Woodland Church Marshall

09/03/2026

What a gift and a blessing it was to celebrate not just with our church family, but those in the communities of Battle Creek and Marshall and surrounding areas. They showed up to the lake to say goodbye to the season of summer break, break bread together, and celebrate the baptisms of 20+ people who said yes to publicly declaring their love for Jesus.

Photos to follow, but for now enjoy this little recap.

Send a message to learn more

09/01/2026

What happens when the faith you grew up around finally becomes your own?

In this episode of In the Woods, Pete and Sarah sit down with Lilly Gordon and Gavin following their baptisms at Woodland’s Lake Baptism. Their stories come from very different starting points. Lilly grew up in a Christian home and around the church, while Gavin grew up largely outside of Christianity and once thought Christians were a little crazy.
But God was working in both of their lives.

Lilly shares honestly about growing up believing in Jesus while becoming increasingly indifferent toward her faith. Even attending a Christian university did not immediately change that. In fact, for a season, it caused her to push back even more.

Gavin shares his journey from skepticism to faith, including the friends, mentors, conversations, research, and relationships God used to draw him toward Jesus. Together, Lilly and Gavin talk about a difficult season when they ended their relationship and began pursuing Christ separately before eventually finding their way back to one another with a completely different foundation.

Their story leads to an important conversation for parents: What do you do when your child seems indifferent toward Jesus?
Lilly reflects on how her parents continued pointing her toward truth without trying to force faith upon her. Their consistent example, prayer, and willingness to trust God eventually became part of what God used to draw her back to Him.

The conversation also explores:
• Why baptism should be a personal declaration rather than something done because of pressure
• The difference between believing in Jesus and actually following Him
• What it means for your faith to become your own
• How God can use relationships and mentors to draw someone toward Christ
• The power of parents faithfully praying for their children
• Why forcing Christianity can sometimes create resistance
• Moving from rules and “dos and don’ts” to genuinely wanting to please God
• Learning to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit
• Why questioning and investigating Christianity can actually strengthen faith
• How God can use your own story to reach someone else
Whether you grew up in church, came to Jesus later, or you're a parent praying for a son or daughter who seems far from God, this conversation is a reminder that God is still working, even when you can't see it yet.

Lilly and Gavin’s stories remind us that Jesus is not simply something we inherit from our families. Ultimately, each of us must respond personally to His call, follow Him, and allow Him to transform our lives.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-woods/id1827258830
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03Ny9jrvcYFl5aa9cJaXm6?si=C10tk-QvQaeMfG_AzlH-JQ&nd=1&dlsi=37f90db0d57240ea

Connect with Woodland Church:
Website: https://www.woodlandchurch.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/woodlandchurchbc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodlandchurchmarshall
Instagram: https://instagram.com/woodlandchurchmi

If this episode encouraged you, consider liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and sharing it with someone.

https://youtu.be/y221nQ94T_A

What happens when the faith you grew up around finally becomes your...

08/28/2026

Our first gear drop for the fall is happening at the “Summer Send-Off.” These are a 6 oz Heavyweight Tee and are 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton. Featuring dropped shoulders and a more relaxed, boxy silhouette (read “size down” if you want a more traditional fit).

These sage colored tees mirror our new black baptism shirts that you will also be seeing at the “Summer Send-Off” and are a very comfy and high quality shirt (no crummy/ cheap 50/50 blend here) repping both campuses, our church mottos, and a reminder that you “find life” when you “follow Jesus.”

Quantities are limited 😬

08/28/2026

Attention Battle Creek, Marshall, and surrounding cities: This is your formal invite to join us at Goguac Lake this Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 for our end-of-summer celebration.
This event is open to anyone who would want to join us in celebrating the end of this season and the expectation of what's to come. The evening will end with baptisms in the lake, and then students have a silent disco they can attend at the Student Center to cap off the evening.

08/25/2026

What do you do when you open the Bible and honestly have no idea what a passage means?

This week on In the Woods, Pete, Crae, and Sarah talk about wrestling with difficult Scripture, including one of the more challenging sections of Matthew 12. From the unforgivable sin and spiritual warfare to Jesus’ statement that “whoever is not with me is against me,” the conversation explores what it looks like to approach Scripture with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to dig deeper.

They also talk about why context matters, why it’s okay to say “I don’t know,” and why struggling to understand Scripture can actually draw us closer to Jesus. The goal isn’t to have every answer. It’s to keep pursuing the One who does.

Sarah offers a powerful reminder that difficult passages can be an invitation rather than a reason to give up. Scripture has a depth we will never exhaust, and God continues to draw us deeper as we pursue Him.
Plus, we look ahead to Vision Sunday, celebrate what God is doing at Woodland, and talk about our upcoming church-wide baptism celebration!

Wherever you are in your understanding of Scripture, keep digging. Keep asking questions. Keep pursuing Jesus.
There is always more treasure to find.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-woods/id1827258830
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03Ny9jrvcYFl5aa9cJaXm6?si=C10tk-QvQaeMfG_AzlH-JQ&nd=1&dlsi=37f90db0d57240ea

Connect with Woodland Church:
Website: https://www.woodlandchurch.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/woodlandchurchbc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodlandchurchmarshall
Instagram: https://instagram.com/woodlandchurchmi

If this episode encouraged you, consider liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and sharing it with someone.

https://youtu.be/n_LfEP9dKtQ

What do you do when you open the Bible and honestly have no idea wh...

08/17/2026

What happens when following God means leaving behind everything familiar?

In this episode of In the Woods, Pete and Sarah sit down with Deline to hear the story that brought her and her husband, Crae, from South Africa to Michigan and ultimately to Woodland Church.

Deline shares how her faith became personal as a teenager, how an unexpected step into ministry became a calling that has shaped more than 20 years of her life, and what it looked like for their family to wrestle with God's leading through uncertainty, loss, transition, and a move across the world.

They also talk honestly about serving in ministry as a married couple, learning to trust God when the destination isn't clear, and finding your roots in Christ when life refuses to stay settled.

The conversation turns to Deline's first message at Woodland's Marshall Campus from Matthew 12 and a powerful picture of Jesus' compassion. When surrounded by people and their needs, Jesus didn't simply see a crowd. He saw individuals. How do we follow His example when we're already overwhelmed ourselves? Sometimes ministry isn't about fixing someone's problem. Sometimes it's simply about showing up, seeing the person in front of us, and being present.

A thoughtful conversation about calling, change, trusting God in uncertainty, compassion, and what it means to follow Jesus wherever He leads.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-woods/id1827258830
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03Ny9jrvcYFl5aa9cJaXm6?si=C10tk-QvQaeMfG_AzlH-JQ&nd=1&dlsi=37f90db0d57240ea

Connect with Woodland Church:
Website: https://www.woodlandchurch.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/woodlandchurchbc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodlandchurchmarshall
Instagram: https://instagram.com/woodlandchurchmi

If this episode encouraged you, consider liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and sharing it with someone.

https://youtu.be/yrYEcRarIF0

What happens when following God means leaving behind everything fam...

08/13/2026

Register those award winning “Cheesey Potatoes” (or whatever else is your jam) for the “Summer Send-Off” potluck. Link is in the bio and/ or on the church “Events” page on our website.

08/12/2026

You Have Less Time Than You Think | In The Woods Podcast #051

What does it look like to influence the next generation in a world where kids are questioning more, trusting less, and growing up faster than ever?

This week on In the Woods, Lane and Sarah sit down with Woodland Kids Director Tracy Parker for a conversation about parenting, kids ministry, faith, and the importance of simply showing up.

Tracy shares what she has learned through decades of working with children, raising two sons, becoming a grandmother, and now helping lead the next generation at Woodland. They talk about the changing role of parents as children become adults, why today's kids may be asking deeper questions about faith and Scripture, and why having consistent, trustworthy adults in their lives matters more than we may realize.
The conversation also turns toward something all of us eventually have to face: time moves quickly.

Whether you're raising young children, navigating relationships with adult kids, serving the next generation, or simply trying to be faithful with the season God has given you, there is a challenge here for all of us. Don't spend your life wishing you were somewhere else. Be present. Be intentional. Show up. Invest in people. And use the time God has given you for something that matters.
A thoughtful conversation about parenting, influence, serving when you don't feel like it, helping faith take root in the next generation, and learning to recognize just how valuable the moments in front of us really are.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03Ny9jr...

Connect with Woodland Church:

Website: https://www.woodlandchurch.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/woodlandchurchbc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodlandchurchmarshall
Instagram: https://instagram.com/woodlandchurchmi

If this episode encouraged you, consider liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and sharing it with someone.

https://youtu.be/25aF2DeCaq4

What does it look like to influence the next generation in a world ...

08/08/2026

One of our Woodland Softball teams brought home a 2nd Place finish in this year’s end-of-season tournament!

Congrats to Family Bible Church for the win!

Huge shoutout to the 50+ men who participated in Woodland Softball this summer. We loved seeing so many guys competing, building friendships, and representing Woodland throughout the summer.

Great season, gents! 👏

We’re already looking forward to next summer! 🥎