I did an interview with a local newspaper yesterday. We woke up this morning to our beautiful faces on the front page, top story. Pretty cool if you ask me!
Here’s what the reporter had to say after our interview…
Sarvers ready to embark on mission trip to Thailand
By Sherry Loshnowsky
Tribune Staff Writer
Brook and Sara Sarver
Can you imagine leaving the place where you grew up, attended church all your life, graduated from high school–and starting a family in a country that’s 6,000 miles away?
It might sound overwhelming to some, but it’s a dream come true for Brook and Sara Sarver.
The couple is preparing to move to Thailand, where they’ve made a ten-year commitment to serve as missionaries for the Churches of God and OMF, or Overseas Missionary Fellowship.
It’s kind of a whirlwind how it all came about. Brook graduated from North Miami High School and attended Huntington College, where he met his future wife. Both he and Sara majored in missions.
The two were soon engaged and as a part of the their schooling participated in a six-month ministry in Thailand. That was in 2005. At the time, they felt a calling for a more substantial commitment to minister to the Thai people.
“We even knew it while we were there.” Brook explained. “There was this overall sense of peace that struck us deeply … everything we were concerned about turned out not to be a big deal.
So they returned home, were married that summer and began preparing for a move that’s about to finally become a reality for the Sarvers. They’ve been planning and raising support for nearly three years now, while all along serving as the children’s pastors at Olive Branch Church of God — Brook’s home church.
The couple will make their journey to Thailand in August.
Their goal? Initially they have to learn the language well enough to not only speak it, but read and write it too. They also plan to build relationships with the Thai people and eventually plant churches to spread the Word of God.
They love children — after all, they are children’s pastors — and also hope to start their own family there.
While the Sarvers do have a few apprehensions about raising their children so far away from home, they continue to rest assured they will be right where God wants them to be and that God will provide their needs, whatever they may be.
“(Right now) I live three miles from my mom,” Brook said. “(But in Thailand), it will be just us — we’re away from our family and friends. But we’re still riding on the peace God’s given us.”
Another challenge the pair has spent much time preparing for is how to effectively share the gospel of Christ with the Thai people. Thailand is overwhelmingly Buddhist — Brook estimated other religions like Christianity and Islam make up only about five percent of the population. Buddhism was founded in the country.
“It’s part of who they are,” he explained. “Asking them to step out of (Buddhism) is like asking them not to be Thai, so we really have to concentrate on building a trust with the people.”
Those who are interested in supporting the Sarvers — with prayer or finances — or those who just want to learn about their plans should check out Brook’s Web site, www.two10eleven.com. They can also contact the couple at (260) 571-****[my censor for the web... Skype me at Michael.Sarver].
So, I thought that was pretty sweet… To all of you coming here for the first time after having read this article, thanks for the support and interest in what we are doing. Be sure to check out the Thailand page…. To get involved financially, please check out our site with our denomination…
Does your local paper do stories like this?
