Bernice Stout Woodard papers

Bernice Stout Woodard was the fourth of ten children born to James and Alice Stout. In 1937, at the age of eleven, she gave her heart to the Lord, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and at that same revival became a member of the Church of God. She graduated from Bridgeport Township, Illinois High School in 1944. The same summer she and conducted her first Vacation Bible School for which she wrote the curriculum. Subsequent vacation Bible schools in the Church of God used her program as a model.

Stout graduated from Bible Training School in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1946, as Valedictorian of her class. She received her exhorter’s license in 1947, and ultimately became an ordained minister.

Stout served the Church of God as an evangelist from 1947-1952, in several states, including Michigan, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Louisiana. She conducted revivals, Vacation Bible Schools, Kids Krusades, spoke at Junior Youth Camps, and taught classes at various National Youth and Sunday School conferences. She was speaker at Lee University’s Convocation in fall 1958.

She served as State Sunday School and Youth Director of New Mexico from October 1952 to December 1954. After two years in this position, she was called by the National Sunday School and Youth office in Cleveland, Tennessee, to serve as Associate Editor of The Pilot and secretary to the Assistant National Sunday School and Youth Director from December 1954 to August 1960. As Associate Editor of The Pilot she wrote many of the lessons and Sunday school literature.

After her marriage to Aubrey L. Woodard in 1960, she served the local church in various capacities—Sunday School teacher, youth leader, Christian Education Director, children’s church pastor, and speaker at various church camps during the summer.

After the death of her husband in 1974, Woodard returned to Cleveland to work as Executive Secretary to the Editor-in-Chief’s Office at Pathway Press, retiring in 1988. For more than 21 years she taught the Bible lesson each Tuesday morning for the “Ladies Prayer and Praise” group at North Cleveland Church of God.

Because she wanted to keep her mind active and rekindle her desire to know God’s Word, Woodard enrolled at the Church of God Theological Seminary, graduating with a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry in 1997. Seeing a need and wishing to contribute to the cause of preparing students to carry the message of Christ to the world, she offered her services to the school and volunteered two days a week at the school following her graduation.

Timeline: 1926 Born July 28; 1937 Gave her heart to the Lord, became a member of the Church of God; 1944 Graduated from Bridgeport Township High School; 1944 Conducted her first Vacation Bible School; 1946 Graduated from Bible Training School (Valedictorian); 1947 Received Exhorter’s license; 1947-1952 Ministered as an Evangelist (MI, WV, SC, and LA); 1949 Received Evangelist’s license; 1952-1954 Served as Sunday School and Youth Director of New Mexico; 1954-1960 Served as Associate Editor of The Pilot; 1960 Married Aubrey L. Woodard (September 9) and moved to Little Rock, AR; 1966-1968 Moved to Memphis, TN and served as Christian Education Director; 1968-1976 Served as Junior Church Director in Memphis, TN; 1974 Husband’s death (May); 1976 Moved to Cleveland, TN; 1976-1988 Served as Executive Secretary to the Editor at Pathway Press; 1992-1997 Attended Church of God Theological Seminary; 1997 Graduated from Seminary; 1988-2009 Led “Ladies Prayer and Praise” group at North Cleveland

SOURCES: Bernice Stout Woodard