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On Team Woodside, we run to care for at-risk children living in children’s homes in Thailand and India. Your contribution brings relief and hope to a vulnerable child, shining the love of Christ in the darkest of circumstances. 

The Woodside Vision Foundation exists to support the vision of Woodside Bible Church by securing necessary funding that enables church ministry. Donations to the Vision Foundation are given above and beyond regular giving to Woodside’s general budget.

Woodside’s ministry, across Southeast Michigan and beyond, is fully funded by you, the Woodside Family. Your belief in our shared mission – to help people belong to Christ, grow in Christ, and reach the world for Christ – empowers us to love and serve our communities as ambassadors of the Gospel.   Your generosity to our general budget enables the operation and ministry […]

The Woodside Preschool is a fully integrated program based on fundamental Biblical values. We are committed to providing the best care for your children through a nurturing environment that develops each child spiritually, emotionally, and socially in preparation for a transition into kindergarten. Kids at this age are active, moving, and curious, so we’ve created […]

Join us with your friends and family as we celebrate Christmas at Woodside! We’ll draw our Christmas series, Emmanuel, to a close as we rejoice together at our Lord and Savior’s birth. Look below for gathering times and locations.

email subscriptions Thanks for being part of our Woodside Family! Here, you can let us know which Woodside content is relevant and valuable to you by customizing the email communications you receive from us. Don’t forget to click “Update Subscriptions” when you’re happy with your selections!

Let us make a proper introduction. Click “I’m New” to learn about who we are and how you can be a part of it. Already call Woodside home? Select your location to find the campus of a Woodside Bible Church near you or sign in to get started.

At Woodside, we’re committed to helping you and your family stay healthy. Our Coronavirus Task Force, comprised of highly credentialed doctors and medical professionals, continues to refine our policies in response to the most recent medical information and civic guidelines. See below for details concerning our Sunday worship gatherings, mid-week programming, and Woodside Kids environments.

During the month of May, all 14 of Woodside’s campuses are joining hands for one shared mission: to reach our neighbors! We can’t wait to see what God has in store as we mobilize to serve our communities, and we want you to be part of it. Let’s pray for God to prepare the hearts […]

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At Woodside, we are family. We’re here to navigate the difficulties of life with you. Through Care Ministries, we pursue God and discover healing as we look together to the One who gifts hope and restoration to every hurting heart.

God created us for community, to know and be known by others. In Life Groups at Woodside, we pursue a relationship with Him, build meaningful connections with others, and join hands to love and serve our communities. Life Groups go deeper than a conversation in the lobby. Here, we do life together.

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Woodside Global 100 is an initiative to deploy a new generation of 100 globally-minded Christian leaders. This 4-step program trains and equips Gospel ambassadors to plant churches and empower new followers of Jesus all over the world! Looking to learn more? We have discovery classes throughout the year, and our next classes meet in June! […]

Women are used by God in incredible ways, shaping our communities, churches, workplaces, and homes as ambassadors of the Gospel. As Woodside Women, we pursue God, empower one another, and compassionately serve our communities across Metro Detroit for His glory. Through Bible study, worship, and belonging, women are emboldened to shine the love and hope […]

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Worshipping from home this weekend? Enjoying a family vacation? No worries! Here you can access the full library of Woodside Kids video lessons to make sure your kid doesn’t miss a beat. Watch Now

Out of town? Missed a service? Want to share it with your friends? Look no further. Here you’ll find our online worship services from any of our Woodside locations. Click below to find a campus streaming near you, and we look forward to worshipping together!

Thank you for your interest in serving at Woodside! Because we love our people, we’ve created the Child Protection Program (CPP) to be completed by anyone who will be serving with minors or persons with special needs. This program is designed not only to protect those in our care, but our volunteers as well. Contact […]

God is on the move at Woodside Bible Church. We know many in our church family have a story to share about the way God’s working in your heart and life, and we’d love to hear it! When you share, others are inspired and encouraged in their own journey with Jesus. You’ll never know who […]

At Woodside Bible Church, we love your kids. We believe each child is a precious and purposed gift from God and bursts with potential to be used by Him in incredible ways. Through our Kid’s Ministry program, each and every weekend we provide a safe environment for your child to flourish in the love of […]

We’ll look at the final week of Jesus’ life to uncover who He truly is and why His suffering, death, and resurrection are key to life everlasting.  Be sure to let us know what  Easter service you’re coming to! This doesn’t guarantee a spot, but we will let everyone know how full each service is so […]

At Woodside Students Ministry there are three things we want everyone who walks through our doors to know: You are loved. You are not alone. You were meant for more. Through worship gatherings, small groups, events, retreats, bible study, and opportunities to serve, our teenage students grow in their faith in God, connect with others, […]

Through men’s Bible study, worship, mentoring, and authentic community with others, the men of Woodside Bible Church are challenged to grow in relationship with Christ and pursue godly manhood. Whether in Groups, Bible studies, Christian men’s retreats, or other opportunities for connection and growth, you’ll connect with Christian men across Metro Detroit and uncover God’s […]

The desires to be used by God, to grow in intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, and to find belonging with others have no age limit. Seniors at Woodside pursue worship, study, evangelism, and the discipleship of other believers in true community with one another. Join us in faithfully pursuing Christ and instilling His ways into […]

There is nothing greater than belonging to God’s family when we put our faith in Jesus – and that’s just the beginning! God designed each of us to live in community and, as Christ-followers, to belong to the local church. It’s here we worship together, encourage one another, and shine Christ’s love to our communities. […]

Shine On is an incredible prom-like experience for adults with disabilities. The heart behind this event is to celebrate the individual worth, value, and irreplaceable purpose of our special-needs brothers and sisters in Christ.  Guests at Shine On will be provided crowns and tiaras as they’re welcomed to the event with a full red-carpet experience. […]

Kids Camp – Woodside Flip Camp

You’re invited to have a blast with us at Flip Camp, where we’ll learn that what we do today can change the world around us! Through interactive Bible teaching and laugh-out-loud activities, your kids will dive deeper into their faith as they discover that God made them for a purpose, He loves them, and they can make a difference by loving others. Click below to register for this unforgettable summer experience!

2022-2023 Indiana, USA:   Partnering with Hurdling Handicaps the team helped to lead the Great Getaway camps designed for families and campers with disabilities. The team’s support enables families to experience the love of Christ through a week of fun-filled activities, friendships, and encouraging messages.   People served: 100 served  People baptized: 2 Uganda:  The team […]

Stories from WordSower From our indigenous missionary team in Guinea: “Service went on well today at Dabadu. This is the town’s first time to have a church service and praise God. The turnout was great, with 32 in attendance. We just completed the second church service in Dabadu. Attendance increased to 35.” “Last night, while […]

We’ll focus on praying for our local and global missions for the remainder of our prayer week. We’ll be doing this in three different ways. First, we’ll spend time praying for our Short-Term Mission trips that are taking place this summer. Every year Woodside sends teams to spend a week or so serving and ministering […]

“Follow me.” Those two words have been ringing in my ears all week, as I’ve thought about Levi’s story in Luke 5. Those two words changed Levi’s life profoundly. Over the next few moments, I want to invite you to join me in Levi’s tax booth to understand why I can’t get away from the echo […]

This past fall, a short-term mission team left for the West Bank. Within days of arrival, war broke out in the middle east. Today, we want to share with you Hannah’s story, a member of this mission team, about her experience and how God provides when things don’t go according to plan. ****** Thursday, October […]

There is always a celebratory parade whenever a sports team wins the National Championship, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, or World Series. The streets of said championship city are FILLED with people trying to get a glimpse of their favorite team or players passing by. Whether it’s a president visiting a foreign country, a championship team […]

I found the Leadership Institute during my senior year at Moody Bible Institute. God was calling me into student ministry and I knew I needed more experience, so after constant prayer, I applied. When the student team at Troy reached out to me and asked if I wanted to join their team, I was excited—even […]

As we kick off Prayer Week, we’ll focus the first two days on praying for our Woodside Kids and Students. Specifically, we’ll be praying for the outreach events they are doing this summer. On Day 1, we’ll be praying for our Woodside Kids, focusing on Flip Camp and Camp Woodside. On Day 2, we’ll be […]

Do you remember the feeling of waiting for your name to get called to be on a team? It would sometimes start with kids screaming that “so and so” should be captain because they seemed to be a leader, were well-liked, good at the game, or at least everyone thought they were good at the […]

Those who know me know when football season rolls around, I live and breathe Packer football. I’m not from Green Bay, but around eight years old, I was introduced to the game of football, and each Sunday, I loved watching Brett Favre and Reggie White play. As time went on, I learned more about Reggie […]

I really didn’t want to be the one to write this blog. As our team at Woodside planned out the blog and social media series that would take us into this new year, this was the one I was most determined to have someone else write. But as the weeks went by, no author came […]

Millions[1] of orphaned and abandoned children around the world will spend years at the mercy of the parameters, misconceptions, and stereotypes associated with adoption — often before receiving even the smallest chance to be accepted into a family of their own. But Deb Morse and her team at Christian Family Services (CFS) are looking to change that, one […]

I’ve always been fascinated with the human mind. Trying to understand why someone thinks or acts the way they do, what causes them to respond to certain situations, and how their personality traits contribute to a team or workplace. This fascination led to an undergraduate degree in psychology, a master’s in counseling psychology, and doctorate […]

Growing up I quickly learned life wasn’t just about the things I did, but the people I did them with. As a kid it wasn’t just the games in the neighborhood I remember, but the neighbors I played them with. School wasn’t just about learning, but about classmates. In sports, I could tell you more […]

Every year our incredible Student Ministry team puts together weekend retreats for our middle and high school students. These retreats are truly life-changing for so many, as students experience an entire weekend filled with worship, the teaching of the Word, and time in small groups with their friends. They are also weekends filled with humorous […]

Around this time a year ago, I was working at the Orange Conference down in Atlanta, GA. The conference is an annual gathering of thousands of Kids and Student Ministry workers, leaders, and volunteers. As part of the conference, the Orange Student team gathered all their content contributors for a time of networking and getting […]

We’ve all seen it. Maybe you have the t-shirt or the hoodie. Detroit vs. Everybody A Detroiter named Tommey Walker started the clothing brand back in 2012.[1] At the time, the city was beginning to go through a renaissance. Still, the only story capturing national news was the scandals and corruption surrounding then-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Tommey […]

The world became a different place the day my mom passed away. In 2022, my mom underwent back surgery to correct a collapsed vertebra. There was no indication that there would be obstacles afterward, but she never recovered. Instead, nine months later, she slipped into cardiac arrest during a test in the ICU, and the […]

Ever since March, our lives have taken on many new challenges that have caused us to wonder how God can truly use us during this time. For Wendy, a Woodside member at the Warren campus and certified chef, life got very busy with kids’ schedules, and she was wondering how she’d get through this. A […]

On a recent family Zoom call, Amber listened intently as her son Austin, an attendee of Woodside’s Plymouth Campus, shared the story of Pastor Chris Brook’s interview with an ER doctor and hospital chaplain. He filled his mom and family in on how these individuals shared ways individuals at home can help their local healthcare […]

We recognize the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was motivated by his love for Jesus to fight for the rights of others. As a Pastor and Christian leader in Civil Rights, he believed that the call of every Christian was to follow the example of Christ and to […]

Hope. Purpose. In the darkest days after his wife’s death, Greg Fischer longed to feel these things again. He was emotionally numb in the depth of his grief — socially and directionally lost. He felt abandoned by God and disconnected from family and friends. His life was shattered, and he didn’t know how to pick up the […]

“I wake my children in the night sometimes and move them into the hallway of our home. That is the strongest structure to protect them if a bomb hits our house.” Woodside’s Global Partner, Pastor Igor, his wife Suzanna, and their three children live in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. On New Year’s Day, the […]

“[Jesus] called a little child to Him and placed the child among them. And He said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever […]

It seems as if this year, more than ever, there has been more division. There is division among our nation, our communities, our relationships, and yes, even our families. It can be challenging for us to love those who may look, act, or believe differently than us. But God calls us into a relationship with […]

Married for 55 years, the commonalities that brought Bill and Marilyn Bossenberger together have also sustained their marriage during the good times and the hard times. Their early foundation of Christian values and the importance of family has bound them to their three children and ten grandchildren. The couple was married in 1967, and their […]

It is another day of quarantine, and many find themselves trying to pass the time. Some are trying to keep their kids occupied and happy, while maintaining their sanity. Others are binging TV shows or constantly checking their phones for new updates on COVID-19. For Gary, age 61, he is looking at his phone for […]

It is early Monday morning, and you have a moment of stillness. You sit down at the kitchen table to go over your schedule for the week. One kid has sports practice, another tutoring, and number three has a tournament over the weekend. Your spouse has two evening work dinners, and you are stuck driving […]

The transition into the teenage years brings about the most significant changes a student (6th-12th graders) have ever experience at this point in their life. More than the physical changes occurring during this time, a student undergoes major physiological changes as their brain literally re-wires. The way they understand the world completely begins to shift. […]

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.” — Romans 16:1–2 You […]

I have been under the influence…Godly influence that is, my whole life — born and raised in a home by first-generation Christian parents. My mom and dad both were raised in religious homes but did not have a personal relationship with Christ until after they married. A college friend had been talking to my dad about Christianity […]

Picture this: You’re in a stadium full of people. One side shouts out, “Work hard!” The expected response comes from the other side, “Play hard!” Work hard! Play hard! Work hard! Work hard! WORK HARD! WORK HARD! [BLOG BANNER] Maybe it’s just me, but I think this tends to be our pattern. We begin with […]

There is no doubt we are living through one of the most bizarre seasons anyone in our day and age has experienced. On one hand, we are practicing extensive distancing and, on the other, we are connecting rapidly with people online, as well as with those we live in close quarters with. Being cooped up […]

Trust is powerful. Without it, there is very little we can do. Think about all the times we show trust. A chair to support us, a car to decelerate, your oven to stay within appropriate levels of incineration, your food to be safe, the list goes on and on. There are some people or things […]

If you ever want to know what the world thinks about a particular topic, there are two places I always default to when beginning my research: Reddit or Twitter (sorry, I refuse to call it X). These two platforms, albeit chaotic and messy, are usually solid gauges of people’s opinions on any given topic. So […]

How can someone tell who you follow? Ifyou follow a certain musician or band, people can tell because you play their music. If you follow a specific car company (like GM), if you are loyal to them for whatever reason, well, people can tell because you always buy GM cars. Or, If you are like […]

Woodside Friends & Family, The elders and pastors of Woodside are excited to announce a new phase of operations for The Lodge. In 2016, Woodside founded The Lodge in Deckerville, MI, with the vision to equip pastors and their spouses, enrich marriages, and multiply leaders in the local church. As the ministry of The Lodge […]

Picture this. The year is 1822, and the President of the United States is James Monroe. Michigan, still 15 years away from statehood, is a wilderness, and outside of indigenous people native to the state, only 500 people live in what is now Oakland County. Half of those individuals live in present-day Pontiac. It was […]

In just a few short weeks, citizens throughout the country will exercise our nation’s greatest freedom as we cast our vote in yet another election. As Christians, we believe that the right to vote is a gift that should be stewarded for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). We are also aware of the […]

In June of 2020, Emma Greco woke up to her grandmother yelling frantically into the phone. “Something’s wrong with your mom,” she was told. “We’ve got to go.” Soon after, when Emma arrived at her dad’s house, she learned that her mom had very suddenly passed away. “It was shock immediately,” Emma said. “It was — how? […]

A quick encyclopedia search outlines sanctity of life as “…the theological or philosophical understanding that all human life has an inherent dignity, worth, and sacredness that sets it apart from all other beings within the world.”1 But what defines a life? This is just one of the confusing questions that we face in today’s world […]

We all want to feel included. We all like to feel seen and heard. We all desire to be accepted as God created us to be. So why is it hard for us to accept and love people who are different from us? Perhaps it’s a fear of the unknown, or maybe we won’t know […]

It’s during these uncertain times we often see the most beautiful and compassionate side of people. Amidst a new way of going about our daily lives, in circumstances that can often bring fear and aggravation, we are encouraged by the stories of generosity and selflessness spreading throughout the people we are thankful to call our […]

“I guess clarity is a good word,” Ryan said. “I remember sitting in my room when everything clicked. I wept at the goodness of God — that He died to save me. I understood the Gospel; I understood salvation.” In 2015, Ryan Vieth accepted an invitation from a coworker to a Good Friday service at Woodside. It […]

Hurricane Ian landed in Florida on September 28, delivering 150-mph winds, heavy rain, and a massive storm surge. It was one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the region, claiming dozens of lives and leaving communities to pick up the pieces. As the body of Christ, we have the opportunity to respond. It’s […]

At Woodside, we are dedicated to resourcing individuals and communities about the importance of taking care of one’s mental health and providing opportunities to get help. And we want to join in the continued conversation surrounding mental health and provide Godly resources to help those in our church family and beyond. Our Woodside Staff has […]

“When I look back at my life, I should have ended up in a pit somewhere.” Sitting across from me in her office, Heather turned slightly in her chair. “It’s an incredible journey,” she said. “And yet, it’s all because of God, not because of me. I have a title that could hide many things, […]

Wherever you may find yourself in your walk with God, we wanted to take a moment to compile some resources for you! We hope it will be a blessing and a help to you as you grow in your relationship with God. There is nothing greater than belonging to God’s family when we put our […]

Update | March 16 As relief efforts continue in Turkey and Syria, Woodside has come alongside numerous supporters in extending financial aid to the people impacted by February’s deadly earthquake. In the weeks following the disaster, we’ve partnered with a large Christian organization that has boots on the ground in both countries. They are serving […]

It was around Christmas time when Ashlee, age 23, first stepped foot inside Woodside Bible Church’s Romeo campus. Having come from a rough background, Ashlee was unsure what to expect going to church. Would she feel comfortable? Would she be accepted? Would she fit in? As she listened to the worship and heard Pastor Billy’s teaching, […]

This Christmas season at Woodside, we’d love for you and your family to be reminded of the sentiment of Christmas through the eyes of the next generation. We’ve asked one of our middle school students, Poppy K., to share with us what Christmas means to her. As you read, reflect on your own Christmas traditions […]

I know a thing about not feeling like I belong. And I’ll be blunt. The majority of that pain came from the church. I had tried multiple churches from my childhood to college and into adulthood. Church was intimidating. You walk in brand new and automatically feel like the odd one out. Or, you’ve been […]

On the first Sunday every month, the entire Woodside Family celebrates a meal together. But it’s not the kind of meal that most of us think about when we’re hungry. There are no juicy burgers or greasy French fries, no fresh veggies, or chocolate chip cookies. We address a different sort of hunger. Instead, we […]

Sometimes, our pursuit of Christ is anything but straightforward. As we learn to navigate our humanness — a lifelong process — we will inevitably wrestle with deep pain. But God remains unmovable and sits with us when we reach the bitter end of ourselves. In those moments when we’ve lost every indication of our worth, we are still worthwhile […]

We recognize this is a divisive moment in our culture. And while our culture presents us with the false dichotomy that we can either support only women or only children. We believe the Gospel compels us to love both women and children, and we are committed to supporting and encouraging mothers and women broadly while […]

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not […]

A middle-aged man stands huddled in a covered bus stop, seeking shelter from the bite of winter’s icy chill. He shivers, unadorned—without a hat, gloves, or scarf. He turns, and there on the bench lies a plastic bag containing the very things he needs to ease his suffering. A note on the bag says, “I’m […]

Never underestimate where God has placed you in this world. Sometimes it is easy to think everyday life is just, well, life. It isn’t apart of some elaborate plan God has established for us from the beginning. Sometimes we may not see things, like job transitions or a move, as something God has given us […]

“When a girl is born in India, people look upon the mother like, ‘What did you do? Why did you bring a girl into this house? This is ill luck – may you be cursed for bringing girls into this home.’” – Sheila Daniel, Founder, “It’s a Girl” Project  In India, the mortality rate for […]

Has God given you a word? I don’t know about you, but I’ve read in books and known some people who say God gives them a word that becomes the “theme” of their year. I had never experienced this before and dismissed it as an attempt to spiritualize New Year’s resolutions, until it happened to […]

A family can be unique in how it looks, when it begins, and the way that it grows. It’s the uniting of something shared…be it ancestry, a set of values, or simply the same roof. A family is a home. A place of gathering that makes us feel safe, esteemed, and welcomed. At Woodside, we’re […]

For the past ten years I have had the immense privilege, blessing, and honor of being a pastor for Woodside Students. I have come to experience one of the greatest joys over this past decade and it is one no one had ever told me I would experience. The joy of living life alongside students […]

No matter what is going on in the world, people are always looking for book recommendations. Not a day goes by where someone on our social media feeds isn’t asking, “What’s a good book to read?” We asked a handful of our Woodside Staff Members their top book recommendations to add to your summer reading […]

Addiction is a tough and complex topic and our heart at Woodside is to come alongside those who are or know someone battling addiction. With this at heart, the intent of this blog is to open a conversation that we recognize will require much further dialogue and resourcing. Please refer to the bottom of this […]

Christmas is such a joyous time of year! But for many the disorientation of 2020 has caused this year to feel different than the rest. This Christmas season at Woodside we’d love for you and your family to be reminded of the sentiment of Christmas through the eyes of the next generation. We’ve asked one […]

A couple of weekends ago, I got the opportunity to serve as a small group leader at the Wake Winter Weekend with Woodside’s high school students. It’s always an incredible weekend filled with dance parties, observing awkward conversations with boys, copious amounts of coffee, and of course, a whole lot of Jesus. The theme for […]

Politics. Love them or hate them; they are a part of our everyday life, and we just can’t seem to avoid. As believers, politics can be tough to navigate as we try to balance between being good stewards of our right to vote and understanding our commitment to God’s moral law. With this in mind, […]

At Woodside, we are dedicated to resourcing individuals and communities about the importance of taking care of one’s mental health and providing opportunities to get help. And we want to join in the continued conversation surrounding mental health and offer Godly resources to help those in our church family and beyond. One of the most […]

How do you respond to situations that feel impossible? Perhaps, it’s easy to think through all the possible scenarios and worry about every potential outcome. Or maybe it’s easier to take charge and seek control over these circumstances. I’m sure we’ve all reacted in one of these ways as we experience what feels impossible in […]

This Christmas season at Woodside, we’d love for you and your family to be reminded of the sentiment of Christmas through the eyes of the next generation. We’ve asked one of our High School students, Grace W, to share with us what Christmas means to her. As you read, reflect on your own Christmas traditions […]

Everyone has what we’d like to call a “must” list. A must eat, a must watch, a must visit, the list can go on and on. We asked a handful of our Woodside Campus Pastors & Staff Members what is the one must read book on their list. The one book they think every Christian […]

Thirty-three years ago, Vicki Webb got in a car accident in front of Woodlawn Church, which we now know as Woodside Bible Church of Royal Oak. For years following the accident, she avoided that street for the painful memories it carried. At the time, Vicki was in her 30s and deep into a 13-year relationship […]

Who is Jesus? It’s a question many have asked, pondered over. It is a question that leads us to want to know more. We asked a handful of our Woodside Campus Pastors & Staff Members what some of the books they recommend people should read if they want to know more about Jesus are. While […]

Hi, my name is Sophia. I’ve heard numerous testimonies in my lifetime and have always wondered how people have had such impactful stories. I never realized that my testimony would be just as impactful as the ones I had heard.  When I was younger, my mom would buy me books, such as the children’s story […]

“God has a special place for those who feel left out.” Do you know who said those words? Let me take the guesswork out. It was an old cow named Abigail to a little lamb called Joshua who had a hard time fitting in with others in Max Lucado’s Christmas story, “The Crippled Lamb.” I […]

We don’t often see the impact that backpacks and school supplies have on children and families in need. To a family struggling financially, gaining those necessities is an immense weight lifted from them. It brings parents relief to know that their children have been provided for, and they can take comfort that their kids have […]

One of the greatest needs at this moment is for our church family to listen to the voices of those who are mourning, who cry out for justice. When we seek understanding by listening to people of color, we’re able not only to grieve with those who grieve, but to seek justice for the suffering […]

 This Christmas season at Woodside we’d love for you and your family to be reminded of the sentiment of Christmas through the eyes of the next generation. We’ve asked one of our Middle School students, Kaylee Cole to share with us what Christmas means to her. As you read, reflect on your own Christmas traditions, […]

I scrolled through my newsfeed on social media and stopped to read a friend’s lengthy post. Right away I could tell a high level of exhaustion from working from home while trying to be the best homeschool parent was finally taking its toll. This single parent was looking for answers, encouragement, and even a place […]

I was flipping through the program from my Ph.D. commencement about two weeks post-ceremony. I turned to the back of the program, the back cover. It was plain, all one color. But it said something so profound. Three words. Three words that I believe were not only the desire of my school but at the […]

The Lord reminds His people throughout the Bible to tell all generations of His wonderful works. He did not want them to forget how He demonstrated His grace and goodness to them and the world. Part of what that means for the church is that we must preserve the memory of the people and places […]

What Does True Desperation Look Like? Many years ago, there was a young twenty-something-year-old girl who, on the surface, seemed to have it all together. She had a house she called her own, a job doing what she loved, and friends and family who cared deeply for her. Looking at her positive, outgoing demeanor, one […]

We have all heard the age-old saying, “Misery loves company.” And we have all surely experienced its truth! When the temperature is 90 degrees and humid, we commiserate with strangers at the grocery store. We have very little tolerance for the bright-eyed Pollyana’s in our lives when we’re having a bad day but will stop […]

Deep in the human heart is the desire for home. Children play house. Millions of Americans travel home for Thanksgiving to be with family. The ultimate purchase is not a jet; it’s a home (those with jets enjoy getting home faster). And when we buy a home, we want to share it with people. Home […]

It isn’t hard to become overwhelmed by our struggles each day. Easier still, to be overwhelmed by the struggles that we can see coming in the days or years to come. Sometimes, moments of exhaustion turn into moments of anxiety. Sometimes moments of anxiety turn into seasons of fear. And if there was ever a […]

Navigating the world of singleness and dating can be tricky. In an ever-changing world, singleness can become disheartening, and dating can be difficult. But what does God say about these seasons of our lives? How can we see seasons of singleness as a gift? And how can we date with intention, end relationships well, and […]

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to […]

Be Advised: The following contains true events regarding attempted suicide and sexual assault. Emma is a lovely, down-to-earth young woman — warm and slightly shy with a wide, genuine smile. I met her for the first time at a small Corktown coffee shop after we’d spent a few weeks chatting about her story via email. As we […]

If you are anything like me, you are probably growing just a little tired of hearing about how crazy 2020 has been and how we have not even gotten to the election yet! This is not to say we are callous toward hearing testimonies of God’s goodness or lament over broken heartedness. The fatigue seems more to […]

One of the most challenging parts of being a Christian is the aspect of complete, relentless faith in God and HIS plan. God instructs us through His Word how to be obedient, but often we don’t see the reward or conclusion to our obedience right away. So, at times we question if our obedience really […]

I’ll admit it. I’m tired of the phrase “new normal!” Anyone else? Often in this season, I find myself thinking, “I don’t want a new normal. I want things to go back to normal.” We’re living through one of the most disruptive periods of our lifetime, and frankly, trying to adjust to all the changes can be […]

As believers, we know what it’s like to experience the fruits of the Spirit, such as peace and joy. However, there are times in each of our lives where those fruits seem too far out of reach to grasp. How do we handle hardships, doubt, and emotional pain as followers of Jesus? How do we […]

Let’s be honest. This fall looks incredibly different than last year. Back to school has been more stressful than ever. College looks different. Work looks different. The past six months have been a rollercoaster of emotions for so many of us. Now more than ever, taking care of our mental health is of the utmost […]

When I was a little girl, I always wanted to go play at the local arcade. I loved the thrill of wondering whether I would win enough tickets to exchange for one of the shiny toys high up on the shelf. As I got older, I realized that to win one of the big prizes, […]

The value of a work of art hinges on its authenticity. To assess its worth, the art undergoes the process of appraisal. This exploration into its validity is ultimately done for one purpose: to help identify its true artist. A similar concept exists in the New Testament book of James. Nestled in chapters one and […]

What life have you if you have not life together? There is not life that is not in community, And no community not lived in praise of God . . . -Choruses from the Rock T. S. Eliot penned these transcendent words for The Rock in 1934. Although the modern landscape has drastically changed, the poet’s words remain […]

We’re free in Christ, but we feel enslaved to sin. We find healing from the Great Physician, but we suffer disease and death. We reconcile with individuals and groups we offend, yet we continue to separate from each other. We who read scripture know there is no condemnation in all of this, yet we feel […]

Breathing is a natural occurrence. We don’t deliberate about how or when to breathe; it’s simply instinctive. Likewise, the act of prayer should be so integral to the Christian life that it’s a habitual, ingrained practice. American preacher and theologian Jonathan Edwards beautifully illustrated this correlation when stating that “prayer is as natural an expression […]

On November 30, Oxford High School tragically suffered the loss of several young lives in an active shooter incident. It’s events such as these that make us so keenly aware of the pain and brokenness in this world, of which our own communities are no exception. As our church and community grieve this loss, we […]

The Resurrection as a Vessel of Hope. The sea is unpredictable. There is beauty in its tranquility. Imagine a sunset illuminating the broad expanse of the waters. The subtle, soft waves creep over its still parts. Its picturesque colors are vibrant and lush with hues of blue. But there is dread in its chaos. The […]

Questions. We love to ask them. And the more we ponder or converse with one another, oftentimes, the deeper these questions become. When you’re younger, and usually after the fire department visits your elementary school, it’s “what’s the one thing you’d grab in a fire?” Then, as we get a little older, it’s questions like, […]

It may be different for every person, but everyone has something that they truly treasure. For some, it may be the item in their home with the highest monetary value, like jewelry or a sports car. For others, their most valued possession is an heirloom passed down to them through many generations. For a child, […]

If you haven’t, take a moment to read parts one and two of our “Breaking Christmas Traditions” series. Have you ever thought about the world without yourself as the main character? A friend challenged me with that question recently. And the truth is, I hadn’t. As I’ve looked at life from my point of view, […]

Let’s face it — many things in our lives are engineered to avoid the nuisance of neighbors in the first place! You may have your own driveway, an attached garage, a privacy fence, five acres, and a front yard that is designed, at great expense, as a non-entertainment space. And even the last 70 years of residential […]

From the time I could use a crayon, I was drawing cars. My dad was a car guy, and I had other family working in the car industry. Early on, I knew I would end up in the car industry. The dream of designing cars became my focus, especially being born and raised in Michigan, […]

What are “spiritual disciplines?” Author and pastor John Piper describes them this way: “The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.” If something’s […]

There is an old saying, “every cloud has its silver lining.” We often use it as encouragement to look for good in a bad situation, the rose among the thorns. However, for many of us, the rose can be hard to find. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with National Geographic documentaries on Disney+. Specifically, one called Drain […]

What are you afraid of? Growing up, after reading a Goosebumps book, I was terrified that a shark would come through the filter of a swimming pool. To this day, I am still cautious of the deep end. But when it comes to my current fears, I only have three: people in costumes where I can’t see […]