The Brackett's in Malaysia
Ministry updates from Nick and Rosie
Nick's story:
Snuggle up next to the fireplace with some hot cocoa and have a box of tissue handy; this is my life.
I grew up in beautiful East Tennessee where the only thing more important than Tennessee football was... uh... well, never mind. So like I was saying, I was blessed to grow up in such a beautiful state with many family members who loved me greatly. I am especially grateful for my mother and grandmother Edna who always took me to church and my aunt Deesy, who sparked my first interest in the things of God. It is because of the influence of these women, as well as my Pastor Morris, that I am living this privileged life today.
Despite being loved by so many, I was filled with a deep sense of rejection from as early on as the sixth grade. Many times, I would be overcome by depression and would sometimes consider how to take my own life. Most people never realized this because I was very inept at hiding the feelings that were raging inside of me. These feelings continued on through high school but it was at this point that I begin to develop a strong interest in God. I had attended church for several years but had no real commitment to Christ. It was very easy for me to play religious games and display the illusion of the "good Christian boy" to everyone else but I knew the true condition of my heart.
Being overwhelmed by the extent of my sinfulness in the light of the holiness of God, I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of 16. At this time I begin to see my life turn around. Many of my insecurities and feelings of rejection began to subside as I reached out to God. I was so happy to find freedom and acceptance in the arms of Christ! I remember thinking, "If God loves me this much, and Christ has given His very life for me, how can I give anything less than my entire life?" From that point on, I began to seriously think about what God wanted me to accomplish in my life.
After high school, I worked for about 16 months. During this time, several of my loving family members had tried to convince me to go to three separate colleges, I had tried my hand at preaching, (if you listened to me during this time, I ask for your forgiveness and commend you for your patience!
), and I had to let go of my desire to play (very small) college football due to a nagging back injury. At the end of my rope, my pastor Morris encouraged me to try taking a missions trip. Apparently, I had been deaf to him trying to pry me off the pew for years already! I agreed to give it a shot so we booked a two week trip to Malaysia and Brunei through Youth With A Mission Nashville (YWAM). Some people didn't think I would make it through the two weeks!
I was very challenged during this trip. I was overcome with sorrow over the many children whom I had seen in Malaysia. I knew that I could never return to the United States and forget about the children I had seen. I wrote this poem about how I felt during that time. I felt my next step was to join YWAM Nashville and to continue to seek God's direction for my life. I could spend the next three hours writing about my time at YWAM Nashville but I will just brief you.
I grew up in beautiful East Tennessee where the only thing more important than Tennessee football was... uh... well, never mind. So like I was saying, I was blessed to grow up in such a beautiful state with many family members who loved me greatly. I am especially grateful for my mother and grandmother Edna who always took me to church and my aunt Deesy, who sparked my first interest in the things of God. It is because of the influence of these women, as well as my Pastor Morris, that I am living this privileged life today.
Despite being loved by so many, I was filled with a deep sense of rejection from as early on as the sixth grade. Many times, I would be overcome by depression and would sometimes consider how to take my own life. Most people never realized this because I was very inept at hiding the feelings that were raging inside of me. These feelings continued on through high school but it was at this point that I begin to develop a strong interest in God. I had attended church for several years but had no real commitment to Christ. It was very easy for me to play religious games and display the illusion of the "good Christian boy" to everyone else but I knew the true condition of my heart.
Being overwhelmed by the extent of my sinfulness in the light of the holiness of God, I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of 16. At this time I begin to see my life turn around. Many of my insecurities and feelings of rejection began to subside as I reached out to God. I was so happy to find freedom and acceptance in the arms of Christ! I remember thinking, "If God loves me this much, and Christ has given His very life for me, how can I give anything less than my entire life?" From that point on, I began to seriously think about what God wanted me to accomplish in my life.
After high school, I worked for about 16 months. During this time, several of my loving family members had tried to convince me to go to three separate colleges, I had tried my hand at preaching, (if you listened to me during this time, I ask for your forgiveness and commend you for your patience!
), and I had to let go of my desire to play (very small) college football due to a nagging back injury. At the end of my rope, my pastor Morris encouraged me to try taking a missions trip. Apparently, I had been deaf to him trying to pry me off the pew for years already! I agreed to give it a shot so we booked a two week trip to Malaysia and Brunei through Youth With A Mission Nashville (YWAM). Some people didn't think I would make it through the two weeks!I was very challenged during this trip. I was overcome with sorrow over the many children whom I had seen in Malaysia. I knew that I could never return to the United States and forget about the children I had seen. I wrote this poem about how I felt during that time. I felt my next step was to join YWAM Nashville and to continue to seek God's direction for my life. I could spend the next three hours writing about my time at YWAM Nashville but I will just brief you.
- I spent 5 years at the base. This time was spent receiving training through various schools, serving as base staff, and making several trips to Asia.
- I traveled to seven countries: Malaysia, Brunei, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea.
- God continued to show me His heart for the nations of the world. My commitment to Him and to them was continually strengthened.
- I desperately sought for God to show me where to go. I think we've all done it at some point in our lives. You open your bible and quickly throw your finger down and look at the verse to see if it carries divine instructions or you just sit there in silence and wait for some deep heavenly voice to say something like, "Pssstt!! It's me, God. That's the woman you're going to marry. Go get her tiger!" or in my case, "Pssstt!! It's me, God. I think you're a great guy. By the way, go ye into Timbuktu and preach ye mine Gospel."
- I eventually made a decision (no dramatic sequence of events) to return to Malaysia and work with the church that I had worked with on my first trip.
Rosie's Story:
The Lord has always had His hand on my life. I grew up in a Christian home, going to church and memorizing bible verses. When I hit my "teenage" years I decided I wanted to try everything there was to try just to say I've tried it. I got involved with things that no parent wants for their daughter. It was then my Mother fought for me through prayer. I gradually began to have this deep need inside of me, a need to belong to something, someone, somewhere. I became very hurt in the process of trying to fill this need on my own until I became so desperate I said, "God, I've tried everything else, why not You." It was at the age of 16 that I re-dedicated my life to the Lord. He then began the pruning process, it was difficult but through the challenges I grew closer and closer to Jesus. He is so FAITHFUL! He has never disappointed me. I love Him so much.
My junior year of high school my volleyball coach told us about Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and the different 'schools' that they have; one of them being the Discipleship Training School (DTS), he described it as a "Honeymoon" with God. He said if you don't know what you want to do with the rest of your life, or what college you want to go to, take this 6 month training and just get away with the Lord; allow Him to give you direction. It was then I decided this is what I want to do. God was still working on my heart and bringing me closer to Him, I had such a thirst for His Presence, His Word, I couldn't get enough! Shortly after the 9/11 tragedy, (11 days to be exact), I flew off to Nashville, TN for my DTS! And that is where I met Nick...
My junior year of high school my volleyball coach told us about Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and the different 'schools' that they have; one of them being the Discipleship Training School (DTS), he described it as a "Honeymoon" with God. He said if you don't know what you want to do with the rest of your life, or what college you want to go to, take this 6 month training and just get away with the Lord; allow Him to give you direction. It was then I decided this is what I want to do. God was still working on my heart and bringing me closer to Him, I had such a thirst for His Presence, His Word, I couldn't get enough! Shortly after the 9/11 tragedy, (11 days to be exact), I flew off to Nashville, TN for my DTS! And that is where I met Nick...
Our story:
So Rosie and I quickly began a friendship without any intentions of becoming a couple. Though she was obviously beautiful and I was... well, never mind, we both had other plans and were working towards those plans. Things changed fast. I began to ask God what He thought about it and He thought it was a pretty good idea. By the time I had known Rosie for about six weeks, I knew that I would ask her to marry me one day. It took Rosie a bit longer though until she was convinced that she wanted to marry me.
Though I was still committed to return to Malaysia, I knew that Rosie needed to be willing to spend her life there as well. We had the opportunity to go together with a YWAM team in January of 2002. During this time, Rosie felt drawn to the ministry and expressed a desire to return and serve. When we returned to the US we continued to develop our relationship and Rosie eventually decided that I might be a pretty good guy to hang out with over the next 50-60 years so we got married February 7th, 2003.
Two years and one baby (Nikao) later, we moved to Malaysia where we continue to serve New Covenant Community Church.
Though I was still committed to return to Malaysia, I knew that Rosie needed to be willing to spend her life there as well. We had the opportunity to go together with a YWAM team in January of 2002. During this time, Rosie felt drawn to the ministry and expressed a desire to return and serve. When we returned to the US we continued to develop our relationship and Rosie eventually decided that I might be a pretty good guy to hang out with over the next 50-60 years so we got married February 7th, 2003.
Two years and one baby (Nikao) later, we moved to Malaysia where we continue to serve New Covenant Community Church.