40 Years – A Look Behind the Scenes

I have a memory from childhood vacations. Heading South on I-95, starting in Virginia, an endless stream of billboards promoted the incredible delights awaiting us at a place called “South of the Border.” As a kid I thought this place must be amazing because of all the billboards. Well, it turns out the place wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be.

How many of us have been fooled by “attractive” advertising claims or a slick package? The same can be said when it comes to our faith and the allure of worldly things versus the things of above.

As I reflect over the past 40 years, the most impressive and graced part of our Brotherhood’s life and mission has taken place “behind the scenes.” Most people and students get to know us primarily through our young adult and college missions. They see what we do but not our hidden life together as Brothers.

If it weren’t for this deep and abundant spiritual and relational life in our homes, there would not have been any fruitful missions for our Brotherhood over these past 40 years. Our secret sauce, so to speak, is “that we are a family in the order of grace.” The bonds that join us together as Brothers are supernatural. Coming home at the end of a mission day is coming home to a place where the peace and presence of Christ are tangibly felt.

The Temple of the ancient Israelites was divided by a veil. The place where God was most present was in the Holy of Holies. Our lives of Brotherhood at home are something like this: each day we Brothers pass through a veil, either leaving a world that mostly rejects God, or going back out to a world that needs to experience the life that only Jesus can provide. Without our life of Brotherhood in Christ, we could not have continued and expanded our missions over the past 40 years.

Psalm 133 proclaims, “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity . . . for there the Lord commands His blessing . . . life forevermore . . . .”

This blessing that the Lord commands upon our life as Brothers is the cornerstone that has united us for the last 40 years. It is the hidden grace that fills our hearts in such a way that we must share this blessing with the world around us. This supernatural bond as consecrated Brothers is an anchor that has held us fast to each other and to Christ as we have endured many storms over the years.

In these days of COVID-19, where so much is uncertain, we Brothers want to bear witness to this unbreakable bond in Christ that is stronger than all pandemics combined and is the true source of hope for all of us.

On behalf of all of the Brothers, we are overjoyed and grateful for your prayers and support throughout our first 40 years of serving the Lord. As His grace continues to bless our Brotherhood, we pray for all of you, our family in Christ. Together we are renewing the Church!