Jeff & Linda Brown - Germany

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March 2008

Dear Praying Friends,

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. The challenge of this Bible precept has hit home with us during the past months. Beginning in November with a group of five, including the two of us, we have seen our church planting team grow to ten adults in the past week. Our group has learned about the church in the past months and learned to pray. We have steadily watched God answer. Two weeks ago we watched a documentary about George Mueller together. For those who do not know, George Mueller built an orphanage in Bristol , England in the 1800s, which ultimately housed 10,000 children. His chief instrument in getting things done was prayer. After watching the documentary, our people have understood more clearly that this is how things are supposed to get done. First we pray and then we expect God to do what men would never expect to happen. We are not expecting to build a large orphanage like George Mueller did. It will be enough for us to start a church, which will one day function all on its own, with a sizeable and healthy congregation. We are very thankful for the increase in the numbers of our team. But God has laid it on our hearts to pray for more. So we would ask you to pray with us that we will have the right number of people by the time we begin services. We signed a contract to rent 2300 sq. ft. of office space this week. We will move into the building in mid-May. The Lord will have to supply the funds for us to prepare the building to function as a church. That stretches our team's faith, which is good. The Lord has already begun to answer this need.

During February Jeff was in England with our BMM team, helping with strategic planning. It was good for him to learn of the challenges the church planters had there, which were sometimes different than those in Germany . At the end of February we were visited by Mark and Leslie Boyd. The Boyds spent time with us and three other BMM Germany families to get a good look at the country and the ministry we all are doing. Upon their return to the US , to our delight they let us all know that they feel certain the Lord wants them in Germany in the future. Mark grew up in Europe , knows some German and so will be well equipped to do ministry here. The Boyds are planning to be at candidate school in July. Afterward they will begin raising financial support to do ministry here. We also need to mention that Yvonne Smith arrived last week. She will assist the Brudtkuhls in their ministry in Berlin . Yvonne is the first new recruit to arrive since 2000. Nine of our missionaries have retired or gone to US ministries. Thirty months ago we began a concerted prayer effort in our team for new recruits for the German ministry. Our prayers are beginning to be answered.

Jeff still attends the men's prayer meeting of the Erlangen church. This group has likewise grown in number. Within a couple of months, he will leave the group to begin the same ministry in Nuremberg . Linda has already begun a women's prayer meeting for our church planting team. A few weeks ago in the Erlangen men's group we listened as one of our number, Daniel, told us how he had received what to him was the ultimate job offer of his career. He is only 25. We assumed this was his good-bye to us, because the job would take him to another country, where he would manage a very large operation. Then he said, "In two hours I am going to tell my company that I will turn down the offer because I believe God has called me to preach and I need to train for the ministry." No doubt he saw a few of our mouths agape. But by the time we were praying the whole story made sense. We had all watched this young man grow as a Christian and regularly motivate others to do ministry. You might remember to pray for Daniel, since he now will decide where he will train for the ministry. This will be a crucial decision. We very much hope that he will return to the Erlangen/Nuremberg area to aid us in the works we are doing.

This week Jeff will travel to Zambia for a week of strategic planning with our mission's team in that country. This group has already begun several ambitious projects in addition to their church-planting ministry in the country. As suffering among the people of Zambia far exceeds that which we are used to where we live, it should be quite a learning experience. Linda is happy to stay in Europe and not get acquainted with all the African bugs.

"He (God) has made his wonderful works to be remembered." (Psalm 111:4)

Sincerely in Christ,
Jeff and Linda Brown

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