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.

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.

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.

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.

What happens when you know what God is calling you toward... but you're not sure how fast you're supposed to move?

In this episode of In the Woods, Lane, Sarah, and Pastor Crae have an honest conversation about righteous anger, leadership, waiting on God, and the tension between conviction and dependence. As each of them walks through a major life transition, the discussion naturally turns toward what it really means to stay yoked to Jesus instead of running ahead with good intentions. Together they wrestle with questions like:

• What is righteous anger, and when does it become self-righteousness?

• How do we steward God's burden without trying to carry His responsibility?

• Why is childlike dependence the lifelong posture of every disciple?

• How do we navigate seasons of waiting, transition, grief, and changing identity?

• What does Sabbath reveal about the condition of our souls?

The conversation also looks ahead to Matthew 12 and explores why biblical rest is much more than taking a day off. It is learning to live from the presence of Christ instead of the pressure to produce. Whether you're leading, waiting, grieving, changing careers, or simply trying to discern God's direction, we hope this conversation encourages you to trust His pace as much as His purpose.

Where's the line between wisdom and legalism?

What starts as a conversation about Lane's Guns N' Roses t-shirt quickly turns into a thoughtful discussion about music, movies, parenting, legalism, and the "fence laws" that often shape Christian living. Along the way, Pete, Sarah, and Lane wrestle with questions every believer eventually faces: How do we practice discernment without becoming legalistic? When are personal convictions meant to stay personal? What did Jesus really confront in the Pharisees? How do we know whether we're protecting our hearts... or simply building higher fences?

The conversation also serves as a preview of this week's message from Matthew 11, exploring Jesus' invitation to take His easy yoke instead of the heavy burdens created by man-made rules. A thoughtful conversation about discernment, legalism, Christian freedom, idolatry, and the freedom found in Christ.

This week, Pete, Matt, and Lane continue the conversation from Matthew 10, exploring what it means to join Jesus on His mission.

They discuss why so many Christians feel unqualified to share their faith, the difference between planting seeds and harvesting, and how God often uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways. Along the way, they wrestle with why following Jesus is often difficult, yet ultimately leads to the richest and fullest life possible.

The conversation also touches on parenting, marriage, purpose, and why investing in God's Kingdom is always worth it. A thoughtful conversation about discipleship, evangelism, purpose, and discovering the life Jesus invites us to live.

Sometimes God's timing requires more patience than we expect. 

Meet Crae, Woodland's new Marshall Campus Pastor.  Listen as he and Pete and Sarah reflect on how God orchestrated a series of events across two continents to bring Crae and his family to Woodland Church. Along the way they discuss discernment, courageous leadership, and what it means to faithfully follow God's voice.

This conversation explores obedience, leadership, trusting God's timing, and why comfort can quietly become one of the greatest obstacles to spiritual growth.

In this episode we say goodbye to one of the best.

Morgan has been an integral part of the inner workings of this church for the last several years. As he moves on to his next steps, we take some time to talk through how he started, what he's done (a LOT), but most importantly, the things that people saw in him that got him to a place of such excellence in serving the Lord in the capacity that he has for our church.

A thoughtful conversation about always looking ahead to what the Lord might have next for you, but never forgetting who saw something in you that encouraged you to become the person that you are today. As well as an encouragement to look around and speak into those you come into contact with who need to be reminded that God has great things for them in the service of his kingdom.

In this episode, Sarah, Pete, and Lane dive further into Matthew 9 and the surprising ways Jesus challenged the expectations of His day. They discuss Jesus healing the paralytic, forgiving his sins, and why Jesus’ response to sinners was so shocking to the religious leaders around Him. Rather than viewing the Pharisees as simple villains, the conversation explores the history, motivations, and fears that shaped their actions. A thoughtful conversation about Scripture, history, faith, and the ongoing invitation to see Jesus more clearly.