Former First Baptist Waco pastor receives Ukrainian national honor

For almost 20 years — since the fall of the Soviet Union — Waco resident Dr. John Wood, BA ’53, has been ministering to people in Ukraine. Though that first trip was intended to train pastors and start churches, Wood quickly recognized another pressing need he could fill, and his subsequent service has focused on improving Ukrainian health care. For his work, Wood this month received Ukraine’s Presidential Merit Award from Ambassador Oleh Shamshur, an honor given to those who have “gone far beyond the call of duty in their service to Ukraine.”

The former First Baptist Waco pastor now leads two organizations: John Wood Ministries and the International Medical Education Foundation. The groups oversee the donation of medical equipment and supplies to Ukraine and train Ukrainian doctors — a service that, Wood relays, Ukraine’s first lady has said “has done more to raise quality of the delivery of health care in the Ukraine than any other single thing.”

Sic ’em, Dr. Wood!