Josh Bode and his family lived just down the road from us when he was pastor at Woodstock Reformed Church in Woodstock, NY. Prior to serving there, he worked at Albany Medical Center in the chaplaincy program with our former pastor, Rev. Harlan Ratmeyer, and sometimes preached at our church. We knew Josh---and we were excited when he was called to serve in Oman. His role is pastor of the English speaking Protestant churches in Oman.
The Protestant Church in Oman is comprised of numerous denominations from more than a hundred countries that meet in Muscat, the capital. Josh expressed his passion for this ministry by saying, “I have a heart for missional ministries of presence, not where I come to fix you but where we encounter each other in relationship and together discover how the Holy Spirit is creating both of us through our engagement, even across deep differences and conflict.”
Josh and Erica and their children had the option of returning to the US when COVID-19 broke out, but decided to stay in Oman for a number of reasons. He reports that they are all doing well and staying healthy.