As prayers continue for the safe return of Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother Nancy Guthrie, her family’s pastor is sharing how the congregation is holding onto faith and hope.

During an pre-taped segment that aired on the Today show Tuesday, Feb. 10, Pastor Michael Rudzena of Good Shepherd New York reflected on the woman he has come to know over the years.

“[She’s] a strong woman and she is fiercely loving,” Rudzena told Hoda Kotb of Nancy, during a sit-down in the church. “Over the years, we’ve gotten to know what makes her tick, in some ways from a faith perspective. Songs that meant something to her, scriptures that are meaningful for her.”

Rudzena first met Nancy, 84, through Savannah, a longtime member of Good Shepherd New York.

When services began streaming during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nancy became a digital parishioner, regularly tuning in virtually from her home in Tucson. She would even gather friends in person to watch and worship online.

It was those fellows who ultimately alerted Savannah’s family to Nancy’s disappearance. On Feb. 1, when Nancy did not arrive to watch the livestream at her friend’s house, the concerned individual contacted Savannah’s sister Annie to report that she could not be reached.