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The Rev Dr Reginald Van Stephens, pastor of Durham’s White Rock Baptist Church, has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, recognising decades of ministry and community service in North Carolina.
Honour during a landmark year
Stephens received the state honour as White Rock Baptist Church celebrates 160 years since its founding in 1866. The congregation, based on Fayetteville Street in Durham, traces its beginnings to a small group of newly emancipated African Americans and has long held a central place in the city’s Black religious and civic life.
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ABC11 reported that the award was presented in recognition of Stephens’ service to the state and local community. North Carolina’s governor awards the Order of the Long Leaf Pine to people judged to have made exceptional contributions through public service, professional work or volunteer leadership.
Stephens told the congregation that the recognition carried particular meaning because of the institution he represents. He said the church’s collective legacy had shaped his own leadership.
Three decades of pastoral leadership
Stephens has led White Rock for about 30 years, according to ABC11. During that time, the church has expanded its community-facing work, including ministries addressing food insecurity, housing support and other local needs.
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The church itself identifies Stephens as its pastor and describes its outreach ministries as a core part of its mission in Durham. That work reflects a tradition in Black churches across the United States, where worship, mutual aid, education and civic action have often been closely connected.
For Black communities in Durham and across the diaspora, the award is more than an individual tribute. It draws attention to the sustained labour of historically Black institutions that have provided practical support as well as spiritual leadership, often across generations.
A church rooted in Black Durham’s history
White Rock was established in 1866 and is widely recognised as Durham County’s first African American church. Its earlier home stood in the Hayti district, a historic centre of Black business, culture and community life.
The congregation’s history is also intertwined with the US civil-rights movement. Dr Martin Luther King Jr addressed an audience at White Rock in 1960, shortly after the Greensboro sit-ins, underlining the church’s role as a gathering place for Black political thought and organising.
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As White Rock commemorates 160 years, Stephens’ honour connects present-day community service with that longer history. The recognition affirms the continuing influence of Black faith institutions in shaping local life, preserving collective memory and supporting future generations.