“Remember July 13 1941?” Imagine the small group. About 25 members from Enderly Park Baptist Church gathered. They had a vision. They wanted to organize ‘Woodlawn Baptist Sunday School’. There wasn’t another Baptist Church nearby. Some members from Southside Baptist Church joined them. Services were held in local homes.
That was the humble beginning of Woodlawn Church.
In November of that same year Mrs. W. E. Collins made a generous donation. She gave a one-acre lot for a church building. A simple one-story white wood-frame building went up quickly. ‘Woodlawn Missionary Baptist Church’ was officially chartered January 4 1942. The first service in the new building was held that very day. That original piece of land is still part of the church’s site today. The first baptism at Woodlawn Church took place June 28 1942. Three people were baptized.
As the Woodlawn Church grew more space was needed for Sunday School. Five additional classrooms were added in February 1943. A basement was dug. On March 8 1945 the existing building was moved over the new basement. Growth continued. The men of Woodlawn Church built a concrete block building. It housed the Youth Sunday School Department. Today it is known as the ‘Seniors Building’.
Plans for a church parsonage were presented and approved April 9 1947. In the spring of 1948 a parsonage was built on Exmore Avenue. The pastor and his family moved in. Our present auditorium building was completed in May 1955. In November 1960 the education building was finished. It was attached to the auditorium. The preschool and ministerial staff moved their offices there.
By 1968 Woodlawn Church ‘s membership had grown to 937. Sunday School enrollment was 883. In 1973 an education-activities building was built. It included a gymnasium for team sports. Classrooms were quickly filled with Child Development Center children on weekdays. This building is now known as the CDC Building. It is attached to the education building.
Woodlawn’s Auditorium/Sanctuary was completely renovated in 1991. New paint lighting carpet and furniture were added. In the 90s the Senior Citizens of Woodlawn Church asked to use the block building. This was previously used for the Youth Sunday School. It needed renovation. They completely refurbished it with a kitchen and bathrooms. They added brick on the outside. Now known as the Seniors Building it is maintained by the seniors.
Woodlawn Church began a Christian School in 1989. A new school building with three classrooms and bathrooms was built in 1996. ‘Iglesia Cristiana Alfa y Omega’ church now uses this building. They assisted in its renovation in 2015. The Christian School was closed in the mid-2000s.
Today Woodlawn Church continues its mission. It ministers to the needs of people. It evangelizes people who need the Savior. It trains believers to follow Christ. You can attend Sunday School at 9:45 am. Morning Worship is at 11:00 am. It’s also live-streamed on YouTube every Sunday. On Wednesdays youth meet for Bible Study in the Gym at 6:30 pm. Adults and children have Bible Study at 7:00 pm. Worship Choir Practice is at 7:45 pm. Woodlawn Church welcomes everyone to join their worship services.