The church in Woodlake had been in operation for many years as “ Woodlake Free Holiness Church” and later as an independent group, called the “Woodlake Community Church,” located at 230 N. Acacia Street.

In 1964 Brother M.A. Wood, a former pastor here and his wife went to camp meeting in Portland after receiving the church papers for a long period of time. Sister Margaret Hoover was at that camp meeting, and they gave her a ride back to California and met her husband, Brother Ivan (Jack) Hoover. Brother Hoover began to visit Woodlake, and became pastor of the church in 1966.

Others from here were beginning to attend Portland camp meeting and in 1969 a group of 26 from Woodlake attended the Portland camp meeting and enjoyed it very much.

About this time, Brother Norman Allen was pastor in Los Angeles and Brother Audrey Wallace was pastor in San Francisco. They both began to come to Woodlake to visit. They planned their schedule to try to come one time per month from both Los Angeles and San Francisco and bring others with them to help in our weeknight meetings.

Around 1970, after discussions with Brother Carver, Woodlake Church chose to become a part of the Apostolic Faith Church and was accepted as a branch church.

In 1976, a new church home was built. The Hoovers had been living in a two-bedroom living quarter connected to the back of the church. The home is in use today with an addition and remodel being completed in 2004.

Brother Hoover continued to be our pastor until May of 1977, when he retired and moved to Wisconsin. When Brother Hoover retired in 1977, Brother Willie and Sister Thelma Hunt filled in temporarily until August 1977, when Brother Joe and Sister Mary Bishop came to pastor. Soon after this, an addition and remodel was done to the existing church building.

In 1984, with Brother Joe as pastor, property was purchased at 141 N. Acacia Street , one block away, and our church building and property was sold. In September 1984, construction was started on a new church building. We were able to rent our existing building and continued to hold meetings there during the entire construction period. With a great deal of help from other branch churches, our new building was completed and dedicated on May 19, 1985 with Brother Carver here to give the dedication sermon.

Brother Joe Bishop was transferred in August of 1988 and Brother Bill and Sister Lori McKibben came to pastor at that time and continued here as pastor until August 1993. Brother Tim and Sister Lisa DeBusk came to pastor in 1993 and continued here until 1999.

Brother Earl and Sister Sylvia Phillips were here on a temporary basis as pastor August – November, 1999, until Brother Randy and Sister Denise Macomber arrived to pastor. While Brother Randy was here, a new multi-purpose room and garage space for church vans was added on to the church. Brother Randy was transferred in 2004 and Brother Wayne and Sister Lisa Butler came to pastor in August of that year.

Exciting things are happening in Woodlake. Through community outreach, our Sunday school is expanding. Come visit us! You'll be glad you did!

Information about the schedule of services for the church in Woodlake is available here.