A Forest Lane congregation in Hamilton Park
Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church sits on 7 1/2 acres at 8350 Forest Lane in northeast Dallas, a few minutes from US-75 and I-635. From that single property, Pastor David E. Wilson and a congregation that began with two families in 1986 now run two Sunday worship services, a full Church School, choirs, dance and drill teams, a college-prep program, a fitness ministry, and a roster of care and outreach groups that reaches into the surrounding Hamilton Park and Stults neighborhoods. The church's motto, "Good understanding wins favor," is printed on a theme song written by Vernita Wilson, the first lady and Minister of Music, that visitors sometimes hear sung from the pews.
From two families to a Dallas landmark
Greater Cornerstone was born on October 30, 1986, when David Wilson, Vernita Wilson, Jeanette McCrary, and Jesse Finney gathered in the sanctuary of the former First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park on Bunche Drive for an organizational meeting that began at 7:48 p.m. David Wilson presented the Articles of Incorporation that had been filed with the State of Texas, and the small group elected him pastor. Two days later, on November 2, 1986, the first worship service was held, with Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and morning worship at 10:45 a.m.
The congregation leased space at the Hamilton Park church for its first decade, then purchased and renovated a facility at 8350 Forest Lane. On Annual Youth Day, July 14, 1996, members traveled by caravan to the new sanctuary and held their first praise and worship service there. Additional land was acquired over the years until the campus totaled 7 1/2 acres, and a new worship facility was completed in August 2002. The church has since been described as an established vessel among Baptist churches in the Metroplex.
Pastor David E. Wilson, founding shepherd
Rev. David E. Wilson is a native of Wichita, Kansas, the third son of Evelyn B. Wilson and Leronzo L. Wilson. He was educated in the Wichita public school system and attended Wichita State University and Bishop College in Dallas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. He accepted Christ at an early age at Saint Paul A.M.E. in Wichita and acknowledged his call to preach through the ministry of Strangers Rest Baptist Church in the same city. He has served as founding pastor of Greater Cornerstone since its 1986 inception, more than three decades of ministry, and is described by the church as one of Dallas' most sought-after public speakers and revivalists.
Pastor Wilson is married to Vernita Deloris Simmons Wilson, who serves as Minister of Music and wrote the church's theme song. They have two daughters, Lola Natisa Wilson and Da'Nita Roshaun Wilson-Harris. Beyond Greater Cornerstone, he was elected the 4th President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Dallas and Vicinity in December 2018, the oldest African American faith-based nonprofit in Dallas, after twenty years as its Vice President. He also serves as 2nd Vice Moderator of the Dallas Regional District Association and as President of GCBC Inc. Earlier in his career, he spent fifteen years on the staff of the National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc., ten years as Assistant to the Director of Congress and Christian Workers of the NBCA, six years as 3rd Vice President of the Dallas Baptist Ministers Union, and eight years on the City of Dallas Board of Adjustment.
What a first-time visitor walks into
Sunday at Greater Cornerstone starts early. The Early Morning Worship Service runs from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., followed by Church School from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The main Worship Service begins at 10:30 a.m. and runs to 1:00 p.m. New visitors are invited to fill out a visitors card, either on a Sunday morning or online, so the church can keep a record of the visit. Services are held at 8350 Forest Lane, and the main service is livestreamed online every Sunday.
Church School is structured as the entire church at study, with a comprehensive age-based curriculum: Preschool (ages 2 to 5), Primary (6 to 8), Juniors (9 to 12), Teens (13 to 18), a Combined Adult class (19 and up), and a Men's Adult Class. Children from Pre-K through sixth grade can be checked into New Generation, a children's ministry that runs during the 10:30 a.m. service and uses arts, crafts, story time, and music so parents and guests can worship without interruption. A Hospitality Ministry sets the tone as people walk through the front doors, and an Adult Ushers ministry helps maintain order during the worship hour. The Mass Choir leads the music from the pews, and Praise Dance and the Youth Choir lift up the same worship through movement and song.
Wednesdays and Mondays: study, fitness, and Zoom
Midweek programming is built around Wednesday Bible Study, which the church describes as "transforming your life through biblical principles." Before the adults gather, the campus fills with young people. Praise Dance rehearses from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the House of Higher Learning tutoring program runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for students in Pre-K through 12th grade, and at 7:00 p.m. the Strictly for Christ and Youth on the Move ministries meet for children and teens.
On Mondays at 7:00 p.m., the Brotherhood and the Women's Christian Fellowship hold parallel Bible studies, both offered virtually through Zoom so members can join from home. On Thursdays, the Adult Choir rehearses at 7:00 p.m. and is open to anyone age 13 and up with no audition required. The GCBC Fitness Ministry keeps a steady schedule as well, with sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays at 8:00 a.m., charging $5 per session. Class time runs 45 to 50 minutes and mixes functional training, aerobic exercise, and a devotional focus on caring for the body as God's temple.
Youth ministries that follow students from preschool to college
Children and students have a deep bench at Greater Cornerstone. New Generation serves children from Pre-K through sixth grade during the 10:30 a.m. service, while Youth on the Move and Strictly for Christ gather on Wednesday evenings to teach young people to apply biblical principles to real life. The House of Higher Learning offers tutoring, test-taking help, writing support, and homework assistance for Pre-K through 12th graders on Wednesday afternoons.
PAVE, which stands for Perpetual Awareness Valuing Education, walks teenagers ages 13 to 19 through SAT preparation, college applications, scholarship searches, financial aid, and the transition to life after high school. The church has held an annual P.A.V.E. Scholarship Dinner to support that work, and the program has sent students on college trips over the years. The Youth Choir sings for special events and the Praise Dance Ministry carries the gospel through movement, with students from age 4 through college finding a place to serve.
Care, service, and outreach that follow members through every season
The Care Ministries keep the church's people in mind beyond Sunday. The Nursing Home Ministry visits a local nursing home every third Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. to spend time with residents. The Wise Guys Ministry gathers women age 55 and older on the second Thursday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a traditional devotion, a thirty-minute Bible study, homework review, sharing time, and a luncheon; the group also sends cards and makes hospital, bereavement, and shut-in visits. The Birthday Ministry celebrates members and guests with cake, ice cream, gifts, and door prizes after the 10:30 a.m. service each month. The Outreach Ministry meets quarterly to serve a local homeless shelter, collecting dry detergent, lotion, blankets, and other requested items throughout the year and twice a year taking the church's witness into the community.
Behind the scenes, a Service Ministries team keeps things running. The Culinary Ministry oversees the church kitchen and prepares meals for events. The Nurses Guild provides first aid during services and activities, with all members CPR certified. The Audio/Video/Web Ministry runs the sound, visuals, and lighting for worship and keeps the church's online presence alive around the clock. Hospitality extends warmth to members and guests, and the Mass Ushers help everyone settle in for worship.
What the church believes
Greater Cornerstone teaches that God is three in one - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and that Jesus Christ is God's only provision for eternal salvation. Members confess that once a person is saved, they are eternally secure in Christ. The church holds that the Bible is free from all error and contradiction and is the sole authority and foundation for belief, faith, and practice. Baptism is by immersion only, and every member is called to be a supporting member. The church walks visitors through the same plan of salvation on its site, with scriptures from Romans, John, and Galatians that explain sin, Christ's atoning work, and the need to believe and call on the Lord, followed by a Sinner's Prayer.
Core values, purpose, and vision
The church's purpose is to bring individuals into a disciplined personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Its vision is to lead people in victorious living through the presence of the living God. The members' covenant commits them to protecting the unity of the church, refusing to gossip, and following the pastor; sharing responsibility through prayer, invitation, and warm welcome; serving the ministry by discovering gifts, being equipped to serve, and developing a servant's heart; and supporting the church's testimony through faithful attendance, godly living, and regular giving. Members are encouraged to invite the unchurched and to warmly welcome those who visit.
Online worship, giving, and prayer
Greater Cornerstone livestreams its Sunday service online, broadcasts the weekly Scripture reading plan, and provides an online visitors card for first-time guests. Tithes and offerings can be given online through PayPal or Givelify, and a prayer request form is open to anyone who wants the church to join them at the throne of grace. The church also keeps an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where announcements, photos, and event updates are shared. Office hours run Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the office can be reached at 214-349-7701.