As the new Executive Director and Operational Director of Timothy International, we thought we would take this month’s blog and share with the Timothy community about our family, our call to missions and our ministry experience around the world. Lindsay and I met 20 years ago while I was serving on staff as a worship leader at IHOP-KC in Kansas City, MO. Lindsay was still in Texas but came to Kansas City to participate in the wedding party of two close friends, we met at their wedding and fell in love. Lindsay then moved to Kansas City to serve on staff at IHOP-KC as an Intercessory Missionary. Almost one year from the day we met we were married. Family means a lot to us. Though neither one of us grew up in large families, the desire for family and children was in both our hearts from an early age. Now after nineteen years of marriage, we have five children ages 18, 16, 14, 12, and 6, a dog named Raider and 7 dead chickens. Apparently, we are better at raising kids than chickens! Praise God! It has been one of our greatest joys to take our children around the world with us to advance the Kingdom of God on the earth.
How did we get into missions and what is your missions experience you might ask? Let me take the remainder of this article to explain. I have served in full time ministry for over twenty-five years. Much of that time was spent as a pastor in local churches in Louisiana and Texas. Early on in our marriage we felt that Lindsay would stay home as a full-time mom while our children were young. That has been one of the greatest gifts God has given us as He has allowed her to do that the majority of our married life. Our call to missions really began in 2009. While serving as a pastor at a local church in Abilene, Lindsay and I received a prophetic word and a call to go to the nations. At that point, I had been on only one mission trip in my life. The first part of the word involved working with churches in the eastern block of Europe, Africa, South Africa and travel, travel, travel. The second part of the word involved the nations coming to our home in Texas and leaders finding rest and restoration. Within three months of that word I (Tommy) became the missions pastor at Beltway Park Church in Abilene, Tx. Our time at Beltway became foundational for us, gaining friends around the world and a heart for the nation of Israel. From those relationships we were introduced to Randy and Callie Boyd and Prepare International. In 2017, we felt the call to transition on staff as missionaries at Prepare International. Prepare’s work around the world is to train and equip pastors and their emerging leaders in over thirty biblical courses. Lindsay and I both traveled teaching in PI training programs around the world. During our time with Prepare, we were able to make some of the most beautiful relationships and go to all but one of the nations prophesied over us in 2009. Russia is still on our list as we wait for the day God opens the door for us to bring the “Good News” or send missionaries with the “Good News.” We continue to pray for the gospel to go forth and move swiftly as the war in Ukraine continues to linger. Through the years at Beltway and Prepare, we have developed a love for Latin America. In fact, during our time at Prepare International, I was the Latin America Regional Director, helping national leaders across Central and South America disciple their nations. I have specifically enjoyed the jungle areas of Peru and Costa Rica, while also loving the rural mountain areas of Honduras. Since 2009, both Lindsay and I have traveled to over twenty-two nations.
That should bring you up to speed to our “For such a time as this moment” with Timothy International. This is not the first time the Hoods and Burkhalters have served together. In 2005, the Burkhalters invited the Hoods to join them in Lubbock, Tx. where Tommy served as Worship and Associate Pastor while Rick led as Senior Pastor of St. Matthew United Methodist Church. Lindsay had previously served as a youth intern under Rick while in college. After a year of serving together, Rick and Janie left Lubbock to start Timothy International and the Hood’s have served on their board of directors for seventeen years.
In 2022, God began to speak to the Hoods and Burkhalters about ministering together again. It’s funny how God brings things in full circle sometimes. As we enter into this next season, we are excited about seeing the second part of that prophetic word in 2009 come to pass. In continuing to fulfill the first part of this word by going to the nations, we believe this is also the season for the nations to come to us. We desire to be that refuge for the nations to come, be tended to like a well-watered garden, be refreshed, renewed, and empowered to advance God’s Kingdom in the nations of the earth. That prophetic word was so strong that day in 2009, it still propels us forward even now. We are thankful for this opportunity to serve the Timothy International community and we promise to do our best to be “Pastors Without Borders” to those serving around the world.
Tommy and Lindsay Hood
