NorthWoods Church Matters

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast, Lead Pastor Bobby Pell sits down with Katrina Cook, our new Children's Ministry Director.

Get to know Katrina as she shares her story of growing up in Boonville, coming to faith in Jesus, and how God has used her experiences in teaching, missions, and discipleship to prepare her for this new role. She also shares about her husband, Adam, their two daughters, and her family's longtime connection to NorthWoods.

Together, they discuss Katrina's heart for children's ministry, her desire to raise up a generation of kids who love and follow Jesus, and her vision for helping families and volunteers make disciples.

Listen in as we welcome Katrina to the NorthWoods staff and hear what she's most excited about in this next season of ministry!

Meet Drew and Brittani Gray!

In this episode of the NorthWoods Church Matters Podcast, Pastor Bobby sits down with Drew and Brittani to hear their story as Drew is NorthWoods' new Worship Pastor.

They talk about growing up in ministry, coming to know Jesus, how they met, their growing family, and Drew's journey into worship ministry. Drew also shares his heart for corporate worship, how Scripture shapes the songs we sing, and why worship is about more than musical preferences.

More than anything, this conversation is an opportunity to get to know the Grays, hear their hearts, and learn more about where God may be leading NorthWoods in this next season.

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 Gobin and Dan King to pull back the curtain on a three-year theological discussion that took place behind the scenes. Together they walk through the biblical arguments, the passages that shaped their thinking, and the process the elder team used to arrive at a decision.

More importantly, this episode offers a rare glimpse into healthy church leadership. You'll hear how faithful Christians can disagree on secondary issues, search the Scriptures together, and ultimately maintain unity around the gospel.

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 convention floor. Along the way, they highlight encouraging reports of gospel growth, church planting, international missions, and the work Southern Baptists are doing around the world.

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 the path that led him to serve the congregation.

Along the way, they discuss everything from cycling, gardening, and technology projects to the joys and challenges of family life. The conversation also explores what excites them most about the future of NorthWoods, including the church's growing outreach to international communities and the Deaf community, as well as the many ways they see God at work among the people of the church.

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 person.

The conversation also explores one of the convention's most discussed issues: a proposed constitutional amendment regarding women serving in pastoral roles. The team shares a complementarian perspective, discusses areas of agreement and concern, and reflects on how churches can remain faithful to Scripture while encouraging every believer to use their God-given gifts for the Great Commission.