Pastor's Bio

Pastor Clay Willis

I'm not your typical pastor.  I do have the degrees and stuff but that's not what will impress you.  I won't remember your name but I will remember every other detail you tell me.  I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but I understand what it's like to misunderstand church.  I don't want you to be impressed with me but I do want you to experience an impressive God who can take you beyond average church into something real and personal!

I was saved at age 7, October 19, 1974, at Fairview Baptist Church in Rockmart, GA the very first time the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.  My parents had raised me in church and so it was no surprise when I came to know Christ.  At age 14 I committed my life to Christ to do whatever God wanted me to do.  At age 15 I answered the call of God for the preaching ministry on September 22, 1982.  I immediately began preaching on radio, in nursing homes, on street corners, in jails, in flea markets and in every church that would let me.  At 19 I really felt God wanted me to be in evangelism.  I felt called to reach the store clerk, waitress, mechanic, neighbors, strangers, basically anyone who would listen and some who wouldn't.  My first church accepted me as pastor at age 22 and boy was I in for many lessons to be learned.  After 2 years as a pastor I thought I would never do that again.  I took a position as a student minister in Cedartown and stayed there for nearly 6 years.  I left there to pastor a small farming community church for 18 months.  After a wonderful time of ministry there I went to First Baptist of Mableton to be Associate Pastor for Students for nearly 6 years.  After taking a group to Manhattan in New York City for 2 weeks to help a young church plant get on its feet I got the fever to start something new myself.  After answering an ad in the Christian Index for West Cartersville Baptist Church I interviewed and got the job.  With the 20 or so people that were left from West Cartersville we changed the name to Cornerstone and started new.  It has been a great ride and the best is yet to come!