Providence Downtown – Roots by the River

Here are some of the highlights from August through October:

• August 5: EIPC Luncheon (11 pastors)
• August 9: Charles Hale preached and Angel Madrid shared his testimony at Providence Downtown Church
• August 13: IFRM staff breakfast with Pastor Warren Cuppy
• August 25: All Shelter IFRM Meeting
• September 2: EIPC Luncheon (7 pastors)
• September 8: Pastors Prayer Meeting (4 pastors)
• September 10: IFRM staff breakfast with Pastor Daniel Custer
• September 15: This day marks 5 years of ministry with IFRM.
• September 19: Navigate Graduation for Aaron and Jake at The Bridge Church
• September 20: Vision 2020 Virtual Event; activities at Falls Baptist Church
• September 23: Officiated in the graveside funeral for Leighton
• September 27-29: Preached in the second annual CONNECT Pastors Retreat at Old Faithful Christian Ranch
• October 6: Pastors Prayer Meeting (4 pastors)
• October 7: EIPC Luncheon (11 pastors)
• October 8: IFRM staff breakfast with Wayne Gould
• October 22: Officiated in the funeral for Jason Thompson
• October 23-24: Preached in the Trinity Conference at Christ Community Church
• October 29: Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention with Pastor Mark Dever

Would you like to contribute financially on a monthly basis to my missionary work?  Here are a couple of ways: (1) Send the contribution to Emmaus Road Church and specifically mark it as “missionary fund for Todd Wood”, or (2) You are welcome to give directly to me.  Thank you so much!

Prayer requests:

• Thank you for your ongoing prayers for my family and ministry in eastern Idaho
• We are praying for our country and the upcoming elections

My four current ministry objectives:

• Be a servant missionary-pastor with Providence Downtown Church that specifically ministers to the incarcerated, the addicted, the homeless, and impoverished.  It is a church ministering and bringing mercy to those in the margins.
• Minister as a pastor with the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission.
• Pulpit supply and pastoral encouragement to the Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church family in American Falls.
• Be a blessing to the pastors in Idaho Falls and throughout the region through the Eastern Idaho Pastors Coalition (EIPC).

May Jesus reign as King!

roots by the river,

Todd Wood (downtown missionary)

Hi everybody,

I thank God for the loving fellowship of two very small church families where I co-minister each week.  I thank God for some of the amazing things that are happening among some of my friends who are living at the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission.  It’s incredible. And I thank God for those of you who pray for me and so graciously provide financial support for my ministry.  You are such an encouragement in 2020.

Here are some of the highlights from June and July:

• June 7: Trinity Sunday
• June 9: Pastors prayer at CrossPoint Community Church (6 ministers)
• June 12: Attended the city vigil for JJ Vallow & Tylee Ryan
• June 14: Laying on of hands and prayer with Providence family for Charles Hale as new IFRM men’s supervisor
• June 17: EIPC pastors luncheon at Idaho Falls Rescue Mission
• June 20: Attended the “Standing Together” march downtown
• June 23: Met with Christ Community Church pastors regarding a church statement against racism; met with Bonneville County Jail staff  and volunteers to hear about lockdown
• June 27: attended a worship gathering downtown in Idaho Falls and then drove to be a part of the Church in Park in American Falls
• July 1: Recorded 5 teaching sessions for virtual high school camp for Old Faithful Christian Ranch
• July 7: Table Mountain Hike with the IFRM Navigate Discipleship group
• July 18: Unity in the Community event downtown on the river
• July 21: Met with 11 other pastors and Junior Castillo to explore the idea of a regional Celebration event with Will Graham
• July 25: Providence water baptism service in the river downtown; officiated in the wedding of Abby and Derek at 7N Ranch
• July 27: Another Providence water baptism service! Praise God!

Would you like to contribute financially on a monthly basis to my missionary work?  Here are a couple of ways: (1) Send the contribution to Emmaus Road Church and specifically mark it as “missionary fund for Todd Wood”, or (2) You are welcome to give directly to me.  Thank you so much!

Prayer requests:

• Please pray for two men as they will graduate from our Idaho Falls Rescue Mission Navigate Discipleship Program on Saturday, September 19.
• Please pray the upcoming Vision 2020 Livestream on Sunday, September 20.

My four current ministry objectives:

• Be a servant missionary-pastor with Providence Downtown Church that specifically ministers to the incarcerated, the addicted, the homeless, and impoverished.  It is a church ministering and bringing mercy to those in the margins.
• Minister as a pastor with the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission.
• Pulpit supply and pastoral encouragement to the Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church family in American Falls.
• Be a blessing to the pastors in Idaho Falls and throughout the region through the Eastern Idaho Pastors Coalition (EIPC).

May Jesus reign as King!

roots by the river,

Todd Wood (downtown missionary)

Hi everybody,

In light of our current events, here are a few of my musings in Scripture.

 #God’sLawMatters

We accept and embrace God’s law (Exodus 20:1-17). We pray and submit to law enforcement, judges, and government leaders (Romans 13:1-7, I Peter 2:13-17). We categorically reject the intentions and actions of those who rebel and fight God’s law and order.

#God’sGospelMatters

We admit where we have been unjust and unrighteous in following God’s law. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  We humble ourselves and confess our transgression of God’s law and put our trust in Jesus Christ to deliver and redeem us. We repent of our sins and believe Christ’s gospel (Romans 3:21-26, II Corinthians 5:21, Titus 3:1-7, I Peter 3:18) so that we might be able to fulfill the royal law of God (James 2:8) among one another.

#God’sJusticeAppliedMatters

No matter the color of our skin or social status, the Church is one in Christ (Galatians 3:28). We don’t avenge ourselves, but as revealed in the very nature of God, we desire to be a loving people of salt and light who stand and live in God’s justice for other people all around us who might be treated unfairly and unequally (Exodus 23:2; Deuteronomy 10:17-18, 32:4-5; Psalm 33:5, 37:28, 89:14, 146:7-9, Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:17; Amos 5:24; Micah 6:8).

Here are some of the highlights from May:

• May 3: Worshiped in the reopened in-person service with Emmaus Road Church; Reopened in-person services for Providence Downtown Church;
• May 5: Vision 2020 committee meeting on the river; participated virtually in the “Praying On the Mountain” event with 95-year-old, Fred Lunsford
• May 7: National Day of Prayer – we met for public worship and prayer during the noon hour on the Bonneville County Courthouse steps
• May 10: Mother’s Day – reopened in-person services for Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church
• May 12: EIPC pastors prayer meeting on the river (8 ministers)
• May 18: Took the men in the IFRM Navigate Discipleship Program on a hike to the Lower Palisades Lake
• May 23: Emmaus Road Church threw a party for graduates in the church family
• May 25: IFRM First Street Thrift store reopened
• May 29: Rebranding of the name, Eastern Idaho Worship Collective, as a gathering for musicians and worship leaders

Would you like to contribute financially on a monthly basis to my missionary work?  Here are a couple of ways: (1) Send the contribution to Emmaus Road Church and specifically mark it as “missionary fund for Todd Wood”, or (2) You are welcome to give directly to me.  Thank you so much!

On the home front:

Our daughter, Hannah, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.  She received a nursing award from Bob Jones University and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Our son, Micaiah, graduated from Skyline High School with the second-highest GPA in the graduating class. We are proud of them for their achievements.  Thank you all for your prayers and love showed to our family.

Prayer requests:

• Please pray for the spiritual growth and vitality of Providence Downtown Church, Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church, Emmaus Road Church, Berean Baptist Church, etc. Pray that we will be disciples who are multiplying disciples for Jesus Christ.
• Please pray for the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission in our daily operations that we will glorify God in all that we do. Pray for the work of God’s Spirit in the lives of men, women, and children who are currently living at our shelters.
• Pray for spiritual awakening in America and revival in our churches.
• Pray for our government, our law enforcement, and our troubled and hurting.
• Pray that the rioting and looting will stop.

My four current ministry objectives:

• Be a servant missionary-pastor with Providence Downtown Church that specifically ministers to the incarcerated, the addicted, the homeless, and impoverished.  It is a church ministering and bringing mercy to those in the margins.
• Minister as a pastor with the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission.
• Pulpit supply and pastoral encouragement to the Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church family in American Falls.
• Be a blessing to the pastors in Idaho Falls and throughout the region through the Eastern Idaho Pastors Coalition (EIPC).

May Jesus reign as King!

roots by the river,

Todd Wood (downtown missionary)

Greetings,

I would like to report that there has not been one positive case of coronavirus among any at Providence Downtown Church, Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church, and the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission. Thank you, God, for your mercies.

Because of Idaho’s response to COVID-19, it has been one of the most unique months of ministry that I have ever experienced, filled with phone calls, emails, zoom meetings, and drive-in church services.

Here are the two biggest impacts for me this month: (1) the need to pray, and (2) the death of my ideas for large Christian gatherings in 2020.

Here are some of the highlights from April:

• April 5: Palm Sunday – I emailed my sermon to brothers and sisters and watched several online church services.
• April 8: Good chat with Pastor Russell Martin (Harvestview Baptist Church – Rexburg) at the downtown Idaho Falls Rescue Mission; evening Pesach
• April 9: Maundy Thursday – I watched several online church services.
• April 10: Good Friday – I participated in the First Evangelical Lutheran Church online service with seven other preachers by recording my thoughts on the last word of Jesus on the cross.
• April 12: Resurrection Sunday – I joined Pastor Beau Floyd (Emmaus Road Church) on top of the Pancheri Bridge overlooking Interstate 15 for Sunrise Facebook live. I gathered with Pastor Jose Favela (Iglesia Centro Evangelistico) to pray in a Drive-In church service in the parking lot of Shopko on 17^th street. In the afternoon, I lead Bible study and prayer at the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission women’s shelter.
• April 14: Eastern Idaho Pastors Coalition (EIPC) Prayer meeting through Zoom (6 ministers)
• April 19: I preached in the morning Falls Baptist Church Drive-In service. I collected written prayers by city pastors and brothers and posted them on social media.
• April 21: Vision 2020 Zoom meeting (5 people)
• April 23: Vision 2020 Zoom leadership meeting (12 people)

Would you like to contribute financially on a monthly basis to my missionary work?  Here are a couple of ways: (1) Send the contribution to Emmaus Road Church and specifically mark it as “missionary fund for Todd Wood”, or (2) You are welcome to give directly to me.  Thank you so much!

On the home front:

Because of the Governor’s order, my family of six has been under a stay-at-home order for the past five weeks.  It has been quite an adventure. I have lost track of how many times we have emptied all the food out of the fridge. Pray for our kids.  My oldest son finishes his ISU classes on Wednesday, May 6. Likewise, my oldest daughter completes all her college classes at BJU on the same day and graduates on May 8. Our youngest daughter is done with her spring semester with the University of Idaho on May 15.  And our youngest boy graduates from Skyline High School on May 27.

Prayer requests:

• Pray as Providence Downtown Church will resume their church services on May 2.
• Please pray for Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church as they reopen for public worship gatherings on Mother’s Day, May 10.
• Pray for spiritual awakening and revival.

My four current ministry objectives:

• Be a servant missionary-pastor with Providence Downtown Church that specifically ministers to the incarcerated, the addicted, the homeless, and impoverished.  It is a church ministering and bringing mercy to those in the margins.
• Minister as a pastor with the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission.
• Pulpit supply and pastoral encouragement to the Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church family in American Falls.
• Be a blessing to the pastors in Idaho Falls and throughout the region through the Eastern Idaho Pastors Coalition (EIPC).

May Jesus reign as King!

roots by the river,

Todd Wood (downtown missionary)

Greetings,

The snow has melted. Providence Downtown Church has begun its third year of ministry. The Idaho Falls Rescue Mission has seen a lot of new faces.  And yet in the middle of this month, to the surprise of us all, the governor of Idaho ordered all residents to stay at home to prevent any Covid-19 spread. I am thankful that the Shepherd of the Falls family in American Falls is tucked in a safe rural place where the sun shines in every window.  I am thankful for God’s mercies. And I am thankful for your ongoing prayers, support, and encouragement.

Here are some of the highlights from March:

• March 1: Providence Downtown Church started meeting on Sundays at the New Destiny Ministries Hub downtown.
• March 4: EIPC Luncheon at the downtown IFRM Men’s Shelter (16 pastors).
• March 5: Gathered with pastors for prayer at Grace Lutheran Church in Pocatello (8 pastors).
• March 6: World Day of Prayer at First Baptist Church in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Tour of the Good Samaritan Mission;
• March 10: Pastors Prayer meeting at Berean Baptist Church in Idaho Falls.
• March 11: Marks the second-year anniversary of Providence Downtown Church.
• March 12: IFRM Staff Breakfast with Pastor Jack Harwell (14 people) – An introductory briefing about Covid-19.
• March 13: Upper Valley Pastors Appreciation Banquet hosted by EIPC at Eagle Rock Baptist Church.
• March 15: Providence baptismal service – in a small gathering, two were baptized downtown in the Snake River.
• March 20-21: The IFRM “A Walk in the Cold” event was canceled. I did a solo walk of 7 miles on Friday and then a solo walk of 17.1 miles around the perimeter of the city on Saturday. A big thanks to those who contributed $1250 in my fundraiser for the Rescue Mission.
• March 22: Met in small groups at Shepherd of the Falls and Providence.
• March 25: Our Idaho governor ordered shelter-in-place throughout the state.

Would you like to contribute financially on a monthly basis to my missionary work?  Here are a couple of ways: (1) Send the contribution to Emmaus Road Church and specifically mark it as “missionary fund for Todd Wood”, or (2) You are welcome to give directly to me.  Thank you so much!

On the home front:

Honestly, it has been chaos. Idaho State University closed its classrooms, sending my oldest boy home.  Bob Jones University shut its doors, sending home, my oldest girl, a senior nursing major.  The University of Idaho terminated in-class activity, bringing my youngest daughter home.  And Skyline High School ended all group study, and so my high school senior is stuck home, too.  This has not been the way that we intended to celebrate with our kids in the Class of 2020.  It is time to be creative. Hannah applied for a nursing job at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, but a notice came to her this past week that hiring new graduates has been put on hold. So much is in limbo.  We look to the heavens and wait upon God.  This season is teaching us all much about trust.

Prayer requests: 

1. Pray that I might be sensitive in how to share the gospel and spread Christ’s love in this season of Covid-19. What can I pray for you?
2. Please continue to pray for the brothers and sisters of Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church in American Falls and Providence Downtown Church in Idaho Falls. May God keep them all safe.
3. Pray for the men, women, and children who currently live in our shelters of the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission. During quarantine, they are stir-crazy with many job resource opportunities that have been closed down.
4. Pray for my kids as they all are adjusting to saying goodbye to friends and then trying to meet deadlines through online classes.
5. Pray for spiritual awakening and revival.

My four current ministry objectives:

1. Be a servant missionary-pastor with Providence Downtown Church that specifically ministers to the incarcerated, the addicted, the homeless, and impoverished.  It is a church ministering and bringing mercy to those in the margins.
2. Minister as a pastor with the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission.
3. Pulpit supply and pastoral encouragement to the Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church family in American Falls.
4. Be a blessing to the pastors in Idaho Falls and throughout the region through the Eastern Idaho Pastors Coalition (EIPC) and support the upcoming region-wide gospel event, Vision 2020, at the Sandy Downs Arena on Monday, July 20, 2020. We wait upon the Lord

May Jesus reign as King!

roots by the river,

Todd Wood (downtown missionary)

Greetings,

Greetings to you all,

The past few months (December and January) were a whirl of joy in service for the Lord. The holidays always prove to be a great time for feasting and celebrating.  In a week, I will update you about all the happenings that took place in February! God is so good!

Greetings to you all,

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).  Hallelujah!  We are looking to the Lord to do great things for His glory during the month of December!

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