Dick Woodward
Dick Woodward is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dick and his wife Virginia have five children and five grandchildren. He is a graduate of Biola University in California and did graduate work at San Jose State University and Dallas Theological Seminary. Dick began his ministry as a pastor in 1956 at a fledgling fellowship called Virginia Beach Community Chapel in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dick remained at Virginia Beach Community Chapel for 23 years.
In 1980, Dick accepted the invitation to pastor our church. From the beginning, Dick played a vital role in articulating the distinctives of this fellowship and provided sound biblical teaching and guidance. In addition to his formal role as pastor of our fellowship, he ministered to business and professional men in the community weekly for 20 years at early morning Bible breakfasts, a role which Bill Warrick now fulfills.
When the emerging effects of a degenerative spinal condition confined Dick to a wheelchair, God prompted Dick to begin compiling The Mini-Bible College (MBC), a devotional survey of the entire Bible. Old and New Testament handbooks and 180 lectures compose the series. In collaboration with International Cooperating Ministries (ICM) in Hampton, VA, MBC is currently broadcast worldwide via radio in 22 of the world’s most-spoken languages—a cross-section that represents over fifty percent of the world’s population.
By 1990, the effects of his spinal condition required Dick to step down as our senior pastor. Bill Warrick took his place, and Dick became Teacher-in-Residence. By 1998, confined to bed by his illness, Dick became Pastor Emeritus.