The Brook reaches out at local, national and international levels
The Brook congregation is remembering they already have received the greatest gift ever given.
“Out of gratitude and generosity, our desire is to give back,” lead pastor Brian Mayfield said. “The Need,” their Christmas campaign, is reaching people from Madison to Latin America.
Locally, The Brook is ” constantly looking for ways — financial and otherwise — to partner with and support Inside-Out Ministries,” Mayfield said. Many Brook members helped with the citywide Thanksgiving dinner, which Inside-Out Ministries spearheaded at Bob Jones High School.
In national scope, The Brook supports Ryan McCoskey, who is ‘planting’ The Seed church in downtown Wichita, Kan. McCoskey was a student when Mayfield was youth pastor for 10 years at Wichita’s Olivet Baptist Church.
Recently, The Brook finished a sermon series for McCoskey’s book, “A Misplaced Joy,” about Jesus, the Gospel and individual joy. All book proceeds benefit the new church. “Several of my former students are planting The Seed,” Mayfield said. “I have a huge heart for the area.”
On the international level, a 10-member team from The Brook traveled to Guatemala this past summer. They worked primarily with Amor del Nino, a children’s home.
In 2012, about 25 members will work with Casas por Cristo (casasporcristo.org) to build a home for a family in need. A portion of The Brook’s Christmas offering will fund building costs of $8,000.
For Christmas, the children conducted a coat drive and distributed 78 coats, along with jackets, scarves, gloves and hats on Dec. 17, children’s ministry director Sara Couch said. The Brook’s students celebrated Christmas at Madison Manor Nursing Home and Rehab on Dec. 21 by delivering cards and singing carols.
The church supports the Southern Baptist Convention’s training program for home and foreign missionaries.
In fellowship, the ladies’ Christmas brunch on Dec. 10 was a time of celebratory worship. On Dec. 11, the congregation enjoyed a progressive dinner with appetizers, entree and dessert.
A candlelight service will be held on Christmas Eve at 5 p.m.
The Brook’s address is 8573 U.S. 72 W. For more information, call 256-837-6633 or visit thebrookchurch.com.
