TEN YEARS AND COUNTING

Dear Friends,

It is my hope this letter finds you in good health and experiencing the abiding joy of relationship with our God and Father during the Lenten season.  As we enter springtime, our hearts delight in extended daylight, rebirth and growth.  At BrookLink we are humbled and thrilled to be celebrating ten years in ministry and are steadfastly focused on why this ministry was created a decade ago.

“It is estimated that more than 80% of pastors around the world have little or no biblical training – that’s more than two million pastors that are not equipped to help believers in their churches understand and apply God’s word.” Langham Partnership

Without strong leadership the spiritual vitality of a church cannot be shaped and fostered, and the community that surrounds it fails to benefit.  The risk of poorly trained pastors and leaders can result in “a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you…” (Galatians 1:8 ESV).

There are many barriers to international leaders including costs, availability of effective teachers, access to dependable and culturally-appropriate curriculum, and for some, even persecution.  Through your faithful support, BrookLink helps our partners overcome these barriers by providing free in-person training within their cultural context, so that they may spread the gospel of Jesus Christ among their people.

Students in India

    Praying for our brothers in the Middle East

 

We recently surveyed our international partners, and here are some of the challenges they are facing:

  • Need for more trained leaders in theological education, discipleship and expository preaching
  • Connecting secular people with the gospel with great relevancy and truth
  • Need for more trained leaders in organizational management and staff development

Here are specific prayer requests we received:

  • For personal strength and inspiration in mission. -European church planter
  • For God’s presence, protection and provision as we serve in [Middle Eastern country]. –Middle Eastern movement leader
  • For the Lord to lead urban professionals to Him. –European church leader
  • So that [our network of churches] would grow deep to grow wide. –African movement leader

Will you join me in praying for our brothers and sisters overseas?  We are privileged to know of their particular needs, and are grateful for friends like you who have supported our ability to say “yes” through these last ten years.  We have invitations this year to travel to Ethiopia, India, and two other countries in the Middle East.  I will be traveling twice this year, in addition to serving as Lead Pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin.  Additionally, we plan to send out two new training teams this year.

Please consider giving a gift this spring and join our mission to equip, empower and release leaders to strengthen churches and gospel movements! Find more information on our website.

We look forward to sharing about our Windows to the World event, which is also our 10-year anniversary celebration, scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2019 in Brookfield, Wisconsin.  We are grateful for your friendship and covet your prayers and support.

Joyfully,