
A Place for Everyone in Ministry
The ministry roster at Falling Run reflects more than a century of giving the Cedar Creek area a place to serve. The Music Ministry, Greeters Ministry, Usher's Ministry, Floral Club, and Pastor's Aide each support weekly worship, while Daughters of Zion and the Women's Ministry strengthen the bonds among the women of the church. Christian Education, Saturday School, and Youth Sunday School give children, youth, and adults places to grow in the Word. A Men's Ministry and Young Adult Ministry gather men and emerging adults around shared study and accountability, and the Senior Ministry cares for older members through fellowship and service. The Bus Ministry helps members without a ride get to worship and Bible study, and the Check Up Ministry reaches out to those who have been absent or unwell.
Reaching Beyond the Walls
Falling Run's service does not stop at the sanctuary door. The Backpack Buddies ministry sends weekend food home with children who might otherwise go hungry between school meals. The Food Ministry operates a food pantry for neighbors in need, and the church has built a long-running tradition of gathering donations from members and partners across the community. Ministry Beyond the Walls carries the church's presence into surrounding neighborhoods, and a Benevolence Ministry extends help to those facing financial hardship. Health Services and partnerships with local providers bring screenings and wellness information to members throughout the year. The food pantry takes a short break each July, when donations dip, and the church signals the pause so that visitors do not arrive at a closed door.
Visiting Falling Run
The church sits at 2852 Cedar Creek Road, Fayetteville, NC 28312, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 1179, Fayetteville, NC 28302. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM and closed Friday through Sunday. Sunday worship begins at 10 AM and ends at noon. Giving is available online through Givelify, and sermons are shared on the church's YouTube channel. A new-member orientation booklet and funeral policy are available to members through the member resources section.