Pastor Alvis Alexander Alston is a native of Burlington, North Carolina. He is the son of Mr. Larry Nickerson and the late Ms. Lottie Sylvia Alston. He grew up under his grandparents' loving and watchful eyes, the late Rev. A.T. Alston and the late Mrs. Flora B. Alston. 

 

At an early age, Alvis became a member of First Baptist Church, 508 Apple Street Burlington, North Carolina, where Rev. Dr. R.W. Styles was his Pastor and later became his mentor. 

 

He was educated in the Alamance-Burlington school system and graduated from Hugh M. Cummings High School in 1984.  After graduating from Cummings High School, Alvis attended Chowan College, where he graduated with a degree in graphic communication and a minor in religion. 

 

In May 1991, Alvis married the former Tracey Williamson. Together they have two handsome grown sons, Isaiah Alexander Alston and Caleb Alexander Alston.

 

Rev. Alston preached his initial sermon in August 1998 at the First Baptist Church in Burlington, North Carolina. At First Baptist, Rev. Alston served as Assistant to the Pastor and youth Pastor and founded several ministries, including Wednesday Night Youth Bible Study, Youth Advisory Council, and an Outreach Ministry Home Bible Study. To better prepare himself for the task God called him to do, Rev. Alston attended Shaw University, majoring in Religion/Philosophy.

 

Rev. Alston has been very active in the community. He has served on the following Boards: Hospice of Alamance/Caswell and the Crime Prevention Council Board, and he is currently an ambassador member of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.

 

In February 2005, Rev. Alston received an overwhelming affirmation to become the Pastor Elect of River Zion Baptist Church in Blanch, North Carolina, and on the 2nd Sunday in February 2005, he started his pastorate. February 2025, if it is the will of the Lord, Rev. Alston will celebrate "Twenty Years" of leadership, ministering, and dedication as Pastor to the River Zion Baptist Church family.  In 2005, he entered this calling "Trusting in the Lord," and as he celebrates this Twenty Years, he is "Still Trusting."  Over these twenty years, the Lord has blessed Pastor Alston and the entire River Zion Church family and community of Caswell County.

 

Rev. Alston's motto and vision for his church is Proverb 3:5- 6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy understanding, but in all thine ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.