Dear Friends,

If ever there were a ‘poster child’ for BrookLink, it would be Ezra. You can read all about his life in an Old Testament book named for him. Ezra lived during a very dark and discouraging time in ancient Israel’s history.

In today’s world, we hear regularly the plight of exiles forced from their countries because of famine, war or religious oppression. Stripped from their homeland and driven by desperation, these misplaced peoples risk life and limb for a better future. Who will minister to these displaced people?

Ezra was called upon by God to minister to a displaced people group who had just survived seventy years of exile. His mission is summarized in these words, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to doit and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

Study, do, and teach—present a model for ministers around the world. Long-range effective teaching of the Bible does not happen without long hours of ongoing study of the Bible. We equip those we train in how to study their Bibles.

But study is never an end in itself. We also encourage pastors and church leaders to commit their lives to do Scripture’s precepts—to order their marriages, their ministries, their finances, their leadership, their values and priorities, by the Word of God.

And then we urge them to teach what they have learned in study and obedience. Whether large or small congregation, in family and clan settings or one-on-one studies, in marketplace or classroom, Ezra succeeded by teaching the Word of God to the people of God.

Several weeks ago I returned from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. For five full days I had the privilege of training and equipping 45 Africans—modern-day Ezras. Men and women eager to study, do and teach God’s Word.

Pastor Mudidi is one of these. I met Pastor Mudidi during my first trip to Congo in August 2013 and he returned for training last month. He pastors a local congregation in Kinshasa that meets under a tent erected in his backyard.

In addition to pastoring, Mudidi and his wife also operate a ‘Tabitha Center’—a ministry designed to rescue vulnerable young girls from the street, disciple them and equip them with life skills to earn a wage. Pastor Mudidi exemplifies those who study the Word of God—he is eager to dowhat the Word instructs and he teaches it to his people.

The doors of opportunity to equip people like Pastor Mudidi are opening through your investment in BrookLink. Would you prayerfully consider making a significant gift to BrookLink to help us equip and empower many more Mudidis and Ezras across the world? Learn more about how you can become a financial partner.

Thank you for your generous partnership and for enabling church leaders serving in hard places to gain proficiency in handling God’s Word!

Every blessing,