24 in 24: Ways 24 & 23
#24 - OUR LINKS FAMILY
Our Links Family is how we lovingly refer to our network of friends, donors, and partners. Our Links Family is made up of individuals, families, churches, businesses, and other non-profits. It's as diverse as you can imagine, and Links has always been committed to working together to accomplish more than we could on our own.
Our network is the secret weapon to the success of Links. Our US office alone interacts with over 40 countries. We have key relationships in all of these places that allow us to help the GOOD NEWS of Jesus go further every day. We often get calls or emails that ask, "Do you know someone in _______?" It is astonishing (1) how often our answer is yes and (2) how often our yes turns into a strategic mission opportunity. As our name implies, we are often the link between people and projects and projects and people. Our tagline of Connecting People to Confront Poverty and Create Potential is what we do every day.
We are so proud of our Links Family and honored by the network the Lord has led us to build. It makes a difference every day, and it is the backbone of how we are better together.
#23 - OUR LINKS TEAM
Our Links Team consists of a handful of employees, a wonderful group of mission workers in the field and our Board of Directors. You'll learn more about our mission workers in coming weeks, but we have a great team. You hear from me a lot, so I'll take this time to highlight some others.
Holly Bollinger is our Communications Director, and she is often the "link" between our office and our workers and partners in the field. She does an incredible job with our social media and storytelling as well as leading out in our prayer and care. Her heart bleeds for Links and the work we are privileged to do. If you've emailed or called Links, then you've interacted with Holly first-hand.
Terry Cokenour is our Director of Mobilization. Terry's 8 years in Hungary as a missionary with his family have given him a wealth of expertise and wisdom. Terry has a knack for filling in the gaps that missionaries need. He knows the right questions at the right times, and he is a gold mine in helping people navigate from calling to going. In addition to serving Links, Terry is a professor at Houston Christian University and is a Doctoral scholar on CS Lewis.
Annalee Jaramillo is our Director of Finance. She helps keep our books and accounts in proper order, and she is a prayer warrior. Annalee is also a member of our Board of Directors. With a wealth of experience in both the corporate world and local church ministry, Annalee is an incredible asset to our team.
Sid & Wendy Harper are our Missionary Care Coordinators. After 8 years of serving with their family in Uganda, the Harpers have felt God leading them to care for other missionaries. They have been catalytic in encouraging others to follow the call God has on their life, and they are a tremendous resource to our Links team and to many more. We will be talking more about their new ministry, Grafted Together, in the coming weeks.
David Cuchillas is our El Salvador Country Director and he has been working alongside Links facilitating opportunities of service in El Salvador coordinating projects, logistics, emergency aid and interpreting for both online and in-person training sessions with local churches, pastors and community leaders in El Salvador and other countries we serve in Central America.
Brandon Barber has been a faithful member of the Links Board for many years. Brandon is a leading salesperson in his industry, and his heart for missions is undeniable. Brandon has a heart for bringing business and mission together, and his service to Links through the years is a huge blessing to all of us.
Andy Read has a long history with Links. After serving in the UK from copywriter to CEO, he joined our Links USA Board after he stepped down as CEO. Andy has first-hand experience in many of the countries we work, and he provides incredible insight and wisdom for our team.
Sam Brownback is a leader at his church in Fort Worth, and that church has had connections to Links since the 90's. Sam is the third member of his family to serve on the Links board, and it is an honor to have him with us. Sam has been invited to sit in on and contribute to board meetings, and we hope to have him in full capacity soon.
Norman Barnes is the founder of Links. His leadership birthed the original Links office in the UK in 1985 and then later with Links USA. Though he is retired from the work of Links, he serves as a trusted friend, advocate, and advisor.
We very much consider our mission workers a part of our Links Team, but as we will be highlighting their work in future weeks, we have not included them here.
