Where Alden Bridge Meets Crownridge
Woodland Oaks Church of Christ stands on the corner of Alden Bridge East and Crownridge Drive, in the Alden Bridge Village of The Woodlands, Texas. The five-acre campus grew up with one of the fastest-growing residential areas in the country, and the building program of the church has followed the neighborhood's expansion in three clear phases. Members today describe the congregation as a community fully devoted to loving God, loving one another, growing in faith, and sharing the message of Jesus Christ, and that simple statement - rooted in John 10:10 - shows up on the front page of everything the church prints.
Visitors are welcomed by name. The Sunday schedule begins at 9:00 AM with Bible classes for every age, runs through a coffee and donut fellowship at 9:45, and gathers the whole church for morning worship at 10:15. Sunday evening worship returns at 6:00 PM, Wednesday nights bring Bible classes at 7:00, and a Ladies' Bible Class meets Tuesday mornings from September through May. The address is 7300 Crownridge Drive, and the phone number is (936) 273-0010.
From Eleven Families in 1992 to a 32,000 Square Foot Campus
The story of Woodland Oaks begins in the summer of 1992, when eleven families began praying about planting a new congregation of the Lord's church in The Woodlands. In January 1993 the group met for the first time with eighty-five in attendance at the Woodlands Executive Conference Center; three weeks later they moved to the larger Interfaith Conference Center and began leasing a 3,700 square foot office space in The Woodlands.
Growth came quickly. Leadership was established through elders and deacons while the preaching role was filled on a part-time basis by men from the membership. By 1995 the young congregation had purchased five acres at Alden Bridge Village at the corner of Alden Bridge East and Crownridge, and construction began on what would become a multi-building campus. In January 1999 the first worship service was held in a 13,000 square foot worship center, with Sunday morning attendance running about 300.
A second phase, completed in January 2008, added a 10,000 square foot education complex to house children's Bible classes and offices. Sunday morning attendance peaked at just over 600 in 2013, and in early 2013 the congregation launched the final phase of a 32,000 square foot campus expansion. That phase produced a new worship center seating as many as 850, a family center with a full gym for fellowship and family activities, and an additional classroom building for both children and adults. The first service in the new worship center was held on February 2, 2015 with 700 in attendance. Today the campus includes a children's play area, parking, and multiple walkways between buildings.
The Shape of Worship: Singing, Prayer, Bible, Communion, Giving, Fellowship
The congregation takes its description of worship directly from the New Testament. Sunday morning and Sunday evening services follow a simple five-part pattern that the church identifies on its own pages: singing, prayer, Bible study, communion, and a free-will contribution that supports the work of the church, with fellowship flowing before and after. Visitors are told plainly that the Bible does not say a great deal about worship, and the church tries to follow what it does say, worshiping God in spirit and in truth.
Singing is a cappella, with no instrumental accompaniment. The church keeps a recording project of congregational singing and makes CDs available free at the Welcome Center. Visitors who are curious about the music can listen to selections online through the Congregational Singing page, which also credits longtime song leader R.J. "Sonny" Taylor, who retired from a major oil company and has spent decades researching and publishing hymn stories through Taylor Publications. Communion, the Lord's Supper, is observed each Sunday in remembrance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Bible classes run on Sunday morning at 9:00 and again on Wednesday evening at 7:00, with classes for infants, toddlers, young children, pre-teens, teens, young professionals, and a general adult class. The Sunday morning Bible class is also streamed live. Wednesday evening includes a fellowship meal beginning at 5:30 PM followed by Bible classes at 7:00 PM.
Elders and Ministers
The church is led by a team of seven elders: Mark and Sharon Freeman, Scott and Sara Blake, Butch and Linda Merriman, Raymond and Nancy Walker, Mac and Beth Brockman, Marty and Debra Miller, and Todd and Jennifer Watrous. Marty and Debra Miller were founding members of the congregation in 1992, along with Jerry and Billie Robertson. The elders operate as a shepherding group, and an Elders Statement on the church's pages explains the role further for any member or inquirer who wants to understand it.
The preaching staff is led by Shawn and Emma Montandon. The Montandons have worked with Woodland Oaks since May 2022; both are native Texans, have been married since 1999, and have three children. Shawn graduated from Freed-Hardeman University and has been preaching since 2007; Emma graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler. They have served congregations in Texas and Tennessee and enjoy hiking, traveling, and trying new restaurants.
Aaron and Ashley Trent joined as youth minister and wife in January 2025. The Trents have been married since 2012 and have one son. Aaron graduated from Oklahoma Christian University, Ashley from Lipscomb University, and both met while serving as youth interns. Janna Wilkerson serves as Children's Coordinator. A native of West Monroe, Louisiana, she moved to The Woodlands in 2010 and is a former elementary education teacher. Her husband Kevin serves in the children's program as well, coordinating 3rd to 6th grade boys and the young boys song leading program.
Deacons serve in a wide range of ministry areas, including Administration, Adult Education, Audio/Visual and Media, Buildings and Grounds, Children's Programs, Education, Family Life Center, Fellowship, and Finance.
Children and BASIC Youth
Children's Bible classes meet on Sunday and Wednesday from infants through grade school, with all classes taught by volunteers and designed to teach the Word through songs, crafts, lessons, games, and life applications. The children's ministry has its own companion pages at woodlandoakskidministry.com, and an activities newsletter keeps families informed. Children's classes meet during the 9:00 AM Sunday Bible class hour and during the Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible class hour.
The teen ministry, known by the name BASIC - Believers And Servants In Christ, drawn from Romans 1:16 - is made up of about sixty students in grades 7 through 12. Sunday mornings at 9:00 split the group into high school and junior high, with current series including a study of Romans and the Life of Christ. Wednesday Root Groups at 7:00 PM divide by age and gender, with current studies centered on the theme of Building Godly Relationships. The youth also maintain their own communication band and publish student and sponsor release forms online.
The BASIC group's own statement of mission reads: "Devote ourselves to Love, Serve, Respect, Forgive, and Encourage each other out of our love for God. Work to carry out God's love through Service to Others... Agree to resolve all our conflicts... Desire to be Disciples of Christ for Life." Morgan Whatley, who is listed among the teachers, also preaches in the Sunday morning services.
Men, Women, Young Professionals, and Seniors
The Men's Ministry seeks to disciple and equip men in their roles as men of God through teaching, fellowship, and service. A monthly Men's Breakfast gathers on the first Saturday of every month at 8:00 AM, an annual Men's Advance provides teaching and fellowship, and the Faithful Fathering ministry - tied to the broader Faithful Fathering Initiative - encourages and equips dads through activities, retreats, classes, seminars, and a "battle buddies" mentoring approach. The stated vision is to reinvigorate dads in the church on the fathering front and engage them to raise a godly generation.
The Women's Ministry, branded "Women in God's Service - Connect, Grow, Disciple, Serve," works to strengthen women's knowledge of God through Bible studies, service opportunities, retreats, and activities. Heart to Home is a mentoring ministry open to all women, and a Quilting Group meets the first and third Mondays of every month from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
Young Professionals / Young Adults have an active community with their own Sunday morning class before worship and an 18-25 class on Wednesday nights. The group regularly shares meals after assemblies and gathers for devotionals, movie nights, and pickleball.
Senior Saints is among the listed small groups, along with GriefShare for those who are processing loss and a Prison Ministry. Small Groups and Ministries are coordinated by contacts listed on the church's pages, and include Celebrate Recovery, Faithful Fathers, GriefShare, Heart to Home, Ladies Ministry, Parking Transport, Prison Ministry, Senior Saints, and Young Professionals.
Celebrate Recovery and Community Bible Class
Celebrate Recovery meets Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM and is open to anyone whose life is affected by hurts, habits, or hang-ups. Free childcare is available. The ministry follows the broader Celebrate Recovery model and offers fellowship along with the celebration of God's healing power.
The Community Bible Class gathers Thursday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 AM in the Chapel Center. The format is energetic and includes singing, prayer, and Bible study, with the stated goal of making the Bible "come alive" for every person who attends. The class is open to anyone in the community who would like to learn more about what the Bible says.
Missions at Home and Abroad
Woodland Oaks supports a wide range of mission efforts, divided between foreign and domestic. The foreign mission partners include the Texas International Bible Institute (TIBI), Bear Valley Bible Institute International, India Missions, Adventures in Missions (AIM), French African Christian Education (F.A.C.E.), Eastern European Missions, Southern Sudan Mission, Biblical Institute of Central America Honduras, and Mission Printing.
Domestically, the church supports the Castleton, Vermont Church of Christ. The Sharing Ministry further connects the congregation with Houston-Impact Church of Christ, an inner-city ministry that serves hungry, homeless, and hurting people every day in Houston. Children's ministries supported include Cherokee Home for Children, Children's Home of Lubbock, Sunny Glen Children's Home, and Hannah's Hope Children Home. Mission contacts are listed by name on the church's pages for anyone who would like more information about a specific effort.
What We Believe
The church's statement of belief is the whole counsel given in the Bible. The "What We Believe" page anchors itself in five passages: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 on all Scripture being God-breathed and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness; 2 Peter 1:20-21 on the divine origin of prophecy; John 18:37 on Jesus bearing witness to the truth; John 17:17 on God's word being truth; and John 8:31-32 on abiding in His word and knowing the truth that sets free. The page directs inquirers to the Elders Statement for an understanding of what to expect from the elders themselves.
Online: Live Stream, Sermons, Podcasts, and Daily Bible Reading
Live video streaming is available during the Sunday 9:00 AM Bible class, the 10:15 AM Morning Worship, the 6:00 PM Evening Worship, and the Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible class. The church's YouTube channel, @WoodlandOaks, serves as an alternate streaming option that can also be used through YouTube apps on smart TV devices. The Lessons Library is currently being updated and contains lessons from December 2025 forward and from December 2008 through December 2015, with all lessons from 2020 forward available on the YouTube channel. Recent Bible classes can also be found on the church's podcast at woodlandoaks.transistor.fm. Weekly bulletins are available as part of the Media resources, and a Daily Bible Reading schedule offers a guided plan for anyone who wants to read through the Bible.
Members and visitors can submit prayer requests, Bible study requests, and visitor forms, and giving is available online through the church's giving platform. The church also maintains an internal communication tool called Lightpost and a member portal for congregational records.
What to Expect on a First Visit
First-time visitors will find Bible classes for all ages running at 9:00 AM, coffee and donuts in the Chapel Center at 9:45 AM, and morning worship in the Worship Center at 10:15 AM. Sunday evening worship returns at 6:00 PM, Wednesday Bible classes meet at 7:00 PM, and a community Bible class is open to the community each Thursday morning. The Welcome Center is staffed before and after services to help guests find the right classroom. Children's classes are taught by volunteers in a safe environment, with age-appropriate teaching, games, songs, and crafts from infants through grade school. Dress is congregational rather than formal, and the church's own culture is described plainly on its pages as loving God with the whole being and striving to love others the way Jesus loves us.