About Us
At Woodville UMC we strive to offer "radical hospitality" to all. Our goal is to be a deeply welcoming church. After all, as the apostle Paul said, "welcome others as Christ has welcomed you." Jesus spent a great deal of time finding ways to welcome people. He instructed the disciples to feed the crowds of hungry people even when they didn't know from where the food would come. Jesus met people where they were. By God's grace we strive to offer the kind of welcome that goes deeper than basic friendliness. Let me share with you a powerful story.
A man named Roger Swanson tells the story of his own childhood. He came from a poor family and got into trouble often. One day he and a friend were lurking around a local church in their neighborhood. they decided to break into the basement of that church and that's just what they did. While playing pool in the youth center they were surprisedwhen the pastor walked into the room. they knew that surely the police would surely be called; but something else entirely different happened. The pastor opened his hand and in the palm of his hand was a key. The pastor said to Roger and his friend, "Here's a key to the church, now you can come any time you like." This act of radical welcome and hospitality changed Roger Swanson's life forever. He began attending the church, went to college with the assistance of that church, felt the call to ministry and became a United Methodist paster. It all began because someone chose to turn a moment of mischief into an opportunity for redemption.