by Wayne Guinn
It is always a joy to introduce another church planter and a new church plant. This introduction comes by way of a third party:
Todds to Philly: A burden for “home”
By Sam Rogian
SPRINGFIELD, MO — Josh Todd has spent the majority of the past 12 years in Missouri, but his heart is elsewhere. Todd, along with his wife of seven years, Vickie, is attempting to raise financial and prayer support to reach his hometown of Philadelphia, PA with the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Pastor Ed Trinkle, Life Church of Wilmington, DE — Todd’s sending church — witnessed this transformation firsthand as Todd’s youth pastor at the former First Baptist Church of Aston, PA. “Josh was a wild teenager who grew up in a difficult home situation,” Trinkle said. “His conversion was nothing short of amazing.”
Trinkle claimed Todd was responsible for more teenagers coming to Christ than any other student the whole time he was Todd’s youth pastor. “We had a van route called the ‘Josh Route’ and he’d have anywhere from 20 to 30 of his friends in our youth services,” Trinkle said. “He was probably responsible for 100 teenagers accepting Christ when he was in high school.”
Todd graduated from Trinkle’s youth ministry in 1999 and headed to Baptist Bible College (BBC) in Springfield. He graduated in 2003 with a degree in pastoral studies. While at BBC, Todd met and married Vickie. The couple now have three children — Isabella (5), Josh Jr. (2), and Jasmine (9 months).
Todd returned home to First Baptist Church and served as youth minister for one year before moving back to Springfield. Coaching high school wrestling the past five years in the Springfield school system, Todd established the Real Life Ministries outreach, which has seen hundreds of area athletes come to Christ. Though he loves Springfield and his current church, Baptist Temple, Josh said he couldn’t escape the burden for Philly that God has kept on his heart.
“There are more Christians per capita in India than there are in Philly and the New England states combined. That’s my home,” says Todd. Trinkle believes the time is right in Todd’s life for him to accomplish what God has for him to do in Philly. “I believe that he is maturing in the Lord,” Trinkle said. “He’s got a great wife who is ready to follow him. “I think he has an unusual love for Philadelphia and Delaware County and will have a great advantage in connecting with the un-churched culture, especially with that being in his background.”
Anyone interested in more information on how to support the Todds or to book them can call Josh at (417) 569-6423.