Pastor William E. Ross is a native of Rayville, Louisiana. He accepted Christ at an early age and united with the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend E. D. Nation. Pastor Ross accepted his call to the ministry in 1998.

In Rayville, Pastor Ross attended Rayville High School.  He also studied at Northeast Louisiana University (ULM), Monroe, Louisiana; Commonwealth College, Houston, Texas; Dallas Institute Inter Baptist Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas; United Theological Seminary, Monroe, Louisiana and Slidell Baptist Theological Seminary, Slidell, Louisiana.

In December 1999, Pastor Ross was elected the 6th pastor of the Greater New Hope Baptist Church, Monroe, Louisiana. Under his leadership many ministries have been added and the church now has a full time ministry.

Pastor Ross is married to the former LaKieshia Wright and they have one daughter, Zoey.  Pastor Ross also has one son, Jylan O’Brien Ross.