Hi all,

I visited Fulton Street in downtown Manhattan. A little over 160 years ago, a gentleman named Jeremiah Lanphier, called for a noonday prayer.  And this led to a great spiritual awakening.  I have been thinking about prayer meetings today which by God’s grace can spark similar movements.  Let us faithfully gather collectively for prayer.

Here are some of the highlights from May

• First week of May in NYC:  I visited King’s College, New York headquarters of the Salvation Army, the Hepzibah House, Christ’s Church, the largest Jewish synagogue – Temple Emanu-El, and massive, Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, and the historic First Baptist Church.
• May 10: Staff breakfast and devotion
• May 19-20: Overnight mission trip to the Union Gospel Mission and homeless encampments on the river in Missoula, Montana. Sunday worship at Stephensville Bible Chapel.
• May 21: Last teen Bible study before breaking for the summer.
• May 27:  Oversaw and preached in the morning service at First Evangelical Lutheran Church; preached in the afternoon at the Bonneville County Jail.
• May 29: Warriors for Truth Pastor’s Fellowship

Would you like to contribute financially on a monthly basis to my missionary work?  Here are three ways: (1) Send the contribution to my home church, Emmaus Road Church, and mark it as “missionary fund for Todd Wood”; (2) Address mission support to Providence Downtown Church in care of my name as well, or (3) You are welcome to give directly to me.  For the month of May, I received $1,200 in ongoing monthly support and $736.11 in special gifts.  Thank you so much!

On the home front: Our son, Elon Joshua Wood, graduated from The King’s College on Saturday, May 5, with a B.A. degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and a minor in Business.  Our daughter, Mariah Wood, started a softball team and received a number of academic awards as she concludes her senior year of high school. On May 30, my wife and I celebrated our 26^th wedding anniversary!

Prayer requests:

1. Pray for the new candidates who are in the Idaho Falls Works Program.
2. Pray for our youngest daughter who is making a short-term trip to South Africa.

My three main ministry objectives: 

1. Be a servant pastor with Providence Downtown Church that specifically ministers to the incarcerated, the addicted, the homeless, and impoverished.  It is a church ministering to those in the margins.
2. Minister as a chaplain with the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission: (1) Encouraging and partnering with local and regional churches, (2) Discipling IFRM staff, volunteers, and residents, and providing pastoral prayer, encouragement, counsel, Biblical preaching, and teaching, and (3) Assisting with discipleship components for the IFRM Work’s Program.
3. Be a blessing to the Emmaus Road Church and seek to be an encouragement to the other local church families.

Thank you all for taking a moment to read this update.

roots by the river,

Todd Wood (downtown missionary)