NorthWoods Church Matters

For several years, the elders of NorthWoods Church have wrestled with a question that many churches are now facing: Who should perform baptisms? Can a parent baptize their child? Should a close friend, mentor, or family member be allowed to baptize someone, or should baptisms remain the responsibility of pastors and elders? In this candid conversation, Pastor Bobby Pell sits down with elders Eric...

In this special post-SBC episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast , Bobby Pell is joined by Bob Weeks, Rachel Bland, and Ryan Moore to unpack what actually happened at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando. They discuss some of the headlines and controversies surrounding the SBC, clarify misconceptions about women in ministry and convention actions, and share firsthand insights from the c...

In this special episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast, Pastor Bobby Pell sits down with elders Carey Bockting, Ivan McDonald, and James Sanders for an honest conversation about faith, family, leadership, and the life of the church. From growing up in Southern Illinois, Newburgh, and Darmstadt to finding their way to NorthWoods, each elder shares the story God has written in his life and...

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast, Bobby Bell, Bob Weeks, Ryan Moore, Matt Higgins, and Rachel Bland break down the upcoming Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting and explain why being part of the SBC matters for NorthWoods. They discuss the Cooperative Program, missions, church autonomy, the unique culture of the SBC, and what it's like to attend the convention in pers...

After 45 years in ministry and nearly a decade serving at NorthWoods, Pastor Darin Garton announces his retirement from vocational ministry. In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Pastor Bobby sits down with Darin to reflect on God's faithfulness through decades of ministry, church planting, discipleship, leadership, and the recent NorthWoods building project. Darin shares why n...

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast, Bobby Pell sits down with Matt Higgins and Rachel Bland to talk about Southern Baptist seminaries, online learning, ministry preparation, and why theological education isn't just for pastors. Together, they unpack the differences between the six Southern Baptist seminaries, discuss their own educational journeys, and explore how seminary ca...

In this episode of the  NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast , Pastor Bobby Pell sits down with Pastor Darin Garton and Bob Weeks to continue the conversation on Roman Catholicism after a recent Gathering session sparked plenty of questions.  The conversation explores questions surrounding the authority of the pope, the role of church tradition versus Scripture, the Apocrypha, praying to Mary, purgat...

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast , Pastor Bobby Pell sits down with two new members of the NorthWoods team: Emily Pfister and Kennedy Roos. Get to know their stories, from growing up in the Evansville area to how each of them came to faith in Christ. Together, they talk about their new roles as Ministry Assistants, what excites them about serving at NorthWoods, and how they...

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast , Bobby Pell sits down with Bob Weeks and Larry Loveless to introduce their new roles at NorthWoods during a pivotal season in the life of the church. Bob shares his powerful testimony of conversion, his calling into ministry, and his heart for helping pastors and staff grow in effectiveness. Larry reflects on his business background, his jo...

In this episode of  NorthWoods Church Matters , Bobby sits down with Bob Weeks to discuss all things Easter 2026 in relation to NorthWoods Church.    In this episode Bobby & Bob discuss: What Easter was like growing up What Easter means to followers of Jesus How we celebrate Easter at NorthWoods What things will be different this year How the people of NorthWoods can/should participate with Easter...

In this episode of  NorthWoods Church Matters , Jim sits down with Pastor Darin Garton to discuss cults, world religions, and the Gathering.   In this episode Jim & Darin discuss: What's up with the Groups and Grounds title? What are the differences between Cults and World Religions? How does NorthWoods differ from a Cult? What to expect during the Spring Season of The Gathering. and more. . .   T...

In this episode of  NorthWoods Church Matters , Bobby & Jim sit down with Michael and Brittani Graening to discuss Next Generation Ministry and why it matters.   In this episode Jim & Bobby introduce the Graenings and discuss: How God uses all types of tools to draw people to Himself. Michael & Brittani's adventures in 20+ years of ministry How NorthWoods parents can model prayer in their homes Th...

In this episode of  NorthWoods Church Matters , Lexi sits down with Pastor Bobby, Pastor Matt and our new Communications Director, Jim Miller to discuss how NorthWoods Church chooses worship music and why transparency matters.  The four discuss how discernment and intentionality in song choices can: Prepare our hearts for God's word. Elevate our view of God. Advance the mission of NorthWoods Disco...

In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters , we explore Exodus 21–24, a section of Scripture that's often skipped but deeply important. Instead of preaching these chapters, Pastor Bobby Pell and Lexi walk through them in conversation, unpacking how God's covenant laws shaped Israel's life and what they reveal about God's character today. These chapters address justice, responsibility, and human...

This week on the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Lexi sits down with Pastor Bobby for an extended follow-up to Sunday's sermon, exploring the deeper layers beneath Exodus 17–18 and what it means to live with prayerful dependence in 2026. Together, they unpack why the real battle isn't won by effort alone, but by dependence on God, and why prayer is not an accessory to the Christian life, but th...

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Lexi sits down with  Larry Riley , who will be joining the NorthWoods staff in January as Ministry Director. Larry shares about growing up in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, coming to faith as a teenager, and discovering a lifelong calling to ministry. Along the way, he reflects on God's faithfulness, the importance of relationships, and...

What does it really look like to live on mission, right where you are? In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters , Lexi sits down with Ryan Moore , Missions Pastor at NorthWoods, to reflect on the Do Not Be Silent Missions Conference and unpack how God is calling ordinary believers to faithful, everyday obedience. Ryan shares personal stories from hosting missionaries from around the world, exp...

In this special "Get to Know the Staff" episode, Pastor Bobby sits down with Lexi Bruner , the NorthWoods Communications Director and the new voice of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast. Lexi shares about her small-town upbringing, her journey to USI, and how a shift from long-term care to marketing set her on a path she never expected. She describes growing up a "Christmas and Easter" churchgo...

In this special episode, Lexi sits down with Pastor Bobby Pell and Elder Troy Lucht  to walk through NorthWoods' proposed 2026 annual budget . Together, they unpack why the church creates a budget each year, the major categories that shape our financial planning, and what's changing as we look ahead to a new year of growth and ministry. Troy explains the core purposes behind the budgeting process:...

Can a believer lose their salvation? What if I don't feel saved? Why do I still struggle with sin? What are the real signs of a changed heart? Many Christians wrestle with the question:  How can I be sure I'm really saved? In this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, the crew digs into the doctrine of  assurance of salvation: what it means to be saved, how God initiates and completes our...

On this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters , Pastor Matt and the gang continue their conversation on language and cursing. Are "Christian cuss words" really any better than the real thing? What does our speech reveal about the condition of our hearts? From "dag-nabbit" to cultural taboos, the crew talks about how words shift across generations, how Christians should respond when faced with other...

On this episode of NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, Matt is joined by Ivan and Carey to tackle a subject the church often avoids—cussing and profanity. Together, they explore how culture's shifting standards on language compare with God's unchanging Word. The conversation highlights how generational views on profanity differ and why Gen Z Christians often have looser tongues, the influence of th...

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast, missions pastor Ryan Moore is joined by church membes Eli and Kimberly  to reflect on their recent mission trip to Salt Lake City, Utah . Together, they dive into why Utah is such a unique and spiritually urgent mission field , and what it's like to share the gospel in a culture dominated by Mormonism . The conversation highlights key theol...

In this second installment of the NorthWoods Church Matters podcast series on alcohol, Matt and the team dig deeper into what Scripture teaches about drinking. How should we understand Paul's advice to Timothy to take "a little wine" for his stomach? Why does Paul contrast drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5? And what does Christian freedom look like in a culture where alc...