On South Main Street in Woodstown
First Baptist Church of Woodstown gathers at 117 South Main Street in the heart of Woodstown, a small Salem County borough in southern New Jersey. The church describes itself in four phrases: Gospel Centered, Family Oriented, Community Focused, Relationally Driven. Under the leadership of Lead Pastor Rev. Timothy D. Joyce, the congregation's purpose is simple and repeated often: Love God. Love People. Make Disciples.
The church belongs to the American Baptist family of churches and holds membership in the West New Jersey Association, a regional grouping of American Baptist congregations. That affiliation shapes the church's convictions about believer's baptism, an open communion table, and the priesthood of all believers, but the day-to-day feel of First Baptist is shaped by the people of Woodstown, the surrounding farms, and the small towns of Salem County.
Sundays at 9:30
Sunday morning worship begins at 9:30 AM and runs until 10:45 AM. The service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel at the same time, so anyone unable to attend in person can join from home. Following worship, Sunday School meets at 11 AM, running from September through June and offering classes for children, youth, and adults.
The music ministry blends a church choir and a contemporary praise team, and the service includes preludes, hymn singing, special music, and congregational praise. Visitors find a mix of traditional and modern elements in the same gathering, with instruments ranging from a piano and organ to a praise band.
What the Church Believes
First Baptist Church of Woodstown teaches a classic, evangelical understanding of the Christian faith. The congregation confesses belief in one God who has eternally existed in three co-equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Jesus Christ is God's Son, fully God and fully man, who lived a sinless life, was crucified, rose again on the third day, and ascended to heaven. The church teaches that Jesus died to pay the penalty for sin and is coming again to judge the living and the dead.
- The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. The Spirit convicts people of sin, indwells believers, and distributes spiritual gifts for the good of others.
- The Scriptures: the Old and New Testaments are the inspired word of God, the foundation for life and faith.
- Humanity was created in God's image, but all people have chosen sin and are separated from their Creator.
- Salvation is offered to all who repent, confess faith, and are baptized. The church practices baptism by immersion as a public confession of faith and welcomes all who profess Christ to its open communion table.
- The Church is the body of Christ on earth, a people empowered by the Holy Spirit whose goal is to seek and save the lost. As members of the American Baptist tradition, the congregation affirms the priesthood of all believers.
Music: Choir, Praise Band, and Hymn Singing
Music is one of the most visible ministries at First Baptist, and the church invites musicians of every kind to participate. The choir rehearses every Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in the music room under Music Director Cindy Winter. The praise team rehearses in the sanctuary every Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, led by Praise Team Coordinator Lance Bird. Both groups welcome new voices and instrumentalists, and the ministry extends to anyone with experience in sound or video streaming.
Together, the choir and praise team support a blended worship style that combines preludes, hymn singing, and contemporary praise, with opportunities for special music woven through the service.
KID's Night and the Middlers
Children from PreK through 5th grade have a full slate of their own at First Baptist. The main weekly program is KID's Night, which meets Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM during the school year. Children sing, dance, play games, study the Bible, discuss what they are learning, and complete a craft.
For older children entering 3rd through 5th grade, the Middlers Youth Group meets once or twice a month for themed evenings. Past events have included Nerf and Nachos, a Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt, and pool parties. Children's Ministry Director Katelyn Dilks oversees the work of walking alongside parents, grandparents, and guardians to help children grow as disciples of Christ.
Collision: Sunday Nights for 6th Through 12th Grade
Middle and high school students gather for Collision Youth Group, which meets Sunday nights from 5:00 to 7:00 PM during the school year. The evening includes games, powerful worship, small groups, and a message, all designed to create a safe environment for students to know, experience, and serve Jesus in community.
Youth Ministry Director Kimberlyn Brown leads the program. Collision maintains its own Instagram presence and regularly invites students to bring friends.
Adults: Sunday School, Bible Studies, and Senior Fellowship
Adults at First Baptist have several ways to grow. Sunday School offers two adult classes each Sunday at 11 AM during the school year, focused on digging deeper into the Bible and building relationships.
The church also runs a roster of midweek Bible studies:
- Tuesday Night Bible Study at 6:30 PM, looking at contemporary issues through the lens of the gospel.
- Thursday Morning Bible Study at 10:00 AM, gathering for Bible study, fellowship, prayer, and encouragement.
- Serendipity Ladies' Bible Study on the first and third Mondays at 7:00 PM, meeting in the homes of members.
Seniors have their own rhythm as well. A Bible study, prayer, and encouragement time meets every Thursday morning at 10:00, and a Senior Game Day & Fellowship gathers in the fellowship hall on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 10:00 AM to noon for a brief devotion, snacks, and friendly games.
Local and Global Missions
Missions are woven through the life of First Baptist, both close to home and across the world. The church partners with other local congregations and ministries throughout Salem County and the surrounding region.
Locally, the church serves meals to friends at the Salem Motor Lodge each Saturday at noon alongside First Baptist Church of Salem, holds drive-through food drives in its parking lot to supply Disciples Pantry, and assembles Code Blue care packages for people without housing in Salem County. Members collect hygiene and food items for the Salem County Women's Shelter and provide Christmas gifts, beds, and dressers to Hope Ranch, a home for adults with mental health needs. Groups also participate in mission trips through Samaritan's Purse in response to disasters. Additional financial support goes to Mission Teens, Ranch Hope, Whosoever Gospel Mission, Malaga Camp, Camp Lebanon, Habitat for Humanity of Salem County, and Chosen People, among others.
Globally, the church packs more than 100 shoebox gifts for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child each year and has participated in mission trips to Haiti to support a school and distribute water filters in rural areas without safe water. The congregation also supports American Baptist and Mennonite missionaries around the world, International Christian Partnership, and White Cross.
Leadership and Staff
Rev. Timothy D. Joyce serves as Lead Pastor. Katelyn Dilks directs the children's ministry, and Kimberlyn Brown directs the youth ministry. Cindy Winter leads the music ministry as Music Director, and Lance Bird coordinates the praise team. Theresa Williams serves as the church secretary, and Greg Harper as custodian.
The church is governed by a board structure that includes a Board of Deacons, Board of Trustees, Board of Mission, and Board of Christian Education, each meeting monthly. A Board of Deacons meets the first Thursday evening, the Board of Trustees the second Monday evening, the Board of Mission the second Thursday evening, and the Board of Christian Education the third Thursday evening.
Joining In
First Baptist Church of Woodstown is a small-town congregation with a wide network of ministry, from a choir loft that fills Wednesday evenings to a parking lot that turns into a food drive and a fellowship hall that hosts seniors playing games. The doors open every Sunday at 9:30 AM, and the YouTube livestream begins at the same time for those at home. Anyone looking for a church that takes the gospel seriously, builds family across generations, and serves its neighbors in practical ways will find a place here.