The Heat Retreat

Register here.

The Heat Retreat: July 26-28, 2013. This is THE event of the Summer. Don't miss it!

The Heat Retreat features relevant Biblical teaching, passionate worship and time to connect with God on your own and in small groups. It's a great way to connect with friends new and old, and have fun in the sun and water. We'll have boats for wake-boarding, tubing, knee-boarding and water skiing. 

Fall Retreat

Fall retreat is a weekend away to connect with God, grow deeper in community and enjoy the outdoors. Mark your calendar for October 11-13, 2013!

Snow Camp

Dynamic Worship, biblical teaching and a whole lot of winter fun! This is a great opportunity for you to grow deeper in your relationship with God and hang out with your friends. Includes live worship, devotional times, broomball tournament, small groups, games, great food! 

Missions Retreat

This is a 24-hour experience to learn, pray, and build community as we prepare for our mission trips to Chicago, Guatemala and Mexico.

Send Off Services

OCA Mission Send-Off         

Chicago Mission Send-Off           

Friday, June 14, 7-8 p.m.        Join us for prayer and final details as we bless our Chicago mission team before their Saturday morning departure.   Meet in the Hillside Rooms.

Chicago 2012

June 15-22, 2013

We team up with Sunshine Gospel Ministry. Sunshine Gospel Mission has over 100 years of experience in helping, serving and spreading the word of God to the inner-city of Chicago. Throughout the early years the work was known as the Moody Mission because it was founded by Moody Church on the north side of Chicago. The mission has since moved into the predominantly African-American Woodlawn community on Chicago's south side, with development endeavors to holistically minister to its Woodlawn neighbors. Sunshine Gospel Ministries is an incarnational ministry meaning that the ministry is not a summer ministry but is a constant running program that is a permanent part of the surrounding community.

Week at a Glance: Students will be involved in various work projects in schools, churches, or other buildings. There will be interactive Bible studies to engage students in discussion and help them understand the resources utilized by an inner-city ministry. There will also be ministry exposure through helping an inner-city ministry and students will be exposed to different cultures around the city.

Leadership: The group will travel under the direction of the Wooddale Church Sr. High staff and work with the Bridge Builders Coordinator at Sunshine Gospel Ministries.           

Cost & Support:The cost of the ministry trip is approx. $800. Each student or family will personally contribute a minimum of $200 and a maximum of $400. The additional amount will be raised through prayer and financial support from contributors. Cost includes all training, transportation, food, housing, materials and staffing costs. The students will be equipped to raise prayer and financial support in a low pressure fashion. Students will contact those who may be willing to pray for them and help them secure funds to assist the people of Chicago. Each student will be required to enlist 25 prayer supporters. The students will be given all the materials necessary to communicate their need and provide the opportunity for their supporters to contribute a tax-deductible contribution.

Requirements: Must demonstrate a personal faith in Jesus Christ and a desire to see others come to faith. Must attend training meetings, participate in a weekend retreat, read and sign a personal covenant outlining behavior expectations, complete required assignments and attend the Getting to Know Wooddale Seminar. Must be active in Wooddale Church, regularly attending worship services and Senior High.

Our purpose is to glorify God through serving in the inner city communities of Chicago for the purpose of reaching others for Christ.

Check out the Chicago blog here:  http://srhiurbantrip.blogspot.com/

Operation Central America

June 9-22, 2013

Cost: $2500

Visit the OCA 2012 blog! www.operationcentralamerica.blogspot.com

High School students and adult volunteers travel to Guatemala and will serve on one of the following teams: Children’s, Sports, Medical, Drama/Mime, or Service. The Operation Central America team will travel to three different locations in Guatemala. This is a mission trip that Wooddale has offered since 1991. Close to 1000 students and adults have been a part of this trip which ministers to the people of Central America in practical ways. Students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school by June of the trip year are eligible to apply. If you are interested in being a part of this year’s team contact the Student Ministries office at 952.944.8360.

Cost and Support: Each student or family will personally contribute a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $1500. The additional amount will be raised through prayer and financial support from contributors. Cost includes all training, transportation, food, housing, materials and staffing costs. Use of a travel bag and team shirts is also included. The students will be equipped to raise prayer and financial support. Students will contact those they know who may be willing to pray for themand help them secure funds to assist the people of Central America. Each student will be required to enlist 50 prayer supporters. The students will be given all the materials necessary to communicate their need and provide the opportunity for their supporters to contribute a tax-deductible contribution.

Celebration Sunday          Hillside Rooms

Hey Parents!

If you have a 7th-12th grader, then Parents InTUNE is just for you! Times have changed since we were in Junior High and High School. As parents, it's important to recognize the challenges facing our children today and understand what the world looks like through their eyes. Equipped with this knowledge... plus a lot of hard work, support and prayer... we'll survive and maybe even thrive, during these critical teen years!

What is Parents InTUNE?
It's a ministry led by Wooddale's Senior and Junior High Pastors. They work with young people in our communities every day and have unique insight into their world. They are also committed to helping parents. Parents InTUNE is a series of five gatherings throughout the school year to discuss topics of importance to parents of teens.

At each event you'll enjoy:

• Teen Culture Tip (some will amaze...or even frighten you!)
• Words of wisdom from our presenters
• Table discussions / Support from other parents
• Time for prayer

Please join us!
There is no cost to attend Parents InTUNE gatherings. Friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches ...everyone's invited!

Upcoming Dates:

Sunday, January 6, 2013 9:45-10:45 a.m. with Parents of Teens Big Group in Great Rooms. We'll hear from Tiger McLuen, president of Youth Leadership.

Sunday, March 10, 2013 9:45-10:45 a.m. with Parents of Teens Big Group in Great Rooms. This joint session with teens and parents features one of our favorite speakers, Greg Speck. 

Please contact the Student Ministries Office for more information at 952.944.8360 or student.ministries@wooddale.org

Mark Warder, Kate Hansen, Lauren Miller, Jordan Embree

Mark Warder - Senior High Pastor

Mark is Wooddale’s senior high pastor. He ministers to students and families in 10th-12th grade. Mark has a desire to see this generation live passionately for Jesus Christ. He has been involved in high school ministry for almost 20 years.

Mark grew up in Minnesota and graduated from Burnsville High School and the University of St. Thomas. He was a multi-sport athlete in football, hockey and track and field. Mark taught at Eastview High School in Apple Valley for three years where he met his wife, Kelli who was the dance teacher. They were married in 2002 and moved to La Paz, Bolivia to teach at the American Embassy School. In 2004, God brought them to Panama City, Panama, where Mark served as the youth pastor at a bilingual church near the Panama Canal for five years.

Mark’s calling and passion is to teach and lead teenagers to share the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth and glorify God in all that they do.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health and Wellness and Physical Education from the University of St. Thomas. He is currently finishing his Masters of Divinity from Rockbridge Seminary in Springfield, MO. Mark and Kelli have two kids, Lia and Will. Mark enjoys hanging out with his family, track and field and the NFL.

Jordan Embree - Sr. High Program Assistant

Hello! My name is Jordan Embree and I am the Senior High Program Assistant. I am from the Brainerd Lakes Area and currently attend Northwestern College, where I am pursuing a degree in Youth and Family Studies. I believe God is calling me to vocational Youth Ministry and it is so awesome to see and to realize the passions the Lord is giving me along the way. I enjoy building deep relationships with students and coming along side them as God works in their lives.

Growing up in the north words forced me to love anything outside. I’m a pretty big sports buff. Go Twins! My favorite country (other than the America) is Poland! And bowling is a good friend of mine! Feel free to email me anytime at jordan.embree@wooddale.org

Kate Hansen - Sr. High Program Assistant

Hi! My name is Kate Hansen and I love being part of the Sr. High Ministry Team. I graduated from the College of St. Benedict in 2011 and began my Masters of Arts in Theological Studies at Bethel Seminary in the fall of 2012.  I live in Apple Valley but have traveled to over twenty different countries!  Hockey is my favorite sport and I played for fourteen years.  I coach hockey with the Apple Valley Hockey Association during the winter.   I love dogs and have an eight year old golden retriever named Kirby (after our favorite Twins player!!)  Please feel free to contact me at kate.hansen@wooddale.org.

Lauren Miller - Sr. High Program Assistant

Hello Everyone!  My name is Lauren Miller and I am so excited and privileged to be a part of Wooddale’s Senior High Ministry!  

My background is in education where I earned a B.A in History from The Ohio State University and went on to earn a Master in Education from the University of Minnesota with a 5-12 grade social studies teaching license.  God used my experiences in education to develop a passion for families and strong family units.  That passion has brought me to Bethel Seminary where I am pursuing training in family ministry. 

My husband and I live in Plymouth where we recently bought our first home!  Our heart is to have our life together be a beacon for Christ in our community.  We are both involved with Wooddale’s Senior High Ministry and are so excited to see how God works in the lives of our youth!

Please feel free to contact me at lauren.miller@wooddale.org.  I would be happy to hear from you and answer any questions you may have. 

Love Indeed is a unique opportunity to put our faith in Jesus into action.  Servant Leadership is something He lived out and calls us to as well.  Let's go serve the Lord as well as others on select days throughout the spring.  You just show up in the gym at 8:15 a.m. and go with other Wooddalers into the community.

Spring 2013 Dates: January 26, March 16, May 18