Cancer claims Kairos church planter Ryan Woods at age 30

Stan Granberg, executive director of Kairos, a church-planting ministry associated with Churches of Christ, reports:

Ryan Woods, age 30, one of our Kairos family of church planters, passed away Nov. 7.
His funeral will take place on Nov. 18 at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Vancouver, Wash.
Ryan’s story, as it unfolded before his family, his community and around the world, has inspired many. We know it will continue to do so. He taught us much about what it means to live out Jesus’ love no matter what.
If we didn’t already know how many people Ryan touched, it was clear on Monday night, Nov. 5, when nearly 200 people joined an impromptu candlelight vigil to sing “Amazing Grace” and to pray for Ryan and his family as they waited for his release from pain.
We thank you for all the prayers and support you have offered Ryan and Jessica over the past months. Please continue to pray for comfort and peace for Ryan’s parents, Kevin and Brenda Woods, also church planters with Kairos, and for his wife Jessica and their children as they mourn the loss of the man they loved so dearly.
For news on the time for Ryan’s funeral, check for an update on the Kairos website over the next few days.

Read a story by The Columbian newspaper on Woods’ death.

• Feedback
  What a beautiful person, attitude and story. Would to God that we can all be like Ryan in Christ.
  I am a Woods and have a cousin in Washington named Kevin Woods, could we be related not only in Christ, but in family?
  Praying family and friends will find comfort, peace and inspiration.
  God had and has a purpose for all of us.

  Sarah

  November, 13 2012

  For a season, we should allow the words of King David, 2 Samuel 12:23, to wrap themselves warmly around all of us in the Pacific Northwest who loved Ryan, and loved watching Ryan grow into a man of God ,using his wonderfully unique gifts of love, service and humor, to show others the way to God through faith in Jesus.
  King David said when his son died, ” I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” It is wonderful to have so many times and memories of Ryan to fill the years ahead. And in those words of King David, ” He cannot return to us but we can go to him” lies the message that Ryan left us with. We can go to God. And Ryan showed us how…..over and over again. he showed us how.

  Ryan’s message that he shared with us in his dying months, weeks, and hours was that we can all live lives of His calling and we can go to him. Ryan used his death to reach many with the Love of God. The rippling effect of that life lived will go on and on …and even though Ryan won’t return to us…we can return to him…to God. When we get there, I just know that Ryan will be at the head of the Welcoming Committee to usher in his little loved ones, India, Jones, his beautiful wife and Parents, Kevin and Branda , and hundreds who found The Way because of the love of Ryan. Ryan, dwell in the house of the Lord forever! Save some room for us. We’ll be there!!!

  G. Rucker

  November, 15 2012

  We’ll meet in the Northwest corner of Heaven.

  Bonnie Miller

  November, 15 2012

  I am deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Ryan. My wife grew up in the same congregation as Ryan and her youth minister was Ryan’s Dad Kevin. They are are great people and my heart just aches for Ryan’s family, especially his wife and kids.
  I believe with all my heart that just as Lazarus had to die to show the power of our Savior, Ryan’s death will also prove the power, compassion and love of our Lord. And like Lazarus, Ryan will be resurrected to his reward in heaven. It is our responsibility to follow Jesus so that we can meet Him, and all that go before us in our heavenly home.
  May God’s peace be upon his family and may the church reach out to them in their time of sorrow.

  Terry Black

  November, 15 2012

  I was personally blessed to know Ryan as an AIM student (Adventures in Missions). He lived a very full and beautiful life in a short window of time. His positive energy and faith will be greatly missed!
  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

  Jeff Smith

  November, 15 2012