Meet William Wallace

We had the good fortune of connecting with William Wallace and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi William, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
When I think about risk, I don’t see it as something to run from… I see it as something that shapes faith, vision, and legacy. For me, risk has always been less about danger and more about trust. The greatest moments of my life and career have come when I was willing to step out on faith with no guarantee other than knowing God called me to it.

Starting churches from the ground up, walking away from comfort to embrace purpose, or standing in front of city officials to speak truth to power; all of those moments required risk. But I’ve learned that without risk, you rarely experience reward. Without risk, you don’t grow. Without risk, you never see the miraculous hand of God make the impossible possible.

I remember when I stepped out to birth The Church of Atlanta after releasing myself from the One Church Movement. A fellowship, a movement of churches birthed that took nearly two decades to build. To some, it looked like abandonment, failure… to me, it was a reset. I had no building, no big budget, no guaranteed following… just a vision God gave me and the willingness to risk everything to see it through. That decision not only reshaped my ministry, but it taught me that obedience often looks like risk to others.

The same is true with Hope Hub. People asked why I would invest so much time and energy in building a 24/7 response center when the need is so great and resources so few. My answer? Because the risk of doing nothing was greater than the risk of trying and failing. And every step of the way, doors have opened, people have been served, and lives have been changed.

I often tell people: if your vision doesn’t require risk, it’s probably not big enough.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work sits at the intersection of faith, community, and transformation. I am the Pastor of The Church of Atlanta and the founder of Hope Hub Inc., and both are expressions of the same conviction: that ministry is not confined to four walls; it is meant to meet people in the streets, in their struggles, and in their everyday lives.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just preach vision, I build it. Since childhood, I’ve always had this architectural lens… drawing blueprints, dreaming about structures, and seeing what could be long before it existed. That creative, “builder’s” mindset now drives how I pastor, how I serve, and how I create solutions for my community. It’s why we’re not just talking about worship services; we’re creating food programs, tutoring centers, counseling spaces, and a 24/7 response model through Hope Hub.

I am most proud of the fact that we are building something different in Atlanta, something that merges the spiritual with the practical. I get excited knowing that someone who may never step into a church can still encounter the love of Christ through a meal, a mentor, a counselor, or even through advocacy for their housing rights.

But none of this has been easy. Choosing to be different often means standing alone. I’ve faced resistance from tradition, financial challenges, personal doubts, and seasons where the risk of failing felt heavier than the vision itself. What got me through was faith; believing that if God gave the vision, He would provide the provision. Overcoming challenges required patience, perseverance, and a willingness to grow through criticism and setbacks instead of shrinking under them.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way are simple but profound:

– Authenticity wins every time, be true to who God called you to be and not who people expect you to be.
– Servanthood is the key to leadership, you can’t lead what you’re not willing to serve.
– Forgiveness frees you from people, from pain, and from the past.
– Vision requires resilience… if you’re not willing to endure, you’re not ready to build.

What I want the world to know is this: Jesus is the brand. Everything we do whether through The Church of Atlanta or Hope Hub is built on His foundation. We are simply builders carrying out His blueprint, creating movements of love, faith, and action. My story is one of grace, grit, and growth… and I pray it inspires others to step into their own purpose and build what the world desperately needs.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to town for a week, I’d make sure they got the full Atlanta experience; not just the tourist side, but the heart, the food, the faith, and even the politics.

We’d kick things off in College Park at Wrap-A-Lot Fresh Express. It’s Black-owned, the wraps are on point, and I’d argue they have the best lemonade in the city. Their rice bowls are also a must. Beyond the food, the owner Andre Joseph is a solid brother and a real leader in the community; so eating there feels like you’re supporting purpose, not just grabbing a meal.

At some point during the week, we’d head over to Spondivits. Hands down the best seafood in the city, in my opinion. If you’ve got a little cash to spend, the Shark Platter will change your life.

Of course, I couldn’t let them leave without experiencing worship. If it’s Friday night, we’d be at The Church of Atlanta. But if we’re visiting friends, I’d take them to Alive City Church in Decatur with Pastor John Elmore, or Encounter Atlanta with Apostle Gabriel Powell. Both churches are filled with powerful leaders, phenomenal worship, and an atmosphere where you encounter God in a real way.

For soul food, we’d stop at Mary Mac’s Tea Room. It’s an Atlanta staple, and I’d make sure they try the Southern Special. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

Naturally, the Georgia Aquarium is on the list. I don’t care how many times you’ve been, it never gets old. And if we’re over near New Birth, I’d take them to the property where Greenleaf was filmed. If the gate happens to be open, I can neither confirm nor deny whether we’d take a little unofficial tour.

For inspiration, we’d drive through some of the neighborhoods with mansions; not just to look at houses, but to remind ourselves that dreaming is free and vision has no limits.

And finally, depending on the week, I might just take them to City Hall on a Monday night. Around here, politics can feel like reality TV in real time. If nothing else, it’s entertaining… and eye-opening.

By the end of the week, my best friend would leave with a taste of Atlanta food, faith, fun, and a little bit of our city’s drama.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Without question, I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without the love, support, and prayers of others. My story has never been a solo act… it’s been a symphony of voices, hands, and hearts pushing me forward when I felt like standing still.

First, I have to honor my mother. She has been the constant anchor of my life, teaching me resilience, faith, and work ethic before I even understood what those words meant. She believed in me when my dreams looked too big for our reality, and she gave me permission to explore, build, and even fail if it meant finding my purpose.

My grandmother deserves so much credit, she instilled in me the truth that with purpose there’s always something greater. From her, I learned what it means to stay committed and faithful even when life tries to sway you.

I also have to thank my Pops. He’s not the man who birthed me, but he helped raise me. He taught me to be selfless and planted in me the principle that still shapes me today: “where love is shown, love is grown.” My giving spirit flows from his saying, “my much is your much.”

In ministry, I wouldn’t be who I am without Pastor Keith Troy. Growing up as a “Salem Baby” at New Salem Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, I was raised in a community where ministry was family. Pastor Troy taught me to have a servant’s heart, reminding me that ministry is only as large and effective as the people you serve and impact daily.

The late Reverend Joseph Seldon also played a pivotal role. Serving as his assistant pastor at Highlight Temple Baptist Church in Dayton, OH, he prepared me for purpose and groomed me for the pastorate. From him, I learned one of the most important lessons of my life; Godly patience.

In this season, I am blessed to be guided by my pastor, John Jenkins of the First Baptist Church in Glenarden, MD. I have great admiration and respect for him. Watching the humility in the way he pastors people and even pastors other pastors has been life-changing. He’s such a patient man, and you need that dealing with someone like me. You need a lot of it.

And finally, I must acknowledge my father, the man who birthed me. Though he was absent for 98% of my life due to incarceration, today we have a restored relationship. Our communication now has taught me the power of forgiveness in its purest form. I could not be effective in this season that I’m in without having forgiven him. Through that forgiveness I’ve finally discovered me, who I am fully.

Each of these voices, along with the communities I’ve been blessed to serve, has poured into me in a way that makes everything I do possible. They are the unseen architects of the man, the pastor, and the leader I’ve become. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.”

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Image Credits
Photo Credit: Always Timeless Productions (Phoenix, AZ)