New To WOL FAQ 

Where Are We Located?

Word of Life Baptist Church
1900 N. Bagley Street
Alpena, MI 49707

What Time Are Services?

9:00 AM – Adult Bible Fellowships, Youth Bible Fellowship(Jr. & Sr. High), and Kidville (Nursery – 5th grade). A list of classes, locations, and more information is available at the Welcome Center in the church foyer.  Kidville meets upstairs in their own area to the left of the sanctuary.  Adult and Youth Bible Fellowships meet in our lower level. 

10:15 AM – Coffee Fellowship:  Whether you are new to Word of Life or are a regular attender, we encourage everyone to come and enjoy a time of fellowship, coffee, and donuts in our Fellowship Hall on our lower level.

10:45 AM – Worship Service, Kidville(Nursery - Pre-K), KW2 (K-5th grade).  If you have young children, please give yourself a little extra time to register and/or check them in at Kidville (follow the hallway to the left of the sanctuary, or ask a greeter for assistance). More information below.

What Do I Wear?

At Word of Life, the attire tends to be fairly casual.  There's no need to dress up unless that is your personal style.  Basically, come as you are!  Our hope is that you come ready to worship God and engage His Word.

Where Do I Park?

As you enter from Bagley Street, feel free to park in either our upper lot (to the left) or lower lot (straight ahead).  If you area headed to one of our Adult Bible Fellowships or have teenagers, the lower lot might be more convenient for you, and there is an entrance on that level.  If you have young children to bring to Kidville or are just coming for morning worship, our upper lot may be the most convenient for you.  If you will be arriving after the start of our 10:45 service, only the main (upper level) doors will be open, as part of our efforts to keep everyone safe. 

Where Do I Go?

Like choosing where to park, the answer depends on where you are headed.  Just let any greeter know that you are visiting and they can help point you in the right direction. 

• Main Entrance (Upper Level): Sanctuary, Welcome Center, Offices, Kidville (hallway to the left)
• Heritage Center Entrance (Upper Level, to the left of Main Entrance): Kidville / Children’s ministries, Stairs to gym (lower level).
• Fellowship Hall Entrance (Lower Level): Coffee Fellowship time, Adult and Youth Bible Fellowships, Various Other Ministries

What About Kids and Teenagers?

For the safety of the children we serve, we require background checks for everyone serving in our children’s and youth ministries.  We have policies and procedures in place to protect all who are involved, but especially the kids.  These policies and procedures apply equally to long-term members and first time guests, so please understand that we can’t make exceptions. 

Kidville - Nursery through Kindergarten – 9AM and 10:45AM

We have special opportunities for our youngest family members to learn and grow both at the 9:00 AM hour and the 10:45 AM service time on Sunday mornings.  Our infant and toddler nursery is open to children under 2 years of age.  We also offer age appropriate classes for children 2 to 5 years old that lay a foundation of faith though caring teachers, a Biblical focus, and crafts that help the kids take home what they learn.  

Kidville - Life Lessons at 9:00 AM for Grades 1-5

We offer Life Lessons classes for 1st through 5th grade children at 9:00 AM on Sunday mornings.  Within these classes, we aim to incorporate Bible stories into your child's life in fun and creative ways.  Our goal is to come along side of you, the parent, to help your child see God's Word and truths as being relevant in their daily lives.

Kids Worship Too (KW2) at 10:45 for grades 1-5

We offer children entering 1st through 5th grade a unique opportunity to worship and learn during our 10:45 AM service on Sunday mornings.  After joining their parents in the sanctuary, families have the choice to dismiss their children from service to KW2, an interactive teaching time geared for younger hearts and minds.  Parents can pick their children up from KW2 in the Heritage Center Gymnasium (on the lower level) following the worship service. 

Youth Bible Fellowship (YBF) for Middle-School - Sr. High Youth (Sunday 9 AM)

Our YBF aims to allow both Middle and High School students the space to freely ask questions, share concerns, and learn to both understand and apply God’s Word in real and tangible ways. This class is discussion-based, prayer-focused, and fun!

Axis Student Ministries (Wednesday Nights at 6pm)

Axis Student Ministries (6th – 12th grades) meet on Wednesday nights from 6:00 – 8:10 PM. A typical night involves fellowship and games, musical worship, and biblical teaching. Middle and High Schoolers join together for most of these activities but do have the opportunity to break away for separate small group discussions. Axis students are also invited to participate in several big events throughout the year, like bike and rafting adventures, mission trips, service opportunities, and both winter and summer retreats.

What Is the Story of Word of Life Baptist Church?

Our Legacy

The congregation of Word of Life Baptist Church has been a faithful witness within Alpena for over 130 years. Over the years, there are three things that stand out as our legacy.
We are dedicated to the written Word of God. We pray that our lives and our teaching overflow with the truth of the scriptures.
We value the next generation. We understand that children are a gift from God and that raising the next generation to follow the Lord is a sacred honor. Over the years, the fruit of our ministry to children is evident in families with three and even four generations who are a part of our church body.
We worship the Lord with songs of praise. While styles may have changed over the years, good quality, theologically sound, music has long been a part of our identity.

Our History

Founded in 1884 by mission minded German immigrants, we were once known as the German Baptist Church that met on 4th Avenue. As time passed the congregation grew and transitioned from German to English speaking. In 1956 we moved to a new building and became known as Ripley Boulevard Baptist Church. Many in Alpena still remember the distinctive green building and the thriving bus ministry which introduced many children to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With the construction of our current facility, we sought a new name that communicated our values. In 1994 we became known as Word of Life Baptist Church, declaring our purpose to hold forth the life-giving message of Jesus Christ to our local community and to the world.

Our Future

It is our prayer that God continues to build His Kingdom through the people of Word of Life Baptist Church as we work towards our mission of making fully devoted and fully developed disciples of Jesus Christ.

Doctrinal Statement

1. We believe in the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired of God, inerrant in the original writings and supreme and final authority in faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 4:4-6)
3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into heaven, and in His present life, there for us as High Priest and Advocate. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:1-11; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 4:14-16; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-14)
4. We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature. (Genesis 1:26-27, 3:1-19; Romans 3:23, 5:12,19, and 6:23)
5. We believe that salvation is only and altogether through confession of simple faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice. We believe that this faith is manifested by works in keeping with repentance, and that without such faith, there can be no salvation here or hereafter. Furthermore, we believe that all born-again believers in Christ are kept eternally secure through the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit and are called to live a Spirit-filled life. (Romans 5:1-10, 8:1-17, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10, 5:18; James 2:14, 18, 26; Galatians 5:22)
6. We believe in the Holy Spirit, sent forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. (John 14:16,17,26, 15:26,27, 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26)
7. We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized by immersion upon a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, instruction, service and evangelism. (Ephesians 2:19-22, 5:19-21; Acts 1:8, 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25)
8. We believe in the personal, bodily and pre-millennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ to set up His Kingdom upon the earth. (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 19 and 20)
9. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost. (1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 20:11-15)
10. We believe in the existence of angels. Angels are created by God as ministering spirits to serve those who will inherit eternal life. (Hebrews 1:14)
11. We believe they were created with intelligence and will; moral creatures of which some chose to follow Satan in his rebellion and are now fallen and eternally damned. (2 Samuel 14:20; Mark 8:38; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6)
12. We believe that the worship of angels is idolatry. (Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10)
13. We believe in the existence of Satan, the adversary of both God and His people. We believe that he was defeated, judged at the cross and his doom is certain. We are, therefore, able to resist him through the power of Christ. (Genesis 3; Hebrews 2:14; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:9, 20:10)
14. We believe that the Lord has given his church two ordinances:
    1. Baptism by immersion of the believer, in obedience to Christ's command, as a symbol of the death of the old life and the resurrection to the new life. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Peter 3:20b-21)
    2. The Lord's Supper, which is to be administered to all believers only in accordance with the Word of God. (1 Corinthians 11:17-32; Luke 22:14-19)
15. We believe in evangelism and worldwide missionary endeavor. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 13:1-7)

A Summary of What we Believe

We believe the Bible is the written Word of God and that it is the authority for faith and life. 

We believe that humanity was created to bring glory to God but that we have all sinned by turning away from our Creator and living for other things. 

We believe that God sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to take our sin, guilt, and punishment by dying on the cross in our place. 

We believe that all who trust by faith in the work of Jesus will be saved from the wrath of God and given new life. 

We believe that God has called every follower of Jesus Christ to share the Good News of salvation with the world. 

Full Doctrinal Statement