Embrace Your Faith Journey

Pastor Barbara Woods 

received the call to preach in June 2001 while working in the vineyard at Mt. Zion AME Church. She was licensed to preach the gospel and admitted into the AME Board of Examiners Institute in February 2002. 'Pastor BJ' was ordained an Elder in the Full Gospel Church in 2006.

Pastor BJ was baptized in the AME Church as a young child at Arnett AME Church in Chicago IL. She relocated to Kennesaw GA in 1990 and joined the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church family. From that time Pastor BJ served as YPD (Young People's Department) Director, Choir Director and a teacher for Sunday school classes. In 1998, God birthed vision into Pastor BJ to implement a ministry that would strengthen married couples and challenge them to strive for the perfection that God intended for marriages; thus the beginning of the Married Couples Ministry at Mt. Zion Church. The Lord blessed Pastor BJ with the privilege to serve as Assistant Pastor to Rev. Marcus R. Green at Mt. Zion AME Church from 2002 to 2004. After the appointment of a new Pastor to Mt. Zion Church, Pastor BJ then served in the capacity of Worship Leader and Married Couples Ministry Leader under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Luegenia Johnson from 2004 to 2006.

After 17 years of service at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church the Lord brought about a major shift in the life of Pastor BJ. In October 2006 Pastor BJ, started a new initiative, Fresh Springs Worship Center in Acworth, GA. She is also in her third year at Beulah Heights Bible college were she is working toward a Bachelors degree in Biblical Education.

In May 1996, the Lord showed his favor on Minister Woods and she was united in marriage to Bud Woods, who is currently serving as Co-Pastor at Fresh Springs Worship Center. They are the parents of three sons Maurice, Nicholas and Ulysses.