Who We Are
What kind of church are we?
Normally when you ask that kind of question, the response is a theological, denominational, missional, or organizational one. On the surface you would say we are a Baptist Church. You might note our relationship with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, CBFNC, the Raleigh Baptist Association. You could speak to who we are in connection with Baptists on Mission, WMU or one of our other mission focused relationships. All of these answers would be true, but there is more to our story.
Westwood’s mission statement proclaims; “We are a community of believers worshiping God, making disciples, and sharing Christ’s love.”
The language of the mission statement was carefully chosen and speaks what calls Westwood to live uniquely into our mission as a people of faith in and for our community. As you wander through our website you will discover we are called to be a community of faith, claiming our faith in Christ, as what defines us together. You will discover that the sense of community we find together calls us to be a good neighbor. You will see that on display in the CONNECT section of our website, where we introduce you to ministry partners and congregational initiatives that are purposeful community focused. In the WORSHIP section you will see how we are trying to live out our call to worship God with heart and purpose. In the MINISTRIES section you will learn what we are doing to grow as disciples and to help make disciples. In the SERVE section you will see what we are doing to share Christ’s love in word and deed.
So who we are cannot be captured in a single sentence, but rather is experienced as we live out our faith, live into our mission, and seek to love one another and our community through Jesus Christ.
Our Story
In the spring of 1989 over 10,000 phone calls were made by volunteers seeking persons who might be interested in a Baptist Church in the West Cary area. Over 1,000 persons said that they would be interested.
Five churches made financial commitments to help establish a church in West Cary, which would become Westwood Chapel: Greenwood Forest was the church of record, along with Woodhaven, Good Hope, and Collins Grove with Salem, Ephesus Baptist churches offering prayer support.
Westwood Baptist Chapel with facilities located on the corner of Old Apex Road and High House Road held its first worship service on April 15, 1990, Tom Ogburn of Raleigh as pastor. See the link below to read more about Westwood church history.