On East Loop 281 in Longview, Texas, Woodland Hills Baptist Church is known for Bible-centered worship, a broad music ministry, LifeGroups that extend beyond the church building, and ministries that welcome children, students, adults, seniors, and people with special needs. Its second campus, Woodland Hills at Mason Creek, carries the same emphasis on worship, fellowship, teaching, prayer, and service into another Longview setting.
Two Longview Campuses, One Church Family
Woodland Hills' Loop Campus is at 2105 East Loop 281, Longview, Texas 75605. Drivers coming from Longview take Loop 3.4 miles from the Walmart Supercenter toward Hallsville. The church is on the left just past Page Road, across from the Frito-Lay Distribution Center, and the property is easy to see from Loop.
The second congregation meets at Woodland Hills at Mason Creek, 14206 FM 968 West, Longview, Texas 75602. Nathan Mathias serves as campus pastor, while Evan Hill directs college ministry and also serves with youth at Mason Creek. Coffee and doughnuts begin at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, followed by worship at 9:30 and small groups at 10:45.
Senior Pastor Charles T. Hunt accepted the Woodland Hills pastorate in August 2004. During his tenure, the church experienced steady growth, built three new buildings, renovated four others, and continued major evangelism and missions outreach. Kason Kuykendall joined the pastoral team in June 2005, and Nathan Mathias became Mason Creek's pastor in 2021. That continuity of leadership supports the church's pronounced family atmosphere, in which mature members and several generations of their families regularly gather together.
Woodland Hills also has Perkins Memorial Chapel, used for funerals and memorial services. The campus remains a working community of worship rooms, classrooms, choir spaces, fellowship halls, ministry offices, and spaces for children and students.
Sunday at the Loop Campus
A full Sunday rhythm begins before the morning worship gathering and continues through the evening service. The Loop Campus schedule includes:
- 8:00 a.m.: LifeGroup for adults.
- 9:15 a.m.: Early Worship Service, with live streaming.
- 9:30 a.m.: LifeGroups for all ages.
- 10:45 a.m.: LifeGroups for all ages and the Worship Service, with live streaming.
- 4:45 p.m.: LifeGroup for adults.
- 6:00 p.m.: Youth, PreK, and children's choir practice, excluding summer.
- 6:00 p.m.: Worship and The Word, with live streaming.
Woodland Hills describes worship and Bible fellowship as the foundation of its ministry. The preaching is explicitly Christ-centered and text-driven, with Pastor Kason Kuykendall preaching at the 9:15 service and the Sunday evening service. The pastor also emphasizes strong biblical conviction, loving people, and a family atmosphere in which every person matters. The music is equally substantial, combining worship teams, adult and children's choirs, an orchestra, handbells, Southern Gospel ensembles, and signed worship.
The three Loop Campus worship gatherings are conducted in English. The 9:15, 10:45, and 6:00 p.m. services can be watched through the church's YouTube livestream, while recorded services and sermon videos are also available through YouTube and Facebook.
Wednesday: A Table, Then Study and Prayer
Wednesday is the church's broadest midweek gathering. The 5:15 p.m. Fellowship Meal in the Fellowship Hall, held excluding summer, is designed as a time for food, fellowship, and family connection. The church presents this meal as an expression of its desire to minister to the whole person: body, soul, and spirit.
- 11:15 a.m.: Co-ed Bible Study in Room C-107.
- 5:15 p.m.: Fellowship Meal, excluding summer.
- 6:00 p.m.: Children's activities, youth activities, and HillsPraise choir practice.
- 6:15 p.m.: Foundations of Faith in the Fellowship Hall and Follow Me Bible Study in Room C-107.
- 6:30 p.m.: The Prayer Gathering.
The Prayer Gathering reflects Woodland Hills' conviction that every believer has direct access to God through Jesus Christ. It provides a regular midweek setting for prayer, praise, and shared spiritual practice. For families, the evening also allows children and youth to participate in age-specific activities while adults attend Bible study or prayer.
Music Ministry: A Full Orchestra of Praise
Minister of Music Aaron Perkins has led the Woodland Hills music ministry since October 2003. His work covers a wide range of vocal, instrumental, dramatic, and signed expressions of praise. The goal is not simply to provide performance opportunities but to help people use their talents in worship and to prepare the congregation for the preaching of the Word.
- HillsPraise: The adult choir for ages 18 and older sings weekly in the Sunday morning service and rehearses Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. No audition is required, and the choir has presented major musical productions.
- Praise Orchestra: Auditioned musicians provide instrumental music in every Sunday morning service. The orchestra includes organ, piano, synthesizer, brass, woodwinds, guitars, drums, and other instruments.
- HillsHeart: An all-ages ladies ensemble that meets Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. It does not require an audition and has ministered through song in worship services, rest homes, and banquets.
- GloryLand: A mixed ensemble of men and women of all ages that sings Southern Gospel music and rehearses Wednesdays at 5:15 p.m. No audition is required.
- UKnighted and Glorify: Auditioned praise teams that lead worship on alternating Sundays. UKnighted rehearses Sunday afternoons at 4:00 p.m., while Glorify rehearses Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m.
- Boundless Love: A men's quartet that sings Southern Gospel and newer contemporary hymns. Its rehearsal is Tuesday at noon.
- HillsJoy: A ladies trio that ministered through song and formed another distinctive ensemble within the music ministry.
- RingLeaders: A handbell ensemble of men and women of all ages that rehearses Sunday afternoons at 4:45 p.m. and has played throughout Longview.
- SilentPraise: A sign ensemble that meets Sundays at 5:00 p.m. in Room A-205, adding another form of participation to congregational worship.
- KidsPraise and PreSchool Praise: Children's choirs that rehearse Sundays at 6:00 p.m. and present musicals and concerts.
Woodland Hills has also hosted guest artists including Guy Penrod, Gordon Mote, and The Hoppers. Its musical productions have drawn people from across East Texas, while the regular Sunday services remain centered on Scripture, worship, and the Word.
LifeGroups: Connect, Grow, and Serve
LifeGroups are the church's network of Bible-study communities. Their purpose is to help people connect with God and one another, grow in knowledge of God, and apply biblical truth to daily life. The classes also extend beyond the church building into the surrounding community with the love and truth of Jesus Christ.
Adult LifeGroups meet at 8:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m., and 10:45 a.m. Children's groups meet at 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. The range of groups reflects the variety of congregational life:
- Nursery and toddler classes.
- PreK and kindergarten.
- Grades 1 through 6.
- Youth groups for grades 7 through 12.
- College and young-adult classes.
- Young couples and couples.
- Men's and women's classes.
Pastor Kason oversees the LifeGroup ministry and the assimilation of newcomers. His stated aim is to move people from being spectators in the pews to active members of the church family. The phrase that summarizes the LifeGroup approach is simple: connect, grow, and serve.
Separate weekday Bible studies add further opportunities to study. A Ladies Bible Study meets Monday mornings at 9:30. Tuesday evening features Children of Issachar at 6:00 and a college Bible study at 6:30 during the school year. A co-ed class meets Wednesday at 11:15, while Foundations of Faith and Follow Me meet Wednesday evening at 6:15. The Huddle, a men's Bible study, gathers Thursday morning at 6:00 in the Parlor or by teleconference.
Children, Bridge 56, and the VIP Classroom
Woodland Hills begins children's ministry with the conviction that children are important to God. On Sunday mornings, children from nursery through fourth grade follow Lifeway's The Gospel Project. Its three-year curriculum presents God's story chronologically from Genesis through Revelation in a Christ-centered, age-aligned study.
After check-in, children have time for games and social gathering before joining a large-group Bible study. They then move into small groups to review the lesson and participate in hands-on activities. The aim is to help children understand the gospel, belong to the church family, and participate in their own age-level community.
Wednesday's gathering uses Lifeway's Hyfi curriculum, which connects Scripture with 12 biblical truths about identity in Christ. High-quality media, games, and side-by-side learning create a relaxed setting for biblical teaching, belonging, and relationship. The schedule rotates among a large-group gathering, game time, and small-group activities.
Bridge 56 serves preteens in grades 5 and 6. Its lessons, discussions, and interactive activities are designed to help students move from learning about faith toward owning it for themselves. The stated goal is to encourage each preteen to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and prepare for the next stage of life.
The VIP class provides a welcoming ministry for people with special needs. Volunteers provide individualized care and attention, with lessons, sensory-friendly activities, and an emphasis on meaningful relationships. The class is designed to help each participant experience God's love and grow in faith in a way that resonates with that person.
College, Careers, Couples, and Adult Ministry
Woodland Hills has specific ministry for college students and young adults, with community, meaningful friendships, Bible study, and spiritual growth at the center. The 412 College Ministry meets Tuesday evenings at 6:30 during the school year. The broader college and career group also engages in Sunday Bible study.
Adult ministry is divided among women, men, and couples. Paula Parker leads the Women's Ministry, which seeks to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of women in the church and community. Its focus includes growing in faith, building close friendships, and opportunities to serve and reach the community for Christ.
The Men's Ministry organizes activities and fellowship for men. Married adults, including newlyweds, young couples, midlife couples, and senior couples, grow through three classes combining Bible study, discipleship, friendship, fellowship, and opportunities to serve.
Seniors, Widows, and Generational Fellowship
Woodland Hills has an unusually large senior membership, including many deeply devoted Baptists whose families have been connected to the church across several generations. This gives the congregation a pronounced family dynamic, with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren participating alongside older members.
HillToppers gives senior adults a monthly rhythm of food, fun, and fellowship. The group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. For bereaved widows, the Widows Brigade offers Christ-centered grief support, prayer, friendship, and socialization. It meets from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the third Friday of each month in the Loop Campus Fellowship Hall, and all are welcome.
Recovery ALIVE! at Mason Creek
Recovery ALIVE! is a Monday evening ministry at Woodland Hills at Mason Creek. Everyone is welcome, and participants may stay for the entire gathering or for any part of it. The structured evening combines fellowship with worship, teaching, small groups, and conversation.
- 5:30 p.m.: Dinner and fellowship.
- 6:30 p.m.: Large-group worship and a speaker.
- 7:30 p.m.: Small groups for open sharing.
- 8:30 p.m.: Coffee gathering.
The small groups are divided by gender and provide a confidential, free-sharing atmosphere for discussing hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Childcare is provided for children age 10 and under, allowing families to participate in the meal and meeting together.
Bus Ministry and the Neighborhoods Beyond the Campus
Woodland Hills' transportation ministry is built by more than 20 trained drivers and monitors who volunteer many hours each week. Its purpose is to provide safe and efficient transportation to and from church services, particularly for families near Hallsville who need help arriving for the Sunday evening gathering.
Three routes serve Shady Grove, Day Star, Cornerstone Mobile Home Park, Eastwood Addition, Pinehurst Apartments, Longview Heights, the Redmon Road area, and Big Oak Mobile Home Park. The routes run on Sunday evenings, with school-year pickups taking place between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. Children in kindergarten and above may ride.
The bus team enforces clear safety expectations. Riders must enter and exit safely, remain seated, keep their bodies inside the windows, stay in assigned areas on church property, avoid food and drink, and follow the instructions of drivers, monitors, and accompanying adults. Riders are returned only to the place where they boarded.
Christian Education from Day School Through Academy
Christian education is a major part of Woodland Hills' ministry. The Woodland Hills Day School provides a separate early-education setting under the leadership of Denise Stewart. For older students, Woodland Hills Christian Academy serves PreK through 12th grade using the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum.
WHCA is one of more than 7,000 schools worldwide that use Accelerated Christian Education, whose program has a 30-year track record. Students advance as they master each academic concept rather than being held to an arbitrary conventional pace. Scripture memory verses and lessons on the character of Jesus Christ are woven through the curriculum, joining academic development with spiritual formation.
The Academy Alliance Foundation advances Christian education through Woodland Hills Christian Academy. Contributions support the operating costs of teachers and workers and provide scholarships for children and youth unable to afford the full tuition. The foundation specifically keeps its funding separate from building maintenance and upkeep.
Adult education is also supported through a 52-week online Bible study and the church's recurring classes. This educational emphasis appears throughout Woodland Hills: in LifeGroups, children's curriculum, college Bible study, leadership development through Bible classes, and the academy.
Prayer, Missions, Membership, and Giving
Prayer is woven throughout the church's life. Members are encouraged to pray for missionaries, the church, and one another. The church has sent mission teams to share the gospel internationally, and prayer for those workers remains part of its regular life. Prayer requests may be submitted anonymously, and email addresses are not posted.
Woodland Hills explains the Christian life as receiving Jesus Christ by personal invitation, trusting Him, and receiving new life through His death and resurrection. Church membership is open through three distinct paths:
- Profession of faith and baptism: For someone who has received Jesus as personal Savior and Lord and wishes to be baptized by immersion.
- Transfer by letter: For a Baptist who has trusted Christ, been baptized by immersion, and is transferring membership from another Baptist church.
- Statement: For someone coming from another denomination whose prior baptism by immersion was a testimony to faith already received rather than a means of salvation.
Financial giving is also available through secure online giving. The church teaches tithing as returning the first 10 percent as an act of obedience and connects that practice with the biblical promise of blessing.
What Woodland Hills Believes
Woodland Hills calls itself a family of believers and states its convictions plainly. Its teaching emphasizes the authority of Scripture, salvation through Jesus Christ, and the church as a gathered body of baptized believers.
- God: One God exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus: Jesus is the Son of God, wholly God and wholly man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as the sacrifice for humanity's sins, was buried, rose bodily, and ascended into Heaven.
- The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers, and He is the Comforter and Guide who lives in every believer.
- The Bible: The Bible is the Word of God without error and the sole authority for life and faith.
- Salvation: Salvation is a gift received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those truly saved are eternally secure in Christ.
- Baptism: Water baptism is an act of obedience to Christ and is by immersion after salvation.
- The Lord's Supper: The Lord's Supper is a memorial of Christ's death, with its elements serving as symbols of His body and blood. Participation is open to Christians and is preceded by solemn self-examination.
- The church and prayer: The church is a local body of baptized believers with Christ as its head, and each believer has direct access to God through Christ.
- Christ's return and eternity: Jesus will literally return to earth. Those who die in their sins without Christ spend eternity in Hell, while those whose sins are forgiven through Christ spend eternity in Heaven.
- Government: Woodland Hills believes in the separation of church and state, but not in separating God from government, and it holds that Christians are to engage society as salt and light.
Woodland Hills' mission is to magnify Jesus through worship and the Word, move believers toward maturity and ministry, and make Jesus known to neighbors and the nations. That purpose connects the Loop and Mason Creek worship gatherings with LifeGroups, music, education, children and youth ministries, recovery support, missions, prayer, and service. Woodland Hills Baptist Church's life in Longview is built around that shared commitment to biblical truth, active discipleship, and a church family extending across generations.