Woodside Bible Church

Woodside Bible Church is a non-denominational megachurch, formerly called Troy Baptist Church. It is a multi-campus evangelical church in Troy, Warren, and White Lake, Michigan. Dr. Douglas Schmidt, adjunct professor of Michigan Theological Seminary is the current senior pastor with nearly 4,000 weekly attenders.

Recent History

In September 2005, Redeemer Baptist Church in Warren, Michigan, merged with Woodside Bible Church to become the Warren campus, called "Woodside of Warren", led by campus pastor Don Pedde, formerly associate pastor of Redeemer Baptist Church. The former senior pastor of Redeember Baptist Church, Vince Messina, is now the congregational care pastor at the Troy campus.

In March 2007, Eastside Baptist church of south Warren, Michigan, merged with Woodside Bible Church. The membership of Eastside Baptist moved to the Warren campus. Tim Steele, Eastside’s part time pastor for the previous 11 years, works "with Woodside Warren Campus Pastor Don Pedde, concentrating on outreach and new member assimilation." cite news | last = Wendland | first = Mike | title = Eastside Baptist merges with Woodside | pages = 1 | publisher = Woodside Bible Church | date = 2007-03-01 | url = http://www.thewoodsidenews.com/ | accessdate = 2007-05-23

In April 2007, it was announced that First Baptist Church of Pontiac, Michigan's oldest Baptist church (established in 1822), would also merge with Woodside Bible Church to become the "Woodside of White Lake" campus. Pastor Brad Hulcy serves as campus pastor. Pastor Hulcy is the son-in-law of former First Baptist Church of Pontiac minister, Pastor Bob Shelton. First Baptist Church of Pontiac was previously located in downtown Pontiac on Oakland Avenue. "The stately structure, built of native fieldstone hauled from nearby farms, could accommodate 700 attendants and cost a total of $17,000." cite news | last = Smith | first = Rochelle | title = Woodside Of White Lake | pages = 1 | publisher = Woodside Bible Church | date = 2007-05-01 | url = http://www.thewoodsidenews.com/ | accessdate = 2007-05-30 The last service in the downtown Pontiac church was Sunday, December 14, 1980. A 62 acre parcel of land on Highland Road west of Pontiac was purchased where a new building was dedicated on January 18, 1981. The official launch of the merged congregations was June 3, 2007.

In April 2008, Woodside Bible announced an aggressive capital improvement plan. This plan includes major building additions at the Troy and Whitelake campuses. Also, significant updates to the Warren campus were announced.

In September 2008, Woodside Bible [http://www.woodsidebible.org/blogs/pastor-dougs-weekly-update-sept-12-14-2008/ announced] an opportunity to merge with Royal Oak, Michigan-based Northwood Baptist Church. Woodside congregation plans to vote on expanding its presence in Southeastern Michigan by approving this merge on September 20 and 21, 2008.

External links

* [http://www.woodsidebible.org/ Official site]
*City of Troy, Michigan: proclamation of Woodside Bible's [http://www.ci.troy.mi.us/council/AgendaPackets/PublicAgenda%2020050718/05.07.18%20Agenda%20-%20E-03a%20Woodside%20Bible%20Church%20Proclamation.pdf 50th Anniversary]