Dear Friends,

“The dire need of the global church is for developing leaders. It’s not just preachers we need to develop. We need to develop leaders just generally for the church.” African Christian

 “We need training for the trainers. We have never done this before.” German Leader

Can you imagine what it would have been like to hear these words spoken to you? Watch this video to hear these words firsthand. https://youtu.be/vXLw5wA2RCs

Since 2009 you have been helping send BrookLink to under-served parts of the world to equip church leaders with biblical training. Your gifts have empowered pastors to preach biblical sermons and lead with integrity to build healthier communities of faith. Despite this, there remains a great unanswered need.

Here are a few examples of how your commitment to BrookLink has impacted the global church around the world.

Pakistani church leaders have been equipped with biblical tools to lead amidst unrelenting persecution.

Sudanese church planters have been prepared to plant new churches across their worn-torn, impoverished country.

European leaders have been coached to minister missionally in thoroughly secularized contexts.

Chinese men and women have been trained to lead courageously and purposefully in Mainland China.

Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." [NKJV]

Have you ever received a gift that changed your life in a dramatic way? Gifts, small or large, hold potential for huge impact!

Your gift to BrookLink allows pastors and church leaders to teach Scripture more accurately, preach Christ-centered sermons, and humbly lead with purpose. Consequently, churches become healthier and stronger and communities are impacted.

That’s why I’m asking you to make a gift to BrookLink on #GivingTuesday.

Watch this video where you can hear Pastor Mudidi from Democratic Republic of Congo share how BrookLink has “helped me so much in improving how to preach the word of God…since I went through BrookLink’s training it has improved my way of preaching. I have received from my church, testimonies from my people, ‘now your message is more clear and concise’. I praise God for what he has done through BrookLink’s ministry."

#GivingTuesday reflects a very simple idea that Jesus spoke of in the New Testament called, “the law of self-administered return.” Here’s how it works: God invites us to turn on the faucet of generosity so that a heavenly reservoir waiting to flow back towards us begins. A small decision results in a huge impact.

That’s why #GivingTuesday is not just a good idea—it’s a good practice! Think of a way for your family, your business, your small group, your community or your organization to come together and give more. Invite your friends to join you, and be a part of a celebration of generosity.

As you plan for #GivingTuesday, or any year-end gifts, please consider BrookLink in your giving. Your gift will further the work of equipping, empowering and releasing church leaders like Pastor Mudidi across the globe.

Make a gift to BrookLink this #GivingTuesday!

Thanks for joining the celebration!

Many blessings,

C. Lee Heyward

JUNE 1978

My world got turned upside down! Or more likely right side up. Lee and I married on Saturday, packed a small trailer on Sunday, and began the drive from East Point, Georgia to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with all the hope and excitement two newlyweds can muster. On Tuesday we arrived in Greendale, Wisconsin and stopped at a gas station to make a call from a payphone (that’s right, there were no cell phones or GPS) to Jan Keddie—a friend of a friend who lived in Wauwatosa and would help us find our way in the new world.

Jan and I have found our lives intertwined ever since. Thirty-nine years later, we can say we have owned a business together, directed kids’ musicals, driven across the country to visit our moms, raised four kids each, and served on staff in two “Brook” churches for over 50 years combined. Whew!

A few months ago, Jan and I were invited to go to Prague, Czech Republic with the MOSTY (meaning BRIDGES) project. Lee has gone twice to consult and dream with this group about building ‘bridges’ for the Good News in Europe’s most atheistic country. Jan and I have been invited to help process and design a new program aimed at bringing interns next year to serve in the churches in Prague. Jan oversees the Mission Apprenticeship Program at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin. She comes with a wealth of experience and knowledge in this area. My recent years of taking teams overseas gives me some ways to add to the discussion. We will travel under BrookLink’s banner as ‘Affiliates’ to equip, empower and release.

Jan Ryder, Terry Heyward, Jan Keddie

Last weekend we hosted our 8th annual "Windows to the World" event at Meadowbrook Church, entitled "The Faces of BrookLink."  It was a special evening, gathering many BrookLink faces and friends to share the work that God has been doing through our ministry.  Thank you to those of you who were able to attend!

This video was debuted at our event. It tells a story about why BrookLink exists and what BrookLink does.

  
Please share this video with others who may want to learn about BrookLink.  Also, if you are interested in requesting a copy of the "Faces of BrookLink" video testimonial that was shown live at the event, please click here to submit your request.

If you're interested in supporting or learning more about our mission, please visit www.brooklink.org. You can also click here to give a gift now.  If you have specific questions about our ministry or ways to support BrookLink, please contact Ann Woelfel, Director of Strategic Development.

With gratitude for your faithful support and friendship.  Each of you truly is a face of BrookLink!

Blessings,

Please take two minutes to watch Lee's video message.

PS: As you plan for Giving Tuesday or any year-end gifts, we hope you will consider making a gift to BrookLink.
Help us further the work of equipping, empowering and releasing church leaders across the world.

Make a Gift to BrookLink today!

Dear Friends,

From time to time, Terry and I are invited to speak at area churches about the ministry of BrookLink. These occasions never detract from our work internationally with church leaders. In fact, engaging regularly with US churches always affords us opportunity to keep a pulse on the local church, to bring a much-needed global perspective, and to mobilize area churches for cooperative mission.

This month Terry and I met with a delightful group of believers who invited us to come talk about BrookLink. Second Place Church is a six year-old church located in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago (Monee, IL). This mostly under-30 crowd has re-purposed a local warehouse, transforming it into a place of worship. We met men and women joyfully engaging in God’s mission locally and globally.

My talk at Second Place Church was on “Life in High Defi-Mission”, followed by a lively question and answer time. If you have 30 minutes you can watch the video of the sermon on the Sermons & Videos page.

Dear friends,

I’ve just arrived home from a week of training and equipping church planters in a rural and remote area of Ghana West Africa. The daily temperature in that region of the world hovered around 98 degrees. When I deplaned the airplane, I was met by the near-zero temperature of the American midwest. Nothing like a bit of climatic adjustment!

There is much that differs between here and there, but there’s no mistaking the Christmas frenzy is in full force. Trees decorated, lights on houses, snow on the ground are all very far from the dusty hot roads near Adidome. But the message of the good news is the same, isn’t it? Jesus arriving into our world with unexpected fanfare! The King of all kings stepped into our neighborhood at just the right time in the humblest of circumstances to draw near to those who were far off—with an announcement: Joy to the world!