Living Word Baptist Church sits along Waterlick Road in Forest, Virginia, on the edge of the Lynchburg metropolitan area, and has grown into one of the most active congregations in Bedford County. The church describes itself as a Southern Baptist church whose members are committed to making disciples who love God, love others, and serve the world. What sets Living Word apart is the breadth of ministry gathered under one roof: two English-language worship services each Sunday morning, a parallel American Sign Language service for the Deaf, a three-year children's Bible curriculum, a robust student ministry for grades six through twelve, a thriving homeschool cooperative called Under the Son Academy, and a string of mission partnerships with prisons, pregnancy centers, and the Salvation Army. Senior Pastor Gary Yates, who has been a member of Living Word for more than ten years, says the goal of the church is that members become ministers, and that real growth happens when disciples use their gifts inside the body and beyond it.
A Church Built on Three Anchors
Living Word Baptist Church's mission statement reads: "Living Word exists to make disciples who love God, love others, and serve the world." The three phrases are not abstract slogans but the organizing principle for every program on the campus.
The first anchor, loving God, plays out on Sunday mornings. The congregation gathers in the sanctuary at 9:00 AM and again at 10:30 AM for corporate worship and Bible teaching. Worship is led by Amanda Phillips, and the pastor's chair is filled by Gary Yates, who has preached through the Ten Commandments, the Psalms, the Gospel of Mark, and the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. Sermons are available as video, audio, and Scripture text on the church's media page, and a livestream of the service is broadcast through the church's online media hub.
The second anchor, loving others, is centered on Life Groups. Life Groups are small gatherings that meet in homes and on the church campus, with both Sunday morning and midweek options. Pastor Yates has written that the groups facilitate prayer, friendship, and encouragement, and that their continued multiplication is one of the marks of health at Living Word.
The third anchor, serving the world, is worked out through ministry teams. Members can plug into nursery, children's, student, men's, women's, worship, media, safety, and welcome teams, as well as partner ministries such as Kairos Prison Ministry, the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, and the Salvation Army of Lynchburg.
Two Sunday Morning Services and a Third in Sign Language
The main Sunday gathering at Living Word happens twice. The first service begins at 9:00 AM and the second at 10:30 AM. Both services follow the same shape: a time of musical worship, congregational prayer, and expository teaching from Scripture. Nursery is available for both services, and Children's Church is offered during both hours for children ages three through fifth grade.
What makes the 10:30 AM hour distinctive is that it overlaps with the Living Word Deaf Church, a complete worship service held in American Sign Language in room 600. Pastor John Wyble oversees this ministry and describes the Deaf Church as a visual way to worship. "The only thing different about the deaf is that we can't hear, so our eyes are our ears," Wyble explains. The Deaf Church maintains its own Facebook presence and serves as a worshiping community for deaf believers across the region.
First-time visitors are invited to stop by the Welcome Center in the church lobby for directions and a thank-you gift. There is no dress code: jeans and a t-shirt sit comfortably alongside suits and ties, and the church's own description is that no matter what you wear, "you will feel welcome and unjudged."
Sunday Evenings and the Mid-Week Gathering
Sunday at Living Word does not end at noon. At 5:00 PM the building fills again. Children gather for LWBC Kids, where they participate either in play practice or in TeamKid, a discipleship program that takes them deeper into Bible skills. Middle and high school students split between the High School and JV rooms for a brief time of biblical teaching before breaking into Life Groups for discussion and application. Several adult Life Groups also meet at this hour; their lineup is listed on the church's Life Groups page.
On Wednesday nights the student ministry takes over the High School room from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. JV and high school students meet together in a combined large group for worship and biblical teaching. Children's TeamKID also meets Wednesday evenings, giving children in third through fifth grade their own time to study Scripture and develop Bible skills in age-appropriate ways.
For adults who prefer mornings, a Coffee & Bible Study gathers in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 AM every Thursday except the first Thursday of the month. The first Thursday of the month, at 9:30 AM, belongs to the MomMe Group, a fellowship for mothers with young children; childcare is provided.
Children from Birth Through Fifth Grade
The children's wing of Living Word is built on a three-year plan. On Sunday mornings during both the 9:00 and 10:30 AM services, children walk through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation over a three-year cycle. They begin in a large group session where they hear the Bible story, review what they have learned, and worship together, then move into small groups where activities reinforce the lesson. Children's Ministry Director Niky Brooks oversees the program and welcomes volunteers who want to serve either weekly or on a rotating schedule.
On Sunday nights at 5:00 PM, children who want to participate in the children's choir have the opportunity to do so, with two plays staged every year - one to kick off Vacation Bible School and one for Christmas. Children who would rather not be on stage are given an alternate lesson during that hour.
For the youngest members of the church family, the Nursery serves children from birth through two years old. The nursery is located in the church lobby next to the restrooms, and a volunteer meets each family at the nursery entrance to help with the check-in process. Nursery Director Joy Knapton oversees the care and welcomes new volunteers who want to serve.
Student Ministries for Grades Six Through Twelve
Living Word's Student Ministries serve young people from sixth grade through the senior year of high school. On Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, students gather in a large group to explore key biblical concepts, then break into small groups to discuss and apply them. On Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, the JV and high school students meet together for worship and biblical teaching.
The student ministry is led by Youth Director Elijah Romick, with Jason Sherwin also serving as a Youth Director and Evan Harris as Assistant Youth Director. Beyond the weekly rhythm, the ministry hosts youth events throughout the year and welcomes adults who feel called to mentor middle school or high school students. Service opportunities include teaching, leading small group discussions, helping at events, and discipling students one-on-one.
Life Groups, Men, Women, and Seniors
Life Groups are the primary small-group experience at Living Word. Groups meet on Sunday mornings and at various points during the week, in homes and on campus, providing a setting for prayer, friendship, and the kind of encouragement that makes Christian discipleship tangible. Contact for Life Groups runs through Lauren Reynolds.
Men's Ministry offers encouraging fellowship for men ages eighteen and older, with a variety of events held throughout the year, including a monthly men's breakfast. Josh Boyd and Zach Willis help coordinate the ministry.
Women's Ministry, led by Kristina Smith, provides regular opportunities for Bible study and fellowship. Past events have included paint nights, fellowship walks, and bingo nights, and the ministry also runs service projects such as a school supply drive for local teachers and hosts weekly studies and yearly conferences.
For senior adults, the Adult Ministries Luncheon meets on the second Friday of each month at 11:30 AM. The luncheon gives senior adults a chance to fellowship over a meal and to hear updates on what God is doing in the community. Matt Short coordinates this gathering.
Under the Son Academy: A Homeschool Cooperative
One of the most distinctive ministries at Living Word is Under the Son Academy (UTSA), a homeschool cooperative that began in 2001 with a handful of families and has since served hundreds of students. UTSA operates as an educational ministry of the church and serves families in Forest and the greater Lynchburg area.
UTSA gathers weekly from mid-August through mid-May, meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays. The cooperative offers classes for students from preschool through twelfth grade, with families choosing from an array of classes to fit their individual needs. The program also coordinates field trips and activities throughout the year that strengthen relationships within the homeschool community.
Reaching Out: Kairos, Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, and the Salvation Army
Living Word's commitment to serving the world takes concrete form in three long-standing partnerships. Through Kairos Prison Ministry, trained volunteers enter correctional facilities in Central Virginia to share the gospel with incarcerated men and women. The Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center partnership sends Living Word volunteers to mentor expectant mothers through life-skill classes, culminating in a baby shower at the end of the program. And every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 PM, members of Living Word drive to the Salvation Army in Lynchburg to feed the hungry and help with cleanup, either on a weekly or rotating schedule.
The Salvation Army service is one of the most accessible points of entry for new volunteers: no teaching or specialized skill is required, only a willingness to show up and serve a meal.
What Living Word Believes
Living Word's doctrinal statement affirms a conservative, evangelical, Baptist set of beliefs. The church holds that the Old and New Testaments are the inerrant, inspired, and infallible Word of God, and that Scripture is the final authority for faith and life. It teaches that there is one God who has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It affirms that humanity was created in God's image, that the sin of Adam marred that image, and that every person is born in sin and under its penalty.
The church believes that the only way to a forgiven relationship with God is through Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose physically from the grave. Living Word affirms the literal, physical return of Jesus to judge the living and the dead, and holds that salvation is a free gift received by faith alone through grace alone. Good works are not necessary for salvation but demonstrate the reality of saving faith.
The church teaches that the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the body of Christ at conversion, permanently indwells them, and empowers them for ministry and service. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ, Living Word teaches, is a local body of believers on mission to enlarge God's kingdom, and the local church is autonomous. The two ordinances observed are believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper. Living Word supports the SBC Cooperative Program and individual missionaries and rejoices when members are called to cross-cultural ministry around the world.
Becoming a Member and the Church Covenant
Visitors who decide to make Living Word their church home are invited into the Discovering Church Membership class, which meets once a month in room 300 or in the Fellowship Hall, with lunch provided. The class covers the history, culture, and ministries of Living Word, introduces the leadership team, and explains what membership involves. Each prospective member is asked to share a five-minute testimony of how they came to faith in Christ. After the class, members sign the Church Covenant and are presented to the congregation the following week for a vote.
The Church Covenant is a serious and beautiful document. Members promise to trust and obey the Word of God, to promote and protect the unity of the church, to walk in Christian love, to seek reconciliation when wronged, to submit to the leaders Christ has placed over them, to give cheerfully and regularly of their time and money, to engage actively in worship and fellowship, and to be faithful kingdom witnesses. There is also a Watchcare Membership option for students who wish to retain their home church membership while being cared for by Living Word during their school years.
Leadership at Living Word
Gary Yates serves as Senior Pastor and oversees the preaching and overall direction of the church. Scott Phillips serves as Executive Pastor, John Wyble as Pastor of Deaf Ministries, and Matt Short as Minister of Pastoral Care. Amanda Phillips leads the worship ministry, and Elijah Romick directs the student ministry, with Jason Sherwin and Evan Harris assisting.
The children's ministry is led by Niky Brooks, and the nursery is led by Joy Knapton. Kaitlyn Gokey serves as Office Manager and is a primary point of contact for general inquiries. A team of lay elders - Kurt Bricker, Nathan Haefer, Luis Rodriguez, Chris Smith, Josh Waltman, and Lee Wigmore - shepherd the congregation alongside the pastoral staff. Each ministry area has its own coordinator or team leader, and a media team under Jeremiah Wyble handles the church's livestream, video, and IT needs.
Living Word Press and the Wider Reach
Living Word Press is the publishing imprint of the church, hosted at lwbcpress.com. Through it, sermons and teaching are made available in written form, extending the church's teaching ministry beyond Sunday morning. The church's sermons are also available as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, and the video archive lives on the church's YouTube channel.
One Night in Bethlehem
Each December, Living Word hosts One Night in Bethlehem, a live walk-through Nativity experience that allows visitors to step back in time and encounter the town of Bethlehem on the night of Jesus's birth. Now in its fourth year, the event draws families from across Forest and the greater Lynchburg area and has become one of the church's signature community offerings during the Christmas season.
A Place to Call Home
Living Word Baptist Church is, in the words of its own pastor, "a great congregation made up of followers of Jesus who love the Lord and who encourage and serve each other as they grow together in Christ." With its two Sunday morning services, its sign-language Deaf Church, its cradle-to-graduation discipleship pathway, its Life Group network, its homeschool cooperative, and its three mission partnerships, the church offers something for nearly every age and stage of life. Members who have been at Living Word for years describe it as family, and newcomers are welcomed with the same warmth. At Living Word, the saying goes, "when you are here, you are home."