In this issue…

  1. SPONSORS MAKE OUR DAY!
  2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING COMING TO GEORGIA
  3. MAKE YOUR CELL PHONE DOLLARS COUNT
  4. AGRICULTURAL WORKSHOP ALREADY STARTED
  5. ONFOLIO: NEW WAY TO COLLECT YOUR WEB RESEARCH
  6. SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
  7. CHURCH GROWTH OR DECLINE? BOOK REVIEW
  8. TOOLS FOR TEACHING ENGLISH NOW AVAILABLE
  9. NEW DEVOTIONAL FOR REPEAT SHORT-TERMERS
  10. INSIDER SAYS IRAQ IS SAFER THAN IT LOOKS
  11. TRENDS & ISSUES IN 21ST CENTURY MISSION
  12. NEED INPUT ON GETTING WELL OR STAYING WELL?
  13. GREEK SAILING SCHOONER NEEDS COOK AND CREW
  14. SUMMER ENGLISH TEACHERS NEEDED
  15. SERVING OVERSEAS WITH BROADBAND? CATCH A MOVIE
  16. TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR THE THIRD WORLD
  17. CLOSING STUFF
  1. SPONSORS MAKE OUR DAY! — Yes, we’ll be honest… When it comes time to paying our Brigada-sponsored secretary, sponsors make our day! Thanks to Paul from Chicago for his $24 sponsorship this past week. We appreciate you Paul! Is there another Brigada participant who would pick up the torch from Paul for this coming week? If so, just click “sponsor“, or just send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. Thanks! As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift by anonymous.
  2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING COMING TO GEORGIA — The Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College, in partnership with Food for the Hungry International, World Vision US and World Relief, is offering training in Lookout Mountain, GA USA from August 2 – 11. This training focuses on innovative, best practice economic development strategies and methodologies that can be used in holistic, Christ-centered programs. Specific training is offered in Business Development Services, Promoting Church-centered Savings and Credit Associations and How to Partner Effectively with Large Providers. For information on this event or their email-based distance learning visit http//www.chalmers.org or email CEDI(at)covenant(dot)edu [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
  3. MAKE YOUR CELL PHONE DOLLARS COUNT — Cellular contract ending soon? Or new to cellular and wonder where to start? Want access to all the major providers in your area? Now you can get a great plan *and* benefit Brigada with your sign up! With a wide variety of plans available nationwide (in most areas), you should be able to find what you are looking for through Blessed Hope Communications. Plus most plans have free phones, some have cash back and many have free accessories to boot. For every sign-up processed through Brigada’s link, Brigada will earn a $50 bonus ($20 with the prepaid plans) toward the cost of our Brigada-sponsored secretary. Let your cell dollars count! Visit http://www.lowermyphonebill.com/brigada and click on the cellular graphic. (You might want to also check out the long distance rates in your area while you’re there).
  4. AGRICULTURAL WORKSHOP ALREADY STARTED — Just learned that Aquaculture International is conducting a comprehensive course in Integrated Agricultural Systems, throughout the remainder of this week in Bryson City, NC, USA. There are concurrent sessions for: Farmers, Missionaries, Vocational Agricultural Teachers and Youth. Each attendee constructs a small scale system from barrels, with which they will produce fish and a large variety of vegetables, greens & herbs. After the course, youth and others interested will have the opportunity to be involved in construction of integrated agricultural systems at fish farms in the area which will be used as training facilities for those interested in “helps ministries”. This is in preparation to serve on one of the many teams that Aquaculture International plans to send to construct facilities at orphanages throughout the world. There is no registration fee & inexpensive lodging is available. The theme of the course is “The Restoration of the Garden of Eden”. For more information, go to: http://www.aquacultureinternational.org .
  5. ONFOLIO: NEW WAY TO COLLECT YOUR WEB RESEARCH — Do you often find yourself having to go to the web to collect information on a particular unreached people group, country, or new product your agency/church is considering? Try Onfolio for your research needs. http://www.onfolio.com There’s even a free version available, but the paid version adds quite a bit on the information-sharing side. You can gather, organize, and sort all your links, quotes, websites, etc., then print, email, or file-share them with a friend. The program installs as a kind of add-in menu tool to Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater (like a Google Toolbar). Try it! You’ll like it.
  6. SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS — International Training Partners offers Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshops in different parts of the world. These five-day, highly interactive workshops focus on biblical application of skills in relating to one another and to the host people. A workshop hosted jointly by Alongside and Project Stephanas will be held near Grand Rapids, Michigan October 3-8, 2004. Contact Steve Maybee stevem(at)alongsidecares(dot)org for information. [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Go to http://www.itpartners.org for details on all of the workshops and information on ITP. If your mission is interested in sponsoring a SYIS workshop, contact Paul plere at itpartners dot org
  7. CHURCH GROWTH OR DECLINE? BOOK REVIEW — Thanks to Tony for this great review of Growth By Accident, Death By Planning: How Not to Kill a Growing Congregation Bob Whitesel (Abingdon Press, ISBN 0-687-08325- 7). Those who have read Whitesel’s previous two books (A House Divided: Bridging the Generation Gaps in Your Church, and Staying Power: Why People Leave the Church Over Change and What You Can Do About It) will rejoice to hear of his new book published this month. There are very few people with his sort of ministry – a church doctor/consultant. Most of us see things happening, for good or bad, in the lives of our churches, and have no idea what is driving these events, or how to change them. Whitesel has the insight to see the causes, explain them clearly, and propose solutions. This latest book covers the issue of churches which grow, plateau, or decline. It is packed with common- sense spiritual wisdom and practical steps that churches can take. Only church leadership teams which have no interest in growing, don’t care if they decline, lose members or have generational gaps, should avoid buying Whitesel’s books.
  8. TOOLS FOR TEACHING ENGLISH NOW AVAILABLE — For those praying that God will initiate an English language outreach in their church, Don Edic announces the completion of the fourth edition: English Language Ministry Handbook for Christian Tutors. This is a guide for volunteer English tutors needing a brief orientation to this important outreach ministry. Also, English tutors who are currently using Literacy and Evangelism International’s standard textbook series, PASSPORT TO THE WORLD OF ENGLISH may now purchase separately the new Tutor’s Guide for Level One, “Let’s Get Started!” Don services those in an ESL ministry through Literacy & Evangelism International. For other ESL materials available for individuals and churches, contact Don at his new website: http://www.EnglishMinistry.com or email Edic4Lei(at)aol(dot)com [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]. or click to http://www.LiteracyEvangelism.org
  9. NEW DEVOTIONAL FOR REPEAT SHORT-TERMERS — Many have used “Fishers Of Men” (recently retitled “Coming Home”) as a 14 day reentry devotional (sequenced for Reentry Stress issues) with great success and feedback. If you and/or your team have already used the above, and are returning to your home culture for a 2nd or 3rd time, “Coming Home Again” is now available. New devotionals are helpful and the focused reentry questions really help returnee process the experience. Quite a few organizations are having Deeper Roots Publications do “customized” editions of “Coming Home” with their logo and personal messages. Either book is $5.95 each. USA shipping is $1.85 media mail each, overseas shipping is about $5.00 each for airmail or air packet. Other devotionals for individuals or team members (sequenced for the culture shock curve) also available. For more information, click to http://www.DeeperRoots.com or email DeeperRoots(at)aol(dot)com [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] for discounts on larger orders.
  10. INSIDER SAYS IRAQ IS SAFER THAN IT LOOKS — Acorn is a mercy ministry working with local authorities developing services for disabled children in Kurdistan, which they consider a very safe area in Iraq. Did you know that Kirkuk, regularly in the news because of violent incidents, statistically seen, is safer than San Jose (same size, with a similar mix of people groups), which claims to be “the safest big city in America”?. As Iraq has the name of being extremely dangerous, Acorn has an acute need for skilled staff like managers, physiotherapists, special needs educators, etc. Check out their website for more vacancies and details http://www.acorn.nl or contact info(at)acorn(dot)nl [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
  11. TRENDS & ISSUES IN 21ST CENTURY MISSION — Harvest Bible College is excited to offer this new course in its MA program – 20 – 24th Sept, 2004. This course is taught by experienced missiologists, Les Henson (PhD) & Ian Grant (PhD Cand) in Melbourne, Australia, and includes on- line and intensive components. This, and other courses in Intercultural Ministry can be taken either for: (1) professional development, or (2) academic credit toward an MA. For more information see the website – http://www.harvestbc.com.au or write mtaylor(at)harvestbc(dot)com(dot)au [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .].
  12. NEED INPUT ON GETTING WELL OR STAYING WELL? — Try clicking over to Christian Wellness Association at http://www.ChristianWellness.org Their site is loaded with ideas that you might be able to contextualize for your particular target people group or culture.
  13. GREEK SAILING SCHOONER NEEDS COOK AND CREW — The Genevieve Challenge, a 90-foot sailing schooner based in eastern Greece, has an urgent need for a cook and a crewmember on board the boat for the remainder of the 2004 sailing season. Each will ideally have prior cooking or crewing experience (although not mandatory) and can be male or female or a couple. The boat’s manager, KingFisher Project (part of Torchbearers International) runs Christian sailaway weeks through the end of October 2004, with destinations being the Greek islands of the north Aegean. The current cook and crew have had to leave unexpectedly, thus the urgent need from 1 July 2004. KingFisher will provide food and accommodation aboard Genevieve Challenge and, if one stays for the whole season, $50 per month pocket money. Flights, train from the airport to the boat’s base in eastern Greece and back, insurance and personal expenses must be borne by the individual. Interested parties, even if they can’t stay for the whole of the season, should contact Theo or Marita at KingFisher Project by logging on at http://www.kingfisherproject.org or by phone +30 235 203 1876 or by emailing theodore(at)spark(dot)net(dot)gr [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .].
  14. SUMMER ENGLISH TEACHERS NEEDED — Here’s a school in Kazakhstan that needs English teachers immediately, or for the 2004/2005 school year. Specifically, they’re looking for 2 English teachers/conversational English partners for a 3 to 4 week teaching assignment in Astana, Kazakhstan to provide conversational training for two groups of 16 students. Housing, Food, and Curriculum are provided. If you are interested, please contact Kurt caopscenter(at)pactec(dot)net [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]. They also need 2 English teachers for the fall 2004 and spring 2005 semesters in a similar program. They’ll provide training; the only prerequisite is that you must be a native speaker of English.
  15. SERVING OVERSEAS WITH BROADBAND? CATCH A MOVIE — Are you one of the growing number of folks serving cross-culturally, far from your homeland, with broadband Internet? Maybe you’d like to catch a movie now and then, but everything’s in the local language. Need an occasional getaway from the hustle and bustle? Try clicking to: http://www.movielink.com Where you can download a 500 meg movie file and watch it legally and easily (if you have broadband). Costs are low (e.g., $3 for a first-run movie). As always, maintain your vigilance regarding what you download. The Internet is loaded with trash… Be smart.
  16. TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR THE THIRD WORLD — The (secular) P3 Project site is packed with innovative ideas which could be helpful to any mission involved in development work: http://www.p3international.org/ (Thanks for the tip, Tony! You’re great!)
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
0 Shares