There is a handful of times in life when you have the privilege of getting to know people over the course of a few hours that you might not be able to see much in the future, but the richness of those few hours is something that you will always remember and value. My wife and I had the wonderful opportunity of spending lunch and a few hours in the home of Conley and Nancy Brown. The Browns are Modern Day field workers who serve as a house mom and dad for a girls recovery home. For two weeks every month they live in the home with adult girls who are being restored from a life that has been filled with abuse, neglect and exploitation. After spending a few hours with them, I can’t think of a better couple for loving on, inspiring and helping girls become whole.
The Browns are in their sixties and have spent the last twenty years of their life committed to God’s Great Commission. Not only have they spent years serving the Lord vocationally as missionaries both at home and abroad, but they have also always left their front door open to those who are in need. What strikes you about the Browns is their heart and commitment. Whether its serving in an orphanage while they lived in Sudan or fostering and eventually adopting children into their family, they have committed themselves to loving those who have not known love. They have committed themselves to be a father and mother to a fatherless and motherless generation.
I felt so blessed to be able to hang out and talk about “The Kingdom” with the Browns. They have done and are doing such wonderful things for the Kingdom, but it is all seasoned with such humility and hunger for more. It’s obvious that the Browns have accomplished great things for the Lord, but really maybe their biggest accomplishment is that through all the hard and difficult times they have remained tender, open and passionate for more. Not more accomplishments or accolades, but more of God. More of Him in their life and more of Him in the lives of their children and the girls that they serve every month.
To me, they are spiritual giants. To serve in the capacity that they have for as long as they have is a wonderful feat. To do it all and remain hopeful, optimistic, inspired and full of life is taking it to a whole new level. The level that if we are honest few people get to. The level where there has been so much sacrificed coupled with the blood, sweat and tears of years of pouring out. It’s that level that breeds humility, wisdom and the depths of the fruit of the spirit.
You never know who your going to meet or how you are going to meet them. Here is to hoping that you can meet someone like the Browns one day. My wife and I are so thankful that we did!
If you would like to know more about the Browns and their ministry, CLICK HERE.
Marvin Slaton – Modern Day Director
