MULTIPLIER

Dear Friends,

It’s mid-summer in good ol’ Milwaukee. After a cool start to the summer, the temps have risen, the ethnic festival season is in full swing, and the debate ad nauseam about a new Bucks Basketball Arena has all but subsided. Wisconsin is a great place to be during summertime.

It’s been good to be home for a few weeks. June was a busy month for BrookLink with events in Seattle, ministry at the Advocate Summit of Mission Aviation Fellowship in Idaho, and my first-time trip to southeastern Poland to train ‘Free Church’ pastors and leaders in three cities.

This week I leave for Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR-Congo). In 2007 leaders from the African Evangelical Free Churches met to address the African Church’s need to reach Africa with the gospel. One leader shared, “It’s our job as African Christians to reach Africa’s unreached people.” Pastor Nubako Selenga was their unanimous choice to lead this new movement.

I met Nubako Selenga and his wife Claudine in July 2013. God has used this couple to build bridges of cooperation and partnership in their home country of DR Congo. Pastor Selenga is a “leader among leaders.” He and Claudine have helped to launch Leadership Training, Church Planter Training and Holistic Health Training in every region of their country.

One of BrookLink’s key initiatives is to resource such “leaders of leaders.” We call it the “multiplier effect.” The Apostle Paul understood the importance of the multiplier. He urged his protégé Timothy to, “Pass on what you heard from me to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:2 Msg).

When Pastor Selenga invited me to return to DR Congo to train pastors and church leaders in Kinshasa, I said yes! This is a strategic opportunity to leverage and pass on BrookLink’s influence at a broad level.

For next ten days I will be meeting with, training, teaching, preaching and getting to know Congolese church leaders. Please pray for these very vital interactions. Here are a few personal and specific requests:

Good health and strength throughout the week of ministry.
Insight and wisdom for me as I finish preparations and share exactly what the Lord desires for these leaders.
Pray the Lord will prepare the hearts of the Congolese leaders who will attend the daily sessions.
Pray that I may be an encouragement to Pastor Selenga, his wife Claudine and their family.
Pray for Jim Snyder and Pastor Selenga as they handle organizational and logistical issues throughout these days.
Pray for strength and accuracy for Abraham Mudidi, my French-speaking translator for the week.

Finally, last month we appealed to you asking you to help us address BrookLink’s financial shortfall. You received our appeal, you heeded the Spirit’s voice and many responded with overwhelming generosity. My heart overflows with thanksgiving to God for each of you!

It’s your sacrifice, your generosity and your prayerful engagement that enables BrookLink to equip, empower and release ‘leaders of leaders’ all over the world.

With deepest gratitude for you,