The Rev. Lara “Willis” Greene | Lead Pastor
Born Lara Frances Williams, Pastor “Willis” has been going by this nickname since 2nd grade when a classmate, Tom Yuill, who called everyone by their last name, decided that Williams was just too long.
Raised in Dallas, Texas, Pastor Willis is a graduate of UT Austin (HOOK ‘EM Horns!) and Emory University. She is married to her best friend, David, also a pastor, and together they share great pride for their two children, a daughter, Elizabeth, who attends Emory University, and a son, Carter, who studies at N.C. State.
Joining the First Church team in 2020, she has served in local churches since 1994 in Lincolnton, Winston-Salem, Gibsonville, and Newton, as well as served on the Conference Leadership Development Team, the Board of Ordained Ministry, and has mentored several local pastors.
Favorite food: Mexican (staying true to my Texas roots!)
Favorite hobbies: traveling, daily meditation, laughing and talking with good friends over a good meal
Favorite Netflix binge: Kim’s Convenience
Go-to Spotify playlist: vintage jams like Prince, the Doobie Brothers, The Beatles; Christian artists like Lauren Daigle, David Crowder, Rend Collective; and even some country mixed in, like Chris Jansen, Alison Krauss, Clint Back.
Favorite part of being a Pastor: Introducing people to God's amazing love and grace in the person of Jesus Christ.