UPDATE FROM THE BOARD

Dear Friends of BrookLink,

This month, BrookLink’s Board of Directors retreated to Lake Lawn Resort on the shores of Delavan Lake in Wisconsin with President and Founder, Lee Heyward, as well as our staff who skillfully organized the event. These strategic planning retreats occur every 2-3 years. This was my third opportunity to participate as I have had the pleasure to serve on the board for nine years, including this year as the recently appointed Chairperson. What a blessing to work and fellowship together on behalf of this amazing organization! The individual members of the Board of Directors brought their love for Jesus and for people, their passion for the mission, their energy and engagement, their humility and commitment to honest and respectful communication, as well as wonderful ideas and questions with them.

During our time together we reflected on being still, as in Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God” which refers to stopping activity and resting in God, and also by Jesus in Mark 4:39 “Peace! Be still.”, which refers to actually being quiet. Such stillness enabled us to listen for our Father’s plans for the mission of BrookLink. Finally, we trusted those plans as we worked on operational processes, allocated budget considering financial stewardship, planned and encouraged each other during this time of growth, ‘From One to Many’.

We are delighted, in our 10^thyear, that BrookLink’s mission to equip, empower and release leaders to strengthen churches will include more teachers and trainers, whom we call facilitators. This is an answer to years of prayer to expand our capacity to be able to answer more invitations in a single year than Lee could answer alone. This is a timely and exciting blessing. Lee is now a few months into his role as Lead Pastor of Elmbrook Church. During his engagement with Elmbrook he will be committed to strengthening the leadership, staff, and congregation, which is the call of BrookLink. Though Lee will travel to teach overseas two or three times this year, BrookLink has received several additional invitations to places like Ethiopia, India and the Middle East. Our group of highly-qualified facilitators will be sent out by BrookLink to train and resource church leaders. These individuals have God-given gifts that we have seen in action on the mission field and they are prepared to serve on behalf of BrookLink. Please continue to walk with us as we grow, from one teacher to many teachers working together for God’s kingdom.

You, our domestic and international ministry partners, financial supporters and prayer warriors, have sustained BrookLink’s mission over the last decade and I want to express my deepest appreciation to all of you for your faithfulness. This year we will celebrate BrookLink’s 10^thanniversary at our annual Windows to the World event in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. Stay tuned for more details. I hope you will come and join in the festivities.

With great joy,