8.18.26 | Gratitude, Family, Identity & Faithfulness | Proclaim PULSE

Welcome to another edition of Proclaim PULSE—our weekly look at what God is doing in and through Proclaim Ministries as we work to help kids and teens connect faith and life and equip adults to disciple them.

This week is a mix of gratitude, ministry updates, family, teaching, prayer, and a reminder that faithfulness matters more than fame.

PRAISE | Thank God for the Small Things Too

We often remember to praise God for the big things—but what about the small moments that simply remind us of His goodness?

After a lot of traveling, cramped airline seats, rental cars, long drives, and late-night arrivals, I had a simple but meaningful praise: an unexpected first-class upgrade and a surprisingly great meal on a flight to Detroit.

It may sound small compared to some of the major things happening in life, but gratitude doesn’t have to be reserved for miracles.

Sometimes it means stopping long enough to recognize a good gift in the middle of an exhausting season.

This week’s reminder: Don’t overlook the small things. If it brought joy, relief, encouragement, or provision, thank God for it.

UPDATE | It’s a Family Affair

Proclaim Ministries may have my face on a lot of the content, but the ministry is increasingly becoming a family effort.

His son has been helping edit teaching videos. Sophia has been helping behind the scenes and even created some of the graphics and lower thirds used in these PULSE videos. And Andrea continues to contribute through her own teaching and training resources.

There is something special about not simply doing ministry while having a family, but finding opportunities to serve together as a family.

And beyond family, the Proclaim team continues to grow. One of the reasons we raise support is so that we can expand the team, produce more resources, and reach more kids, teens, parents, educators, and ministry leaders.

LESSON | Do You Believe What God Says About You?

There are a lot of voices telling us who we are, what we should become, and how we should see ourselves.

But there is a bigger question:

Do you believe what God says about you?

In Connecting Faith & Life, Episode 153, I explore the question of identity through the idea of “Saint or Sinner?”

If you have trusted Christ, should your primary identity still be “a sinner,” or should you see yourself the way Scripture describes you—a new creation in Christ?

2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come.

And when we sin, First John 1:9 reminds us that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from unrighteousness.

That means sometimes the issue isn’t whether God has forgiven us—it’s whether we are willing to believe Him when

He says He has.

Your mistakes don’t get the final word.

Your feelings don’t get the final word.

Your past doesn’t get the final word.

God does.

Listen to Episode 153 of Connecting Faith & Life through the Proclaim Ministries app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

STORY | Happy, Sad…and Mostly Happy

This past Sunday brought one of those unusual ministry moments: I was both sad and happy that he wasn’t teaching.

Sad—because he loves teaching the kids.

Happy—because someone else was stepping up to teach.

Isaac taught the class this week, joining a growing group of teachers who are serving and developing their gifts.

It was encouraging to see strong classroom management, continued growth, and another person becoming equipped to help disciple kids.

One of the best signs of a healthy ministry is that it doesn’t depend on one person.

As I prepare for upcoming travel that will have me away for multiple Sundays, there is real gratitude in knowing that other capable leaders are stepping forward.

And there is another benefit: watching other teachers helps me become a better teacher.

ENGAGE | Please Pray With Us

This week, we’re asking you to engage with Proclaim Ministries through prayer.

Pray for marriages.

Please pray specifically for our marriage, and then broaden that prayer to marriages around you.

Marriage can be difficult. Every strong marriage has gone through seasons that required patience, forgiveness, humility, perseverance, and a lot of grace.

I am encouraged by seeing a friend and his wife reunite after a long period of separation—a reminder that difficult seasons do not always have to be the final chapter.

When you see a married couple, consider making it a habit to pray for their marriage.

Pray for the Brown family.

With school beginning, increased travel, ministry responsibilities, and changing family seasons, please pray that we continue to walk faithfully through each season together.

Pray for more video editors and ministry partners.

There is more content that can be created—teaching videos, podcasts, resources for kids and teens, training for adults, and tools for families and ministry leaders—but expanding the ministry also means expanding the team.

Please pray specifically that God would provide additional video editors and people who can help carry the work forward.

"FAITHFUL OVER FAMOUS"

At the heart of all of this is a simple commitment:

Faithful over famous.

The goal isn’t to become known by more people.

The goal is to be faithful with the people, opportunities, gifts, message, and influence God has already provided.

The prayer behind every podcast, video, lesson, resource, and teaching opportunity is simple:

Obey God and trust Him for the results.

Some of this content may reach someone today. Some may reach someone years from now. Some may even continue influencing people long after those who created it are gone.

The results belong to God.

Our responsibility is faithfulness.

Thank you for praying, supporting, giving, watching, listening, sharing, and partnering with Proclaim Ministries as we continue helping kids and teens connect faith and life and equipping adults to disciple them.

-Mister Brown