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SBC DIGEST: Curtis Woods accepts pastorate; Summit Church to hold on-campus worship


Curtis Woods called to pastor Severns Valley Baptist Church

By Brandon Porter/Kentucky Today

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (BP) – One of Kentucky’s oldest and most well-known churches is celebrating the call of a new lead pastor. Severns Valley Baptist Church called Curtis Woods Sunday (Sept. 27) to fill the role left vacant after Bill Langley took a position with the International Mission Board in January.

Curtis Woods preaches at Severns Valley Baptist Church Sunday (Sept. 27). Screen capture from SVBC YouTube Channel

“When it came to character, competence, capability, chemistry and courage, Dr. Woods rose to the top and ultimately, after much prayer and discussion throughout the process, our team became convinced that God had led us to His man, Dr. Curtis Woods,” said Kevin Ray, chairman of the Severns Valley lead pastor search team.

Woods began serving the church as a supply preacher in February. He was asked to continue when COVID-19 caused the church to move to an online platform.

“After months of preaching to a camera and ministering via email and phone calls to several members, the Holy Spirit impressed an insatiable desire to shepherd this body,” Woods said.

Severns Valley Executive Pastor Jeff Wilson said: “It’s through this time God led us to Pastor Curtis and led Pastor Curtis to Severns Valley. What many would call horrible, God used this time to show us, ‘We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose'” (Romans 8:28).

Woods said after several people in the church approached Woods separately and asked him to consider submitting his name, he believed God was urging him forward.

“I awaited confirmation from others within the body,” he said. “I received it and began the journey toward pastoring this beautiful body of baptized believers.”

Woods has served the Kentucky Baptist Convention for almost 15 years. He began as a regional campus minister at Kentucky State University and became the associate executive director for convention relations in 2012.

“Curtis has deep and meaningful friendships with leaders all across the KBC and the Southern Baptist Convention,” said Todd Gray, KBC executive director-treasurer. “Early on, I realized that everywhere Dr. Woods has been to preach and teach, he has made new friends.”

Read the full story here.


UPDATE: The Summit Church to begin on-campus gatherings

By BP Staff

DURHAM, N.C. (BP) – Due to changing conditions and attitudes surrounding the COVID-19 global pandemic, leaders at The Summit Church have announced the church will begin holding on-site worship services in October.

The church had announced previously it would not resume on-site worship until 2021, but instead would provide resources for 2,400 groups to meet as temporary house churches.

“Not coming together to worship on weekends in groups of hundreds doesn’t mean that we can’t still gather,” Summit Pastor J.D. Greear said in July. “… We should gather. We’re going to equip you to get together in essentially house churches — small groups of people that are gathering in houses according to what the authorities, what the government, the CDC, is deeming to be safe, in terms of regulations and group size.”

Greear also serves as Southern Baptist Convention president.

A more recent post on the church’s website said church leaders have continued to monitor the pandemic’s toll on their community and are adjusting their plans accordingly.

“Earlier this year, we told you that we know we’re in a rapidly changing environment and that we’d be ready to pivot as things change,” the post reads. “We’ve observed that both the comfort level of our community is changing and things are continuing to reopen (including a current discussion about our public schools).

“Additionally, we know that for the church, not gathering is not an option. We’ve heard from many members of our family who desire to meet together as a larger body for in-person worship, prayer, and teaching, and we are eager to move in that direction.”

Several of the church’s campuses will hold one indoor service at 7 p.m. each Thursday beginning this week (Oct. 1). The church also plans to hold all-church outdoor worship services Oct. 10 and 24.

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