About Us

Oak City Baptist Church had its beginning in 1865, in meetings held in various homes in Raleigh’s historic Method Community. The community, was first called “Slave Rent,” then called “Slab Town,” and later “Masonville,”after Lewis Mason bought 69 acres of the mostly wooded area from a Confederate army general named William Ruffin Cox. It was finally renamed “Method,” after a post office was established in the area. The church and community were formed after the Emancipation when former slaves built their own homes in this area that is bounded by Western Boulevard and Hillsborough Streets, just west of North Carolina State University.

In 1873, Oak City Baptist Church was organized and built in a grove of small oak trees, not very far from its present location today. It got its name either because of those oak trees, or from the nickname of the City of Raleigh, “The City of Oaks.” Those responsible for the creation of the church included: Gilford Branch, Ausborn Branch, Lafayette Ligon and Wash Ligon, among others. On October 8, 1886 Trustees of Oak City Baptist Church (Ransom Thompson, Guilford Branch, and Blake Kittle) were able to purchase the ½ acre parcel of land in Masonville, Wake County, North Carolina.

Oak City Baptist Church has had 17 pastors during its more than 157-year history, with the shortest term of office being 11 months and the longest term being that of our current Pastor, 37 years and counting. Oak City’s first pastor was the Reverend Caesar Johnson. Reverend Johnson was a member of one of the first graduating classes of Shaw University and one of the founding members of the Roanoke Missionary Baptist Association of North Carolina. In addition to Reverend Johnson, other notable pastors during the early years of our church included Reverends Mabry, Jack Poole, and Robert “Bob” Jones.

Oak City Baptist Church has a present membership of over 400. Its members are actively involved in several community outreach programs through the Missionary Ministry, Men’s & Women’s Ministries, Ushers, Young Adult Ministry and Youth Ministry. Oak City is impacting the local community through participation in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the Crop Walk, the American Diabetes Association Walk, Vacation Bible School, Wake County Interfaith Food Shuttle, Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets for the needy, Project Angel Tree, Wake County Foster Care Faith Collaborative, Passage Homes, and Habitat for Humanity.

The present pastor is Reverend Dr. William T. Newkirk, Sr., who hails from Rocky Point NC, is in his 37th year. The church currently has several associate ministers to support the mission and vision of the church. On July 5, 2015 the members of Oak City Baptist Church moved into their new sanctuary at 726 Method Road, Raleigh, North Carolina and they formally dedicated this new edifice on October 25, 2015. At Oak City, we strive to keep “Standing on His Promises” winning souls for the Lord! Oak City & guests, we celebrate your legacy today. Happy church Anniversary & Homecoming!

Prayer Requests

We will pray for your request. It will remain on the church wide weekly list for 30 days. If you would like for the church to continue to pray for your specific need, please re-complete the form.

Leadership

William T. Newkirk, Sr. is a native of Rocky Point, North Carolina, and has lived in Raleigh, NC, since 1981.

He is the elder son of the late Mrs. Doris T. Newkirk, and the late Benjamin Newkirk. His wife is the former Catherine Delores White of Spring Lake, NC, and they are the parents of three adult children and five grandchildren.

He has earned degrees from Saint Augustine’s University, East Carolina University, Shaw University Divinity School, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a conferred honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Virginia University at Lynchburg.

Dr. Newkirk was a professional educator for 32 years, before retiring in April, 2001. His former positions included serving as a Juvenile Counselor in Bronx New York; employment in public education, serving as a Federal Programs Director, an Assistant Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, and Interim Superintendent for a school district in North Carolina; Dean of Students at Saint Augustine’s University, Raleigh, North Carolina; Division Director at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction; and Associate Executive Director for the North Carolina Association of Educators, both of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Dr. Newkirk has authored two books, and spent six weeks in Japan studying the Japanese culture as part of an education exchange program through the US Office of Education.

He has been an ordained Baptist minister since September, 1983. He served as Pastor of the New Bethel Baptist Church in Clayton, NC for four years and has been serving in his present position as Pastor of the Oak City Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, since March, 1988.

Dr. Newkirk has served two terms as President of the National Alumni Association of Saint Augustine’s University. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees for Saint Augustine’s University. He is the former Moderator of the Wake Missionary Baptist Association, Inc., of Raleigh, North Carolina. He is presently a Trustee of the General Baptist State Convention of NC, Inc.