Dr. James Wood treats a victim during a disaster response outreach.
Giving Hope
Dr. James Wood treats a victim during a disaster response outreach.
In 2007, Dr. Jim and his wife Wendy were awarded HCM's Golden Stethoscope award, presented by HCM's Rick Salvato.
Golden Stethoscope
In 2007, Dr. Jim and his wife Wendy were awarded HCM's Golden Stethoscope award, presented by HCM's Rick Salvato.
April 25

HealthCare Ministries is grieving the loss of one of their founding team members, Dr. James Wood from Greenwich, CT.     

"Dr. Jim," as he was affectionately called, was a joy to have on outreaches. His exuberance and passion for Christ was infectious. He led hundreds to the Lord in his cubicle. It was not unusual to walk by Dr. Jim's cubicle and see him with tears in his eyes, telling the patients just how much Jesus loved them.

Dr. Jim loved the outreaches and everything about them. His servant heart endeared him to everyone. Dr. Jim was famous in his own right. He was a renowned gastroenterologist in Greenwich, CT, and had treated families of former U.S. presidents, but that was never noticed. He could be seen hauling suitcases around, cleaning areas that needed attention, counting pills that needed counting-anything and everything.

Dr. Jim heard about HCM through his Missionary brother and Professor Dr. Paul Wood. He went on his first outreach in June of 1987, to Ecuador. When asked about his first impressions of that week he said that he didn't know what to expect, but that there were a lot of needy people and they worked out of a tent and sat on benches and people came in as families. He said that HCM was just beginning to develop its methods.

In Jim's years of overseas ministry with HCM, Jim introduced scores of people to the Great Physician where they received physical and spiritual healing.

Jim purposely retired early to give more of his time to the ministry. His involvement with HealthCare was not limited to outreaches. He served on the board of the ministry for many years and helped with fundraising for the new building in Springfield, MO. The library at HCM is called the James Wood Library, in honor of his love for and personal investment in HealthCare Ministries.

Jim took his last outreach with HCM in September of 2000, to Pueblo, Mexico, having made over 30 outreaches at that time. Peggy was team leading and Jim was the only physician on that outreach. He was stricken with a rare disease, which prevented him from being able to continue his traveling with HCM.

In 2007, Jim was awarded the Golden Stethoscope Award by HCM for his outstanding service on outreaches.

Excerpts from Healing Hands by Peggy Johnson Knutti