In this issue…

  1. GET A POPULAR EVANGELISTIC VCD FOR CHINA FOR YOUR PEOPLE GROUP
  2. WHAT’S THE “BEST RESOURCE” FOR A MISSIONS MINISTRY TO STUDY?
  3. TOP FIVE ARTICLES ON PRESENTING YOUR WORK
  4. MEDEX HOT SPOTS
  5. CULTURE SHOCK RUSSIAN STYLE!
  6. CASE STUDIES AND LEARNING TOOLS FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
  7. SIBERIAN RAIL ADVENTURE BOOK
  8. NEXUS: THE WORLD HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT READER
  9. CAN YOU HELP THIS RESEARCHER OF MISSIONS WORK DONE BY WOMEN?
  10. THANKS TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO SPUR US ON
  11. JOIN THOSE WHO MAKE BRIGADA POSSIBLE
  12. THE BACKPAGE: REFLECT, REPENT AND REBOOT
  13. CLOSING STUFF

  1. GET A POPULAR EVANGELISTIC VCD FOR CHINA FOR YOUR PEOPLE GROUP — There is a popular evangelistic VCD in China called “Hao Xiaoxi” (Good News) and nobody really knows who created it or where it came from. The VCD is in Mandarin Chinese. Recently, a worker had the soundtrack completely redone without the Mandarin narration and speaking parts, and is now dropping in the language of the minority group with which he works. He has a feeling there are a lot of folks out there working in China among minority groups who would benefit greatly from this “wordless soundtrack”. If this interests you, please send an email to his secure address: taihaole(at)pobox(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] He will try to get you the soundtrack on DVD. (Hats off to this servant-hearted worker!)

  2. WHAT’S THE “BEST RESOURCE” FOR A MISSIONS MINISTRY TO STUDY? — Steve is a great friend of mine and a missions minister in Columbus, Ohio. He’s on the hunt for the one best book (besides the Bible) or video for a missions ministry to read/study together. Let’s come up with the best list we can . . . and get the word out to all those who have similar interests. Post your best answer at…

    http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=23

    Thanks!


  3. TOP FIVE ARTICLES ON PRESENTING YOUR WORK — Digital Web Magazine recently featured “top five articles” on giving great presentations. They sum up the best of the best principles, as well as what to avoid. To see the link, click to

    https://brigada.org

    Click on the link to this Brigada Today, then scroll down to this item and click the link that will be here:

    http://www.digital-web.com/news/2007/02/top_five_articles_for_presenters/

    We aren’t featuring the link in this email because it’s long and would wrap … and going to brigada.org is way cooler than clicking on a “tinyurl” link that you can’t really see.


  4. MEDEX HOT SPOTS — Thanks to Team Expansion’s Global Security Coordinator, “Jim”, for giving us this tip —

    http://www.medexassist.com/hotspots/default.html

    It’s a list of political and security hot spots around the world. They update the page often, as needed.


  5. CULTURE SHOCK RUSSIAN STYLE! — Getting ready to visit Russia? “Peterburgers” is a humorously-piled platter that’s culturally insightful and spiritually challenging. Treat yourself and your loved ones to true and funny adventures in Russia’s cultural capital told with culture shock training for missionaries (and their supporters back home) in mind. Order by contacting Bill bill(at)billandrobinharris(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Copies are $10.00 per copy (plus shipping) or $8.00 per copy when you order two or more. Bite down on “Peterburgers”!

  6. CASE STUDIES AND LEARNING TOOLS FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE — The folks at City Gate

    http://www.CityGate.org

    (formally SEN) have updated their website. They’ve posted lots of interesting articles and tools for working in Central Europe. You can also contact them for more info at news(at)CityGate.org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]


  7. SIBERIAN RAIL ADVENTURE BOOK — “The Great Siberian Rail Adventure” is the hilariously heart-stopping, true story of the Harris family’s journey by car, ship, and rail across Russia. Come along and you’ll find a dragon, an axe-wielding conductor, a supersonic clothes washer, and a van with a death wish. Order by contacting Bill bill(at)billandrobinharris(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Copies are $10.00 per copy (plus shipping) or $8.00 per copy when you order two or more. Climb aboard!

  8. NEXUS: THE WORLD HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT READER — In this new book edited by Rad Zdero (author of “The Global House Church Movement”), a team of almost 40 house church movement leaders and academics from around the world have written over 60 provocative articles designed to inform, inspire, and invite you to start your own network of multiplying house churches no matter where you live. This book reports on some of the amazing things God is up to today through saturation house church planting, as well as providing biblical insights, historical lessons, and practical strategies. (Paperback – 528 pages – 62 chapters). To order call 1-706-554-1594 (outside the USA), call 1- 800-MISSION (inside the USA), go to

    http://www(dot)missionbooks(dot)org

    or send email to STL(at)WCLbooks(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]


  9. CAN YOU HELP THIS RESEARCHER OF MISSIONS WORK DONE BY WOMEN? — Here’s a researcher looking to find the number of women currently involved in missions worldwide and training opportunities for women desiring to join the mission field. She writes, “My goal is to determine if there is a worldwide need for more women in missions and if there are sufficient training programs for women who are interested in dedicating themselves to God work in the mission field.” If you can help, post a comment at: http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=24

    If you’d rather correspond directly with her personally, about something you can’t say openly on the web, write Elaine at Elaineschrank(at)aol(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]


  10. THANKS TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO SPUR US ON — We are so grateful for those who take initiative to encourage us with a financial gift to help with our expenses and spur us on toward the future. We invest the money in webhosting, some small marketing projects, secretarial costs, as well as projects for world evangelism. Nothing is wasted. This past week, we rec’d a $180 gift from a very active worker with an interest in Asia. We praise God for his efforts. We also rec’d $20 from an anonymous staff member of Studio TEN Ministries. Dial-abroad pitched in another $38.70. To take advantage of their great low rates for long distance, click to:

    http://www.dial-abroad.org/brigada.htm


  11. JOIN THOSE WHO MAKE BRIGADA POSSIBLE — Want to help? Just click to:

    https://brigada.org/donate.html

    You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major credit card.


  12. THE BACKPAGE: REFLECT, REPENT AND REBOOT — I saw an email cross my screen last week with a signature, “Reflect, Repent, and Reboot.” I chuckled to myself, then later thought… You know, that’s actually a pretty cool concept. The “ctrl-alt-delete” three-key combination is widely-known in the IBM-compatible PC world. MAC users usually insist that they don’t have to reboot as often :-) , but they still have the capability by clicking on the Apple button then hitting “Restart.” The metaphor is pretty interesting. In computing, one usually reboots because “something’s just not quite right.” The operating system is slowing down, or halted completely because of an error or a system crash. Sometimes the whole thing just freezes up — with no explanation.

    Life is like that. We trip up, commit an error, and suddenly confront the fact that we’ve sinned. There seems to be no way out — and then we remember the magic of starting over. We “reflect, repent and reboot.” Suddenly, life is good. We’re back in the groove. There’s a lilt in our step. We feel light-shouldered again. Romans 8:1 reads, ” Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Sigh. Thank goodness we can start over. Hit control-alt-delete in your life, today. (Thanks to the anonymous correspondent who included that in his/her signature!)