Pastor Bill Godair knows what it’s like to be down.
He’s been broke, divorced and lost.
Despite that, the lead pastor at Cornerstone Church has found hope and passed it on.
“In the last few years, the weak economy has really affected a lot of folks in Rowan County and across our great nation,” he said. “I believe that there are folks that have just simply given up the hope of a tomorrow or of a future.”
But he says he still believes “God wants his people to prosper.”
“I have tried to help folks understand that God is not against them, no matter what they may be going through,” he said.
Godair said he plans to combine 30 years of ministry experience along with his own personal failures and accomplishments to help as many people as possible in the upcoming year.
And he said that means reaching out to people who aren’t necessarily members of the church through seminars that about topics such as relationships and business advice.
“I believe we are going to see (Godair) being very involved in the community,” Corey Hill, a Cornerstone Church Board of Trustees member, said. “He loves Rowan County, he loves people.”
During the upcoming year, Godair said he’s looking forward to a rebounding economy.
“My prayer is that we have taken this down time to become better as a county and that all local agencies and businesses be prepared when the growth comes,” he said. “We don’t want to miss out on any opportunities.
“Let it never be said about Rowan County or any municipality that we are anti-growth again.”
Hill said he expects Godair’s future business endeavors to be led by God, including the proposal to sell the current Cornerstone property to the Rowan-Salisbury School System to use as a central office.
“If it’s God’s will for us to sell the building, then he’ll look to start developing our property off (Interstate) 85, that’s why we bought that land,” he said. “I think opportunities as they come will dictate what is going to go on.”
— By Sarah Campbell

Bill Godair 
Age: 53
Occupation: Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Church
Favorite book: “Failing Forward” by John Maxwell 
Most surprising song or artist in your music collection: “All Summer Long” by Kid Rock
Who will you watch in 2012 and why?: All elected officials — that they say what they mean and mean what they say. I personally want my kids and grandkids to experience this great county called America; not a watered-down version.
Why he is one to watch in 2012: Godair has grown the Cornerstone Church congregation from seven to more than 1,000 people during the past 25 years. Now, he’s planning to expand with a large facility in China Grove. Godair has also prepared an offer to sell the current property to the Rowan-Salisbury School System to use as a central office. 
Reaction to making the list: I thought it was a prank, that one of my friends was paying me back. After finding out it was true, I was very humbled.