On this episode of Locally Made, Locally Owned, I sit down with TJ Woodard, the lead pastor of Bluff First in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. TJ shares his journey into ministry, from skipping seminary to stepping into full-time church leadership at a young age. Now, after nearly two decades, he’s helped shape Bluff First into a thriving, growing church with a culture centered on community, connection, and making people feel at home.

We dive into what it takes to build a church that attracts new believers, why culture matters in both churches and businesses, and how social media plays a role in reaching people. TJ also shares the challenges of ministry, from the emotional weight of losing people to the struggles of leadership, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

📌 Episode Highlights:

🙏 TJ’s unconventional path into full-time ministry

🏡 Why church culture is everything—and how Bluff First keeps growing

📈 The role of social media in modern ministry

🛠 The hardest parts of being a pastor (and how he handles them)

💡 What TJ would tell his 18-year-old self about leadership and life

If you’re looking for a church in the Poplar Bluff area, Bluff First is a welcoming community with open arms—and they’ve got plenty of exciting things coming up, including their Try This at Home series.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Ozark Legacy Insurance Partners! ozarklip.com

🎧 Tune in now for a real, down-to-earth conversation about faith, leadership, and the power of community.

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