A 150-Year Walk on Tryon Road
Watts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church sits along Tryon Road in southern Raleigh, in the same Swift Creek Township community where a small band of Christian believers organized a church in 1876. The land came from Mr. Samuel Watts, who gave the group a small tract with a framed house already on it. Two years later the new congregation called Reverend Essick Blake as its first pastor and named itself Watts Chapel in the donor's honor. The original Watts Chapel Baptist Church name lives on today, and the address has not changed: 3703 Tryon Road, Raleigh, North Carolina.
The years since have brought both growth and setback. Under Reverend Isaac Lee's nineteen-year tenure beginning in 1946, the congregation built a pastor's study, indoor restrooms, new pews, a fellowship room, and classrooms, organized the Pastor's Aid Society, the Floral Club, the Finance Committee, the Missionary Circles, the Sunshine Band, the Junior Usher Board, the Sick Committee, and the Parking Committee, and received its first deed to the land on December 29, 1957. In 1967, the church called Reverend Dr. Frank Byrd Weaver as pastor. By the time he retired in 2001 after thirty-four years, the mortgage had been burned, a new sanctuary had been dedicated in 2000, two Christian Education wings had risen, and the church had hosted the 133rd annual session of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
Tragedy struck in the fall of 1972 when lightning hit the steeple and the building was severely damaged by fire and water. The congregation worshipped across Tryon Road with sister church Saint John AME while a new sanctuary was built. The F.B. Weaver Gospel Chorus was organized during that rebuilding by Deacon Thomas L. Glenn, Sr., and on November 10, 1974, Reverend Marian Ballentine Glenn became the first female minister licensed by the church. Members returned to a rebuilt sanctuary in May 1975 and added pews, carpet, lounges, a public address system, and a new baptismal pool.
The early 2000s brought a new sanctuary and a new pastor. By 2006, when Reverend Dr. Harry L. White, Jr. was called, the church had roughly 400 members. Under his leadership, that number passed 2,300 by his tenth anniversary in 2016 and crossed 3,000 by 2019. The campus has kept pace: a parking expansion and retention area were completed in 2013, and the Above and Beyond Capital Campaign is now underway to build out worship, fellowship, and ministry space for a congregation that has outgrown its walls.
Pastor White and the First Lady
The Reverend Doctor Harry L. White, Jr. has pastored Watts Chapel since June 2006. He was born and raised in Baltimore, graduated with honors from Howard University in Washington, D.C., with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and African American Studies, earned a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and holds a Doctor of Ministry from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2019, Morehouse College inducted him into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers. He is also a published author and a faculty member at several institutions of higher learning.
Pastor White arrived as the church was preparing to welcome its 130th anniversary in September 2006. The Watts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Time Capsule was sealed that month, the church bell that had hung in the burned steeple was restored and placed in the foyer, and in December a formal Installation Celebration ushered in a new era. The Children's Nursery was revived, a new fourteen-passenger bus was added, a 10:00 AM Sunday service replaced the old 11:00 AM service, and the first Juneteenth Celebration was held alongside the Vacation Bible School picnic. Two Sunday services at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM were added in 2009, and by 2015 a third service had been added to handle the crowds. In 2015, the church also licensed Adrian Bullock, Jeremy McCants, and Sammy Robinson, ordained its first female deacons, Sister Robbie Debnam Graham and Sister Anita Carlton, and observed the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Ushers Ministry. Under Pastor White the membership grew from 500 to more than 2,300.
He is married to Dr. Shauntae Brown White, the church's First Lady. Dr. Shauntae is a professor of Mass Communication at North Carolina Central University, where she coordinates the Women's & Gender Studies program. She holds a B.A. from Howard, an M.A. from the University of Alabama, and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. She has authored Communication Matters: 31 Days to Speaking Life in Your Relationships, The First Lady: African American Pastors' Wives in Their Own Voices, and co-edited Television Representations of Black Womanhood: Being Mara Brock Akil. She is a regular presence with the Liturgical Dance Ministry and the Women of Watts TNT. The Whites are the parents of two daughters, Nia and Kai.
What Watts Chapel Believes
The congregation's mission is to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who advance the Kingdom of God through worship, evangelism, study, the giving of tithes and offerings, and service. Its vision is to be a church that is Christ-centered, biblically-based, and ministry-focused.
Seven core values shape the church's life. The Word of God: the church affirms the authority and sufficiency of Scripture as the standard for living. Christian Love: members are motivated by God's love for them and by their love for Christ and all humankind. Authentic Worship: worship is described as dynamic and relevant, exalting God, evoking His presence, edifying His people, and encouraging the lost to come to Christ. Discipleship: members are nurtured in the Christian faith and equipped for lives of discipleship. Stewardship: members are encouraged to serve God and others through the investment of their time, the use of their talents, and the giving of their treasures. Evangelism and Missions: the church is intentional about seeking the lost and ministering to local and global needs. Excellence: the church seeks to honor God and inspire people with excellence and commitment in everything it does.
Sunday Mornings and Word on Wednesday
Watts Chapel holds two Sunday worship celebrations each week, at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. The sanctuary, classrooms, and gathering spaces have sanitizer dispensers, and masks are optional. For those who cannot attend in person, each service is livestreamed through Vimeo, Facebook Live, and YouTube, and rebroadcast on Choice FM 92.1 radio. The worship style blends gospel music, liturgical dance, drama, and preaching, with a Music Ministry led by Dr. Idella Johnson, a Liturgical Dance Team led by Sister Kim Spivey, and a Drama Ministry that re-enacts biblical stories and scenes from everyday life.
Midweek Bible study, called Word on Wednesday, meets at 7:00 PM in person and online. A separate Saturday Small Group gathers virtually at 9:00 AM, working through studies such as Every Thought Captive in five- to six-week sessions throughout the year.
Ways to Give
Members may give online through Realm, by texting WCMBC to 73256, by PayPal to stewardship@wattschapel.org, by $CashApp to $WattsChapel, by mail to the church office, or in person at the black standing locked offering boxes in the vestibule. CDs of recent services are $4 and DVDs are $8.
The Tribal Congregational Care System
One of the most distinctive features of Watts Chapel is its Tribal Congregational Care System. Every member is assigned to a Tribe based on the first letter of their last name, and each Tribe is led by a Deacon who serves as Tribal Care Leader. Members are asked to contact their Deacon at births, deaths, illness, crises, pending hospitalizations, and prayer concerns. The thirteen Tribes and their colors are:
- Tribe of Reuben (A-B) - Light Blue
- Tribe of Benjamin (C) - Brown
- Tribe of Judah (D-E) - White
- Tribe of Issachar (F-G) - Pink
- Tribe of Simeon (H-I) - Red
- Tribe of Zebulun (J) - Green
- Tribe of Dan (K-L) - Black
- Tribe of Naphtali (M-O) - Dark Blue
- Tribe of Gad (P-R) - Purple
- Tribe of Asher (S) - Orange
- Tribe of Ephraim (T-V) - Gray or Silver
- Tribe of Manasseh (W-Z) - Yellow
The deacons who lead them include Deacon Daryl Greer, Deacon Larry McMillan, Deacon Craig Long, Deacon Leslie Buford, Deacon Anita Crutcher, Deacon Curtis McAffity, Deacon Travis Best, Deacon Anita Carlton, Deacon Kevin Skeen, Deacon Robbie Graham, Deacon Sherwin Joyner, Deacon Walter Ballard, and Deacon Larry Wall. The structure gives a large congregation a way to keep relationships close and care personal.
Children, Youth, and AWANA
The Children and Youth Ministry, led by Minister Richard Harris, has a stated vision of seeing two hundred young people connected to God's Word, caring adults, and one another, with a goal of helping children and youth become the best version of themselves for God.
The Children's Nursery welcomes children 18 months to 4 years old on the second and fourth Sundays during both worship services. Two rooms are provided: one for 18 months to 2 years and one for 3- and 4-year-olds. Pre-registration is required, and a secure check-in system pairs children with a matching parent tag. Volunteers are background-checked and trained in basic first aid. On second Sundays, elementary-age children gather for Children's Church, while on fourth Sundays middle and high schoolers meet for Teen Talk. All children and youth teachers, volunteers, and staff undergo background checks and regular training throughout the year.
AWANA, which stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed and takes its name from 2 Timothy 2:15, kicks off on the second Wednesday of September. AWANA meets weekly with dinner beforehand and runs Cubbies, Sparks, and T&T clubs for ages 3 through grade 6. Nights include games, small-group time, and a large-group teaching segment.
Boy Scout Troop 253 and Cub Scout Pack 253 meet on the campus, with Boy Scouts gathering on the first Monday and third Saturday of each month in the Ballentine House, and Cub Scouts meeting on the second and fourth Mondays in the Multipurpose Room. Girl Scouts at the Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador levels also meet on second and fourth Sunday afternoons.
The Watts Chapel Scholarship Ministry, led by Sister Adrienne Cromwell, supports graduating high school seniors who are members. Applications open in March and close April 15 at 11:59 PM. The scholarship has a Basic Scholarship track and an Additional Funds track with member-established scholarships named DesChamps, Queen Lewis Weaver, and Wright Agency, plus a separate Community Outreach Scholarship for applicants who are not members.
The Children and Youth Ministry has also led mission trips to Haiti (2013), Ghana (2014), and Belize (2015).
Adults in Every Season
Tuesday Nights Together, better known as TNT, splits by gender. Men of Watts (MOW) gathers on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM, alternating between virtual meetings on Zoom and in-person gatherings in the Multipurpose Room. Women of Watts (WOW) meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM, virtually or in person, for fellowship and conversation around biblically rooted topics. The MOW book of the season, My Bible, My Manhood, is $10.
The Trailblazers Senior Ministry, for adults 55 and older, meets on the third Tuesday at 10:00 AM in the Multipurpose Room for guest speakers, senior news, health tips, and trips.
The Marriage Enrichment Ministry, led by Brother DJ and Sister Ashley Perry, prepares couples and provides ongoing fellowship and biblical resources for married life. The Singles Ministry brings together single adults for fellowship, biblical discussion, and outreach. God's Property Ministry (Financial Freedom) offers an annual nine-week Financial Peace University course beginning each July. The Career Development Ministry, led by Brother Francis Duren, hosts workshops, networking, and small business support for those who are unemployed, underemployed, changing paths, or starting a business.
For caregivers of elderly, special needs, or disabled loved ones, the Tender Loving Care (TLC) Ministry offers prayer, encouragement, resource information, a GriefShare recovery support group, and an annual Surviving the Holidays seminar. The Health and Wellness Ministry, led by Deacon Anita Carlton and Reverend Sammy Robinson, hosts a monthly Health Corner on Zoom on the second Thursday at 7:00 PM and a Run/Walk Challenge that runs through the month.
Two ongoing groups make the Adult Discipleship rhythm full: the New Disciples Orientation Ministry, led by Sister Rhonda Rainey, hosts virtual classes for adults at 10:30 AM and youth at 1:00 PM on selected Saturdays throughout the year, with the four-week New Members Class introducing new believers to the church's life. The Christian Education Ministry, led by Deaconess Deborah McMillan, hosts the Saturday Small Group sessions.
Missions Locally and in Rwanda
Mission work is woven through the life of Watts Chapel. Three missionary circles share the Gospel locally, nationally, and globally. Impact, the senior missionary ministry for adults 35 and older, gathers every third Sunday after the 10:30 AM worship service under Sister Eva Oakley. Young Adult Missionaries, for adults ages 18 to 34, meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in Room 6 under Sister Litasha Wilson. The Youth Missionary Ministry, led by Deaconess Terry Dunn, encourages young people to take the Gospel to their peers.
The most distinctive outreach is the CHOSEN campaign with World Vision. Through CHOSEN, members sponsor children in Rwanda, and more than 200 Rwandan children have been sponsored since the partnership began. Members are encouraged to keep in touch with the children they sponsor by letter or package through the World Vision portal.
Closer to home, the Transportation Ministry brings members within a five-mile radius of the church to the 10:30 AM Sunday service, with reservations taken Monday through Friday morning of the service week. Members who are 16 or younger must be accompanied by an adult, and masks are required on the vehicles. The Political Awareness Ministry works to keep members informed and engaged on civic issues, and the Impact Mission Ministry has sponsored large-scale community giveaways to mark major anniversaries.
Stewardship and the Above and Beyond Campaign
The Stewardship Ministry, guided by 1 Corinthians 4:2, teaches that God owns everything and that God's people are His managers. Stewardship is responsibility with accountability, a commitment to others, and carries eternal consequences. Members are encouraged to give cheerfully, as 2 Corinthians 9:7 directs, and to honor God with the firstfruits of their income, as Malachi 3:8-10 teaches. The Stewardship team includes Deacon Charles Dunn as Director of Finance, Brother William Houston as Chair of the Investment Committee, Deacon Daryl Greer as Chair of the Budget Committee, Deacon Eugene Weeks as Deacon Liaison, and Trustee Carey Shorter as Trustee Liaison.
To address the growing pains of a membership that has roughly quadrupled under Pastor White's tenure, Watts Chapel has launched the Above and Beyond Capital Campaign, anchored in Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..." The campaign case statement describes plans for a ministry campus of multi-use facilities that can minister to people from the cradle to the grave, with recreation, discipleship, fellowship, worship, and community partnerships throughout the Raleigh metroplex.
Salvation, Baptism, and Baby Dedication
Watts Chapel lays out the way of salvation in two parallel tracks: the ABCs of Salvation and the Romans Road to Salvation. In the ABCs, a person Admits that they are a sinner, Believes that Jesus' death paid for their sins, Confesses faith openly, and joins a Bible-believing church to grow in Christ. The Romans Road walks through Romans 3:10, 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, and 10:9-10, ending with the promise that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Baptism is for those who have already accepted Christ and joined the church family. Baptism services are held on selected first Sundays before the 10:30 AM worship celebration. Pastor White teaches that baptism is an outward expression of an inward spiritual rebirth, a public identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and a confession of His personal Lordship.
Baby Dedication is a parallel practice for infants up to 18 months of age. Either the mother or the father must be an active member of Watts Chapel before the baby is born, and at least one parent or legal guardian must commit to raising the child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Godparents are required to be members of a Christian church. Pastor White performs the dedication and presents the family with a certificate.
Worship & Arts and Administration
The Music Ministry, led by Dr. Idella Johnson, oversees choirs and ensembles that include the F.B. Weaver Gospel Chorus, the F.B. Weaver Youth Gospel Choir (which won $15,000 in the 1994 Quaker Oats Voices of Tomorrow Contest and used the prize to start the Scholarship Fund), and additional ensembles organized over the decades. The Drama Ministry, the Liturgical Dance Team, the Media Ministry led by Brother Sir Walter Jones, the Photography Ministry, and the Usher Ministry (now seventy-five years old) all support the Sunday experience.
On the operations side, the church maintains a Pastoral Care and Sentinel Security Ministry with a presence at all Sunday services, Bible studies, rehearsals, and activities by request, a Human Resources Ministry that handles employment policies and posts Triangle-area job openings on the HR Resources page, a Technology Support Ministry led by Trustee Carey Shorter, a Career Development Ministry, a Culinary Arts Ministry, a Floral Ministry, and a Stewardship team that includes a Count Team.
Plan a Visit
The church office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with Monday handled remotely, Tuesday through Thursday in person, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in person. The mailing address is 3703 Tryon Road, Raleigh, NC 27606. The main phone line is (919) 828-7348, with a fax at (919) 828-1648. The general email is wcmbc@wattschapel.org, and the contact page carries a message form for general inquiries.
First-time visitors are encouraged to fill out a visitor card online or sign up for text message updates so a member of the staff can follow up. The Connect Ministry, led by Sister Karen Phinazee and Sister Rosalind Redd, helps new and returning members find a place to serve. Right Now Media is offered free to members as a library of Christian videos. The Watts Chapel app is available for Android, with an iOS version forthcoming. Members can also subscribe to the Watts Chapel podcast on Apple Podcasts, follow the church on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X, browse the photo gallery, and order the church cookbook and Watts Wear gear.