Crestwood Baptist Church sits on Sweetbay Drive in Crestwood, Kentucky, just off the 329 bypass and a short drive from I-71 exit 14. Known for its intergenerational approach to ministry and its deep investment in families, the church describes itself with the motto "Know Christ. Enjoy Christ. Share Christ." Its stated calling is to help every generation of the same family grow in the same faith, at the same time, in the same place.
Sundays at CBC
Sunday is the rhythm of the week. Life Groups meet at 9:15 a.m. and run until 10:20 a.m., followed by intergenerational worship at 10:30 a.m. The hour between the two is built for coffee, conversation, and catching up across the generations. Children have their own Life Groups and nursery care at 9:15 a.m. and Kids Church for grades K-5 at 10:30 a.m. (Kids Church does not meet on fifth Sundays or on Children's Musical dates.) Students in grades 6-12 join their own Life Groups at 9:15 a.m. and then attend the church-wide worship service at 10:30 a.m. Adults choose from co-ed classes, men's and women's classes, senior adult classes, a young marrieds class, and a young adults class, all meeting in the same Sunday morning window.
The worship service draws on the talents of the Worship Choir, the Praise Band, the Orchestra, and an Audio/Visual team, with Children's Choir members adding their voices on selected Sundays throughout the year. Services are livestreamed, and recent recordings are archived online through the church's media page.
Planning a Visit
A Welcome Center sits between all main entrances and is staffed by friendly guest services hosts who can help with directions and answer questions. Visitors receive a small gift to thank them for coming. People dress in everything from shorts to suits on any given Sunday, and the explicit invitation is to come as you are. The Sunday schedule, the dress code, and the welcome desk are all set up with first-time guests in mind.
What CBC Believes
Crestwood Baptist is a Southern Baptist congregation. Its basic beliefs are drawn from The Baptist Faith and Message. Four doctrines are highlighted:
- The Scriptures: The Holy Bible, written by men divinely inspired, is God's revelation of Himself to man, and all Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
- God: There is one and only one living and true God. The eternal triune God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature, essence, or being.
- Salvation: Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer.
- Baptism: Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is a testimony to faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
Life Groups for Every Age
Life Groups are the small-group ministry of CBC, meeting every Sunday morning from 9:15 to 10:20 a.m. before the worship service. Friendships are formed and a sense of family develops through these classes. The current slate includes:
- Core Co-Ed classes for mixed ages, including one led by Mark Roberts and Dave Whitney.
- A men's class led by Loren Oldham, Doug Shipp, and Jeff Stovall.
- A women's class led by Libby Self.
- A senior adult co-ed class led by Sam Dunkle and Kevin Bushong.
- A senior adult women's class led by Barbara Martin.
- A co-ed class for couples with school-age and young adult children, led by Matt Keck.
- Women's Elective classes led by Kathy Kalbfleisch, also offered over Zoom.
- A young marrieds "Growing Together" class led by Matt Hinton.
- A young adults (college and twenties) class led by Student Pastor Josh Hall and his wife Haley.
Newcomers can also take "Foundations: Discovering Church Membership," a four-week class led by Pastor Steve Self that meets quarterly in the Conference Room during the regular Life Group hour.
CBC Kids
CBC Kids welcomes children from birth through fifth grade. The check-in process is designed to be safe and secure, with nametags for each child and a unique code printed on the parent receipt for pickup. Every volunteer working with children has completed an application, background check, Ministry Safe training, and CBC Kids-specific training. Sunday morning programming includes Life Groups and Preschool Worship for ages 2-4 at 9:15 a.m., followed by Nursery care for ages birth-4 and Kids Church for grades K-5 at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday nights during the Oldham County school year add two more programs:
- Children's Choir for kindergarten through fifth grade meets from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Children lead worship in Sunday morning services a few times a year as part of their training.
- Awana for ages 3 (potty trained) through fifth grade runs from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. with high-energy games, themed nights such as Crazy Hat Night, and Scripture memorization built around key Bible passages.
An Awana registration fee of $35 per child is requested, with a family maximum of $100. Fees are waived for active members of Crestwood Baptist Church. Childcare for nursery through age 2 during Wednesday night programming is available by reservation through Angela Wethington.
Vacation Bible School, themed "Spy U," runs four days in late June and is open to incoming elementary students.
Student Ministry (Grades 6-12)
Student Ministry operates under the banner "Worship 365," with the purpose of helping every student know Christ, enjoy Christ, and share Christ. The ministry's threefold rhythm is summed up as Loving God, Loving Others, and Leading People to Christ.
Sunday mornings find students in grade-level small groups at 9:15 a.m., then joining the church-wide worship at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday nights run from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., with hangout time, group worship, prayer, and teaching from God's Word. A weekly snack supper and games create room for community between the structured parts of the night.
Special events fill the rest of the calendar. Fall fellowships split by gender: guys head out for hiking at Charlestown State Park, while girls spend an afternoon at Gallrein Farms in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Disciple Now (DNow) weekends bring students into host homes for a Friday-night-through-Sunday-morning program of worship, small group study, mission projects, and meals. The spring break mission trip partners with organizations such as Daystar Baptist Missions in Huntington, West Virginia, to share the gospel in Appalachian communities facing addiction and economic challenges.
One program unique to CBC pairs every student with a Senior Adult who prays for them and mails encouraging letters throughout the school year. Parents register their student for the prayer card program, and a Senior Adult is assigned to write and pray through the year.
Men's Ministry
The men's ministry seeks to see men mature in their faith and pursue the Great Commission. Three weekly touchpoints anchor the ministry:
- Saturday Morning Bible Study at 7:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall, a verse-by-verse study through a book of the Bible.
- Men's Prayer Group on Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. at the Crestwood Burger King.
- Men's Discipleship Studies, weeknight studies offered outside the summer.
The annual Boundary Waters Canoe Trip, held each fall, draws men together for an outdoor retreat.
Women's Ministry
The women's ministry is led by Angela Wethington and emphasizes connection across generations: single, married, moms, grandmas, and all are sisters in Christ. Programs include:
- Women on Mission, meeting the first Tuesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to noon in room 1213, with a focus on local and international missions.
- Women's Retreats, with the next retreat scheduled for April 23-25, 2027.
- Bible Studies, including a recurring Ladies Bible Study meeting Mondays at 9:15 a.m. and Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m. (participants are welcome to bounce between the two).
- Fellowship Events, typically on Friday evenings, with food, encouragement, and surprises such as chocolate fountains and floating paper lanterns.
- Prayer Partners, pairing women to lift each other up in prayer.
- Moms in Prayer International, gathering women to pray weekly for students, teachers, and schools. A special group goes into the women's prison in Pewee Valley the first Saturday of each month.
Senior Adult Ministry - Young at Heart
The Senior Adult Ministry is called "Young at Heart" and emphasizes serving the Lord "through refinement - not retirement." Members gather for monthly luncheons on the third Monday of each month in room 1214, with occasional local outings and two annual trips: a three-day Kentucky destination and a five-day motor coach trip out of state. Recent trips have included Savannah, Lancaster (Pennsylvania), San Antonio, and Branson. Adults 55 and older are the core, but younger adults who enjoy the company are welcome.
Fit 4 Life Fitness Classes, a low-impact workout designed with seniors in mind, are held Mondays and Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. in room 1204.
Prayers & Squares (Cancer Quilt Ministry)
Prayers & Squares, the church's Prayer Quilt Ministry, makes quilts for cancer patients who are connected to members of CBC. The motto is "It's not about the quilt; it's all about the prayers." Each quilt is stitched with heavy thread, and a square knot is tied for each prayer offered for the recipient. Cards with information about the cancer patients are distributed so that members can continue praying for them. More than 2,000 quilts have been distributed since the ministry began.
Quilts are provided for people connected to the CBC community of faith at no fee. The completed and prayed-over quilt is returned to the Welcome Center for the requesting member to pick up and deliver to the recipient.
Worship Arts
Worship Arts at CBC is intergenerational, designed to glorify King Jesus and lead the congregation into worship and praise. Five teams serve:
- Worship Choir, open to adults who feel called to sing, with no audition required. Musical productions are staged at special times during the year.
- Praise Band, leading music each week in worship. Rehearsals are Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Keyboard, guitar, drums, piano, and banjo players are welcome.
- Audio/Visual Team, running sound, lights, cameras, and computer systems for worship services and special events.
- Orchestra, providing instrumental music for special services.
- Creative Arts, covering drama, visual art, props, and sewing for worship and special productions.
The Children's Choir (K-5) meets at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesdays, and a Youth Choir is open to grades 6-12.
Recreation and Bridge Builders
The Recreation Ministry uses sports and recreational activities to share God's love in the community, equipping Christians to share their faith through athletics and fellowship. The on-site gymnasium hosts the activities.
Bridge Builders has a mission of "connecting schools, the marketplace and local Christian churches for the sake of the next generation and for the glory of God."
Weekday Preschool
The Weekday Preschool serves children 12 months through Pre-Kindergarten, meeting from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. September through May. Classrooms feature low teacher-to-student ratios, age-appropriate curriculum integrated with Bible lessons, a music and movement program, a fenced playground, and a full gymnasium. Teachers are CPR-trained and background-checked. Tuition for 2026-2027 is $225 per month, with a non-refundable registration fee of $195 ($170 for each additional child). Director Cheri Cagle and Co-Director Gay Jeffries lead the school.
Crestwood Christian Academy
Crestwood Christian Academy opens in August 2026 with the vision of providing "a rigorous, Christ-centered education that weaves together academic excellence, spiritual formation, and strong character." The mission is to nurture students spiritually, academically, physically, emotionally, and socially, cultivating clear, critical thinking rooted in a Christian worldview.
For the 2026-2027 school year, the academy offers Kindergarten only, with classes capped at 15 students. Plans call for expansion to K-2 in 2027-2028. Operating Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., CCA charges an application fee of $100, a registration fee of $200, and tuition of $7,000 per year (payable annually or in monthly installments of $700 from August through May). Pastor Steve Self serves as Director, with Jane Hart as Assistant Director.
Missions: Local, National, and International
Missions is woven through the life of CBC. The church gives generously to the Cooperative Program, the unified Southern Baptist funding mechanism that supports missionary work, seminary training, and ministries across North America. CBC prayerfully and financially supports the North Central Baptist Network (NCBA), which brings together Baptist churches across Oldham, Trimble, Henry, and Shelby Counties to strengthen churches and community ministries.
Three annual missions offerings direct additional giving:
- Annie Armstrong, supporting missionaries in the U.S. and Canada.
- Eliza Broadus, supporting missionaries throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
- Lottie Moon, supporting international missionaries.
CBC also partners locally with:
- Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center in La Grange, Kentucky, a Christ-centered, non-denominational ministry serving those affected by unplanned pregnancy with free resources, education, and support.
- Prison Ministry, with CBC men and women serving inmates at KSR, Roederer, Luther Luckett, and the women's prison in Pewee Valley through evangelism, discipleship, and encouragement.
- Moms in Prayer International, with groups praying for students, teachers, and schools, and a special group praying with inmates separated from their children.
- Fountain of Life Ministries in Louisville, Kentucky, serving the multi-ethnic people groups of the Norfolk area.
- Iglesia Bautista De Crestwood, the CBC Hispanic church plant that meets for worship in the CBC facility on Wednesdays and Sundays, with additional events during the week.
Mission trips include the Spring Break Mission Trip (recently to Huntington, West Virginia, in partnership with Daystar Baptist Missions) and a trip to Cumberland, Kentucky, partnering with Club 180 (a youth and family ministry) and Heritage Ministries (a home repair ministry). Internationally, the church supports missionaries including Justin and Allison and B.R. in Africa, with prayer support and financial backing for ongoing work in India, Uganda, and Guatemala.
Staff and Leadership
Dr. Hershael York serves as Interim Pastor. He is the Dean of the School of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is also the Victor and Louise Lester Professor of Christian Preaching. After serving as Senior Pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort for 20 years, he now devotes his ministry to strengthening churches and pastors in gospel-centered communication and leadership. He and his wife Tanya travel widely hosting marriage seminars. A respected author, Dr. York has written two books on preaching, 40 Days in 1 Corinthians, and most recently The Salvation of Children. He holds a B.A. in English and Classical Civilizations and an M.A. in Classical Languages from the University of Kentucky, and both the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy in Greek and New Testament from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.
Steve Self serves as Family Pastor and Director of Crestwood Christian Academy. Brian Woofter leads the Worship Arts ministry as Worship Pastor. Josh Hall leads Student Ministry, supported by Laura Hall as Worship & Student Ministry Assistant and Biblical Counselor. Kristen Sherman serves as the Children's Ministry Intern, and Angela Wethington directs both Women and Children's Ministries. Cheri Cagle and Gay Jeffries co-direct the Weekday Preschool, and Jane Hart is Assistant Director of Crestwood Christian Academy.
Why "Intergenerational" Matters
Crestwood Baptist is unapologetically intergenerational in its philosophy. The church intentionally resolves to be a biblically based, Christ-centered, intergenerational church family with a biblical worldview fulfilling a great mission. The aim is to disciple every generation and to be on the same page. Children, students, parents, and grandparents attend the same worship service, study in adjacent Life Group rooms, and serve side-by-side in ministry. The intergenerational philosophy causes the church to be interactive with every age, weaving love of God and love of others into every aspect of church life. The goal is to "bring families and the gospel together."