What We Believe Our Confession of Faith
To know Christ and to make Him knownOur Mission Statement: Based on the fact of the inerrant inspired holy Scriptures, with a personal faith in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is our purpose to glorify God by our praise in worship, the evangelism of the lost, and the equipping and edifying of the body of believers.
Pastors:Our leadership team recognizes the authority of God, and realizes that we are shepherds who serve under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We desire to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Our passion and goal is to equip the believers for the work of the ministry until we all attain maturity in the fullness of Christ.
Pastor Woody Woodward, Senior Pastor
Dr. Woody Woodward is a native Texan, married to Tracie Hughes Woodward, daughter of Jim and Vannie Hughes of Cherokee County, Iowa. Woody and Tracie met on Campus Crusade staff and married in 1979. Woody later entered Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating in 1983. He earned his doctorate in preaching under the legendary teacher of preachers, Haddon Robinson, at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Woody strives to communicate biblically and clearly, with great personal application. Woody travels almost every year to Europe, teaching preachers in Sweden, Finland, Romania, and Czech Republic.
Tracie graduated from University of South Dakota (R.N.). She worked in obstetrics, internal medicine, and National Football League heart screenings. Tracie speaks at women’s retreats. She is a gifted vocal soloist. Woody and Tracie have three adult children in Austin,Texas.
In one of life’s quirky ironies, Tracie’s great-grandfather, Carl Fredrickson, pastored Albert City Evangelical Free Church from 1903-05. Two of his sons, Clifford and Noble, were part of the Albert City community for half a century. As a youth in the Meriden, Iowa Evangelical Free Church, Tracie often participated in youth events with the youth group of Albert City Evangelical Free Church. The Woodwards are grateful to God to “come home” and minister in Buena Vista and surrounding counties. “How Swede it is!”
Pastor Steve Stepec, Associate Pastor of Youth Minstry
Steve grew up in Duluth, MN and graduated from the University of Northwestern St. Paul in 2002 with his Bachelor’s in Youth Ministry and Bible. Before coming on board at Albert City Evangelical Free Church, Steve was full-time Program Director for Lake Ellen Camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and most recently spent eight years as Pastor of Youth and Worship in Marshalltown, IA.
Some of Steve’s hobbies include playing guitar, leading worship, watching movies, and playing just about any form of recreational sport/activity. Steve and Amy met as summer staff at Trout Lake Camp in northern Minnesota and were married in July 2002. They have four children, Jack, Henry, Evelyn, and Lucy. Both Steve and Amy have been working with youth since 2000 and are excited to be on the ministry team here in Albert City, partnering with parents to help their teens “to know Christ and make Him known.”
