As we celebrate 15 years serving in Costa Rica, we are looking back 17 years to the very beginning…

Early in 2008, our ministry world revolved around Hedgcoxe Road, in Plano, Texas. I (Steve) was serving as an associate pastor at Grace Community Church, and Angela was teaching in the Plano school district. Everything was perfect. But the Lord began to tug at our hearts. The message from God was clear: I’ve given you so much. It’s time to give back.

The idea for The Brook formed slowly at first, but it kept growing through discussions with our close friends. By August, we decided to formally incorporate the ministry. The initial idea was to build it slowly over a year or so, and gradually move to part-time status at Grace. But by October, God made it clear it was time to jump in with both feet. I resigned from Grace and started full-time at The Brook.

We had faith, but no money.

Oh, and the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 had just happened.

In what would be the first of many demonstrations of God’s power and generosity, the Lord moved people from Grace, and from our previous church in North Carolina, to commit to support us for three years. By the end of December, we were fully supported.

While the world was in a panic and the markets were dropping, God was teaching us a simple truth:

Where God guides, God provides.

To this day, several of those people who made a three-year commitment are still supporting us. It has been 17 years! Some have had to stop. Some have died. And new ones have joined our team. Each and every donor has become part of our extended family. They are the quiet heroes of the faith, and we are forever grateful for them.

We wanted to share this story as part of our celebration because it captures perfectly how The Brook has made it this far. We count on two things: 1) A faithful God; and 2) faithful friends.