Q&A WITH AN SIM LEADER EMMA BREWSTER, GLOBAL DIRECTOR FOR MINISTRY OUTREACH Tell us a little about your background. I was born in Bermuda but moved to the UK when I was four. My parents lived out their lives for Jesus in everything. They are a huge role model for me, whether in the workplace, community, among young and old, cross-culturally or at home. African students lived with us while they were studying at university. Their passion for the Lord and commitment to prayer opened my eyes to our global God, giving me a heart for his world from a very early age. I spent a year in India teaching, before doing a Bachelor of Education and later, a Master of Theology and Leadership. The Lord led me into ‘full-time’ ministry (a term I’d rather not use, since life is ministry!) when I graduated. I engaged in student ministry, first in a church, then with the local IFES movement (UK and South Africa). Tell us a little about your family. One sister and my brother are in ministry in the UK and my other sister is a physio in Cape Town. They have blessed me with a cricket team of nephews and nieces; plus four great nieces and nephews! Being single is not what I had expected, but alongside my amazing nieces and nephews, God has also blessed me with children in whom he has called me to invest. That has been a huge privilege, teaching me many lessons.
Q&A with an SIM EDITORIAL leader
How did God lead you to SIM? By email and by influence. Malcolm and Liz McGregor, whom I didn’t know at the time, emailed
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me asking to meet with me in Cape Town. We met in a supermarket café and the rest is history. But if it wasn’t for Keith Walker and Siegfried Ngubane, both good friends and mentors, I don’t think I would have necessarily responded to the email. I was so grateful for their influence in my life — I thought if they were SIM, it must be worth exploring! What key things do you hope to achieve in your role with SIM? That communities are transformed by the gospel as God’s people reach out in faith with boldness and creativity, through whatever means. To see God’s kingdom extended, new areas engaged and other areas developed, all in partnership as the body of Christ. I long to see networks develop so we can grow and learn together, being a community reaching out across the globe in many and varied ways. I am so thankful for our team of 19 Ministry Point People (MPPs) who serve the mission. I look forward to brainstorming with leaders as we explore new areas of ministry — all with the aim of seeing the gospel go out to all people, for his glory. What inspires you when life gets difficult? Reminding myself of God’s goodness and faithfulness both to me and to others. Often at such times, God has given me a rainbow … but that’s another story and a book to be written one day! What do you do when you’re not working? Cycle, run, swim, walk, drink coffee with friends, have people round for braais, and spend time on the streets with my friends who live there. What is your favourite Bible verse? Joshua 1:9 is one I return to many times. I often feel God throws me into the unknown and I question why. But I hear his voice call out to me with these words. It is so amazing to know that whatever God calls you to, he is the one who leads you, guides you, gives you the words to say and empowers you by his Spirit. He simply calls us to obediently follow — yes, even when we don’t always want to. What piece of technology could you do without/ never do without? I love being tech free! How can we pray for you? For wisdom and that I would keep in step with the Spirit. There are many things to juggle in life and ministry. I want to be listening to his voice, knowing what he is calling me to for that moment, that day, month, year. WWW.SIM.ORG
