Chester Wood named director of the Samaritan Inn

When Chester Wood was named director of the Samaritan Inn homeless shelter for homeless families this week, he didn’t have to go very far to start his new job. He was already the project manager for the renovation of the old Big Bass Motel.

Soon, the whine of power saws and the popping of nail guns will end and the sound of soothing Christian counseling will begin. Wood will be ready.

A graduate of Florida Baptist Theological College and an ordained minister, Wood is uniquely qualified to minister to people who are at  the end of their rope.  

He is a former police officer in Tampa, a case manager at Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch, family services counselor with the Florida Department of Children & Families and a forensic interviewer and counselor at Lake Sumter Children’s Advocacy Center.  

He also has been a direct care worker at the Christian Care Center Children’s Shelter, where his wife, Myra, is director. He teaches anger management classes and is the author of the book Hurt People Hurt People – Getting a Grip on Anger.   

Wood sums up his mission this way: “I take the practical approach of reaching people at their point of need and sharing Jesus to make them aware of the better choices through Christ.”