Meet Charles Billingsley

For Charles Billingsley, Lynchburg isn't just a place to reside; it's a place for community engagement, expression and connections. Billingsley, a musician and teaching pastor, first came to Lynchburg in 1994, when Liberty University sponsored the group he was in, NewSong.

Originally from Birmingham and not actually a Liberty alum himself, his ties to the university have grown deeper over time, leading to invitations to contribute to Spiritual Emphasis Weeks and now as a well-known singer and pastor in the community.

“Lynchburg is the only town in America where that's the case,” he said. “I do a lot of concerts and events and we have pockets of the country where people know you but not like in Lynchburg. I don't walk into Chicago and feel people in the restaurant staring at me.”

In 2002 Billingsley made the decision to relocate to Lynchburg with his family. Initially serving as the worship pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church and then helping with the development of Liberty's worship degree program.

He said he remembers the generosity of Jerry Falwell Sr., saying he would empty his pockets out to help pastors of small churches all the time.

“He was absolutely the best,” Billingsley said.

Billingsley's is also known in the local music scene as he has embraced genres like jazz and says it is crucial to reach out to audiences beyond the traditional church demographic.

“I’ve tried to reach out a little bit more to the overall community that necessarily doesn't have much to do with Liberty or Thomas Road,” he said. “So I've had an opportunity to kind of get to know the community at large and it's just fallen in love with this city and the people of this community. And they may have been very gracious to me.”

In his current role as Thomas Road Baptist Church's teaching pastor, Billingsley continues to blend his musical talents with his passion for preaching.

Balancing worship leadership with speaking engagements, Billingsley's dual role allows him to nurture his spiritual calling while maintaining a presence in the local music scene.

Despite his national acclaim and recognition, he said he loves Lynchburg's for its familiarity and warm community.

“Even though not everybody in town claims to be a Christian, there's definitely an underlying sort of all-American, God-honoring type of atmosphere in this town and to me that’s what makes this town so special.”

Outside of his professional life, Billingsley enjoys being a family man as a husband and father of two sons.

As Lynchburg continues to evolve and expand, he said he’s optimistic about the city's future.

“I love to see the communities thrive in town. I really do my best to try to help local and it's really fun to see the town growing. And I just hope that as we continue to grow through the years that we'll maintain a sense of direction and morality in this town.”