OUR PASTOR
A CLEAR CALLLING
Pastor Riley, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, was saved at the age of 16 and answered the call to ministry in 1983. As a young man coming to accept Christ as his Savior and Lord, his calling in life became very clear. He developed a heart for evangelism and has ministered in several local churches. In 1998, Pastor Riley began full-time ministry as Pastor of Outreach and Evangelism with a respected local ministry. In 2003, he joined the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. As a member of the Crusades Ministries team, he traveled throughout the United States, Canada and Africa helping to develop crusades and teaching congregations evangelism strategies to impact their city with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Reaching People with the Good News of Christ
God has brought Pastor Riley full circle back to the city he knows and loves. As a Charlotte native, he has always had a heart for the city of Charlotte and its people. Charlotte is a thriving metropolis with many different cultures, but one fact remains the same – there is a need for people to know the love of God that changes lives. The name Meeting Place Church was birthed from his goal to help people know Christ’s love; to help them embrace the grace of God; and to help create an environment conducive to helping people ‘meet’ with God.
CHRIST-CENTERED
Meeting Place is a real, relevant, relational, and Christ-centered church, where people can meet with God, meet with God’s people and meet to find God’s purpose for their lives. Pastor Riley says, “I now have the privilege of serving with a great church of loving and caring people.”
Equipping the Saints to Serve
Pastor Riley holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Carolina University of Theology. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Liberty University and obtained his Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He is married to Lydia Neal Riley and they have two adult children and three grandchildren.
