DR. WESLEY C. McCARTER
Patriarch of the McCarter Household
Pastor of the Rural Hall Christian Church
Professor at the Charlotte Theological Seminary
Family
Wife: Bridget (2007)
Children: Two Daughters
Natives of Lenoir, North Carolina, Wesley and Bridget McCarter have been happily married since 2007 after dating through their teenage years. Wesley and Bridget grew up in church together and were both baptized on the same day! The McCarters have two stunningly adorable daughters who keep life interesting and busy. Bridget graduated from college with a degree in ophthalmic medical assisting and is a Certified Ophthalmic Technician and a Certified Professional Coder. Wesley considers himself to be a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, grace-filled minister of the Gospel of Christ, and Bridget is a major part of the ministry. She often accompanies Wesley on pastoral visitations and rarely misses a ministry activity. On Sundays, she helps with the Youth Ministry, helps lead the Ladies Ministry, and she does many other things behind the scenes.
Education
Ph.D. in Theology and New Testament, North-West University
(2020 to 2024)
D.Min. in Biblical Preaching, Carolina Graduate School of Divinity
D.Min. in Biblical Preaching, Carolina Graduate School of Divinity
(2012 to 2015)
M.A. in Biblical Studies, Carolina Graduate School of Divinity
M.A. in Biblical Studies, Carolina Graduate School of Divinity
(2010 to 2012)
B.A. in Biblical Studies, Carolina Christian College
B.A. in Biblical Studies, Carolina Christian College
(2006 to 2010)
Wesley holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in biblical studies. His thesis for the master's degree was titled, "The Paraclete of the Upper Room: An Examination of John 14-16" and was written under the supervision of Dr. Stephen O. Stout. Wesley went on to receive the doctor of ministry degree in biblical preaching from the Carolina Graduate School of Divinity. His dissertation, the final doctoral project, was an expositional commentary titled, "He Loved Them to the End: A Commentary on John 13-17." The advisor on the doctoral project was renowned New Testament scholar Dr. Douglas J. Moo of Wheaton College Graduate School. In addition to being in the classroom with Dr. Moo for three different doctoral courses (Romans, Hebrews, and Galatians), Wesley also had the privilege of taking courses in the program with other world-class biblical scholars such as Dr. Bill Mounce (Pastoral Epistles, Sermon on the Mount), Dr. Walt Kaiser (Christ in the OT), and Dr. Kent Hughes (The Art of Transforming Text into Sermon). He is proud to say that he has also been mentored by his former college professor and best friend, Dr. David L. Woolard, a minister in Winston-Salem. Wesley completed his educational goal by earning a Ph.D. in Theology and New Testament from the North-West University in 2024. Matthean scholar Prof. Dr. Francois P. Viljoen promoted Wesley's research in the Gospel of Matthew.
Experience
Pastor, Rural Hall Christian Church
(2013 to Present)
D.Min. Director, Charlotte Theological Seminary
(2019 to Present)
Faculty Work at Various Institutions
(2015 to 2019)
Ministry Work at Various Churches
(2004 to 2013)
On September 1, 2013 Wesley became the pastor of the Rural Hall Christian Church near Winston-Salem. He was, for almost four years, the pastor of a Christian Church in Henry County, Virginia. On New Year's Day of 2010, the McCarters left their hometown of Lenoir and moved to Henry County. Before relocating, Wesley was the minister of a Christian Church in his hometown of Lenoir, NC where he delivered a sermon every week and led a midweek Bible study for two years. Since 2004, Wesley has had the privilege of being the guest preacher in several churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. He was ordained into the ministry by the elders of the Ardmore Christian Church in Winston-Salem and continues to maintain a close friendship with the Ardmore congregation. Wesley currently serves as a professor and as the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program of the Charlotte Theological Seminary.
Society Memberships
Wesley holds full membership in the following professional association(s):
The Evangelical Theological Society
Experience
Pastor, Rural Hall Christian Church
(2013 to Present)
D.Min. Director, Charlotte Theological Seminary
(2019 to Present)
Faculty Work at Various Institutions
(2015 to 2019)
Ministry Work at Various Churches
(2004 to 2013)
On September 1, 2013 Wesley became the pastor of the Rural Hall Christian Church near Winston-Salem. He was, for almost four years, the pastor of a Christian Church in Henry County, Virginia. On New Year's Day of 2010, the McCarters left their hometown of Lenoir and moved to Henry County. Before relocating, Wesley was the minister of a Christian Church in his hometown of Lenoir, NC where he delivered a sermon every week and led a midweek Bible study for two years. Since 2004, Wesley has had the privilege of being the guest preacher in several churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. He was ordained into the ministry by the elders of the Ardmore Christian Church in Winston-Salem and continues to maintain a close friendship with the Ardmore congregation. Wesley currently serves as a professor and as the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program of the Charlotte Theological Seminary.
Society Memberships
Wesley holds full membership in the following professional association(s):
The Evangelical Theological Society
(formerly a member of Society of Biblical Literature)
(formerly a member of Stone-Campbell Scholars Community)
Research Interests
While Wesley has intended to be a teacher of the "whole counsel of God" and has taught classes in the church and courses in the seminary on a variety of subjects, he has spent many hours studying the book of Romans, the Upper Room Discourse found in John, and the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew. On Romans, he began by taking a class in college, and he has since taught a class in Virginia verse-by-verse through the entire book. Additionally, he has taken a Romans class on the graduate level and later studied the letter on the doctoral level with today's premier Romans scholar Dr. Doug Moo. He has delivered sermons from the epistle on several occasions and also completed a verse-by-verse study of the epistle with the Rural Hall Church. Wesley has also delivered two sermon series from the Upper Room Discourse of John chapters 13-17. Moreover, he has written a graduate thesis on the subject of the Holy Spirit from those chapters titled, "The Paraclete of the Upper Room: An Examination of John 14-16" and an expositional commentary on the same Farewell Address for his doctoral dissertation in the D.Min. program titled, "He Loved Them to the End: A Commentary on John 13-17." The Sermon on the Mount became a love of Wesley's because of a class he took on the Gospels in college. He has since taught the entire Sermon in all three churches he has served. Finally, Wesley's Ph.D. research currently focuses on an aspect of Matthean Christology.
Hobbies and Other Interests
Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Research Interests
While Wesley has intended to be a teacher of the "whole counsel of God" and has taught classes in the church and courses in the seminary on a variety of subjects, he has spent many hours studying the book of Romans, the Upper Room Discourse found in John, and the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew. On Romans, he began by taking a class in college, and he has since taught a class in Virginia verse-by-verse through the entire book. Additionally, he has taken a Romans class on the graduate level and later studied the letter on the doctoral level with today's premier Romans scholar Dr. Doug Moo. He has delivered sermons from the epistle on several occasions and also completed a verse-by-verse study of the epistle with the Rural Hall Church. Wesley has also delivered two sermon series from the Upper Room Discourse of John chapters 13-17. Moreover, he has written a graduate thesis on the subject of the Holy Spirit from those chapters titled, "The Paraclete of the Upper Room: An Examination of John 14-16" and an expositional commentary on the same Farewell Address for his doctoral dissertation in the D.Min. program titled, "He Loved Them to the End: A Commentary on John 13-17." The Sermon on the Mount became a love of Wesley's because of a class he took on the Gospels in college. He has since taught the entire Sermon in all three churches he has served. Finally, Wesley's Ph.D. research currently focuses on an aspect of Matthean Christology.
Hobbies and Other Interests
Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Highland Jiu-Jitsu Club, Rural Hall, NC
Awarded by Professor David Woolard
The McCarters enjoy both the beach and the mountains, and the state of North Carolina gloriously provides both. Wesley enjoys books which are both the tools for his career and his hobby. He also trains the martial art of Brazilian (Gracie) Jiu-Jitsu several days a week. In his down-time, Wesley is known to binge watch TV shows, read classic literature, and eat fried rice.
On this website you can find recent sermon notes, Bible study outlines, answers to questions, and other study resources from the ministry of Wesley C. McCarter. Another addition is the “Midweek Article” which is written by Wesley and published on Wednesdays. From time to time there are “Guest Articles” which are published on Fridays. This is done all for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can contact Wesley for more information or if you have suggestions for the website.
Connect with Us
If you would like to know more about Christ and the Christian life, you can connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, LibraryThing, YouTube, and Research Gate by searching for either "Progress and Joy" or "Wesley C. McCarter." You can also write to us by email at wesley[at]progressandjoy.org or by mail at P.O. Box 146, Rural Hall, NC 27045. Check out the Rural Hall Christian Church online as well as the Charlotte Theological Seminary.
If you would like to know more about Christ and the Christian life, you can connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, LibraryThing, YouTube, and Research Gate by searching for either "Progress and Joy" or "Wesley C. McCarter." You can also write to us by email at wesley[at]progressandjoy.org or by mail at P.O. Box 146, Rural Hall, NC 27045. Check out the Rural Hall Christian Church online as well as the Charlotte Theological Seminary.