Wayland Baptist Church

Teaching & encouragement

Pastor Rusty Dodds

Pastor Rusty Dodds serves Wayland Baptist Church with an energetic, approachable style centered on Scripture, teaching and encouragement.

Rusty has a gift for making a message feel personal. His teaching often combines biblical reflection with everyday examples, questions, humor and conversational delivery that invites people to listen, think and participate.

His ministry extends beyond Sunday morning. Rusty shares short biblical teachings online, making messages available for people to revisit and share throughout the week.

His pastoral service also reaches people and families in the wider community, including officiating memorial and funeral services during times of loss.

Rusty attended Maplewood Junior/Senior High School and is a member of the Class of 1979.

YouTube: @rustydodds222

Encouragement & care

Darla Dodds

Darla Dodds brings a lifelong concern for encouragement, emotional wellness and helping people grow through difficult seasons of life.

Beyond church life, Darla is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the founder and leader of Hand in Hand Mental Health Services, LLC, formerly Hand In Hand Christian Counseling LLC. Her professional work has focused on counseling, psychiatric rehabilitation, wellness, recovery, advocacy, skills development and helping people discover hope and opportunities for growth.

Published biographical information describes Darla as holding a master’s degree in clinical psychology, with decades of professional counseling experience and extensive experience in psychiatric rehabilitation.

Darla is also an author. Her book The Bench, published in 2023, adds another dimension to a life centered on people, encouragement and the experiences that shape us.

At Wayland, Darla is part of the life and family of the church, bringing the same warmth, encouragement and concern for people that characterize her work beyond its walls.

Learn about Darla’s professional work beyond church life at Hand in Hand.