A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Keith Brutout

Keith-BrutoutThose who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer. -Author Unknown

Volunteers are valuable people. Money is something that sits in the back of their mind, and in the front is the single thought of helping others. Keith Brutout has been volunteering his time for a while. He loves what he does and he is this week's Portage Life in the Spotlight.

Brutout was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Portage, IN. He made his way through the Portage School system and went to work in the steel industry in the 1980s. After he dabbled in other various trades, Brutout found his calling at the age of 50: ministry. More specifically, mission trips.

"I've been doing mission trips for 15 years since '99 and I got the bug," Brutout said. "I felt lead to that part."

Brutout takes people of all ages on mission trips to Guatemala and other locations. He is the founder and Director of International Teams of the Independent Missionary Network.

Founded in 2013, the Independent Missionary Network is a nonprofit organization who's mission is: "We exist to help Missionaries develop relationships that make Christ known, demonstrate the Love of God and bring the Gospel to all people groups."

With the IMN, Brutout takes close to 20 mission trips per year to Guatemala. He has taken people in their 80s to children as young as 5 years old. Lots of things get done while on the trips like building homes, teaching classes, installing much needed water filters in various towns, and other great projects.

"Not only are we changing lives everywhere, but we're also impacting lives of team members. They come home and volunteer for their communities because of the experience they had with our mission trip," Brutout said.

All of the funds raised during mission trips go to the missionaries involved with IMN. Wherever the missionaries decide to go in the world, Brutout and the rest of the people involved with IMN will continue to help them.

Locally, Brutout works with local churches, high schools, and universities to spread the word about IMN.

"I'm just meeting with them and getting the word out. All of the trips are by word of mouth. We're starting to make more of an impact here," Brutout said.

To find out more about the Independent Missionary Network and to get involved with the mission trips, click here!

"Think of what you can do for others because it's not about you," Brutout said. "You get more out of it than you give when you help someone else. Follow where your heart leads you and don't be scared. Take a chance because you never know where life will take you."