How can you be a missionary?

      One of our new staff is raising her support to serve with our Financial Services team.  She recently asked this question on a web forum for staff:

I’m getting some questions from current and potential ministry partners about how am I a missionary when I’m raising support to work in operations...Do you have any advice/experience on how you would answer this question? 

      How would you answer her question?  Here’s one answer she received:

“I use a military analogy. In order to have soldiers on the front lines in healthy fighting capacity, you MUST have a strong supply line and a corp of engineers. Ops can be seen as both. All those in the army are the missionaries serving full-time. A supporter is like the taxpayer that isn’t there full-time but is both contributing to and receiving the benefit of those serving full-time.            -Bryan       

     When I read her question I thought about Chris Hayes.  I met Chris 15 years ago; he had joined Cru after an engineering career with the US Government.

   Twenty years ago the Jesus Film Project had studios in three locations around the world and recorded 8 new languages each year for the film.  Chris developed a portable recording system that fit inside a suitcase.  There was nothing like it in the world.  Our teams were able to take it to remote villages and set up studios on site.

   The result was that we were able to record 40 or more languages each year.  Today the Jesus film is viewable in 1,188 languages.  Check them out at jesusfilmmedia.org.  Chris is a missionary and a hero in my book!

   We love having a role that supports every gospel presentation that happens through Cru around the world.  We are proud to work alongside hundreds of missionaries here at our headquarters who are making an eternal impact.

Thank you for partnering with us!

Luke's Ankle

Some have asked how Luke is doing recovering from his broken ankle.  It has all gone very well, but it has been a long road.

     He had a second surgery in mid-August to remove the hardware that had been holding his ankle together. The medical care has been great.

     Luke is now at college with Aubrey.  Luke started school with a limp,  but with physical therapy he’s made great progress.  He's living at home and making the drive each day (the school is only 10 miles away), so we've been able to see his recovery first hand.

   Luke is on the JV baseball team at college was happy to report a couple of weeks ago that he is cleared to practice!  He has really missed being able to play baseball!  He's also doing fine adjusting to his classes, and has already pulled several all nighters!

  Thank you for your prayers!

Summer is almost gone...

     Wow, summer officially ends in 3 days, but if your like me, it already seems like a while ago because the fall schedule is in full swing!

Macy and I spent part of the summer in Colorado at Cru@CSU, our national staff conference in Ft. Collins.  We had a lot of fun together.  Dayna and Luke stayed in Orlando so Luke could begin physical therapy on his broken ankle.

     Macy attended the Kids Camp and made lots of friends.  One special friend was Amanda, whose parents work for FamilyLife in Little Rock, Arkansas.  They are already writing to each other and planning to see each other again in 2015!

Amanda (left), Macy, and Rachel

     I'm attaching a letter HERE that I'd love for you to read.  It's all about the conference. It was great to hear our leaders remind us to walk in the Spirit and keep our First Love.

     I'll post a few other pictures of what Macy and I got to do this summer below.




   We visited Cara and Perry in their new apartment in Baltimore as he begins his PhD work at Johns Hopkins.  Cara is looking for a job in Civil Engineering.

We also saw our good long time friends Mike and Ann Kumpf and some of their kids in Baltimore.  They were some of our first ministry partners...we met them just after we joined Cru over 27 years ago, and before either of us had kids.  They took us on a short visit to the Baltimore waterfront...and they've already had Cara and Perry over to their house.

Some of the Kumpfs and Browns together again!

     I know it's a late summer update, but we did want to thank you for helping us go to Cru@CSU, and being a big part of our lives, family and ministry.  It is a privilege to serve the Lord with you.

In His love,

More Pictures!!

What is Colorado without some horseback riding?

And bike riding...

The CSU Ram!