- MINISTER TO THE POOR WITHOUT CREATING DEPENDENCY
- DISTANCE LEARNING AT THE CHALMERS CENTER
- WORLDMAPPER: THIS IS ONE SITE YOU HAVE TO VISIT
- WORLDMAPPER: SEE THE GLOBE IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT
- WORLDMAPPER: USE THE TOOLS, EXPLORE, LEARN
- SUMMERTIME! HELP BRIGADA! SHORT-TERMERS, GET INSURANCE
- LEARN MICROFINANCE AND MICROENTERPRISE
- FREE CHURCH PLANTERS TRAINING CD-ROM
- “PARTNERSHIPS THAT TRANSFORM” CONFERENCE: REGISTER NOW
- FULLER DISTANCE-LEARNING COURSE ON WEB EVANGELISM
- BE A PART OF GOD’S WELCOMING COMMITTEE
- SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR THOSE WORKING WITH CHILDREN
- FREE ON-LINE PROFESSIONAL MISSIONS JOURNAL
- RESOURCES FOR WORK AMONG UNREACHED PEOPLES
- VIDEO BLOGING FOR JESUS
- JOB OPPORTUNITY AT A US FOUNDATION FOCUSED ON GLOBAL MISSIONS
- OPPORTUNTIES AT WINDERMERE HIGH SCHOOL, BAHAMAS
- GO TO SCHOOL IN GHANA
- THE BACKPAGE: “24” AND A SENSE OF URGENCY
- CLOSING STUFF
- MINISTER TO THE POOR WITHOUT CREATING DEPENDENCY — Learn how through the “Foundations and Principles of Holistic Ministry” course from the Chalmers Center for Economic Development (Covenant College) offered in distance format on August 28 – September 22, 2006. The “Foundations” course is designed for anyone doing ministry and community outreach among the poor – pastors, church planters, ministry leaders and lay staff, and missionaries. To learn more or to register, visit
call 706-419-1805 (U.S.), or email chalmers(at)covenant(dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] When registering, use Reference Identifier EN-BRN- 04/06.
- DISTANCE LEARNING AT THE CHALMERS CENTER — These distance learning options (like the one above) are appropriate for individuals as well as for teams who minister together. In the case of the topic above, the course lays the foundation for understanding appropriate goals and strategies for Christian economic development in low-income communities. Topics covered are: Understanding poverty, when to do relief and when to do development, harm that can come from inappropriately doing relief or development, the response of the local church to poverty, and how to integrate Biblical principles into development programs. This course is a guided-reading program with weekly written assignments and peer-to-peer interaction with the other course participants. Because it is e-mail based, slow dial-up speed from a remote location will not limit participation. Prior financial or economic experience is not required to participate. Group discounts and Two-Thirds World discounts are available. See the site above for more information.
- WORLDMAPPER: THIS IS ONE SITE YOU HAVE TO VISIT — The University of Sheffield and Mark Newman (at the University of Michigan) have pulled off a *major* coup. How in the world they were able to come up with such a cool tool I’ll never know. And how they can do it for free is beyond me. In the old days, this would have cost $29 as a book to sit on your coffee table. It would have been read by a few thousand people, grown obsolete quickly, and been fairly useless in a short number of years. By contrast, remember the name, “Worldmapper”. I wish I’d been able to pull it off. I’d have no trouble raising funds for our secretary *or* some publicity.
- WORLDMAPPER: SEE THE GLOBE IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT — I’ve seen a few static books like this before. So it’s not necessarily a *new* idea. They’re called cartograms, otherwise known as density-equalising maps. They’re beautiful, colorful and expensive. I can’t paste them into a Powerpoint very easily, nor can we replicate them very adequately — or legally. But in the space of about 1 hour — the time it takes for Brigada Today to make its rounds to 10,000 people around the globe, we can *all* see the globe in a whole new light at worldmapper.org. That’s the site. So although it’s not a new idea, these guys have just implemented it better. Have a look:
- WORLDMAPPER: USE THE TOOLS, EXPLORE, LEARN — Basically, Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest. The creators hope to continue to add data throughout 2006. My hunch is, they’ll continue for a long time to come. Click on the thumbnail labeled, “Land Area”, to see a fairly traditional world map. Look at the PDF poster at the bottom of the linked page. Print it for free at your office or in your home. (Proper copyright data is conveniently posted at the bottom in small print.) You can also choose to view Excel data (either smallish or generous), which you can save on your own hard drive, all free of charge. You can even read technical notes about the data. But the cool parts are yet to come. On the “Total Population” map, the territories are resized based on *people* instead of land mass. Again, all the data is provided below. Want to paste a graphic into your Powerpoint? You’re in luck. Right-click on the map, choose “Save Picture as…”, save the PNG file on your drive, then in Powerpoint (or whatever you use for presentations), just “insert|picture file” and paste it in. Done. If you’re using the material to teach a class, “fair use” might be all you need to use that graphic. If you’re using the material for any other reason… say… a profit motive, write to info(at)worldmapper(dot)org and see what you can negotiate. Again, the authors promise in advance that non-profit use will usually be granted.
With each map there’s a cool block of explanatory text at the right. Very cool. Tells the story in a nutshell. Sometimes the text is *very* cool. On the poster, it’s nice enough to use as a *placemat* at your next missions banquet. Write for permission, then find some generous businessman with a color printer and a laminator. Bam. You’re in business. Today there are 56 maps. Someday there will be 500. Mark my words: this site is a happening place. :-)
So who can connect with them to get evangelical Christianity mapped. :-) Don’t forget — you heard about it on Brigada.
- SUMMERTIME! HELP BRIGADA! SHORT-TERMERS, GET INSURANCE –- As you get ready for short-term mission trips this summer don’t forget to get travel medical, evacuation and trip insurance! When you purchase insurance from Insurance Services of America on Brigada’s website, your purchase will help to support Brigada’s work with the missionary community! (Yay! :-) ) Coverage is available for any international need – short-term trips, career missionaries, trip cancellation, short-term teams and term life insurance.
For coverage details, rates and the online applications of the Brigada sponsored plans, go to
http://www.missionaryhealth.net/brigada.htm
Insurance Services of America has agreed to help support Brigada from sales that are made on this link, so when you purchase on this site you will be helping to support Brigada!
- LEARN MICROFINANCE AND MICROENTERPRISE — The Chalmers Center also offers a second distance course (in addition to the one noted above) and a self-study course on microfinance and microenterprise development services and interventions and a third distance course on basic principles of Savings and Credit Associations (SCAs) and how SCAs can be used as a ministry tool. For more information, visit
- FREE CHURCH PLANTERS TRAINING CD-ROM — George Patterson’s interactive novel, “Come, Let Us Disciple the Nations”, is now available as a free download. It will track your learning in 20 skill areas while you choose options for a congregation that reproduces in its own community, in a nearby culture, in a distant land and in a hostile one. The .zip file contains 25 megabytes of programme, text, pictures and sounds.
http://www.paul-timothy.net/dn/
Or write to the author at GPatterson(at)cvi2(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] The story consists of actual events known to the author that occurred in various church-planting efforts around the globe.
- “PARTNERSHIPS THAT TRANSFORM” CONFERENCE: REGISTER NOW — The 2006 COSIM conference is scheduled for June 12-14, 2006 at the Billy Graham Center, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. The theme is “Partnerships that Transform: Here and There.” COSIM stands for Coalition on the Support of Indigenous Ministries. Tons of quality speakers and workshops focus on local church involvement, accountability, assessing your cross-cultural partnerships, etc. Visit the COSIM web site and download the fact sheet-registration form at:
Or write to werner(at)mission1(dot)org.
- FULLER DISTANCE-LEARNING COURSE ON WEB EVANGELISM — Course MP 537 is a pioneering 10-week distance-learning course on web evangelism starting 19 June:
http://ied.gospelcom.net/links?=fullercourse
In order to register for this course, students must first be admitted to a short non-degree or certificate program at Fuller Theological Seminary:
http://www.fuller.edu/admiss/applications/applications.asp
They then request registration for the MP537 course after 19 May:
http://fulleronline.org/D2index.real?area=193
(Thanks Tony!)
- BE A PART OF GOD’S WELCOMING COMMITTEE — “Welcome to My House: God’s Invitation to Ethnic America” is the theme of the 6th annual Ethnic Workers’ Summit, sponsored by the Ethnic America Network. The summit is a gathering of people from all over the USA and Canada who are ministering to Ethnic America or are wanting to get started in reaching their international immigrant neighbors. The event begins Thursday, April 27, at 6:45 pm and continues to 9:00 pm Saturday, April 29 at Rehoboth Baptist Church, 2997 Lawrenceville Hwy, Tucker, GA 30084 (an eastern suburb of Atlanta). Registration for the entire event is $110 for a single person, $170 for a couple, and $60 for a student. Day rates are also available. The three evening plenary sessions at 6:45 pm are free and open to the public. Visit
or write info(at)atl06(dot)org or phone 1-770-936-5217 for more information. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
- SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR THOSE WORKING WITH CHILDREN — May 15-19 2006 “Offering Healing and Hope for Children in Crisis” is a course developed by Phyllis Kilbourn, author of several books and founder of Rainbows of Hope. This specialized training will be offered at Gateway Missionary Training Centre, May 15-19, 2006. This course has been developed in order to better equip people who will be working with Children in Crisis. It is the first of a series and deals with general trauma issues including the impact of trauma on children and foundational principles for intervention planning to restore healing and hope to these children. The final section also deals with care of the caregiver. These principles are applicable in any cultural contex. The cost is $150.00, plus Room and Board for $20.00 a day if needed. For more information contact: Gateway Missionary Training Centre in Canada via their site:
- FREE ON-LINE PROFESSIONAL MISSIONS JOURNAL — Global Missiology
http://www.GlobalMissiology.org
is a free quarterly professional on-line missiological journal that features contributions from a host of today’s top thinkers and practitioners. The April English edition is now available featuring articles on “Pentecost and Missions” among other topics. The journal also features complete archives of previously published editions. There is also a Chinese edition that contains original articles from Chinese missiologists in simplified and full scripts. Global Missiology is launching a French edition and is accepting original articles for that version by queries to editor(at)globalmissiology(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] From the April issue on, readers of the English edition of GM can start receiving free downloads of out-of-print book titles by well known missiologists (e.g. Dr. Yamamori – Executive Director of Lausanne Congress of World Evangelism). To begin receiving an e-mail notice with a link to Global Missiology when new issues appear, send an e-mail message to editor(at)globalmissiology(dot)org and write “subscribe” in the subject heading. The GM editor will reply to your message with an acknowledgment of your request.
- RESOURCES FOR WORK AMONG UNREACHED PEOPLES — George Verwer of Operation Mobilization is recommending a new 94 page directory with information on where to obtain key resources for frontier missions world-wide – help with church planting, technical assistance, healthcare, travel advice, training, tentmaking, development, medical supplies, children’s education while abroad, etc. etc.. “Ian Benson is on the cutting edge of mission mobilization and his Resources for Missionary Work is a very useful and valuable tool in the great task that so many of us are involved in.” Cost GB £2.75 or US$5 plus postage. To order, visit
http://www.missionarytraining.org/resource.htm
or email orders(at)missionarytraining(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
- VIDEO BLOGING FOR JESUS — Makoto and Delaina Miyazaki in northern Japan have just begun a new ministry of Video Bloging. Entertaining, funny and informative, this sure beats the average newsletter! Every Thursday a new edition of Truthwork.com’s Internet Christian News. Check it out and learn what kind of potential video blogging has for sharing Jesus with the target audience of your new home country. Learn what it takes to get this kind of work off the ground. For more information visit
or email to: truthworkjapan(at)yahoo(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
- JOB OPPORTUNITY AT A US FOUNDATION FOCUSED ON GLOBAL MISSIONS -– First Fruit, Inc.
which is a private foundation that provides grants to Christian ministries and NGOs in the developing world, is seeking a Program Administrator. This individual will be a core member of the programming team, and will have myriad administrative and research responsibilities. The right candidate will be an engaging Christian with a passion for international missions, who would bring a set of administrative and analytical skills and gifts to the position. For more information, please contact Lori lori(at)firstfruit(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
- OPPORTUNTIES AT WINDERMERE HIGH SCHOOL, BAHAMAS — Windermere High School has these teaching opportunities for 2006 – 2007: History– Caribbean and World (10-12) and Geography (10), Spanish (7-12) with general subjects, and Computer (7-12) with networking and general repair, or with general subjects. These are full time positions at a Christian school with an enrollment of 70 students. For more information, log on to their web site at
or email the school at windermerehi(at)direcway(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
- GO TO SCHOOL IN GHANA — American International School, Accra Ghana, is an exciting new NICS school. Check out
Applications are now being accepted for students grade K-8. They’re also accepting applications for teachers. School year 2006-2007 has a limited enrollment for its “soft start” so don’t delay. Contact CharleneBerry(at)nics(dot)org or call +233-277-549905 for more information. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
- THE BACKPAGE: “24” AND A SENSE OF URGENCY — As you know, I’ve been catching up on back-episodes of “24”, the hit TV show from FOX. (Again, the violent parts aren’t pretty sights. I fast forward through those.) But for some reason, I keep gaining insights that seem applicable to my work in missions. Previously, we’ve talked about courage, patient wisdom, speaking the truth, freedom and accountability. Today, I’d like us to focus on urgency.
In some ways, “24” and urgency are *synonymous*. Jack Bauer is a federal agent working for a special branch of Homeland Security called “Counter-Terrorist Unit” or “CTU.” You can already guess that most of the plots are pressure-cooked efforts to keep some shopping mall from being attacked by bioterrorists, or to prevent some wacko from setting off a nuclear bomb over downtown LA. Obviously, time is of the essence. Jack yells at the top of his lungs to bad guy after bad guy, “I’m runnin’ outa time!”
Today, while watching an episode from season three, however, that message of urgency hit me harder than it had before. Here’s this CTU agent tasked with preventing a nerve gas canister from blowing up in front of a giant hotel ventilation system fan. He approaches it gingerly, fan blades still turning, and time just seemed to freeze for me. I found myself nearly trembling as I said in a whisper, “Stop the fan! Turn off the system before it blows!” And suddenly, — pssst! Like that… the canister squirts nerve gas in his face and 1000 hotel guests are exposed to a deadly virus. :-(
Later as I reflected on that moment with my 16-year-old (who watched the show with the rest of the family for a full 3 years before I started), I realized how relevant it is to all our work. We all face obstacles… spinning blades of confusion, misunderstanding, interpersonal conflict, and more. Sometimes we *creep* toward finding a solution. Sometimes it blows up right in our faces. Meanwhile, the spiritual dilemma of Satan and his dominance over so many lands… it just gets more and more perplexing by the day. Watching that moment of “24” made me think — we can see bioterrorism so clearly. We can easily see how time is of the essence. Don’t waste a moment. Yet we sometimes seem to piddle at frontier missions. I’ve heard from my good friend, Dan Scribner, at joshuaproject.net, that the percentage of funds spent on frontier missions is just 1/2 of one cent per year, when compared to the over all missions giving of all our local churches. If we were to invest only 1/2 of once percent in terrorism-prevention, …. well you can guess the results we’d get. :-(
So gang, let’s declare this an official emergency. 15,900 people groups, 6700 of which remain essentially unreached. 2 billion people (30% of the world’s population) with virtually no exposure to the gospel. Maybe there will be a day when we can relax. Maybe a day will come when we can pause. Now is not that day. Now is a moment to mobilize. Now is a moment to get *serious* about finishing the task of world evangelism. Let’s plan as if we have another century. But let’s *work* as if we have, fittingly, just 24 hours.
Doug
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