Tag Archives: Urban Ministry

River City Ministry – Lives Touched in 2010

I thoroughly enjoy receiving regular updates from my friend and brother Anthony Wood. Here’s his update from the 16th:

12/16/10 The big room here at RCM is full, Lord. It’s cold outside, people are edgy, and I’m not sure there’s enough space for another person. We squeeze them in as best we can. Safe and warm, but not always peaceful like we want. Sometimes people leave because they can’t get in. Sometimes the presence of the evil one sneaks in and those seeking You have to go elsewhere.

I’m glad Toshua stayed, today. Toshua, Lord, You know her.

Twenty-three years old. Raped at 11 years old, watched her mother murdered before her very eyes at fourteen because Mom didn’t pay the drug man. She didn’t pay, one too many times. But not before her mother tried to pay off the drug man with sexual favors from Toshua starting at age thirteen.

“One night, after they raped me, repeatedly, they killed my mother in front of my face.” I asked about her father. “Prison.” “I’m depressed, I haven’t been taking my meds, not for that, and not for my diabetes either. I can’t keep living like this. It’s hard for me to trust people, bro. Anthony, ‘cause of what they did to me. I want help.” She cried.

So now, after coming to RCM, Lord, finding You in the big room, Toshua’s got a doctor’s appointment, a meeting set to help with her mental state, a place to stay, and job leads. But the best part Lord? Toshua gave her life to You. Today.

I found her this morning in the big room. She was waiting for me. After her immersion, she smiled, “A huge burden has been lifted, and with Jesus walking with me, I know He’ll lift all my burdens. I feel clean.” Toshua loves You. She’s now Your child. Lord, as You promised, give her all of the blessings that come with the abundant life in Jesus. Put Your arms around her. Warm her soul with the light of Your love. Let Toshua know You can be trusted, that Your promises are true, and You are good for them.

Thank for one more soul ending the old life for one brand new. Thanks, Lord, for allowing one just more into the Big Room. I thank You, Lord, for Your Big Room in heaven that ever expands, like the universe, to allow in one more. And, once inside, each finds that there’s plenty of space for another.

I am thankful that Your Spirit in the RCM big room is more powerful than the evil one, so that our people can find You.

Blessings,
Anthony Wood, Evangelist
River City Ministry
North Little Rock, AR

And here’s what was waiting on me in my inbox today:

12/23/10 Thanks, Lord, for another great year being a part our Your plan. Thanks for the …

  • 241 people who studied the Bible with me,
  • 1410 persons who I was blessed to pray with,
  • 958 who wanted to have a conversation about You,
  • 167 who gave their lives back to You in restoration, and
  • 86 who made Jesus their Lord re-enacting the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus in immersion, and the
  • 383 who learned more about their walk with You in Disciple’s Class.

Thanks, Lord for the marvelous way You make Yourself available to us, so that we may help make You available to the poor and homeless. We at RCM, look forward to a new year being Your presence among those whom Jesus dearly loved.

Thanks for Your love Father, for Your guidance Holy Spirit, for Your willing sacrifice Jesus.

Blessings,
Anthony Wood, Evangelist
River City Ministry
North Little Rock, AR

Praise God for River City Ministry!

If you’d like to receive updates like these from Dr. Wood, send an email to awoodxulon@yahoo.com requesting to be added to his list.

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Anthony Wood’s MissionMessage + News from ACU

A note from my friend Anthony Wood – the evangelist for River City Ministry. RCM is a ministry to the poor and homeless in North Little Rock, AR, and my dad has served as executive director there for many years now.

I love these stories:

Carol, Lord, remember him? You know him because he talks to you everyday, all day long. He came into my office to share how You work in his life. He went to River City Church yesterday after rededicating his life back to You last Thursday. He enjoyed himself and appreciated the fellowship. Here’s the good part, Lord. 
 
Carol smiled, “Let me tell you how good God is, Bro. Anthony. I only had three dollars in my pocket when I was at church, and I thought, I’m hungry, so I’ll go to McDonalds and get what I can get for those few dollars. But the Spirit moved me to trust the Lord, and so I gave it all to Him.”
 
Carol gave all that he had to live on. Seems like I read somewhere about a widow who did that.
 
Anyway, Carol left church and walked towards the river bridge and came upon a couple of ladies handing out fliers about their church feeding the homeless in the next few weeks. He thanked the kind ladies as his stomach growled. One of the ladies turned and said, “You must be hungry, God is telling me to give you this. Get yourself something good to eat.” It was a ten dollar bill.
 
“I went to a Chinese Buffet and ate like a king, Bro. Anthony! God always has something for me, everyday. I just have to look for it. I just have to listen for His voice. It may be a good meal or it might be me telling someone about Jesus, but God always has something for me, everyday. So, I listen for Him, and I look for Him, everyday, all day.”
 
Lord, Carol gave his all and You returned to him 3 times back what he gave to You. He looks for You. He listens for You. And, Carol sees You. He hears You. He follows You. He obeys You.
 
“It’s just not that hard Bro. Anthony to find God working. He’s all around.”
 
Lord let me practice Your presence, every moment, of every day, looking for You, listening for Your voice.
 
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matt. 6:3, NIV).
 
Blessings,
Anthony Wood, Evangelist
River City Ministry
North Little Rock AR

 Great stuff 🙂

Anthony regularly sends out updates like this. If you’d like to be added to the email list, send him a note at awoodxulon@yahoo.com asking to be.

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I also found this story about ACU to be interesting … here’s an excerpt:

Abilene Christian University is on the cusp of a new faith era.

The school is preparing to host its first student body with a majority of students coming from denominations and faiths other than the Church of Christ — the school’s cornerstone denomination since its founding in 1906.

Last year was the first time the school had a freshman class with a majority of students — about 53 percent — who don’t claim affiliation with the Church of Christ. This fall’s freshmen have the same proportion.

Read the full story: ACU’s religious face taking a change

The article says the reason for this change in the makeup of the student body is because the Church of Christ is losing membership nationwide, and young people are bucking denominational loyalties.

Interesting take, though I wonder if that’s the real reason. I’m curious if other traditionally Church of Christ schools are experiencing the same type of thing … does anyone know?

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