Brower Missions

Amazing Favor!

THIS JUST IN:  We received an email from our pastor, Steve Hamer, about an article published this week in our local Dungarvan newspaper.  In his email, Pastor Steve said, “We had absolutely no input on this one.  We didn’t ask for the article.  I’ve never met the reporter, the deputy Mayor, nor even the proposing councilor.  Praise God for His favor.”

FYI – this article is in regard to the upcoming “Worship in the Park” in April, which we have scheduled following our first successful one in October 2011.  On an interesting side note, Tania and I met Cllr. Geoghegan at the 4th of July picnic our first summer in Ireland, and Cllr. Higgins is the father-in-law of one of our church members (both are mentioned in the article below).  This is an AMAZING example of how the Lord is continuing to give us GRACE and FAVOR in our community!  We are in awe!

Home for a Visit!

As most of you know, we are currently in the States for a visit with friends, family and our home church, The Harvest. This has been much anticipated for all as we have our sweet little bundle, Luke, to introduce to friends and family.  He even has his own little passport!

We have been enjoying time with family and friends and all the familiar foods we enjoy…not to mention American stores and prices!!  Here are a few pics of our time here so far.

The Youth Outside the Building

‘The Drop,” our youth outreach drop-in center is going strong!  Now six months since it started, we have begun the 1st step in taking it outside the doors of the church.  A key in reaching this generation is to live life with them like Jesus did.  With that in mind, one of our youth workers, Penny, opened up her home for the evening recently.  A bunch of us packed into her home and were pleased to see a great turn-out of youth for the evening.  Three of the guys even got there 2 hours early to make a 4 course meal for the gang!  The kitchen was bustling with food & preparations, the dining room was music central with teens playing the guitar and singing, the sunroom was chatting and hanging out, and the living room was captivated by ‘Living with the Amish on BBC.”  It was a great success in invading their world with The Kingdom.   May the Lord continue to give us deeper friendships and a voice into this young generation that has a destiny with Jesus…they just don’t know it yet.

Merry Christmas from the Browers!

We just wanted to wish you and yours a very merry and blessed Christmas and holiday season.  We are so thankful to the Lord for our first Christmas as a family of three.  Looking forward to coming home in January once little Luke has his passport!  Love and blessings,

Jason, Tania & Luke

Cross Pollinating for the Future

Horizon International Family of Churches’ Leadership Gathering took place in Dungarvan this year. The seeds of the vision of Horizon were planted during the 1980’s when four churches were planted in Europe through a network based in Florida, USA. The ministers and leaders representing the members of Horizon have joined themselves together in a common commitment to walk together in the holy bonds of love, support and mutual submission with the collective vision to plant, build and strengthen local autonomous churches in the context of family relationships. The Horizon Network has formed through individual church friendships, not just denominational doctrinal statements. The Lord is unifying us first in Him then in vision and peripheral theology. It is wonderful to have ‘cross pollination’ of other parts of the Church to enrich us and give us DNA that can reproduce here in Europe.

Baby Luke is Here!

We are proud to announce the birth of our sweet little Baby Luke, born at 11 minutes to 8pm on 11/11/11 in room number 11 at Cork University Maternity Hospital.  Baby Luke weighed 7lbs 13 ounces at birth and is 20 inches long.  Both he and myself (Mommy) are healthy and doing well.

We have clearly seen God’s hand on this as so many prayers have been answered!  Even down to the timing of when to leave for the hotel (to be nearer the hospital and labor there), to when to leave for the hospital (where my water broke), to the willingness of the midwives to stick closely to our all natural birth plan….it was amazing!

Thank you to all of you who were lifting us up in prayer.  We could definitely feel your prayers!  Hope you enjoy these few pics.  There are LOTS more on facebook.

First Family pic, just shortly after Luke’s birth.

It’s NOVEMBER: Nesting & Numbering the Days!

It’s hard to believe November is actually here!  It doesn’t seem like long ago that we took a pregnancy test….and how time has flown since then!

We thought we’d just give you an update of all our last minute preparations as we await the arrival of Baby Boy Brower, aka “Shnook.”  And no, we still haven’t decided on a name for him, but at least we finally have some ideas!

In addition to all the usual preparations, we are trying to find a hotel or B&B that Jason (and my parents) can stay in while I’m in the hospital.  You may recall the hospital in Cork is 1hr 15 minutes away, and because I have to share my room with about 3 other women and babies, Jason is not allowed to sleep there.  So we preferred for him (and my parents) to be nearby instead of driving home.  Can’t wait for Mom and Dad to get here, by the way!  They arrive on the 12th!!!

We are believing for great favor with all the details as labor and delivery progresses.  Being that this is a more socialized system, we cannot choose our doctor or midwife…it’s whoever is on duty at the time.  However the midwives are just lovely, and we discovered they even have a birthing pool (first come first serve), which is apparently not advertised!

So enjoy the pics below of all the nesting and preparations, and please do keep us 3 in prayer as we prepare for the BIG DAY!

A few weeks ago, after I finished the Peter Rabbit bumper.

A little Christmas project for Shnook.

Jason cutting the cornice board. The hardware store gave us this scrap wood for free...so with materials around the house this cost us next to nothing!!

Nursery so far...with the crib given to us and lots of books and clothes given by wonderful people. We are so blessed!

Me and Shnook, last week, at 37 weeks. Almost time!

Worship in the Park

The Bandstand on the water

A few months ago during a ‘week of prayer’ at our church, Steve (our Pastor), felt God say, “Worship in the Park.”  He even wrote it on the wall, (Steve, not God :O) on a paper.)  Many obstacles stood in the way, but what God started He intended to fulfill.  I ‘happened’ to meet one of the former mayors at a breakfast months ago and he said if there was, “ever anything we needed…”  So I called him up, he talked to the Dungarvan Town Council, and they met and gave us permission to use the park.  This was a major move of God.

What was truly amazing was the weather forecast of rain all weekend.  Saturday was a bit scary with all the rain, but Sunday was beautiful, and just to let us know it was a miracle, Monday it was lashing rain again.  I think God should take over the Weather Channe; it would be much more accurate.

This past Sunday for 2 hours Tania, myself, the DCF Worship Team, our church and people from our town, sang songs to our God.  We didn’t have a hundred turn up (yet), but what a start to see people come by to see what was happening.  This is a first for Dungarvan.  People are not sure how to categorize us, but many are liking what they are seeing and hearing.  We also saw people we do know and have built friendships with in the community come and get blessed.  One young man who helped with the sound (and has also attended “The Drop”) just went on and on to us about how impressed he was, how honored he was to be a part, and how he really should check out what we are “all about.”  Go GOD!!!

It's Happening!

Seeking God for our community

Takin’ a Chilly “Dip” for Jesus

Back home in South Carolina we are used to the “typical” baptism service including a nice baptismal in the front of a church or a lovely swimming pool on a hot summer’s day.

Well, in Ireland things don’t work quite the same way.  First, our church used to be an art gallery…so no baptismal pool (nor are they common here anyway).  Aaaand, if you want to be baptized in a warm pool on a hot summer’s day, try Italy!  So, we thought we’d share some pictures from a recent baptism our church had a few Sundays ago, and you can see a baptism, “Irish style.”

This is the baptism of David, a young man who came to the Lord out of a background of drugs, alcohol and shamanism, just to name a few things.  It is amazing the complete turnaround that Jesus has done in his life!  He recently started attending our church, and wanted to be baptized.  This was also JASON’s first chance to participate in the “dunking” part of the baptism…which was a memorable experience, to say the least.

Singing before the actual baptism...notice the difference in clothing here...it was chilly!

As they enter the Celtic Sea, Jason has second thoughts. Remember, this is September.

Water feels juuuuust fine!

Getting ready to baptize David.

Praise God for all He's doing in this young man's life!!

“Youth Dropped Into Our Lap”