Pastor Offers Message of Hope as Search for Nancy Guthrie Continues

Michael Rudzen of Good Shepherd New York says 'light shines in dark circumstances' as Savannah Guthrie's mother remains missing.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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As the search for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother Nancy continues, Hoda Kotb sat down with Nancy's pastor, Michael Rudzen of Good Shepherd New York, to discuss how Savannah and her family are leaning on faith and the power of prayer during this challenging time. Rudzen shared a message of hope, explaining that 'prayer opens up possibility' and that 'light shines in dark circumstances'.

Why it matters

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, a beloved mother and community member, has deeply impacted her family and the broader community. Savannah Guthrie's public appeals for prayers and the church's vigil highlight the importance of faith and community support during difficult times.

The details

Michael Rudzen is the pastor of Good Shepherd New York, the Manhattan church that Savannah Guthrie introduced her mother to about 10 years ago. Rudzen has spoken with Nancy Guthrie in person on many occasions when she has attended services while visiting her daughter in New York. He describes Nancy as 'a strong woman' and 'fiercely loving' from a faith perspective. Since Nancy's disappearance 10 days ago, Savannah has consistently called for prayers for her missing mother, and Good Shepherd New York hosted a vigil last week to pray for Nancy's safe return.

  • Nancy Guthrie disappeared 10 days ago.
  • Good Shepherd New York hosted a vigil last week to pray for Nancy's safe return.

The players

Michael Rudzen

The pastor of Good Shepherd New York, the Manhattan church that Savannah Guthrie introduced her mother Nancy to about 10 years ago.

Nancy Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie's mother, who regularly watches Good Shepherd New York's services online from Arizona and has attended services in person while visiting her daughter in New York.

Savannah Guthrie

The TODAY show co-anchor who has spoken about her faith many times on the show and explained that her mother Nancy inspired her to have a strong relationship with God.

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What they’re saying

“Nancy is a strong woman, and she is fiercely loving. Over the years, we've gotten to know what makes her tick, in some ways, from a faith perspective — the songs that mean something to her, the scriptures that are meaningful for her, which she shares through notes from time to time.”

— Michael Rudzen, Pastor, Good Shepherd New York (TODAY)

“Prayer opens up possibility in our own hearts and imaginations, and I think it also is in our story, in the Bible, in our faith tradition. Prayer is that dynamic connection with God that introduces new possibilities.”

— Michael Rudzen, Pastor, Good Shepherd New York (TODAY)

“I think 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.”

— Michael Rudzen, Pastor, Good Shepherd New York (TODAY)

“I think we're all putting ourselves in the position of knowing the dark experiences can be overwhelming. And when we think of Nancy, our heart goes out to Nancy, and 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. It's light that brightens our mood and gives us a sense of security.”

— Michael Rudzen, Pastor, Good Shepherd New York (TODAY)

What’s next

The FBI and the local sheriff's department continue to search for Nancy Guthrie and urge anyone with tips to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

The takeaway

In the face of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, her church and community are rallying around Savannah Guthrie and her family, offering messages of hope, faith, and the belief that 'light shines in dark circumstances' to help guide them through this challenging time.