As the search continues for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, millions have been praying for her safe return since she disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, overnight on February 1, 2026.
To bring all of those positive thoughts and hopeful requests together at once, Savannah’s dear friend Jenna Bush Hager announced on the February 4 edition of “TODAY With Jenna & Sheinelle” that the New York church they both belong to is hosting a national, online prayer vigil at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
Savannah Guthrie Wants People to Keep Praying, Jenna Bush Hager Says
Good Shepherd New York, located near Gramercy Park in New York City, will host its online prayer vigil via YouTube, welcoming all to “join us in prayer and solidarity on behalf of our beloved Nancy Guthrie.”
At the top of Bush Hager’s February 4 show with new co-host (and longtime “Today” co-anchor) Sheinelle Jones, she said they’d been praying “constantly” for the safe return of Savannah’s mom, whom authorities believe was abducted in the middle of the night from her home of over 50 years. Local and federal authorities have asked that anyone with information call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
“A lot of people feel a little helpless,” Jones said. “They want to know how they can help. You know, we put up that phone number day in and day out, but I also think there’s another level to this that is near and dear to Savannah’s heart, and that is our faith and collective prayer.”
“She wants all of us to continue to pray, and we are, and we will,” Bush Hager agreed, noting that she and Savannah both attend Good Shepherd New York, although it’s been harder for Bush Hager to get there since moving further away. “It’s a beautiful community, and they are doing an online prayer service tonight.”
Described as “an ecumenical church helping people embody the love of Christ for the good of our neighbors,” Good Shepherd regularly posts services each Sunday morning, which it calls “digital church.” The February 4 prayer service is free to attend, and the video will remain posted so that those who can’t participate live can still take part later.
‘Today’ Hosts Urged People to Pray & Stay Positive for Savannah Guthrie’s Family
Earlier that morning, “Today” aired a segment about the importance of faith to Savannah, who wrote the 2024 bestseller “Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere.” After the piece aired, Bush Hager and Jones talked with fellow “Today” anchors Craig Melvin and Carson Daly about the power of prayer.
“It’s easy to be pessimistic and negative at a time like this,” Daly said. “But I feel like you have the same option to still think about a positive outcome. I know as these hours and days go by, that feels harder, but we still have that ability, through our faith, to think, ‘Let’s get Nancy home.’ It just takes one phone call, and let’s continue to have that positivity out there.”
The day after news broke of Nancy’s disappearance, Savannah posted a message on social media, pleading with her followers to pray for their family, writing, “We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him.”
“Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant,” she continued. “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. We need you. Bring her home.”
