Who We Are
Woodcrest Church is a gospel-centered church committed to making disciples of all generations.
We exist to share the gospel, help people grow in their faith, and equip them to tell others what Christ has done in their lives.
Our Story
Woodcrest Church has a long history of God’s faithfulness.
The Beginning
Woodcrest was organized on Friday evening, February 17, 1961, by twenty-one charter members. The church first met on South 161st East Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was originally known as East Tulsa Free Will Baptist Church.
Many longtime members remember the church’s first building—an old chicken coop that had been renovated and repurposed as a place of worship.
A New Home
As the church grew, so did the need for a new facility. In October 1991, Pastor Bailey Thompson led the church through a relocation project that brought the congregation to its current location near 193rd East Avenue and Pine Street in Catoosa, Oklahoma.
At that time, the church became known as Woodcrest.
A Legacy of Faithful Ministry
In 1999, Pastor Roger Ballard became the pastor of Woodcrest. For 26 faithful years, he poured into the life of the church and helped build a lasting legacy of discipleship, service, prayer, and fellowship.
God used Pastor Roger and his wife, Vicki, to strengthen the church and advance His kingdom. Pastor Roger retired from Woodcrest in March 2026.
Looking Ahead
That same month, Robert West was elected to serve as Woodcrest’s Lead Pastor. Robert grew up at Woodcrest and has a heart for making disciples of Jesus and seeing Catoosa changed for Christ.
He and his wife, K’Lei, along with their five children, love the Lord and are excited to build on the strong foundation God has already established at Woodcrest.
God’s Faithfulness Through Every Season
Through every season, Woodcrest has remained grounded in the truth of God’s Word and committed to loving God, loving people, and making disciples.
We are thankful for those who faithfully served before us, and we look to the future with faith, trusting God for all He desires to do in and through His church.
Mission & Vision
Changing Catoosa for Christ
Woodcrest Church exists to make disciples by sharing the gospel, helping people grow in their faith, and equipping them to tell others what Christ has done in their lives.
Where We’re Going
We want to see people in Catoosa and the surrounding community become mature followers of Jesus who love God, love others, and make disciples.
Our desire is not simply that people attend church, but that they grow in their walk with Christ, live faithfully in everyday life, and become equipped to help others follow Jesus too.
Our Values
Our values describe the kind of church family we are asking God to shape us into.
Real Truth
We are committed to the truth of God’s Word. We believe Scripture is our foundation, Christ is our message, and biblical teaching should shape everything we do.
Real Courage
Following Jesus takes courage. We want to help people obey God, stand firm in their faith, and share the gospel with confidence in everyday life.
Real Family
The church is more than a gathering; it is a family. At Woodcrest, we want people to be known, loved, encouraged, and growing together across generations.
How We Lead
Our leaders desire to serve Woodcrest in a way that strengthens the church and supports the mission.
We want to equip people to grow in Christ, serve with purpose, and help change Catoosa for Christ. Every ministry, role, and responsibility is meant to help people know Jesus, grow in faith, and make Him known.
Meet Our Team
At Woodcrest, our leaders love serving people, caring for our church family, teaching God’s Word, and helping others grow in their walk with Jesus.
Our Beliefs
At Woodcrest Church, our beliefs are rooted in Scripture and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We desire to faithfully teach God’s Word, proclaim the hope of salvation through Christ, and help people grow as His disciples.
The Bible
We believe the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God and the final authority for what we believe and how we live. Through Scripture, God reveals Himself, shows us our need for salvation, and teaches us how to follow Christ faithfully.
God
We believe there is one true and living God who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is holy, loving, sovereign, just, and worthy of all worship, obedience, and praise.
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead, and is the only Savior and Lord.
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit convicts people of sin, draws them to Christ, and gives new life to those who believe. He lives within believers, helps them understand God’s Word, and empowers them to live faithfully for Christ.
Humanity and Sin
We believe all of humanity is created in the image of God. We believe God desires to live in loving relationship with His creation.
Because of sin, all people are separated from God and in need of a way to be reconciled with Him. Jesus Christ is that reconciliation, and only through Him can we be forgiven and given new life in right relationship with God.
Salvation
We believe salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus died for our sins and rose again so that all who repent and believe in Him may be forgiven, made new, and brought into a right relationship with God.
Salvation is not earned by human effort, but is received through faith in Christ. Those who are saved are called to follow Jesus, depend on His grace, and live in faithful obedience to Him.
Invitation of the Gospel
We believe the gospel is for all people. God desires all to be saved, and because Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, anyone who turns from sin and trusts in Him can be saved.
Each person is responsible to respond to the good news of Jesus with repentance and faith. God graciously invites people everywhere to come to Christ, receive forgiveness, and walk in new life with Him.
Continuing in Faith
We believe followers of Jesus are called to continue walking with Him in faith. God is faithful to strengthen His people, and believers are called to remain close to Christ, depend on His grace, and follow Him faithfully throughout their lives.
We also believe Scripture warns against turning away from Christ. A person can abandon the faith and make shipwreck of their faith by rejecting Christ and refusing to continue in Him. Because of this, we encourage believers to abide in Christ, persevere in faith, and encourage one another to remain faithful.
Prayer and the Christian Life
We believe prayer is an essential part of the Christian life. Through prayer, believers worship God, depend on Him, confess sin, give thanks, seek wisdom, and bring their needs before Him. We believe God hears and answers prayer according to His will, and we desire to be a church that faithfully prays with and for one another.
Ordinances of the Church
We believe Christ gave ordinances to the church as meaningful acts of obedience, remembrance, humility, and worship.
- Baptism is a public declaration of faith in Christ and pictures the new life believers have in Him.
- The Lord’s Supper reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice and calls believers to remember and proclaim the gospel together.
- Feet washing is a humble act of service that reminds us to follow the example of Jesus in love and humility.
The Church
We believe the church is the body of Christ, made up of believers who gather to worship, grow, serve, and make disciples. Each local church is called to follow Christ, teach God’s Word, care for one another, and carry out the mission Jesus has given His people.
Worship
We believe worship is the response of God’s people to who He is and what He has done. Worship is not limited to music, but includes our whole lives as we love God, obey His Word, pray, serve, give, and gather with the church.
When we gather, we desire to worship in a way that is centered on Christ, rooted in Scripture, and focused on helping the church sing, pray, and respond to God together.
Missions
We believe the church has been sent to make disciples of all nations. At Woodcrest, we desire to share the gospel in Catoosa, serve our surrounding community, and support gospel work both at home and abroad.
The Resurrection and Christ’s Return
We believe Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead, and His resurrection is the foundation of our hope. Because He lives, believers have forgiveness, new life, and the promise of resurrection.
We also believe Jesus Christ will return. His return gives believers hope, calls us to faithful living, and reminds us that God will fully and finally make all things right.
Copyright 2026 Woodcrest Church
All Rights Reserved.