We believe the gospel of Jesus Christ is the means to human flourishing both in this life and the life to come.
We believe God desires people to live fully open before him and reconciled to him through his Son Jesus Christ. To live coram Deo is to live in light of God's presence — leveraging your life for his glory and the good of others.
The Meaning Behind Coram Deo.
The Latin phrase 'coram Deo' comes from Psalm 56:13, meaning 'before the face of God.' It's the big idea of Christianity — to live in God's presence, under his authority, and for his glory.
Rooted in Historic, Biblical Faith.
We are a confessional Baptist congregation holding to three historic statements of faith: The Baptist Faith and Message (2000), The Abstract of Principles (1858), and The New Hampshire Confession (1833). Other statements that guide our teaching include The Nashville Statement, The Chicago Statement, and The Danvers Statement.
"For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
– Psalm 56:13
Our Pastors
Though we have various ministry teams that serve throughout the year, our church is congregationally governed, pastor-led, and deacon-served.
The Bible teaches that God gives pastors to the church to equip the people for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11–12) — primarily by leading, teaching, and caring for the congregation (cf. Psalm 23). Here at Coram Deo, we strive for a plurality of pastors (1 Tim. 3:1; Titus 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:1–4) to shepherd the church as we grow in number and maturity. Our pastoral team is a mix of staff pastors who lead specific ministries and lay elders who serve across the congregation. Together, they work as a body of elders to shepherd the church at Coram Deo.
Bob grew up in a small town in North Carolina where he came to know Jesus as his savior at the age of eleven. In college at NC State, he grew as a believer as he was discipled by fellow Christians who mentored him, helping him learn to study, memorize, and apply God’s word.
After 39 years of teaching, Bob retired from private and public education. He first taught at Wake Christian Academy for 14 years and then a number of schools in Harnett County for the next 25 years. He enjoys reconnecting with many of his past students from his English and Social Studies classes.
Over the years, he has been actively involved in serving the local church, working with youth, leading Bible studies, and participating in local and international mission trips. Bob has a heart for helping people know and do God’s will, and to walk in close fellowship with Christ as Savior and Lord. He is a model disciple-maker for every generation, eager to raise up leaders to serve the church and live on mission.
Bob and his wife, Keely, have been married for twenty years and have an adult daughter named Ashley. When not serving the church or spending time with family and friends, Bob enjoys playing golf, or reading a good book.
Sterling was born and raised in NC and trusted Christ in saving faith as a young man. Prior to his role at Coram Deo, he served in pastoral, preaching, and other ministry roles in NC churches.
He has a deep love for the local church and is dedicated to a call of pastoral care and expositional teaching. Sterling is committed to walking alongside fellow believers in everyday life with the aim of encouraging spiritual growth for the glory of God.
Sterling currently works full-time as the Admissions Coordinator for the Graduate Programs at Campbell University’s School of Education & Human Sciences. Passionate about Christian education and ministry training, he also teaches courses online at a small Bible college.
Sterling and his wife, Renea, were married in May 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Religious Education, a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Bible Exposition from Liberty University’s School of Divinity. In his spare time, Sterling enjoys reading, traveling, and catching a good baseball or hockey game.
Our Deacons
As pastors serve the church by leading, deacons lead the church by serving. They are, in effect, the lead servants of the church (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8). As Coram Deo develops and grows we will install ministry specific deacons as the Lord provides.
Matt is a North Carolina native and came to saving faith in Christ as a teenager. He has held various church leadership roles and brings a wealth of ministry experience to his service as a deacon.
Here at Coram Deo he serves in the area of facilities and safety. Matt undergirds our Sunday operations with logistical leadership, maintains church property, and develops leaders to join him in ministry. He also serves as a life group leader where he enjoys teaching the Bible and practicing hospitality.
Matt is a Senior Superintendent with Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors. He has been in the commercial construction industry for nearly three decades. In 2016, Matt retired from over twenty years military service with the North Carolina National Guard.Matt and his wife Kelly were married in 2003 and are blessed with two wonderful children – Camille who attends Campbell University; and Micah who attends Fuquay-Varina High School and is an associate member at Coram Deo. Matt enjoys doing anything outdoors from fishing, to hunting, to kayaking and camping.
Seth was born and raised in North Carolina and came to faith in Christ as a child. He has been a part of Coram Deo since the start and serves in a variety of roles as the church continues to grow. You are likely to find him on Sunday rolling a cooler around to supply water to our volunteer teams.
As our Deacon of Ordinances, Seth ensures the ministry of baptism and the Lord’s supper are carried out smoothly. He delights in serving and encouraging people as they participate in the ordinances and desires to serve with humility, excellence, and faithfulness.
Seth has been in the construction industry for over a decade and enjoys building homes for families. He and Staci were married in 2016 and have three children: Grace, Joanna, and Caleb. Seth enjoys camping and backpacking when able and loves meeting people at festivals across North Carolina. Most of all, he would be quick to tell you that “people are the mission.”
Our Ministry Staff
The ministry of Coram Deo is aided by paid support staff that specialize in specific areas of service. Our staff is comprised of full and part-time members, and some who partner with the North American Mission Board.
Each member is uniquely equipped to coordinate our ministries, fuel disciple-making efforts and promote the gospel in our city.
As the glue to our Sunday morning worship gatherings, Haley handles the more practical matters of the day. Haley is a high capacity leader with an eye for operational excellence and attention to detail. You’ll find her leading teams from children’s ministry to hospitality services.
As a child of a pastor, Haley has spent years serving the local church and making disciples at every level. Her wide range of experience, including graphic design, elementary education and cross-cultural missions, makes her a valued addition to our ministry team.
Whether you’re a first time guest or a long time member, she’s a friendly face you’ll want to meet.
Haley was married to Josh in August of 2021. They welcomed their first child, Sailor, in October of 2025. She has a B.A. in Graphic Design from Pensacola Christian College where she was a starting point guard for their women’s basketball team. Since graduation she has worked in elementary education in both the school and church settings. In her free time Haley enjoys investing in others, drinking good coffee and sharpening her pickleball skills.
If you’d like to support Haley, you can give here.
With a heart to serve, connect, and reach new people, Amanda is a gospel ambassador to our local community. She aims to cultivate partnerships with schools, agencies and organizations to further disciple-making near and far. For those wanting to leverage their lives on mission, she’s a person you need to know.
Amanda is always looking for strategic ways to engage people with the gospel. You may find her in parks, coffee shops, after school activities and much more. With a love for the nations, you also may find Amanda overseas or recruiting people to go. She is a valued asset to the Coram Deo team as she leads us to leverage our lives for the gospel.
Amanda is married to Bradley and together they have 4 children: Bradley, Jr (B), Hadley, Brewer, and Maple. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a masters degree in Curriculum Instruction: New Literacies and Global Learning from North Carolina State University. She has worked as an elementary public school teacher since 2011 and has developed a passion for supporting families with children in the local community. In her free time she loves to camp, read, paint, and drink coffee in the morning with her 4 dogs: Mocha, Zebco, Peaches, and Poe.
If you’d like to support Amanda, you can give here.
Ben was raised in Eastern Kentucky, where he became a believer as a child and grew in his faith under the ministry of his church. As a student at Marshall University, the Lord used the ministry of Cru to develop his passion for reaching the world with the gospel. After graduating from Marshall University, he served with Cru in Eastern Europe. He moved to Bowling Green, KY in 2002 to continue his ministry with Cru at Western Kentucky University, where he met and married his wife, Jill. After spending several years serving at WKU, Ben and Jill took a year to serve in Slovakia. They returned to WKU in 2007.
In the Spring of 2016, Ben transitioned from leading on campus at WKU to leading at Cru’s Raleigh office when he accepted a position in International Sending. He currently serves as the Area Sending Director for Europe with Cru’s campus ministry.
In this role, Ben leads a team of International Sending Coordinators who support and shepherd international missionaries serving with Cru in Europe. They provide both administrative support and member care through regular check-ins, training, and debriefs. He also works with other sending leaders to mobilize and develop missionaries around the world.
Ben and Jill have been married since December 2004. They have two sons and a daughter – Reece, Wyatt, and Claire. They are excited to be part of the Coram Deo community.
Ben completed a Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry in 2014 and a Doctor of Educational Ministry in Biblical Spirituality in 2023, both from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.
Our Church & Planting Partners.
Make Coram Deo Your Church Home.
What if church was more than a weekly obligation? Or an awkward experience where you leave feeling lonelier than when you arrived? At Coram Deo, you’re known and remembered. Join us on Sunday morning to worship then connect throughout the week to grow in your faith and deepen relationships.
Gospel
We believe the Sunday morning gathering is the flagship time and space of the Christian life. Join us on a weekly rhythm as we worship God through prayer, song and the teaching of Scripture. Together we love God and learn his word, prepared to leverage our lives on mission.
