About four years ago I started talking with Ray Young, a former co-worker of mine, about his interest in partnering with us in Costa Rica. “How can we work together?” he asked me. We had worked on missions projects at the same church, so I knew he was a “do-er” who was willing to get his hands dirty. I had no idea it would lead to our strongest strategic partnership, and I couldn’t imagine that they would become one of our largest donors, accounting for 13% of our revenue last year.
Ray’s ministry, Fences for Orphans (operating under the umbrella of Matrix Ministries), raises funds for projects that directly benefit orphans in Costa Rica and Haiti. In addition, Matrix Ministries regularly leads mission trips to work with orphans, as well as provide work crews and funds for building or expanding low-income churches.
I’ve not seen what they’ve done in Haiti yet, but here is what I’ve observed in Costa Rica:
- Tens of thousands of dollars spent at the Hogar de Vida orphanage in Atenas, including a security wall, countless smaller improvements, and tons of donations of clothes, toys, and time to the children.
- Construction of the $20k “Casa de la Cultura” at Iglesia Bíblica in Atenas.
- Construction of the $16k “Multipurpose Room” at Iglesia Bíblica in Atenas.
- Construction of the pastor’s office, and a new roof at Iglesia Bíblica in Atenas.
- Multi-phase construction (ongoing) of the new sanctuary for Iglesia Bíblica in Grecia. To date, about $30k in construction.
- Funding of a food pantry in Frailes.
Most of the time, funds raised by Matrix and Fences for Orphans are matched by generous Brook Ministries donors. But that just goes to show the beautiful synergy that exists between our ministries.
I thought you would enjoy hearing about one of our partners. They, along with two churches from Arkansas, one in Mississippi, and one in North Carolina, and about 90 individuals and families, make The Brook Ministries what it is. All that we do is because of them, and for God’s glory.
