ENCOURAGING THE FAITHFUL

Dear Friends,

Thank you for standing with us during these uncertain times. Many of you have continued to support us financially through these months of lockdown. Many of you are praying faithfully for us through these COVID-19 days. On behalf of the board of BrookLink, thank you for your commitment to this ministry.

While we have had to curtail our travel plans, the ministry is not standing still. We are committed to our 18 international partnerships, and are using this time to connect with our overseas partners. Our facilitators serve as consultants to those partners. Our vision remains unchanged, because the needs in the global church remain the same. 

In Isaiah 35:3 we are to encourage the exhausted and to steady the shaking knees.  Through your generosity, that is happening for 222 pastors and their families.  Our partners in a very poor undisclosed Asian country have distributed much-needed aid for leaders eager to encourage their discouraged flocks.  From providing gas to travel on motorcycles to visit their own destitute parishioners to providing food in their homes to taking care of medical needs for pregnant spouses, this tremendous assistance through BrookLink is literally the difference between life and death for our brethren.  Thank you so much.

But this new reality is opportunity for us to retool for the next chapter of BrookLink’s ministry. Please pray with us during this time:

  • Pray for our Partners – that they would not become discouraged
  • Pray for our Facilitators – that they can be encouragers to our partners
  • Pray for our Board of Directors – for wisdom and courage as we adjust
  • Pray for our staff: Becky Riebesehl, Ann Woelfel and Lindsey Hulstrom

Many of you have met Ann, and benefited from her organizational skill at our public events. Before I arrived as President she had served notice that her time with us was coming to an end. I’ve tried not to take that personally! Ann has served admirably for the last five years. She has been of immense help to me as I learn all about BrookLink. Currently, Ann is in the process of training Lindsey, our new Administrator. Ann’s cheerful and strategic engagement will be missed by all of us, though we know she will remain a friend of BrookLink. Thank you, Ann, for your faithful and dedicated service to BrookLink. We will give her an appropriate appreciation at our next Windows to the World (date to be announced).

I take this occasion to introduce you to Lindsey Hulstrom. Little did we know how complicated life would become when she was hired in February! Lindsey is a delightful addition to the staff. She is highly qualified for this new role and is ably learning the systems and processes.  We are eager for you to meet her in person soon.

Recently I’ve been meditating on Psalm 91. It speaks of the ancient experiences of “pestilence that stalks the darkness” and “the plague that destroys at midday”. But these antiquated realities are with us today! That psalm starts off with these words: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. It concludes with this promise from the Lord: “He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him”. And so we find comfort and peace in that assurance. Thank you again for your prayers, for your support and for partnering with us in this next chapter.  You are appreciated!

Shalom,