Sunday Mornings at 10:30 on South Meridian
Southwood Church has gathered on the south side of Indianapolis for nearly six decades, anchored at 8700 S. Meridian Street just three blocks north of County Line Road. A single Sunday service shapes the rhythm of the week. Doors open for a 10:30 a.m. gathering held in person and livestreamed at the same time. Visitors stepping into the main lobby are met by greeters and offered refreshments before checking children into Southwood Kids.
The service opens with energetic, passionate praise and worship. Announcements follow on video and from the platform, an offering is received, and Lead Pastor Keith Williams preaches most weekends. The gathering closes with a brief time to respond in worship and prayer. There is no dress code: some attenders wear suits, others jeans, and the church invites newcomers to come exactly as they are.
A 1967 Start, One Location, One Pastor
Southwood was established in 1967 and has remained on S. Meridian Street ever since. Keith Williams serves as Lead Pastor, and the congregation's stated purpose is straightforward: "To reach people with the life-giving message of Jesus that they might become fully devoted followers of Christ." Five values spell out the picture - worship with sincere expression, sharing the Good News, connecting with other believers, preparing disciples to fulfill their purpose, and encouraging leaders in their God-given calling.
Beliefs in Their Own Words
The statement of beliefs follows classic Pentecostal convictions. The Bible is the inspired, accurate, and authoritative Word of God. God is eternal and has revealed Himself as one God in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Sin has separated each person from God, and the Lord Jesus Christ - fully God and fully man - is the only One who can reconcile humanity to the Father. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross in the believer's place, rose again, and ascended to heaven. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus.
Two distinctives shape the church's identity. The first is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which the church teaches is available to all believers and is accompanied by the spiritual gifts listed in I Corinthians 12-14 and manifested in the Early Church. Water baptism is practiced for every believer. The church also affirms that Jesus will come back again for His Church and that each person will exist eternally, either with God or separated from Him, based on a response to Jesus' grace.
Southwood Kids: From Nursery Through Sixth Grade
Children's ministry is divided by age. The Nursery serves birth through age 2. Southwood Kids Jr covers 3-year-olds through Kindergarten. Southwood Kids is for first through sixth grade. Each program offers an age-specific lesson and runs on three movements - Connect, Grow, and Go - that mirror the church's broader disciple-making language. Kids build relationships with peers and leaders, learn biblical truths with parent resources that keep the conversation going at home, and put their faith into action at home, church, and school.
At check-in, families register children at a kiosk and receive a parent pick-up tag. If a teacher needs to reach a parent during the service, that parent's number appears on the Sanctuary screen. Parents can note allergies or special requirements during check-in. Southwood Kids hosts monthly gatherings on third Sundays after the service.
Southwood Youth for Sixth Through Twelfth Grade
Southwood Youth begins when students enter sixth grade and runs through twelfth grade. The ministry is focused on helping students discover their identity in Jesus Christ, walk in the God-given power of the Holy Spirit, and engage their culture. The youth group meets after the Sunday service on various weeks, and the digital bulletin lists upcoming youth gatherings throughout the year.
Community Groups, Women's Ministry, and Seniors
For adults, the primary pathway into deeper relationships at Southwood is through Community Groups. Led by one or two individuals, these groups meet in homes, at the church, or at other locations. Most groups study the previous Sunday's message, pray for one another, and gather around interests ranging from Bible study to friendship, counseling, or sports. The church encourages every regular attender to attend weekend worship, connect with others, and serve in a ministry - and Community Groups are designed to make that practical.
Women's Ministry meets regularly to encourage women of all ages to deepen their relationship with Jesus through Bible studies, prayer meetings, movie nights, and women's conferences. The ministry leans on Romans 12, calling believers not to copy the customs of the world but to let God transform them by renewing their minds.
The Seniors Ministry gathers at local restaurants, holds potlucks, and shares devotionals. Members come knowing they will be welcomed and leave refreshed and encouraged.
A Mother's Room for New Moms
A detail that sets Southwood apart is its Mother's Room, located just before and connected to the nursery. The room is outfitted with a changing area, gliders for rocking fussy babies, a bottle warmer, nursing covers, and cold bottled water for mom. A streaming view of the worship service means mothers don't have to miss the message while stepping out with their little ones.
Local Outreach Across Indianapolis and Greenwood
Southwood's local outreach mixes financial support with hands-on service. The church financially partners with five Indiana ministries: Central Indiana Teen Challenge, Indiana Advance Church Planting, Lake Placid Campground, Grace House, and Kairos Prison Ministry of Indiana. The congregation also supports Convoy of Hope for broader relief efforts.
Hands-on events have included Christmas Food and Gift Baskets, where the church family funded complete Christmas meals plus ingredients for several additional meals and breakfast foods, with children's ministry decorating bags of candy and small toys for the children. In one recent season, 95 adults and 157 children were served. "Firefighter February" produced gift bags distributed to 250 firefighters at Greenwood and Indianapolis fire stations. Another outreach delivered 285 gift bags to staff and residents at Aspen Trace Nursing Home in Greenwood.
Global Partners on Six Continents
Southwood supports a wide slate of AGWM missionaries across Africa, Asia Pacific, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America, and Northern Asia. Highlights include Greg and Danna Beggs, who serve as Regional Directors for AGWM Africa; Mark and Judy Hayburn, partnering with the National Church in Bible school training in Kenya; Gary and Lori Ellison, with Gary serving as principal of Joy Bible Institute in Vanuatu and Lori teaching Biblical Archaeology and publishing Sunday School literature in Bislama; Bill and Kim Snider, missionaries in the Philippines since 1988 who founded Asia Pacific Media Ministries; Brett and Susan Vandermolen, directing the Train Up Children's Home in Cambodia; Rebekah Polley in Lithuania; Bill and Melissa Chappel in Hungary; Jason and Andrea Morrison in Serbia; Rich and Wanda Ferguson, working with Latin America Advanced School of Theology; and Stuart and Wendy Brown with CompassionLink in international settings. Several additional partners serve in sensitive fields where identities are kept confidential.
Giving, an App, and Everyday Ways to Support
Tithing is taught as a foundational act of worship, with the church pointing to Malachi 3:10 and the idea that giving "beyond the tithe" offers a chance to be extravagantly generous. Gifts can be made in person during services, mailed to the church's Finance office, or given online through a secure portal. The congregation also benefits from Amazon Smile and Kroger Community Rewards - registering Southwood Assembly of God (DN781) as the chosen charity directs a portion of purchases back to the church. A mobile app, available through the church's site, offers another way to stay connected.
A digital bulletin posted each week lists the Sunday schedule, monthly meet-ups for youth, women, men, couples, and seniors, and links to share prayer requests, sign up as a first-time guest, or download the app. Pastor Keith Williams and his wife Joy close each bulletin with a personal welcome: "We are so glad you came to worship with us today. We hope that you encounter God today."