Pastors & Ministerial Staff

Jason Allen

Lead Pastor

Jason has been Lead Pastor of Woodlawn since April 2020. At the age of 18, he surrendered to God’s call to ministry, and since then has faithfully served the church in various capacities, including worship pastor, student pastor, and lead pastor. Pastor Jason has a deep passion for the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus, and empowering the church to reach the world for Christ. His greatest prayer for the church is that they would know Christ intimately, grow in their walk with him, and go forward with the message of Christ to the world. He serves alongside is wife Heather and three children: Caleb, Gabrielle, and Micah. 

Brian Bates

Music Worship Pastor

Brian has been Music Worship Pastor of Woodlawn since August 2010. He has been leading worship since he was 18 and has been in full-time ministry since 2007. He and his wife, Kristen, have three children: Katy, Samuel, and Caroline. In addition to enjoying all sorts of music, Brian enjoys good coffee, hiking, and watching movies with his family. 

Bob McNeil

Associate Pastor of Discipleship

Bob came to Woodlawn in August 2006 as Youth Pastor, and in July 2020, he became the Associate Pastor of Discipleship. Bob has been in full-time ministry since 2001 and enjoys spending time with his family, playing whatever sport is available, and reading good books. He and his wife, Amy, have two children: Carrie and Ethan.

MJ Kelley

Youth Pastor

MJ has been Youth Pastor at Woodlawn since January 2022. He and his wife, Nicole have five children: Jacob, Levi, Caleb, Faith, and Ezra. He has served in several churches around the country, recently retired from the military, and enjoys fishing.

Lauren Shipp

Children's Ministry Director

Lauren has been a follower of Jesus since she was 5 years old. Lauren grew up going to Woodlawn Baptist Church and has loved this church family for many years. As a teenager she felt God calling her to serve in the local church. She has had the incredible opportunity to serve in multiple churches and various faith based organizations across Florida and into Alabama over the past 20 years. She has served in a wide variety of ministries in the church but mainly focusing on: Youth, Children, Foster care, Family and Worship Ministries. She can not think of a greater honor than being able to teach Children about Jesus: how to know, worship and serve Him! She and her 5 children: Emma, Anna, Lily, Damon and Evey moved back to Crestview in 2018 and started attending Woodlawn again. Lauren joined the Woodlawn staff in January of 2023.

Mary McDaniel

Preschool Ministry Director

Mary has been the Preschool Ministry Director at Woodlawn since June 2021. She has worked in the public school system with the Special Needs Student program and has served in various roles in church from sign language interpretation to leading other volunteers in Vacation Bible School. Over the last 10 years, Mary has poured much of her time into working in the nursery at church and caring for the children in the church’s preschool program. Whether it be in Sunday School or VBS, her sincere wish is that all the children at Woodlawn and in Crestview learn about Jesus and how to live in his light. She and her husband, Tyson, have three children: Emma, Sara, and Joseph.

Pete Wise

Church Business Administrator

Pete joined the Woodlawn staff as church administrator in November of 2007. He is a retired Supervisory Electrical Engineer who worked for the Air Force Research Laboratory for over 30 years. Pete previously served WBC as a bi-vocational Minister of Music from 1987 to 1991 and as Interim Minister of Music from 2004 to 2006. Pete is responsible for financial management, facility and resource management, and supervision of our support staff. He and his wife, Anne, have a blended family with five children and thirteen grandchildren. 

Support Staff

Tracy Harrison

Financial Secretary

Karen Rankin

Church Secretary