A Family Affair

by Susan Burke

One night around the dinner table, our family began reminiscing about our adventures on itinerate when preparing for the mission field. Our son Brandon, then eight, told every church that his favorite foods were ribs, steak, and chicken. He is now 13 and in middle school, and it struck us funny that he dressed in a suit every Sunday to tell people across the country what his favorite foods were.

It has been over four years since we raised enough support to move to Colorado to start Truth Free Will Baptist Church. Our children have grown and changed during those years, but one thing has not—our ministry is still a family affair. While on itinerate, our children were a big part of our services. The boys helped set up equipment, and Katie sang a solo in every service.

Four years later, the kids continue to be a big part of our ministry. They still help us set up for church every Sunday morning. Tyler is active in the music, playing the guitar and drums, and helping to lead worship for church and youth group. Brandon has a way with young children and helps in children’s church when needed. Katie still loves to sing and helps us set up the children’s church area. One of the biggest ways they help our ministry here is by bringing families to Truth.

We came in contact with six of our church families through our children’s schools. Of the eight baptisms we celebrated on Easter Sunday, six new believers were a direct result of contacts made by our children. Praise God!

One of our most faithful families came because their son met Tyler at school, and he began attending youth group meetings. Soon, the entire family began attending our church. Another faithful family came because Brandon and I were wearing University of North Carolina shirts at school, and it led to a conversation with a lady who is also from North Carolina. Three other families at Truth have children in Katie’s class…and these are just a few examples of how our kids have helped us reach people. Even more awesome—these families have invited other families, and our church has grown because of the simple friendships of our children.

It is encouraging to see our kids share their faith. Recently, Katie wrote and performed a song about Jesus for a school fair. Tyler gets to school early enough to pray with his friends before classes start. I have often wondered what our children would be like if we hadn’t moved to Colorado to start a church.

• Would they have discovered and developed their talents?
  

• Would they see the big picture of a world without Christ?
  

• Would they have had the impact that resulted in many people coming to Christ?
  

It is not always easy, and our children don’t always like the fact that they have to go to church early and set up. It’s been difficult to use our home five-plus times a month for rehearsals and events and then expect them to get up the next morning for school. But, they have faithfully jumped in to help because we are in this together. It’s a family affair.

My prayer is that our experience as missionaries to Castle Rock, Colorado, has set the stage for our children always to be willing to go wherever God sends them. Maybe one day there will be another generation of missionaries in our family.

About the Writer: Susan Burke was born to missionary parents in the country of Uruguay. She spent the first 10 years of her life helping to plant churches in Uruguay and Panama. She and her husband Donnie moved to Castle Rock, Colorado, in 2010 to begin planting a new church.
Visit www.homemissions.net for more information.