August has been a packed month for ministry outreach.  (1) A Works Program resident and I passed out John’s Gospels and written testimonies during Ammon Days on August 5.  (2) On Sunday, August 6, I drove north up I-15 to preach to the precious family of Dubois Community Baptist Church.  I thank the Lord for their love and prayers. (3) During a beautiful weekend camp out with Emmaus Road Church, we baptized three people on a Saturday, August 12, in the refreshing waters of the American Falls Reservoir. (4) I sought to meet and connect with more pastors in the Southeastern Idaho region.  (5)  We brought the hope and love of Jesus to 45 inmates in the Bonneville County Jail.  And the opportunities just go on and on for how we were able to glorify the Lord.  It is thrilling to be an ambassador of reconciliation for the King.

Allow me to expand on one of the highlights that took place on August 25-26.  Three of our mission staff joined up with three of our mission residents to take an overnight trip to “the block” in Salt Lake City, saturated with those who are homeless and bound in mental illnesses and addictions.  CrossPoint Community Church let us use their van.  Brothers from Watersprings Church graciously donated financially to our trip.  And Gospel Grace Church let us lay out our sleeping bags for the night in their newly acquired church facility.  We took a tour of the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, went to chapel, and served dinner.  In Pioneer Park, we passed out bottles of water, John’s Gospels, written testimonies, and small gospel tracts.  The next day, we were up at 5:00 am, standing early at 6:15 am in an outside line for breakfast of the Rescue Mission. Some of our team helped serve breakfast, and then we made our way into the heart of “the block”, praying with men and women in the war zone between the Road Home and the Catholic Community Services on Rio Grande Street.  We were bringing Jesus to Operation Rio Grande.  Eventually, we debriefed at In-N-Out Burger before heading home.  Our eyes were opened to overwhelming brokenness.  Thank you for your prayers!

Would you like to contribute financially on a monthly basis to my missionary work?  Here are three ways: (1) Send the contribution to the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission but make sure to designate it with my name, for example, “chaplain fund for Todd Wood”. (2) Send the contribution to my home church, Emmaus Road Church, and mark it as “missionary fund for Todd Wood”. Or for option (3), you are welcome to give directly to me.  I am praying and seeking to raise my missionary financial support to at least a minimum of $2000 per month.  For the month of August, I received $750.  Thank you.

On the home front:

Our oldest boy came back to home to the states after his summer business internship in China.  Our oldest girl spent the summer with us and just flew back to South Carolina to begin nursing clinical training. And our two youngest start school anew at Skyline High.

Prayer requests:

• We are seeking to build a team of discipling mentors for the men in the IFRM Works Program.
• We need a new supply of good study Bibles.
• Opportunities to present mission work in the local churches around the region

My four main ministry objectives: 

1. Partner IFRM with local churches
2. Disciple IFRM staff, volunteers, and residents
3. Provide pastoral prayer, encouragement, counsel, and Biblical preaching and teaching
4. Help facilitate discipleship components for the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission and a future gospel-based Recovery Program

Thanks for the prayers.  God bless you all.

roots by the river,

Todd Wood