STRENGTHENING CHURCHES TOGETHER: THE WHY

Dear Friends,

Here’s some great news. When you give a financial gift to BrookLink, YOU are sending us to train pastors who then train and send off their own people. Truly in this way we are strengthening churches together! Last year alone your financial gifts helped BrookLink and its affiliates travel to 8 countries, on 15 different teaching engagements, impacting 2,250 brothers and sisters in Christ. Together, we are having tremendous impact on the global church! And still, 85% of churches in the world are led by men and women who have no formal training in theology or ministry.[i]

In his book Gaining By Losing, author J. D. Greear uses three kinds of ships to illustrate the mission of the church. Some Christians see the church as a cruise liner, offering Christian luxuries for the whole family like sports, entertainment and funny time-conscious messages that meet felt needs. Other Christians believe the church is more like a battleship. The church is an institution that focuses on finding the targets, firing the guns and fighting the culture war. The third type of church is like an aircraft carrier, which is designed to equip and load up the planes and send them off elsewhere to carry out the work assigned.

BrookLink strengthens churches! Our mission is to help pastors and church leaders see their churches as aircraft carriers, not battleships and certainly not cruise liners. What does this mean? Church leaders must understand their role is to equip other leaders in their congregation in order to send them off. Paul understood that an essential part of any healthy ministry is long-term leadership development. He wrote to his young protégé, Timothy,

“The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will be qualified to teach others also.” (2 Tim. 2:2)

In places like Africa, Asia and Latin America the church is growing rapidly. Christianity Today estimated that in Africa alone 33,000 people become Christian or are born into Christian homes each day.[ii] Church growth of that magnitude outpaces leadership development. Consequently, pastors are overworked, leaders are under-developed, the work of the Spirit is quenched and the church’s mission compromised.
THIS IS BROOKLINK’S WHY.

When we strengthen church leaders by training them to equip and send others, the church not only grows, it also sends people to places the Gospel has not been heard. You have shown us through your giving that
THIS IS YOUR WHY.

BrookLink is committed to serving where we are called. Help us strengthen more churches. Together we can train pastors and church leaders in 2019 in Pakistan, Nigeria and Ethiopia as well as launch our first ever Children and Family Ministry affiliate team. Every $200 helps one Christian leader receive access to BrookLink’s leadership training and development. Make a gift today.