WELCOME TO WOODCREST • LIFE GROUPS • WOMEN • MEN • PRIME TIMERS • EXPEDITION BIBLE
EQUIPPING A BIBLICALLY INFORMED COMMUNITY • LEADERSHIP TOOLS • EMOTIONAL HEALTH

Our spiritual growth is contingent on the consistent and purposeful application of truth. The ministries you will find listed on this page offer resources for those pursuing spiritual health.

Groups and Classes offered this spring at Woodcrest

We invite you to explore what’s happening and consider how God might be calling you to get involved at Woodcrest. Take a moment to ask Him for guidance—He may have something just for you. After all, connection is a vital part of our faith journey—we were never meant to walk it alone.
Check out the different groups and classes taking place this semester in our Spring 2025 Connection Catalog.

LIFE GROUPS

“Life change happens in circles, not rows.” -Andy Stanley

Are you ready to connect with others at Woodcrest beyond the weekend service? Join a Life Group! Woodcrest has multiple life groups that meet around Woodcrest and around the city. We have groups that consist of women, men, married and singles. Let us know a little about yourself and we will match you with a group.

Life Groups meet at various times and locations. If you are interested in joining or hosting a Life Group contact Elizabeth Baehr or fill out the Life Group Request Form. 

If you have questions, please contact Elizabeth Baehr.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY

Women's Ministry at Woodcrest is open to any woman, regardless of background, spiritual walk, or home church.

For more information contact Elizabeth Baehr.

Classes offered Spring 2025

21 DAY INNER HEALING JOURNEY • Wednesdays 6:30–8:00pm • Feb 5–Apr 2 • Women Only

Join us for a journey of emotional healing and spiritual growth. The book includes 21 daily lessons that we will spread out over 8 weeks. Topics will include God’s grace and overcoming the enemy’s lies.

REFRAME • Thursdays 9:00–11:00am • Feb 6–Apr 17 (no group Mar 27) • Women Only

Scriptures have a lot to say about God’s design for sex. Sadly, many churches have fallen short in their teachings about it through the years.  From the impact of purity culture in the1990’s & 2000s, to messages that emphasize a male-centric view of sexuality, many women struggle to find their way to experiencing God’s design for intimacy in their marriages.  Join us as we explore how some well-meaning, but flawed, teachings have made their way into many Christian marriages and what we can do to reframe the way we think about sex, in light of Scripture. We will be using a variety of resources from contemporary Christian authors, podcasters, and theologians to guide our exploration. This class is open to any woman who wishes to reframe how she views sexual intimacy.

THE CHOSEN • Thursdays 9:00–11:00am • Feb 6–Apr 17 (no group Mar 27) • Women Only

Season 4 of the Chosen depicts Jesus’ final year of ministry, from the death of John the Baptist to his impending death. The season focuses on the disciples’ mental states and how they deal with Jesus’s death. Please join us as we watch and discuss each of the episodes in Season 4.

FIRST 5 • Daily App • Women Only

This is a group of women studying together through the First 5 app. This is a virtual group who plan to meet occasionally for coffee and fellowship but primarily interact in a private chat group Monday-Saturday. The purpose of the app is to encourage women to spend the first five minutes of their day with God through Bible study and prayer. Information is presented in an accessible and relevant way for women in all walks of life. Woodcrest women and their friends are all welcome. 

For more information or to join First 5, contact Sherry Neff

Men’s Ministry

COMPASS is a gathering of Christian men who are serious about authenticity, community, humility, spiritual transformation, and redemption. Our purpose during this gathering is to talk and encourage one another in our common journey. Each week a transformational question or topic is presented for discussion. Responding to this prompt, men are encouraged to share honestly, out of our own personal experience, without defense, our personal challenges, worries, failures, and triumphs over those things with which we struggle. COMPASS offers a safe space where you can show up as your authentic self and speak with vulnerability about your relationships with God and others.

COMPASS meets year round on Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

Please contact Hartley Wright or Eric Geyer for more information.

Community Helps!

We need men with and without skills to support members of the Woodcrest community and the Columbia community at large. We get regular requests for things like small construction projects, help moving a dresser, fixing a leaky faucet, etc. Would you help? Please contact Masood Heidari.

prime timers

This group of 55+ adults will gather monthly for the purpose of building community and connection. We will do a variety of activities from serving the community to just having fun.  Dates and times will vary.  Register below to receive information regarding monthly gatherings.

For more information contact Marilee Bomar.

EXPEDITION BIBLE

It is easier to see where God is leading you when you know where God has been.

Join us this semester in Expedition Bible where we can take a deeper dive into the Bible together! Whether you know a lot about the Bible or are new on your journey, we are excited to take this adventure together and explore God’s plan of hope for all, not just some! This semester we will be studying the book of Hebrews, which defines who Jesus of Nazareth is, through the use of the Old Testament. No registration needed.

Expedition Bible will meet Sunday mornings at 8:30 in Room 14, January 5—May 18, 2025.

Questions? Contact Elizabeth Baehr.  

Equipping a Biblically Informed Community

Equipping a Biblically Informed Community is a group that is open to everyone. It gathers on the third Sunday from 11:30am—12:30pm, in The Studio to promote community among those who want to engage in studying and sharing the Bible. This is a place where we are free to ask questions, receive feedback, and share biblical knowledge and resources, for the purpose of becoming more biblically informed, so that we can share Bible truth with those we care about. It is a place where we can learn how to engage people in group settings and toss around ideas for new platforms for sharing the Bible.

Questions? Contact Elizabeth Baehr.  

Leadership Tools

Are you curious about what it takes to facilitate a small group at Woodcrest? Or maybe it’s been a while since you’ve done so, and you just need a refresher on how and why we have small groups. We have the class for that! This class is designed to equip and encourage those who may want to explore facilitating a class. We will help you fill that tool belt with tools needed to lead or participate in a healthy & safe small group experience.

If you are interested in taking this class or have questions, contact Elizabeth Baehr.

THRIVE • PRISON

God cares deeply for each of us, and when we hurt, He hurts.
The ministries you will find listed on this page offer help to those who are hurting.

THRIVE

Thrive Ministry at Woodcrest exists to help everyone understand and learn how to be emotionally healthy. Whether you are hurting and longing to find hope and healing in Christ, struggling with addictive behaviors that keep you from relating fully with God and each other, or just looking to understand more about emotional intelligence, Thrive is for you!

Questions? Contact Kelly Wright

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care is available for all type of our life occurrences. Marriages, parenting, relationships at home, work, family, etc. We desire and welcome meeting you to hear how life happenings can seem out of control and sharing these struggles or challenges can bring breath to your life.  Please know that we care and are available to meet you along your life journey.  Hope to hear from you soon.

WOODCREST PRISON MINISTRY

The ministry strives to carry the message of God’s love to those impacted by incarceration through the ministry of presence and encouragement.

Prison ministry may seem intimidating at a glance, and while most volunteers find the experience fulfilling, it is important to recognize the logistic, environmental and social challenges of entering the world of a prison. In short, it is a different world.

Although we welcome all to discover ways to support the ministry, we find that serving inside the walls of Algoa Correctional Center (ACC) is best suited for individuals with solid interpersonal skills and a healthy sense of personal boundaries.

Those expressing interest in volunteering with the ministries that take place inside ACC are first introduced to the process through a visit to the Woodcrest Algoa chapel service. This is a great way to determine someone’s comfort level with entering Algoa and interacting with the men. After the first successful visit, regular volunteer opportunities abound for those that wish to continue visiting ACC up to five times per year.

Please contact Pat Concannon for more information.