From the January-March 2010 Issue
Introducing Tim & Deb Brooks
Tim & Deb Brooks
BEGINNINGS
Forty years ago, Len Holder was the pastor of a small Baptist church in Surrey, where he met some Swiss au pair girls who were converted under his ministry. This seems a far cry from a Christian guest house in the Black Forest, Germany, but this is where Len’s vision for German-speaking Europe was eventually to lead.
Haus Barnabas is in fact much more than just a guest house; it is what we describe in our free advertisements in the local paper as a “non-denominational free Christian fellowship”. The aim of the weekly services is really to reach out to local people rather than for the English-speaking guests, though in the summer the latter are often in the majority.
UPS AND DOWNS
Since those early days there have been many ups and downs. But the Lord has provided for us in so many unexpected ways that, despite our mistakes, we cannot help feeling that we are where He wants us to be.
As to ourselves, Deb came to Haus Barnabas as a student studying German and French, later returning to work originally as an English teacher. Tim Brooks came on holiday in 2000, and besides a developing interest in Deb (!), felt a call of the Lord to join the work. Tim moved to Germany after the wedding in 2001, and we now have two children, Tom (7) and Esther (5).
THE WORK TODAY
So what does Haus Barnabas do? Despite the increased Christian input in the area since Len and Phyl’s early days, southern Germany in general, and our area in particular, is still full of people who have never heard the gospel. The Reformation did reach the Black Forest, but so did the Counter Reformation! Haus Barnabas does organise directly evangelistic events, e.g. a Christmas carol service, evangelistic concerts when Marilyn Baker comes on holiday, and other things. But generally the best opportunities for witness come through everyday contact with the community, through the café we open once a week, where people regularly ask questions about our faith, and the Christian literature which is openly displayed, or contacts we make through the children.
Living in a very small community, we feel that we are constantly under scrutiny, and we need prayer that we might stand up to this as we should. So, join us in praying, whether for your own church, for the Haus Barnabas fellowship, or the church universal, “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” How can that possibly happen? Only because of “Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think”. That’s the only way that God can get glory for Himself through you or me, or that mismatched collection of individuals that make up so many churches. And yet He does!
Further information can be found on our website: www.haus-barnabas.de