An update from Eric Wood in Portland, Maine:
Family and friends,
We hope this “short” update letter finds you well:)
Five years ago, we were planning to move to Bristol, England to plant a church, but the LORD established our steps by calling us to stay home and replant Calvary Chapel of Fort Wayne, now Gospel Community. It was here, in Fort Wayne that God continued to mold and mature a young family, with a young leader, through pails of joy and sorrow. While much of these past years can’t be penned here, just know that one of the most valuable insights has simply been… simply Jesus. He is more beautiful, more incredible, more astonishing, more delightful, and more patient than we ever could have dreamed.
Mandy and I have continued to learn what it means to be Gospel centered in our marriage, with our kids and alongside Gospel Community (it’s messy, but worthwhile). Eden went from five to ten years old in what seemed like five minutes. She is becoming more and more beautiful as she continues to develop into a stunning young woman who loves to sing with her mom, write new melodies or just sing “let it go”. Elijah went from four to nine and continues to push the envelope of what his God given body can do:) He is soft, bold and handsome. He loves to work with his hands, create or help sanctify his sister. Luis, well we don’t know him yet, but hopefully, prayerfully we will be picking him up this summer from Colombia. He is the little man that God seems to have given us after two years on the adoption road.
As we have seen God raise up Gospel Community and send out another community to Charleston, SC we are excited to tell ya’ll (a shout out to our southern family) that by God’s grace we are moving to Portland, Maine to take the Good News of Jesus into one of the most post-christian cities in America.
We are being sent by Gospel Community and the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches. Additionally we will be partnering with the Southern Baptist Convention and Neighborlink. Between these four ministries we have deep relationships, seasoned accountability and a like minded desire to follow Jesus into the city for His fame.
Upon arriving and settling in Portland, Eric will begin preparing to be a school bus driver:) begin meeting with local leaders, start web platforms for Neighborlink, homecityworld.org, and start meeting with a small group of Christians for the sake of the Gospel in Portland.
Please continue to pray with us as we are committed to learning the culture of Greater Portland and listening to the leadership of the LORD so as to best serve Greater Portland’s 7 cities, 61 towns and dozens of neighborhoods with the simple, yet profound, news of Jesus.
As you read over the timeline below, please pray for us to have thick skin, gentle hearts and lives that believe Jesus is enough for the hardest and most hopeless!
If you desire to come alongside this ministry with a one time or monthly gift you can go to easytithe.com/fec (click link to left or go to fecministries.org click “Launch Secure Giving”, create log in or simply give a one time gift to Maine – Portland. If you would like to send a check through mail (1420 Kerrway Court, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 – Please write Maine – Portland in memo).
For His fame,
The Woods: Eric, Mandy, Eden, Elijah and Luis
