Cornerstone Christian Community Church honors Bishop J. Phillip Betts and Pastor Teresa Betts on August 18.

The church, located at 3237 Knotts Grove Road in Oxford, will host a 10 a.m. service with Bishop Alphonso Smith of Destiny Worship Center Cathedral and a 5 p.m. service with Pastor Steve Hargrove of White Rock Missionary Baptist Church.

10 a.m. Worship speaker

Smith was called to the priesthood in October 1987 and later founded Agape` Christian Center, Inc. in Henderson, NC in April 1997. On August 10, 1999, he led the formation of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – AGAPE Community Development Corporation, Inc. The acronym “AGAPE” stands for “Assisting Generations And Promoting Excellence.” His goal was to create an “agency with a heart for people” that would provide holistic human care in a central location serving the citizens of Franklin, Vance, Warren, Granville, Person, Wake and Durham Counties. It provides contracted, certified Medicaid case management services, job readiness programs, HUD certified housing counseling, food assistance and more. Bishop Smith and his wife Pastor Princess founded a nonprofit organization called A&P CDC, Inc. that serves the Triangle in North Carolina.

Smith is known as “The Encourager” because he has God’s gift of motivating, inspiring, and giving hope to the masses with his charismatic preaching and teaching style. On December 31, 2008, Bishop Smith opened his current ministry, the Destiny Worship Center (the cathedral was added after his ordination as bishop) in Raleigh, North Carolina, to continue to spread the spirit of excellence. The motto of the DWCC is “Relevance, Not Religion.”

The mission of DWCC is to strengthen the weak, encourage the strong, and give the common man the means to fulfill his God-given destiny. Bishop Smith has begun a new work as he is led by his spirit to establish Life Covenant Center Cathedral as he transitions his ministry.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Shaw University. He attended Harvard University, Princeton University, and Regent University during an intensive 12-week program called Episcopal Studies under the direction of Full Gospel Baptist.

Smith has held district, state, and international offices with the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. He also served the International Ministers Covenant Fellowship as Adjutant General under Presiding Bishop Lorenzo N. Peterson. He currently serves the Kingdom Covenant of Churches as Assistant to Presiding Bishop Myron Dawson. Bishop Smith has been promoted to Bishop Primate.

Smith is the author of the book, What in the Hell Happened?, which takes an honest look at the problems that arise in relationships and provides insight into “self-assessment and healing.” He hosted a live internet web series called “It is What it Is” every Thursday at 7:15 p.m., where viewers can log in and ask questions that Bishop Smith answers live. Bishop Smith also founded a podcast called “You Gotta Talk About It,” which ran for a few years during the pandemic with his wife and co-hosts, his spiritual son, Rev. Danny, and their daughter (Danny’s wife), Theresa.

Smith is married to Princess Smith. They have been blessed with biological and many adopted children. He currently lives in Cary and continues to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

5 pm Worship speaker

Hargrove is the son of Deacon Harold E. Hargrove, Rev. Glendora S. Hargrove and the late Joyce B. Hargrove and is a native of Granville County, NC. He grew up in the Bullock Community and attended Granville County Schools, graduating from JF Webb High School. In 2001, Hargrove graduated from North Carolina Central University, Durham with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. In December 2012, Hargrove received a Master of Arts in Sociology from NCCU. Hargrove is a professor in the School of Social Work at NC State University.

Hargrove is known throughout the community as an accomplished music minister and preacher of the gospel who always keeps the truth in mind.
He currently pastors White Rock Missionary Baptist Church in the Berea Community of Oxford. The church has experienced tremendous growth since he took over as pastor and is known as a powerful church in the community and surrounding areas.

He is also the field team leader for the County Line Mission Baptist Association. Hargrove loves God deeply and is a passionate minister. He is a true worshiper. One of his mottos is, “Worship is an experience, not a ritual.” Hargrove often says, “What a powerful God we worship!”

He is married to First Lady Leslie Jones Hargrove and they have three children, six grandchildren and their dog Roger.

The special musical guest at the 5 p.m. service is the gospel group Unashamed.