A Letter From Your Pastor

  • March 2026

    Tyler Armstrong

    March 2026

    Dear Church Family,

    As we welcome the month of March, we rejoice in the signs of new growth and the promise of spring. This season brings with it a sense of renewal, both in nature and in our faith. My mom’s favorite flower is the daffodil. They are the first flowers I notice this time of year, and they always make me smile. Daffodils remind me of this truth: not even the grip of a cold winter can hold back the coming of spring. As the first flowers to bloom, they help us look forward to hopeful days when everything is alive and flourishing.

    Let us embrace this season of spiritual growth and reflection together as a church family.

    March Worship Services
    In March, we will continue our march toward Jerusalem in our Mark sermon series and begin our journey toward Jesus’ death and resurrection. This study has continued to edify me in my preparation for this and I pray, that as we approach Jerusalem with Jesus, may we ponder on His cross and His resurrection as we approach the Easter season.

    I pray this series will deeply edify our church family.

    Celebrating New Growth
    In the spirit of new growth, let us pause and celebrate the ways our church family is flourishing. Whether through personal milestones, spiritual maturity, or acts of love within our body, God is at work among us.

    We have welcomed new members into our faith family and continue to see guests each week. Our children’s ministry is growing—not only through visitors but also from within—as we continue to raise up our children to be faithful to Jesus. Praise the Lord for His kindness to us.

    Community Outreach
    This March, let us extend the warmth of the season to our community. Look for opportunities to plant seeds of kindness, offering encouragement and support to those around you. Acts of compassion are powerful expressions of Christ’s love.

    I recently heard a statistic that struck me: 9 out of 10 unchurched people would at least visit a church if invited—yet only 2 out of 100 church attenders actually invite someone.

    What might happen if we simply extended an invitation? How can you engage your neighbors, friends, and family? Sometimes growth begins with something as simple as an invitation.

    Prayer and Reflection
    As we see flowers bloom and life emerge around us, let us also cultivate our spiritual lives through prayer and reflection. Pray that our church would continue to grow—not merely in number, but in depth. Pray that God would strengthen our unity and bind us together in peace.

    May this season remind us of the ever-renewing grace of our Lord. Together, may we grow in faith, celebrate new beginnings, and share the love of Christ with one another and with our community.

    In His Love,
    Pastor Tyler Armstrong

  • February 2026

    Tyler Armstrong

    February 2026

    Faith Family,

    February invites a lot of talk about love but as the people of God, we know love did not begin with greeting cards or candlelit dinners. Love begins with God Himself. As we move into this month together, I want us to fix our attention on the kind of love that forms families, sustains the church, and sends us into the world on mission.

    Rooted in the Love of God
    Before we ever loved God, He loved us. That truth steadies us in every season. Scripture reminds us, “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). God’s love is not earned, negotiated, or fleeting. God’s love is covenantal, faithful, and unchanging. As a church family, this is the ground we stand on. Everything we do flows from the reality that we are deeply and permanently loved by our Father.

    Love That Shapes Our Life Together
    Because we have been loved so well, we are called to love one another well. The New Testament consistently connects the credibility of the church to the way we care for one another. This month, I want to encourage you to be intentional: check in on someone who may feel overlooked, extend patience where it’s difficult, and choose unity over preference. Our love for one another is not just felt, it is formative. It shapes our witness and strengthens our fellowship.

    Love That Moves Outward
    Biblical love never stays private. It presses outward in generosity, compassion, and service. February gives us a fresh opportunity to ask: “Who has God placed around me that needs to experience His love through action?” Whether through encouragement, hospitality, or tangible care, let’s be a church that makes the love of Christ visible in our community.

    A Church Praying in Love
    Finally, let’s commit ourselves to prayer. We should commit to praying for marriages, families, singles, widows, and those walking through hardship. Pray that our church would continue to grow not only in number, but in spiritual depth and Christlike love. Ask the Lord to guard our unity and to help us reflect His heart in all we do.

    Please mark your calendar for our Annual Valentine’s Day Fellowship on February 11th. This is always a joyful night together, and we’re looking forward to another fun Newlywed Game. God is at work among us, and it is a joy to shepherd this church family. Thank you for your faithfulness, your love for one another, and your commitment to the mission Christ has given us.

    In Christ,
    Pastor Tyler Armstrong

  • January 2026

    Tyler Armstrong

    January 2026

    Dear Woodward Avenue Baptist Church Family,

    Grace and peace to you as we enter 2026. A new year always invites us to pause, give thanks for God’s faithfulness, and look ahead with hope. Over the past year, we have walked together through joys, trials, and meaningful growth as a church family. Now we stand at the threshold of another year of ministry, called once again to pursue our purpose with steady devotion.

    In a world that often minimizes the value of long-term commitment, God’s people are invited to take the opposite posture…to plant our feet, set our hearts, and live with conviction. As we begin 2026, I want to encourage us to renew our commitment to the Lord, to one another, and to the mission entrusted to us. Joshua’s declaration still challenges us today: “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). That same clarity and resolve is what we seek as a church.

    To help us do that, we will once again focus on our church covenant during our Covenant Renewal Service on January 4th. These three commitments shape our life together:

    1. We will maintain a consistent commitment to Christ.
    Our first and highest devotion is to Jesus. As we enter this new year, let’s draw near to Him through prayer, gathered worship, and faithful engagement with His Word. May His presence guide our decisions, sustain our spirits, and anchor every aspect of our lives. Our commitment to Christ remains the foundation for the ministry of Woodward Avenue Baptist Church.

    2. We will maintain a consistent commitment to the Congregation.
    The church is a family God has knit together by grace. In 2026, let’s continue deepening our care for one another; encouraging, praying, supporting, and walking together through every season. When we love one another well, we reflect the heart of Christ and strengthen the witness of our church.

    3. We will maintain a consistent commitment to our Community.
    God has placed us here with purpose. Our neighbors, our city, and the Shoals community need to see and hear the hope of the gospel. Let’s approach this year with renewed intentionality; serving, blessing, sharing, and building relationships that point others to Jesus. Every act of kindness and every gospel conversation matters.

    As we embrace 2026, remember that commitment is formed not in grand moments but in the steady, faithful choices we make each day. If we give ourselves wholeheartedly to Christ, to one another, and to our mission, we can trust that God will do far more than we could imagine.

    My prayer is that this year will be marked by purpose, maturity, unity, and joy as we live out our covenant together.

    In Christ Jesus,
    Pastor Tyler Armstrong

  • December 2025

    Tyler Armstrong

    December 2025

    Faith Family,

    It’s hard to believe, but November has already slipped away and we now step into December—a month the global church has long marked as the beginning of Advent. Most of us know Advent as the season when we look ahead to celebrating Christ’s birth, but it’s also the start of a new Christian year. Advent invites us to slow down and remember that the story of redemption began with the Word made flesh. Christmas then carries us into Epiphany, when we recall the magi coming to worship the young Christ.

    For many, this is a beloved season. My wife and kids certainly love Christmas, especially since our Christmas decorations made an early appearance back in October. It’s a time filled with joy, tradition, and family. Yet at its heart, Advent is a season of longing. We celebrate the first coming of Jesus even as we look forward to His return. The pace of December can make it easy to forget that. Chad Bird once described Advent as the church’s “flat tire”—a moment when we stop, take notice, and remember that God is bringing all things toward His promised renewal. That work began in Bethlehem and continues through His church today. Christ is the new beginning our hearts have always needed. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

    I want to encourage you to stay connected with all that is happening this month as we walk through Advent together. We have several opportunities for worship, service, and fellowship with your church family.

    One event I especially hope you’ll prioritize is our Christmas Night of Worship on December 14th at 5pm. Pastor Tyler and our Worship Ministry have been preparing for months, and this evening is designed to help us center our hearts through prayer, reflection, and gathered worship. We’ll share a potluck finger food meal afterward as we continue in fellowship. I’d love to see our church show up in full force for this night.

    Looking ahead, mark your calendars for January 4th when we gather for our annual Covenant Renewal Service. This is always a meaningful moment in the life of our church. Together we reaffirm our commitment to live out the Gospel, to love one another, and to carry the message of Jesus into our community. We will hear from our pastors, reflect on what faithful church membership means, and then move into the Sanctuary for a time of worship and the Lord’s Supper.

    I’m grateful to walk through this season with you. May Christ draw our hearts toward hope as we anticipate His coming.

    In Christ Jesus,
    Pastor Tyler Armstrong

  • November 2025

    Tyler Armstrong

    November 2025

    Faith Family,

    What a busy and joy-filled October we shared together! I want to start by saying thank you for the incredible effort you put into our Fall Fest. We had such a great time spending the evening with our community and showing them the love of Jesus in such a simple way, through fun, fellowship, and even a little candy.

    I hope you also saw Halloween night as a Gospel opportunity. It’s one of the few times people you’ve never met show up right at your doorstep. What a gift to use that moment to extend kindness, conversation, and an invitation to church. I’m proud of how our church continues to live on mission throughout the Shoals, showing the love of Christ in everyday ways.

    As we step into November, our hearts naturally turn toward thankfulness. This season reminds us that every good thing comes from the hand of our faithful God. Take a moment this month to ask yourself, “What am I thankful for? How can I live out that gratitude each day?” Above all, we are thankful for Jesus Christ, the greatest gift we could ever receive, and because of Him, we can truly be the most thankful people on earth.

    As we step into the holiday season, we invite you to join our Holiday Meal. This is a cherished time of fellowship, laughter, and gratitude. The meal will be on November 23rd, immediately following the morning worship service.

    This meal is more than just good food, it’s a celebration of God’s faithfulness to our church family throughout the year. Come ready to share in the joy of community, to give thanks together, and to prepare our hearts for the Advent season.

    Looking ahead to 2026, I want you to go ahead and mark your calendars for January 4th. That Sunday will be our Covenant Renewal Service, one of the most meaningful days in our church year. From the beginning, Woodward Avenue Baptist Church has been united around a church covenant—a shared promise to love, serve, and grow together in Christ. During the Sunday School hour, our leadership plans to host a special time of walking through our Starting Point material with all members, much like we did last year. Then during our worship service, we’ll renew our covenant together as one family, looking forward to a new year of ministry and mission.

    Let’s pack the pews that day and begin 2026 with grateful hearts and a united purpose. I can’t wait to see what God has in store.

    In Christ,
    Tyler Armstrong

  • October 2025

    Tyler Armstrong

    October 2025

    Faith Family,

    With the onset of October, the fall season is in full swing. As the leaves change, we are reminded of God’s unchanging faithfulness in every season. In our neighborhood, there is this massive oak tree that I love to watch throughout the year. Last fall, I’ll never forget walking to my car and noticing that tree—it was breathtaking to see the colors. What’s crazy is that the tree is always there, but only sometimes do I stop long enough to notice its beauty. Isn’t that how life can be? We get so busy looking down at our schedules and responsibilities that we forget to look up and marvel. Paul reminds us in Colossians to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” So when you see the fall foliage in the coming weeks, let it be a reminder to lift your eyes beyond the busyness and to fix them on the Lord.

    October is a busy and exciting month, and I want to keep you informed about all that’s happening within our church family. Let’s look to Jesus together.

    First, let’s thank God for our deacons. At the end of the month of September, we nominated new deacons for the 2026 Ministry Year. Our deacons play such an important role in the life of the church—serving, caring, and helping us stay focused on the mission God has given us. Be sure to pray for and encourage them in the months ahead and be on the lookout for some exciting updates from our deacon body.

    Next, one of our biggest events of the year is coming soon—Fall Fest on Sunday, October 26th from 4–6 PM! This is always such a fun and meaningful opportunity to welcome our neighbors and love our community. We’ll have carnival-style games, food, and activities for all ages. If you would like to help by hosting a game, let us know! Most importantly, invite your friends, family, and neighbors. Let’s be the family they need.

    Finally, mark your calendars for our next Family Meeting on Sunday, November 2nd. This is always a special time to celebrate what God is doing among us, look ahead together, and walk in unity as a church family.

    Keep being the church, WABC. Your pastor loves and appreciates you.

    In Christ,
    Tyler Armstrong

  • September 2025

    Tyler Armstrong

    September 2025

    To my favorite church,

    Can you believe it’s already September? With September comes fall weather—those cool mornings and warm days—and that means FOOTBALL IS FINALLY BACK! One evening recently, I was fishing with my family, and a cool breeze was blowing. I thought to myself, “Fall is finally here.”

    What a fantastic summer we’ve had together! In July, we welcomed Emory Ann Armstrong into our family, and what a sweet addition she has been. We had a wonderful August as a family, adjusting to life as a family of five. THANK YOU for all the kind notes, gifts, gift cards and meals that have been brought to us during this precious season of our lives. We can’t wait for you to meet her.

    When I first arrived at WABC, one of our main focuses was to answer the question: Who is Woodward Avenue Baptist Church, and who are its members? Regenerate, healthy church membership is deeply important to me as a Baptist pastor, and it plays a crucial role in the health
    of a church.

    This month, we will be hosting our Membership Gathering for prospective members and anyone who is interested in learning more about WABC. Starting Point will be held on September 14th, following the morning service. During Starting Point, we walk through everything you need to know about Woodward Avenue Baptist Church. We will cover topics such as:

    • Our church history
    • Our church finances
    • The components of our church (worship services, Sunday School & service opportunities)
    • What church membership means at WABC
    • Expectations of church members and what WABC provides for its members
    • Our Church Covenant
    • Next Steps

    This is a wonderful opportunity, and I encourage you to invite someone to come to Starting Point. You can sign up at the Welcome Counter, the Adult Education Building desk or by calling the church office.

    This month, we are also starting two new adult Sunday School classes. Since Pastor TK’s arrival, we have launched three new classes, with an emphasis on life stages in order to foster deeper community in our church. If you’re not yet involved in Sunday School class, this is the perfect time to get connected.

    As always, the best is yet to come for us at WABC. This fall semester is going to be exciting as we kick off on September 3rd with our regular Wednesday night gatherings! I cannot wait to see what God continues to accomplish among us and through us.

    May you be with Jesus, become more like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.

    In Christ Jesus,
    Pastor Tyler

  • August 2025

    Tyler Armstrong

    August 2025

    A Season of Growth at Woodward Avenue

    As we step into August and prepare for a new school year, it’s clear that God is doing something special in our church family. This season has been marked by growth—not just in numbers, but in joy, connection, and the deepening of our community life.

    One of the most beautiful signs of that growth is the arrival of new little ones into our church family. We are thrilled to celebrate the birth of several new babies, including our own daughter, Emory Ann Armstrong. Her arrival has reminded Ryann and me of the incredible gift it is to raise children in the context of a loving, faith-filled church family. These new births are not just sweet additions to the nursery—they’re a visible sign that the Lord is building the next generation right here among us.

    In July, we had the joy of dedicating one child to the Lord during our worship service—a precious moment where parents, family, and our entire church committed to raising that child to know and follow Jesus. We’re looking forward to another special baby dedication this August, continuing this meaningful tradition that reflects our church’s deep investment in family discipleship.

    We’re also celebrating what God is doing in the hearts of our children. This summer, one child has been baptized—a beautiful testimony of new life in Christ—and we are looking forward to two more baptisms planned for August. These moments of public faith are reminders that God is at work, calling even the youngest among us to follow Him.

    Alongside these growing families, we’ve also seen new guests joining us each week, and for that, we give thanks. Whether it’s someone new to the area, a friend invited to worship, or a family looking for a fresh start, we rejoice in the chance to welcome them in the name of Jesus. If you see a new face in the pew beside you, take a moment to introduce yourself and share a word of encouragement—God is using simple conversations like those to draw people deeper into community and closer to Christ.

    This month, we’re launching our fall outreach theme: “Come Home to Woodward Avenue.” We believe church should feel like family, a place of welcome, of belonging, of grace and truth. “Come Home” isn’t just a slogan; it’s an invitation to every prodigal, every neighbor, every family longing for purpose and peace. As school gets underway and routines settle in, let’s be faithful to invite others to find their place here at Woodward Avenue.

    Let’s lean into this season of growth with joy, hospitality, and prayerful expectation. The Lord is at work, and the best is yet to come.

    In Christ,
    Pastor Tyler

  • July 2025

    Tyler Armstrong

    July 2025

    Faith Family,

    The dog days are here in the Shoals, and with it, a season full of life and energy within our church. June was a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness—from the joy of Vacation Bible School to the impact made at student camp and the encouragement we found through our Southern Baptist Convention. I’m continually thankful for the ways the Lord is moving in and through Woodward Avenue Baptist Church. My prayer is that we keep our eyes open to His work and keep our hearts ready to follow Him.

    As we move deeper into summer, I want to take a moment to center our focus on something foundational—freedom in Jesus Christ.

    Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

    In a culture filled with noise, expectations, and burdens, Jesus offers us true freedom—freedom from sin, freedom from shame, freedom from striving to earn what He has already given. This freedom is not an excuse to live for ourselves, but a call to live joyfully under the grace of God.

    Church family, this kind of freedom changes everything. It reshapes how we worship, how we relate to one another, how we serve, and how we walk through trials. It gives us peace in chaos and purpose in every season. This summer, I encourage you to rest in the freedom Christ offers and to reflect that freedom in your relationships, conversations, and service.

    God is doing a beautiful work in our church, and I believe He is preparing us for even greater things as we head into the fall. Let’s keep praying, giving, loving, and serving—together—as a people who have been set free.

    And he (Jesus) said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” – Luke 10:2

    In Christ,
    Pastor Tyler

  • June 2025

    Tyler Armstrong

    June 2025

    Woodward Avenue Family,

    As summer begins, we’re excited to share all the wonderful events and opportunities for fellowship we have planned for our church family. We encourage you to join us and bring along friends and family to share in the joy and community of Woodward Avenue Baptist Church.

    Vacation Bible School: June 2nd-5th, 5:30–8:00 PM:

    Our much-anticipated Vacation Bible School (VBS) is just around the corner! From June 2nd to June 5th, children and volunteers will gather from 5:30 to 8:00 PM for an unforgettable week of learning, fun, and faith.

    This year’s VBS theme is Magnified, based on Psalm 34:3—“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” Our goal is to help children see how big and glorious our God truly is and invite them to respond in worship and trust. There will be engaging Bible teaching, exciting activities, and lots of laughter. It’s a wonderful opportunity for kids to grow in their faith and build lasting friendships. We encourage all our church members to invite their friends and neighbors to join us. Let’s make this VBS the best one yet!

    Faith Family Summer Nights: Beginning June 18th:

    Summer is a time for coming together, and our Faith Family Summer Nights are the perfect way to do that. Beginning Wednesday, June 18th, we’ll gather each week at for encouraging and fun evenings centered around worship and fellowship.

    June 18th – Family Worship Night (Activities Building): A special night designed for families to share a meal and worship together through music, Scripture, and prayer.

    June 25th – Worship at the Park (Gattman Park): Bring your lawn chairs, a picnic meal and picnic blankets and join us to worship together outdoors in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.

    Let’s Be Inviting This Summer!

    Summer provides a natural opportunity to reach out and invite others. Whether it’s Vacation Bible School, a Wednesday night event, or our Sunday morning worship service, these gatherings are a great chance for others to experience the love and community of Christ through our church family. Be prayerful and intentional about who you can invite—we believe God will use your invitations to change lives.

    Pastor Tyler

    Lead Pastor