Take time to explore and find out ways you can get involved in all that’s happening here, because there’s a lot – and this is a place for you.
Parent Newsletter
Stay up to date on everything happeningStudent Newsletter
Stuff for studentsEmail Terri Jones and we’ll send you news printed on real paper.
Here’s what’s happening soon…
October 13
6th|7th|8th Grades
The most hype all night outreach event for 6th, 7th, & 8th graders!! On Friday, October 13th, we will kick off our program in the Worship Center of First Woodway at 10:30pm. Following our program at the church, we will grab some delicious pizza, play all the games we can at Main Event, go skating, play the most intense game of dodgeball, and so much more. Pick up at 7:00am on the dot! Cost is $60 and online registration opens on September 20th. Registration will close when we reach our cap OR on October 11th – whichever happens first.
Sundays
Sunday Mornings
9:30am
Jr. High in The MAC
High School in The Venue
Sunday Morning Bible Study for youth! We have some great teachers (you can check out who they are on the Youth Staff tab) and a great opportunity to explore the Bible together. Junior Highs (grades 6th, 7th, 8th) meet in The MAC room A200 to start the hour. Then break out into smaller groups (rooms listed below). High Schoolers (grades 9th, 10th, 11th) meet in The Venue main room. Seniors meet in The Venue back room.
Junior High Sunday School break out rooms:
6th Grade Boys – room A125
6th Grade Girls – room A203/youth
7th Grade Boys – room A124
7th Grade Girls – room A211
8th Grade Boys – room A128/party room
8th Grade Girls – room A210
Sunday Nights – Fall 2023
7:37pm
The MAC Room A200
Beginning Sunday, September 10
Last one for fall semester is December 3
CONNECT.with a core group
GROW.through discipleship
SERVE.as Christ teaches
Here at First Woodway, we take discipleship ministry very seriously. In our 7:37 Discipleship Groups, students meet with a group of peers…his or her age and his or her gender. Each group has two college leaders that help them to grow in Christian faith and practice. We have a great line up of leaders for the fall!
Come and be a part of the spiritual backbone of our entire ministry. It is your chance to mature into a faith that you can use. It all takes place each Sunday at 7:37pm in The MAC room A200 on our campus. From there we break off into our small groups. Fall semester 2023 begins on Sunday, September 10 and wraps up on Sunday, December 3.
Wednesdays
PRIME TIME – for Junior Highs
6:30pm in The MAC*
Just what you need in the middle of the week—an opportunity to gather with your friends for some great fun and spiritual encouragement. All 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are welcome to come to the MAC each and every Wednesday at 6:30 for game competitions, fun mixers, student testimonies, great worship, and a relevant talk. We’re done at 7:45.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE – for High Schoolers
7:00pm in The Venue
WNL is live and in person! This is your time to gather with other students for authentic worship through great music, hilarious skits, student testimonies, and a talk that will give solid direction for living out your faith commitment. Join us in The Venue every Wednesday at 7:00. This is the place for you to learn, grow, and reach out to your friends throughout the school year.
Social Media
To keep up with all the latest, follow our youth pages on the following social media platforms:
Instagram – @firstwoodwayyouth
Class of 2024 Seniors:
This is your year and this is your page!
First things first…
Passion 2024
January 3-5, 2024
It’s time to get serious about this incredible opportunity. Even though this is a conference designed for college students, Passion allows high school seniors to participate. It all takes place in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. To find out all of the featured speakers, worship artist and more, go to Passion 2024. The magnitude of this conference will absolutely blow you away. We have the tickets to the conference, the group flight reserved and the hotel rooms all set to take this amazing group of seniors! The total cost will be $600 total. Final balance is due by November 27. To read all of the travel details, click here.
Registration opened up (paying $100 deposit online) on August 20 and immediately filled up. But have no fear…we are working on adding some more spots. To be added to the waiting list, click here.
SONDAYS CAMP
Save the date for Sondays Camp 2024 – July 7-12, 2024!
For 2023: If your camper had medication (Rx) at the clinic, please email Terri to make arrangements to pick it up.
Summer 2024 Youth Mission Opportunities
Summer 2024 mission opportunities will be posted here soon! Keep checking back here for all the info.
Youth Staff
mattMcCLURE (Youth Pastor: THE guy)
coming from Oklahoma, Matt is the new guy around here and still learning his way around Waco. Matt has been a youth pastor for 25 years and is excited to be in here. Matt grew up on a farm in small-town Oklahoma and went to college at Oklahoma State. God had a totally different plan for Matt than life in agriculture, and that was one in youth ministry. Matt recently moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma where he served at the same church for the last 16 years. Matt and his wife Melissa have been married for 22 years and have two kids, both of which are in the youth ministry! If you have yet to meet Matt, then swing by the office or grab him on a Sunday or Wednesday at First Woodway!
meredithMORTON (Associate Minister: Middle School)
starting as the cutest little 7th grader, Meredith grew up in the ministry before departing for the mountains and the University of Arkansas – ending up with a degree in International Relations. After college, she spent a year studying in the Kanakuk Institute before starting her masters at Truett Seminay. After graduating, she moved into a full-time position– and is giving leadership to our ministry to middle school students. She is passionate about the opportunity to work with her junior highs. Meredith is definitely the best athlete on the staff, having excelled at volleyball, basketball, and softball in high school. She loves reading, hanging out with friends, and spontaneous adventures of any kind with her brand new husband, Tom.
terriJONES (Student Ministry Assistant)
came on board in this important position in 2013. She keeps all of this madness so very well organized, and we love her for it. Terri comes from Sweetwater, where she hung out at the Dairy Queen on weekends. After graduating from Angelo State University, she made a choice to move to Dallas. It was there that she met her future husband, David. Her present children, Allison (a Texas A&M graduate) and Sam (a Texas A&M student) continue to daily rise up and call her blessed. She enjoys walking, reading, and baking. Everyone loves Terri, mostly because of her pies.
jasonFLETCHER (Youth Associate)
has served faithfully for the past five years as a volunteer and intern but now has moved into an associate role. Unlike everyone else, he is not home grown but grew up in Arlington. After graduating from Baylor, he taught chemistry (yuck) at Midway High School for one year. He now has chosen wisely and has come back on our staff, even as he goes full-time with his studies at Truett Seminary and the School of Education. Jason excelled in sports and was active in his youth ministry during his high school years. He loves reading, working out, playing piano, and hanging with his friends. He once broke his front tooth while trying to scare his mom getting out of her car; that obviously did not go well. Jason is a great speaker, mentor, and loyal team player. He also drives a truck.
THE INTERNS
As always, we have a great group of interns serving in our ministry. This year is no different. All of these servant leaders grew up in our ministry and are presently pursuing degrees at Baylor:
zachBROWN is finishing up his second year as an intern and gives solid leadership within our worship ministry. He played soccer in high school but also excelled in the musical arts department. Now at college, he loves hanging out at the library and with Libby his girlfriend, as well as Hank his dog.
walkerGARRETT started working this semester as a utility player helping with teaching and worship. In high school, he was a chaplain for the football team and was also all-state in choir (which is really hard to do). He is an avid outdoorsman and loves the USA, USA, USA!
By the way, all of our interns drive trucks. It’s a Texas thing.
Sunday Morning Team
High School Teachers
High School Department Director: Rodney Bowden
Assistant: Leighanne Fischer
12th Grade: Darrell Janecka, Cindy Janecka, Shannon Johnson
11th Grade Guys: Rodney Bowden, Brent Baker
11th Grade Girls: Niki Edwards, Emily Baker
10th Grade Guys: Alan Bowden, Ben Erlanson
10th Grade Girls: Angie Wood, Kristy Erlanson
9th Grade Guys: Shon Sanders, Mike Meline
9th Grade Girls: Bailey Lopez, Shelly Meline, Cindy Mosel
Junior High Teachers
Junior High Department Director: Jay Fischer
8th Grade Guys: Brandon Oates, Derek Stephens
8th Grade Girls: Haley Winkleman
7th Grade Guys: Kyle Miller, Jon Capron
7th Grade Girls: Kelly Capron, Robin Sanders
6th Grade Guys: Patrick Kekic, Ryan Hisel
6th Grade Girls: Dana Bowden, Rene Kekic
7:37 Team
High School Discipleship Leaders
12th Grade Guys: Harrison Escue, Jason Fletcher, Joey Leeper
12th Grade Girls: Sofia Aguilera, Casey Hoffmire, Julianna Lewis, Libby Noesen
11th Grade Guys: Michael Mize, Zach Smith
11th Grade Girls: Rachel Reeves, Caroline Steen
10th Grade Guys: Zach Brown, Mason Roye
10th Grade Girls: Faith Lauderdale, Emily Mosley
9th Grade Guys: Walker Garrett, Cody Glanzer
9th Grade Girls: Ayden Davoody, Abby Grace Edwards
Junior High Discipleship Leaders
8th Grade Guys: Ryan Jones, Caleb Wilson
8th Grade Girls: Rahya Gupta, Grace Powell
7th Grade Guys: Matthew Bouydston, Ethan Odermann
7th Grade Girls: Taylor Frost, Madi Jones
6th Grade Guys: Matthew Cox, Andy Gauer
6th Grade Girls: Hannah Ellison, Meredith Morton
SLT (Student Leadership Team)
Every year we invite any and all of our juniors and seniors to join us in the leadership of our ministry through our SLT (Student Leadership Team).
Ministry is only effective if the students get involved and claim it as their own. We invite students to serve on a few different focus groups according to their interests. Groups typically meet one Sunday a month to talk over ideas and important events.
Here the areas of involvement:
:: PROGRAMS TEAM
:: SKIT TEAM
:: SPIRITUAL FORMATION TEAM
If you are a junior or senior in high school, you are welcome to join SLT. Meetings are typically held the 2nd Sunday of each month.
In the vault we have the latest First Woodway youth videos. All available for your viewing pleasure… or mozy on over to youtube to watch some of our classics.
Follow First Woodway Youth on Social Media
First Woodway | 101 Ritchie Road, Waco TX 76712 | 254.772.9696