JACKSON, Tenn. — May 22, 2014 — Brian Denker and his wife of 23 years, Cynthia, have made multiple trips to Ethiopia during January term and in the summers.
But on June 11, they are moving there permanently to work in the mission field full-time.
鈥淭he more time we spent over there, the more we fell in love with it,鈥� Denker said. 鈥淎nd we want to go and stay.鈥�
Denker, who graduated from Union with a theology and missions degree in 1993, has worked as the assistant to the director of the R.C. Ryan Center for Biblical Studies for 11 years. During that time, he has worked closely with Ray Van Neste, the center鈥檚 director, and his friend since their student days at Union.
鈥淲hile we will miss Brian dearly, we celebrate his move for the advancement of the kingdom,鈥� Van Neste said. 鈥淲hen you gather people who love God and want other people to know him, you just expect to lose some of your people to the mission field from time to time.鈥�
Union鈥檚 commitment to missions is essential, according to Van Neste. And the Denkers are a prime example of following the call to Ethiopia, a place with great need.
鈥淎s a Christian university, we pursue the Great Commandment -- loving God with all we are, including our minds -- and the Great Commission, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth,鈥� Van Neste said. 鈥淚n many ways, I can see how all of life has been preparing the Denkers for this task. They are a dynamic ministry team.鈥�
The Denkers will be primarily working in the capital city of Addis Ababa. A lot of their outreach, however, will include overnight trips to the surrounding countryside where Denker will teach ministers.
Those pastors are financially supported by an organization called Indigenous Outreach International that was started in 1999 by Patrick Beard, another Union graduate. The organization supports about 60 pastors living and working in Ethiopia.
As the center has gathered books over the years, Union was simultaneously building a collection in Ethiopia. Denker鈥檚 duties will include running that library.
鈥淚n a way it鈥檚 an extension of the work I鈥檝e done at Union,鈥� Denker said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just doing it in a different location.鈥�
During their 15 years in Jackson, the Denkers have had Union students and others live in their home as part of their outreach. They intend to do the same in Ethiopia.
鈥淲e plan on getting a place with plenty of room so that when Union students come over for GO Trips or for internships, they can stay with us,鈥� Denker said. 鈥淭hat way we can continue the same ministry of having people staying in our home.鈥�
Denker is looking forward to working with his wife, also a Union graduate, who will be able to teach the women ministers in the area.
鈥淪omething that most people don鈥檛 know about Cynthia is that she is legally blind, and she has been able to overcome that pretty well,鈥� Denker said.
His last day at Union is May 30.
鈥淯nion has let me spend a great deal of time over in Ethiopia doing this work before,鈥� he added. 鈥淪o in a sense, they are turning me loose.鈥�