VITAL Conversations with Pastor David & Elizabeth Woolwine
Vital Conversations: Lessons Learned from the Margins.
Name: David Woolwine
Spouse: Elizabeth Woolwine
Kids: Isaac, Josiah, Japheth
Church: Ignite Church
How long served at Ignite:
3 months
Other churches served at:
Mercy Crossings (Martinsville VA), Northshore Worship Center (Covington LA), Cliffview COG (Galax VA). Served as youth pastor or volunteer at each and helping on worship teams.
How has God confirmed His calling on your life?
After some life events and very trying times, I tried to walk away from ministry. In the middle of me isolating myself, God began stirring my heart again. I was getting ready to reach out and get my feet wet in preaching again and I found myself interim pastoring in an emergency situation. Once the situation was resolved we were lead to Cliffview Church where Jackie Poe ended up bringing us on as youth pastors and sent us through MIP. God used the avenue of that situation to lead me to the people that could help me get where I needed to be and to get the training and mentorship I needed.
How has God proven His faithfulness in your ministry?
In finishing MIP, I wasn't really sure what was next. It would have been almost impossible for us to move anywhere because of leaving my job. It's difficult to support a family of five, especially as a pastor. There were some great people that sowed into our ministry and allowed me to take the first six months to focus on the church and not worry too much about getting a secular job right away. But also, while going through that isolation period we started farming and it had become a passion for us. I like to think we would have sold all the animals if God called us to but it never came to that. We found local people who are allowing us to move our farm animals onto their land for no cost. We already have our 3 cows with us; I'm bringing the chickens this week and they will be followed by our flock of 25 sheep and guardian dogs. God has met every one of our needs and has enabled us to put everything we have into Ignite. Even the things we could do without, He's been there every step of the way.
Why do you enjoy pastoring your local congregation?
As a congregant or as a youth pastor you only got to see God working in certain people. As a lead pastor you get to see a much bigger picture, and you get to see God working in so many different ways and to be part of it is just so humbling. I GET to do this!
Why is your local congregation vital to your community?
I think that not just for our church but for every church we are a beacon of light. We are here with the Word of God, with mercy and grace and ready to be used by God to help meet the needs as they arise and to lead them to the source.
What is one valuable lesson you've learned from a misstep or mistake in handling a situation?
I haven't been here long enough to make any really bad mistakes yet so I'm going to have to go with just second guessing myself, asking myself if I handled something right or if i am handling it correctly. There are some situations that there are no easy answers for, and you have to get creative. I'm learning to make my decision based on what the Word says and what I'm hearing as I pray through it and stick with it even if it's not popular.
Have you had to think outside the box to accomplish a task or mission in the church and what was it?
We outgrew our children's area and needed room. We found a room that was sealed off and we tore down a wall which gave us more storage so we could use the existing storage space as a classroom. We now have a nursery, preschool, and elementary class for Sunday morning.
What are some of the future ministry goals for your church?
We want to open a food pantry. We want to be known as a place to go for struggling parents to get food or whatever they need.
