“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” ~ Psalm 121:1-2
ANTICIPATION
Dear Friends,
As Thanksgiving rolls into Christmas, anticipation dwells in my heart. This year, Terry and I will welcome our four children, their spouses, and our 8 (including two more on the way!) grandchildren home for Christmas. Maybe you can relate to that heightened sense of having your home filled with exhausting activity,
memory-laden kitchen aromas, and shared stories and laughter. Or for some of us, Christmas may be a time of painful memories, changing expectations, or even disappointment; some of it more acutely felt than in years past.
Regardless if your home is bursting at the seams with activity or is as quiet as a mouse, Jesus is right there with you. This is no sentimentalized greeting, but the peace of Christ is robust, comprehensive, and deeply available. During this season, I invite you to contemplate Scripture’s promises of who Christ is and what he
came to do. He is the one who rose triumphant, who ascended and who will keep his promise to come again in glory, ushering in his global, multiethnic kingdom. Invite God to prepare our hearts to celebrate his arrival and the joyous refreshment that comes with it.
Identifying the hardships facing many South Asians, Lee lovingly reminds church leaders that waiting on Christ holds eternal promise.
Your prayers and support for the recent trip to South Asia were felt and appreciated. With my longtime friend, Pastor Keith Doyle, we shared God’s promises in different gatherings with seminary students, children, and church leaders. In a country slowly recovering from devastating flooding, the 500 leaders and pastors who came were eager, hungry, and receptive. Keith brilliantly unpacked the three parables of Luke 15, while I did a series of talks on the book of Colossians. On Sunday morning, 40+ congregations gathered for a worship service centered on Psalm 91, “Bringing our Fears Under the Care of God.” The faith, resilience and steadfastness of believers living in this largely Muslim context is humbling and inspiring.
As BrookLink is invited into these kinds of settings, it’s your support that enables us to outfit and encourage leaders like these serving in hard places.
Full Gospel Assembly worship band leads the conference in song during Sunday morning. Making a joyful noise, young, old and everyone in between praising God with one voice.
Lee was delighted to also teach children’s church during the conference.
Now a teacher at seminary, Keith’s interpreter, Ritma, received our training 8 years ago.
Your support provides biblical training to church leaders who lack access to it, and we are incredibly grateful! Please consider making a year-end gift if you have not already. We would love for you to invite a friend to learn more about BrookLink this Christmas season. You may find more information on how to get involved by visiting www.brooklink.org/join-the-cause/. Your generous provision will directly impact Christ’s leaders throughout the world as He continues to build his church. Your gift of $250 outfits one church leader to receive exceptional, seasoned training.
With great anticipation, BrookLink will conduct virtual training for pastors in China in January, as well as equip church leaders in North and South India in March. We have invitations to return to Uganda, S. Asia, Czech Republic, Armenia and Romania in 2023. Your support means BrookLink’s trainers will be able to continue to say “yes” to these invitations. Thank you so much!
Your year-end gift enables BrookLink to pour into church leaders who have no access to biblical training. Scan your phone over this QR to make your gift. Thank you so much!
From sun-drying bricks to unique outdoor catering and transportation, South Asia amazes! Your prayers for our friends are appreciated.
