“For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.” Isaiah 61:1

Dear Friends,

Wisconsin has long been known as “America’s Dairyland.” Travel anywhere across our state and you’ll see beautiful, rolling farmlands dotting the Wisconsin landscape. It’s no secret; farming plays a major role in the Wisconsin economy.

Have you ever wondered what farmers do during the cold winter season? Do they use the time to catch up on their sleep? Read lots of books? Binge on Netflix? Certainly the winter months afford farmers more leisure hours, but most farmers use the dormant months to prepare for the next season’s planting schedule. Among other things, they order seeds, tune up their tractors and make necessary repairs to their trucks and equipment.

Like a farmer, I’ve learned there are seasons of ministry. Every year at this time we are busily planning for the next year’s planting cycle—where we’ll go, when we’ll go, and what kind of seeds will we plant.

But we also take time to celebrate what God has done this past year—to enjoy, as it were the fruits of our labor as BrookLink traveled to six different countries on four continents during 2016. The seeds that BrookLink is planting across the world are bearing great fruit. A few examples:

• A young pastor we trained in South Africa several years ago took BrookLink’s material he received, translated it into Portuguese and has now trained over 300 pastors in Angola. A seed has sprouted!
• Mahesh from Nepal wrote, “The guidelines and practical methods you taught me about preaching will help me prepare sermons, but also help me equip others to preach in Nepal.” A seed has sprouted!
• Arif from Pakistan e-mailed, “Dr.Heyward’s teaching was relevant and challenging. We want to see similar training happen every year.” A seed has sprouted!
• Terry and I celebrated the birth of our third grandchild this past year—Ethan Charles Riebesehl! A seed has sprouted!

As we near the end of 2016 we have already received invitations to North Africa, Congo, Czech Republic, China and Ethiopia in 2017. Please pray with us about these opportunities and help us by planting a seed of your own.

It is not unusual for non-profits like BrookLink to receive the bulk of their annual contributions during the month of December.

As of December 5th we need to raise $135,000 by year-end.

Can I count on you to plant a seed?

Your financial gift will help us finish in strong fashion and also set us up for the good work God has opened before us. Please consider making a gift today!

When the Apostle Paul thanked the Christians at Philippi for their generous financial support (see Philippians 4:10ff), his primary concern was that God’s blessing would be upon them—for having been ‘seed-planters’ and givers to God’s work.

This is my prayer for you—that the seeds you generously sow will not only cause “righteousness and praise to sprout up among the nations,” but that you yourself will be enriched in every way by our ever-generous God.

Ever grateful for you,

Lee Heyward