The Biography of Bishop Robert L. Gorham, D.D.
Wilson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church
513 Barnes St S, Wilson, North Carolina 27893, United States
252-291-2047
wilsonchapelfwbchurch@yahoo.com
Bishop Robert L. Gorham, D.D. is a native of Macclesfield, North Carolina. He is a proudly identified son
of the late Bishop Lonnie and Lottie Gorham. Bishop Gorham is a graduate of Speight High School of
Wilson County. He is happily married to Elder Ida M. Epps Gorham, the father of seven children,
grandfather of seventeen grandchildren, and great grandfather of three great grandchildren.
Bishop Gorham was called into the ministry in 1970 at Mt. Olive FWB Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
His first sermon was “God Will Show You Who is Holy and Who is His.” He left Connecticut the same night,
moved back to North Carolina, and joined CrispChapel FWB Church.
He has been professionally trained and received three degrees. He has received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Illinois, a Master of Theology in Florida, and a Doctory of Divinity from the International Seminary in Florida.
Bishop Gorham has had many years of Pastoral service. He served as Pastor of New Bethel Free Will Baptist Church of Rocky Mount, NC for five years, Ellis Chapel of Wilson, NC for ten years, Dilda Chapel of Fountain, NC for eighteen years, Rouses Chapel of Ayden, NC for eighteen years. He also served as Assistant to the Bishop of the Northeast “A” Annual Conference, 2nd Vice General Bishop of the United American Free Will Baptist Denomination, and District Elder of No. 2 Union Meeting for twenty-two years. He is presently Presiding Bishop of the Believers In Christ Empowerment Fellowship. He served as Vice-President of NAACP in Pitt County and Wilson County. He founded Higher Learning Bible College in 1998. Bishop Gorham introduced the community of Wilson to the Home Study Bible Course in 2002, with 250 participants. In 2005 he was awarded Minister of the Year from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. In 2006 he was recognized as Top Minister in this area of Wilson by Metropolitan Magazine.
The past 30 years he has served as Pastor of Wilson Chapel FWB Church. Under Bishop Gorham’s dedicated leadership, Wilson Chapel has witnessed many changes and blessings.