Ministry Update
Chip and Karen Wood
Baptist Church Planters
Grafton, OH
April 2023
We are so very thankful for your continued prayers as we continue to help churches grow in health and vibrancy.
God has truly been answering your prayers for us. In Philippians 4:17 Paul expresses the fact that the blessings that resulted from his ministry efforts were added to the account of those who enabled him to minister in that way. We not only desire that, but we actively pray for blessing upon your daily life as well.
In February we both went to Cedarville University to meet up with students that we have mutual church connections with. We discussed the possibilities of a short-term church internship where they could be discipled in the practical lessons of serving and working in the church. Chip had the opportunity to attend the Men’s Adventure in Binghamton, NY, and make many connections with partners and friends. That same weekend Karen joined Chip at Central Baptist where we gave a ministry update and then Chip gave the morning message. We finished up our travels at the end of the month in North Chili, NY.
In March, we were involved in a full-day teacher seminar with Steve and Kristen Wynn. (Chip has been mentoring them since they came on as missionaries under our ministry.) That Sunday, we went to Chip’s childhood church in Constantia, NY, where we presented an update on our ministry and Chip spoke on greeting one another with a holy kiss as part of their ongoing “One Anothers” series.
Chip helped Jon Jenks conduct two leadership retreats at the end of the month. One at Skyview Ranch in OH and the other at Camp Lamoka in NY. These retreats were very profitable for all who attended, and we continue to have weekly meetings with several groups. God continues to bless these efforts to help churches grow strong and healthy.
Chip continues to meet weekly with 11 church groups. These are online meetings that work through the practical applications of biblical discipleship. We were both able to take a few days for a break as a couple as well. We finished April speaking at two churches, one in OH and the other in upstate NY.
Family
Elizabeth and Josh are doing well. Josh is recovering from successful back surgery. Elizabeth is applying to teach in Cleveland, OH, area public school’s next fall.
Katherine is juggling Army National Guard and college at Cedarville while planning her wedding in July. She continues to excel in school and all the Guard training.
Johnathon is encountering some health problems.
Gabby continues to care for her mother.
Katherine and Micah
Praises
- God continues to bless our home and ministry
- Continually hearing how God is growing lives in our classes
- Praise the Lord that two churches recently increased their support level, raising our overall support to 94%
Prayer Requests
- Wisdom to help churches in their efforts to lead and disciple
- Stamina for traveling the many miles this year by car (last year it was 25,000)
- Health as we greet so many people each month
- Katherine and Micah’s wedding plans and details, along with marital counseling
- Katherine in Guard training at Fort Brenning, GA, for the month of June
- Wisdom as to when we can move back to NY to help our parents
- Johnathon and Gabby, as they desire to move back to NY in the fall
