From Humble Beginnings to a Global Mission

Celebrating 40 years of impact with Links

There’s something profoundly symbolic about the number forty. In Scripture we read how the rain fell for forty days and nights (Genesis 7:12), how Moses spent forty years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:35), how Jesus fasted forty days (Matthew 4:2). Forty years mark a season of preparation, transformation and fullness. It’s a milestone of faith, endurance and new beginnings.

So as we mark 40 years of Links' mission - our “ruby anniversary” - we recognise that this is more than just a number. It is a season of God-guided growth, of partnership across nations and of lives changed in ways large and small.

The Early Days: Humble Beginnings, Big Dreams‍

In the mid-1980s, Norman and Grace Barnes said “we can do something” and founded Links Charity with heart to make a difference. Today, their words remain on our website: “We believe sustainable freedom from poverty is about giving people a hand out. We help you help them.”

Those early days were marked by faith-walking: perhaps limited resources, uncertain paths but a clear conviction that long-term, sustainable partnership (not just short-term relief) was the way forward. The first projects may have been small-scale, but the vision was big: to work globally, to see local change and global transformation.

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The Biblical Meaning of 40 Years

Why forty? The Bible is full of forty-year periods:

• Israel wandered forty years in the wilderness (Numbers 32:13).
• Moses and Joshua led forty years in leadership.
• Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for forty days (Matthew 4:2).
• Elijah fasted forty days (1 Kings 19:8).

In each case, forty signifies a time of transition, purification, preparation and entry into a promised future. It’s a period of growth, of testing, of deepening trust.

For Links, our forty-year mark is analogous: a season of preparation done, of hard lessons learned, of partnerships formed - now entering a new chapter of mission with renewed clarity and drive. We’ve been formed in the fire of service; now we rise into the promise of what’s ahead.

The Meaning of Ruby – Our Ruby Anniversary‍

A ruby is not only a stunning gemstone: its deep red colour evokes passion, love, the life-blood of mission. Historically, rubies have symbolised vitality, courage and enduring value. In the world of anniversaries, the 40-year mark is customarily called the “ruby anniversary”.

For us, ruby reflects –

• The red of compassion: we see the face of poverty and respond with heart.
• The enduring hardness of the stone: our mission has been refined through years, standing solid.
• The richness of colour: as our work deepens, the impact becomes more vivid, more mature, more alive.

So when we speak of “Links@40 – Our Ruby Anniversary Appeal”, we are invoking that symbolism: we are not merely tacking on another year, we are celebrating enduring value and we are recommitting with fresh fire. We invite you to partner with us in this ruby-coloured moment of mission.

Why the £40,000 Goal Matters

To mark this milestone and to propel us into the next chapter, we have set a goal of £40,000. Forty thousand pounds isn’t arbitrary. It echoes the forty years, it symbolises completeness, and it provides a tangible target.

When you give to our Ruby Anniversary Appeal, your gift does more than mark a milestone. Your gift becomes part of a legacy: forty years of mission, going into the future with momentum and hope.

Join Us – Be Part of the Next 40 Years

If you believe in a God-honouring model of partnership, justice, dignity and transformation, then you are invited to step in now:

• Donate: Visit our donation page to give one-off or monthly.
• Fundraise: Create your own ruby-themed campaign – a 40-minute challenge, a “ruby run”, a community gathering, whatever your gifts and context allow.
• Pray & Share: Celebrate with us. Share the story of Ruby Anniversary. Pray for the countries and communities we serve. Spread the word to friends, church, colleagues.
• Partner: If you are a church, business or community group, let’s explore how we can link – you bring your network, we bring the global reach and mission field.

Together we can make sure that the next decade (and beyond) of Links' mission is even more vibrant, more effective, more deeply rooted.

We’ve come this far by faith, by partnership, by risk and by hope. But the horizon beckons still. Will you join us?

Let’s step together into this next season.

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