Nate Wood

Nate grew up in rural western Kentucky. Since his grandfather is a Southern Baptist pastor, he was involved in church from birth. Nate always knew heaven and hell were real and that Jesus was the only way to God. At the age of 12, he experienced the grace of God through the conviction of the Spirit concerning his sin and lack of righteousness. He knew there was nothing he could do to change his own wicked heart or bring himself to righteousness enough to be with God in heaven. He repented of his sin and trusted Christ alone that night in his bed. Several weeks later, he was baptized by his grandfather.

Nate began attending Mid-Continent University in the Fall of 2000 and graduated in December of 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. While in college, Nate’s love for theology continued to grow. His desire to teach the Bible to people began to develop through occasional fill-in preaching in western Kentucky, and for his grandfather. Nate started seminary at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2006 and completed his Master of Divinity in 2011. This time proved to be absolutely life changing, but it was not simply the study of theology that changed him.

He went to seminary with the idea that he wanted to pursue a Ph.D. and a teaching career, but the Lord used this time to place him in two churches (Clifton Baptist Church and Sojourn Community Church) with elders who loved their wives, their families, and the local church. The gospel of grace became more than a theological concept; it became his daily bread. Nate’s eyes were opened to the truth of the gospel as it began to change him and his desires. He began to see how the gospel should shape everything about him and wanted to be used to help others see that as well, especially in the context of the local church.

Nate moved to Nashville in July of 2011 and married his wife, Christina, in December. They become a part of The Axis Church during their engagement. The two elders at the church at that time intentionally and graciously pursued, discipled, counseled, and befriended Nate upon his arrival in Nashville. It was through these relationships and their godly wisdom that Nate came to consider what it means to shepherd Christ’s church. He was ordained as one of the elders at The Axis in June of 2014. Nate and Christina's daughter, Amara Ray, was born on November 7th, 2015.