As the search for her missing mother enters its 10th day, Savannah Guthrie’s pastor is speaking publicly as concern continues to grow over the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
Pastor Michael Rudzena shared his personal connection to the Guthrie family during an appearance on “Today.”
He told Hoda Kotb that Nancy had long been a member of the Good Shepherd New York church community and continued to stay connected by watching services remotely after the coronavirus pandemic.
“She’s a strong woman, and she is fiercely loving,” Rudzena said of Nancy, 84, recalling their interactions before her disappearance.
A Place of Meaning for Savannah and Her Family
Kotb described Good Shepherd New York as a deeply meaningful space for both Savannah and her mother. Rudzena expanded on that sentiment, explaining how faith can serve as an anchor in moments of fear and uncertainty.
“Leaving the door open for hope is a way to fight against that sense of fatality or fatalism. It’s the sense that we all feel when bad things are happening, a sense of despair or gloom can sort of cloud our minds and hearts,” he said.
“And prayer is a way of channeling that feeling toward God with the hope that God will meet us in it and get us through to the other side. And that’s the confidence of faith.”
Holding Onto Light During a Painful Unknown
NBCUniversalAs the search continues, Rudzena acknowledged the emotional toll the situation has taken on those following the case and the wider community.
“I think we’re all putting ourselves in the position of knowing that dark experiences can be overwhelming, and when we think of Nancy, our heart goes out to Nancy,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of belief and perseverance in moments when answers remain unclear.
“We don’t know what we don’t know, and yet we know that light shines in dark circumstances and it’s light that gets us out of them, and I think that image of a guiding light is powerful. And our hope is that God is a guiding light right now for her.”
What Authorities and the Guthrie Family Have Shared So Far
NBC/Getty- Nancy was reported missing in Arizona earlier this month. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said she has “no cognitive issues at all.”
- “She’s very alert, she’s of good, sound mind,” Nanos said, while noting that Nancy is “not in good” physical health. “I hope we find her safe and sound, but we can’t ignore what’s in front of us.”
- Authorities later said “concerning circumstances” were found at the home. The homicide unit is now involved as the investigation continues.
- As per NBC, the family confirmed the situation in a statement, saying, “We can confirm this is a missing persons case, and the family is working closely with local law enforcement.”
- In Savannah’s absence, Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin addressed the case on “Today.”
- “We want to get right to what is a deeply personal story for us,” Melvin said. “Nancy Guthrie, Savannah’s beloved mother, has been reported missing in Arizona.”
- Savannah later shared a statement through the show, thanking those who have offered support. “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support,” she said. She added, “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.”
- Investigators have since confirmed the case is being treated as a crime, including the review of alleged ransom letters.
- In a February 7 video, Savannah appeared alongside her siblings Annie and Camron and made a direct plea for their mother’s return. “We received your message, and we understand,” Savannah said. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
- In a more recent statement shared on Monday, February 9. Savannah expressed growing urgency, saying, “We believe our mom is still out there. We are in an hour of desperation.”
As of the time of writing this story, the search for Nancy is ongoing, and she has not yet been found.
