Travis’ Discipleship Update December 2025
My update is going to be a little different this month….
Last Saturday, my adopted brother, Andrew Wood, passed away at the age of 36. His memorial was yesterday. I felt it was important to share his and my story as it has had an impact on me getting into ministry focused on discipleship.
In 1999, I was in my mid twenties and had just got serious about my faith. I would call it my surrendering time, where I surrendered my life to Christ not just as Saviour but as Lord, displacing everything else. It was during this time I felt led to serve in some capacity and ended up volunteering in two areas. The first was with Union Gospel Mission, helping set-up and serve food to street youth in downtown Vancouver. The second was with the Big Brothers, where I would be partnered with a boy who had no father figure in his life, to hangout once a week. I went through the application process and was approved. In the next step, the social worker brought 5 to 7 boys whose families were looking for matches, and whom she felt would fit with my personality. I still remember her laying the portfolio's for the kids on my kitchen table and feeling strange about looking at the portfolio's, not knowing any of them, but having to make a choice. I had prayed beforehand for God's direction, and He did not disappoint, it took me less than a minute to get a clear indication that Andrew, aged 10 at the time, was the match God wanted me to go with. The next step,was meeting his grandma who was his legal guardian and a wonderful Godly woman, who I connected with quickly. This began a 26 year journey of mentorship, and friendship, with Andrew and his grandma that continues to this day.
We began, at first, going to Big Brothers organized events or going to play basketball at the local court. Big Brothers would offer donated tickets to different events including hockey games, movies, concerts, and then we would do outdoor activities like hiking, biking and kayaking. I met Jenn and we got married. We would go over to Andrew's grandma's house where she ran a Bed and Breakfast, and would often look after it, for her, while she was away on trips. We would join their family holiday events and as we had kids Andrew would come over for dinner to play soccer in the backyard, toss the boys around in wrestling matches, and watch sports while eating pizza and ribs.
Andrew's family, especially his grandma, has been through so much, and had one of the hardest lives that I have seen someone have. Her husband was diagnosed with Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease causes nerve cells in the brain to decay over time. The disease affects a person's movements, thinking ability, and mental health. Huntington's disease is rare. It's often passed down through a changed gene from a parent. He would eventually die from the disease. Andrew's grandma, then watched as her son, and two daughters, including Andrew's mom, got this ugly disease, and slowly passed away from it. This was obviously something that was over Andrew's head as a young boy, and adult, wondering if he would carry the gene. There is a test to find out about having the gene, and Andrew got tested in his mid twenties. To everyone's dismay he came back positive. It did not deter his life, as he lived to the fullest. Including becoming a plumbing apprentice after school, and getting into hobbies like dirt biking, weight lifting and off road driving in his Toyota Tundra truck. Two years ago, it reached the point where the disease had taken too much from him, and he was placed in a home, and then finally in the Hillside Unit at Kamloops hospital under the amazing staff that took such great care of him until his passing. I am grateful that I was able to get up to Kamloops, before his passing, and be with his family at his bedside for those final days.
Andrew first taught me about the importance of relationships, relationship with God through Jesus Christ our mediator and redeemer and from that our relationship with each other. Andrew taught me that discipleship is built on relationships and that God brings people into our lives not by coincidence but for us to learn more about Him through each other. Andrew was the first person God brought into my life that showed me the true nature of discipleship.
Please pray for Andrew's grandma, aunt and uncle, and two cousins as they process what we pray is the end of the Huntington's gene in their family tree, and as they process Andrew's legacy, and the relief that his pain is over, and he is with Jesus.
A Very Merry Christmas to you and your families. Thank you for your relationship with our family and the support you have provided in 2025 through prayer and finances. It is truly humbling to have been able to serve with Discipleship International for over 20 years now and having you be on the journey with us.
The New Year will have Tanner, Jordan and I go, with a team, to Monterrey, Mexico (in March). I will be in Thailand, in late April, as part of the "Tools for Discipleship Training" for our Asia team members. Please continue to pray and support these trips as you are able. Discipleship relationships continue locally and overseas and I am grateful for each person that God brings into our lives with the opportunity to help them grow in maturity in their faith.
Until all are discipled,
Travis & Jennifer
