TWO BY TWO
“… the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:1-2 NIV
Dear Friends,
Just before our Thanksgiving celebration, BrookLink’s incoming president Ian Lawson and I, along with two of our Children, Family and Youth Ministry Facilitators, Jen Akin and Jan Ryder, traveled to teach and train in Ethiopia. The doors for opportunity there remain wide open for BrookLink and our team of facilitators. It takes prayers and financial gifts from many to help us reach the nations.
Facilitator Team in Ethiopia – Nov. 2019
Have you ever wondered what it is like to serve in a faraway land? Or been curious about the things BrookLink Facilitators encounter when overseas? For a firsthand look read below what Lisa Sinclair, a BrookLink Facilitator, wrote while traveling between teaching engagements in India with her husband Paul this past summer:
“My class ended well by God’s enabling. Hard to describe the complexity of the context here–working with Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists of different ethnicities and languages. And it’s been nearly 100 degrees every day. Our train takes about 14 hours and we have lower berths about a half train car apart. Mine was already used, but I am hot and dirty already, so what does it matter? Neither of us have been to this area before and do not know anyone there. Apparently, they invited area pastors to my class, so there are around 35 students. It sounds like some are DMin, some PhD, & some community leaders–which might make small group work and facilitating quite difficult [due to varying experience/education].
Lisa & Paul Sinclair in India
The heat will be the same, but there might be air conditioning in class! We shall see & of course that is dependent on electricity! God is good all the time. Our students are extraordinary, as are the HBI staff. It is a privilege to be used of God to encourage them.”
You enable BrookLink to go where we are invited. Sometimes this leads our trainers to places that are politically unstable, have difficult physical conditions or vastly different climates and cuisines, where Christians are persecuted. We are often stepping into unknown circumstances, understanding only a bit about those whom we will be teaching, where they come from and what their backgrounds are. You are helping BrookLink explore ways to not only bless eager students with our training programs and leadership coaching, but also with other practical items to help them sustain their facilities.
As would have it, when Lisa and Paul taught in the next location, the electricity was out. This meant they could not use PowerPoint and the desperately needed air conditioning would not work. They decided to hold class outside, which was cooler than inside. Some students did small group work in cars so they could be in air conditioning. Lisa recommended we consider ways to provide better air conditioning units and backup generators which would help mitigate the loss of activity when electricity is out. We know the needs are great and look forward to the Sinclairs and BrookLink continuing to develop the relationship with our partners in India.
Recently, whenever possible you help send our trainers overseas, traveling in pairs. This is not only helpful for companionship on long journeys, but it also increases the ability for your investment to have an expanded impact. We can share more love, knowledge and skills with more people, who can then pass it on.
When you give a financial gift to BrookLink, you are sending us to train in areas where there is a great need – places where the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. You are helping us reach the nations one by one, two by two and side by side.
BrookLink’s team has spent the year reflecting on the verses from Luke 10:1-2 and we trust that God is leading as He continues to provide opportunities to serve around the world.
We have over a dozen invitations for 2020 already, and with grateful and eager hearts, we wait to be sent into the harvest field. If you have never made a gift to BrookLink, would you please consider making one this year so we can continue to say YES?
With just 15 days left this year, you can contribute towards our goal of $228,780 to continue the work of reaching the nations in 2019 and beyond. Please consider making a year-end gift today!
Gratefully,
C. Lee Heyward
Founder & CEO
