Authors

Tony Woods

Tony was born in Texas, though he and his wife, Marsha have spent most of their years as Baptist missionaries, serving in three African countries, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan and Australia. They now call Australia home, living near Gold Coast, Queensland, not far from their kids and grandchildren.

Writing has long been a passion for Tony, and the life that he’s lived has provided plenty of inspiration. Among his published works include: Looking for a Lamb, an allegorical study in grief work, following the death of his son to leukemia, The Road Rising, a one year devotional-type novel which has been described as a “Pilgrims Progress for the twenty-first century”, Leaving the Trail, a sequel to The Road Rising, focusing on a young couple who marry and embark on their own one year journey. The trilogy is completed with Reaching the Heights, where the main character finally comes to the end of his journey. Uncle Buddy is a biographical sketch of one of the most endearing missionaries who ever lived. On the Road With John, is a study of the fourth Gospel designed for small groups, and Sacrificed, presents the story of Naoki Noguchi, friend, pastor and former Kamikaze pilot.  Anagaion is a discipleship study course written primarily for the Japanese with whom he works, and is  now being introduced to churches worldwide. Together with his wife, Marsha, they produced Weaving Sunlight, an incredible tapestry of God’s work in their lives; and soon to be released, they partnered together to bring us Letters to Schnicklefritz, described by Peter, Paul and Mary’s Noel Paul Stookey as “beautifully written”, “wonderful” and “sensitive”.

Marsha G. Woods

What can you say about a lady who has served as a missionary all over the world, raised three children and buried one in Japan, and is described by her husband as a “velvet brick: soft and lovely on the outside with a tough-as-nails centre”? River Crossings provides a microcosmic answer with a series of blogs she wrote while serving with her husband in Thailand. The book’s title comes from the old proverb, “You cannot cross a river twice; it will be a different river and you will be a different person.”

Marsha Nicole Pennycuick

Left on the doorstep of a Russian orphanage, Marsha’s mother included a letter which said simply, “I love her, but I have nothing.” Arriving soon after the horrific Spitak earthquake that devastated Armenia in 1988, one can only imagine the experiences that led to her new home in Armavir. Soon after her third birthday, the beautiful little girl with crossed eyes was found by missionary couple, Tony and Marsha Woods, and from that point began a miraculous new journey that is still being told. A Hope and a Future tells the story from the standpoint of a teenage girl looking back. Now a grownup with a loving husband and child of her own, she is writing the “next step” of her pilgrimage. Watch this space!

Michael Jackson

With a name like his, a book called Death: Been There Done That would be sure to attract attention. But in fact, Mike’s story goes far beyond the story of any media personality, since it opens the door to every person’s heart and gives us a glimpse of the Heart of God. Coming from a long line of well-known Christian ministers, Mike’s career has spanned a wealth of experience from international missions to Uber driver. But wherever he finds himself, he is quick to share the testimony of what God can do with a young man

Naoki Noguchi

Before his passing, Naoki served as pastor of Chomeigaoka Baptist Church in northern Japan. When friends spoke of him as an “Ex Kamikaze Pilot”, eyebrows were invariably raised; but the description fit. Before his 15^th birthday, he had volunteered first as a pilot, then as a torpedo driver and finally as a suicide bomber trained to destroy oncoming Allied tanks during World War Two. One week before his assignment, the war ended, leaving the young man confused and searching. God intervened, leading Naoki first to a Bible, then to a church.

His story, told to missionaries Tony and Marsha Woods, has blessed many around the world and continues to impact people today. Sacrified tells the story of a young man, given to a nation but surrendered to God in a way that demonstrates  the kind of love that can only come from a loving Creator.