PHIL WOODS (Pastor of Community)

Name: Phil Woods (phil@riversidestl.org)

Role at Riverside:  I am the Associate Pastor of Community.  My responsibilities include shaping, overseeing, and building adult community within the church and in the St Louis community at large.  I am also responsible for preaching 25% of the time or whenever Scott desires. 

Family: My first wife Rebecca and I are coming up on our one year anniversary.  Pray that she doesn’t wake up and find out what a schmuck she married. 

Education:  Liberty University (Bachelor of Arts in Religion).  Covenant Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity).

Dream for Riverside:  My dream for Riverside is that we would transform lives in our community and around the world (I’m a little ambitious) through authentic Christ-like love and sound Biblical teaching that proves the Gospel is relevant in every area of life.

Favorite Quotes: “You guys have it real easy. I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn’t matter.  You were born rich and you’re going to stay rich.  But here’s my advice to the rest of you: take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can’t buy backbone. Don’t let them forget it.  Thank you.” 

Bill Murray’s chapel message at the beginning of Rushmore.

“The Bible is so good with chocolate.  I always thought the Bible was more of a salad thing, you know, but it isn’t.  It is a chocolate thing.”

Donald Miller Blue Like Jazz  

Favorite big screen moment: At the end of Braveheart when William Wallace (Mel Gibson) is being tortured and with his dying breath he musters up the strength to yell out “Freeeee-dommmmm” and then drops the handkerchief of his dead wife.  I think I cried for about 15 minutes afterward.

Favorite music: Radiohead, Jay-Z, Lenny Kravitz, U2, Indelible Grace, Neil Diamond.

Heroes and mentors: My father & mother, Ellie & Greg Schupra, John Piper, John Calvin, Tim Keller, Toby Mackeon.

What I am learning these days:  Owning a house is more work than I like.

A few of my favorite things:  Exercising, a cold beer or nice wine with a good cigar (preferably cienfuegos), spending time with my friends, watching HGTV (ideas for my home) and working on my home, reading, and telling others about the Gospel.