In this issue…

  1. FUTURE MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIPS
  2. WALL STREET JOURNAL EUROPE: “EUROPE IS LOSING HOPE”
  3. FORUM TO FOCUS ON UNREACHED AZERBAIJANI
  4. I KEEP HEARING MORE ABOUT BIBLES BEING PRINTED IN CHINA
  5. SUPPORT RAISING TRAINING
  6. EXPLORE THE LAND
  7. MISSIONS STRATEGY RESOURCE ON CD
  8. GET INSIGHT, GET CREDIT (ATTN: HIGHSCHOOLERS)
  9. ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE: PARTNER WITH BRIGADA
  10. THE BACKPAGE: WHAT’S THE BIGGEST IMPACTOR ON MISSIONS IN 2007?

  1. FUTURE MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIPS — Only one out of 100 potential future missionaries eventually join mission agencies and serve on the mission field. What if those who want to be missionaries met together in fellowship groups until each member joins a mission agency? In January and February of 2008 discussion groups will be meeting at 16 locations across the USA both to learn about and critique this ministry concept before introducing broadly in the USA (the concept has been tested and developed in Korea since 2001). To learn more about this ministry concept see the website:

    http://www.seeoursite.org/pcf/

    The list of cities hosting these discussion groups is posted on the website. If you would like to participate in one of the discussion groups please write to: pcfquestions(at)gmail

    (dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . then reassemble the address onto one line.]


  2. WALL STREET JOURNAL EUROPE: “EUROPE IS LOSING HOPE” — Remember that reference we made to the Dec. 7 issue of the Wall Street Journal Europe Edition? You’ll recall that, in it, the Journal reported on a loss of hope in Europe… and a gain in fear. Some asked for details on the source. Find it at:

    http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119698157441516372.html


  3. FORUM TO FOCUS ON UNREACHED AZERBAIJANI — The North American Azerbaijani Network will host a forum to focus on mission to the gateway Azerbaijani people of Azerbaijan and Iran on April 24-28 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This unreached people group of 40 million has only 10,000 believers (0.02%), but are a strategic people group for impacting the Persian, Turkic, Arabic, and Russian worlds. There will be opportunity to meet workers, leaders, agencies, resource people, and partnership facilitators, both national and ex-pat, who are involved in mission to these people, and to gain a better understanding of this people group and how your organization might get involved. For more information please email azpartnership(at)galacticomm

    (dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . then reassemble the address onto one line.]


  4. I KEEP HEARING MORE ABOUT BIBLES BEING PRINTED IN CHINA — Are you seeing all the press about groups such as Amity Printing, printing Bibles in China? Even if the Bibles are meant for use out of China, it’s still a positive sign, some say, that China is allowing (and even endorsing) so much printing of the sacred book. One can only hope that some of the books land in the hands of Chinese! (Thanks Bob!)

  5. SUPPORT RAISING TRAINING — The BodyBuilders “Personal Support Raising Boot Camp” is a two-day intense training for first-time support raisers and under-funded veterans. Their goal: Getting you to 100% in 100 days! Check out their website for more details at

    http://www.thebodybuilders.net

    or email them at info(at)thebodybuilders

    (dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . then reassemble the address onto one line.] You’ll find there the complete schedule for upcoming events.


  6. EXPLORE THE LAND — Are you pioneering a new ministry or seeking deeper insights into the culture where you live or the group your church has adopted? Move the ministry forward, mobilize informed prayer, and give short-termers a great taste of frontier ministry by hosting and coordinating a short-term research project. Caleb Project did research teams like this for about 20 years. Some of the former staff now consult on such projects and provide training. An Ethnography Training Course is planned for February 4-9, 2008 in Littleton, Colorado. For more information click on the ‘learn’ tab at

    http://www.takeitglobal.org

    or write to research(at)takeitglobal (dot)org” [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address onto one line.]


  7. MISSIONS STRATEGY RESOURCE ON CD — Every church needs a missions strategy. If you want to revise or develop a strategy or if you help churches in missions, get the Strategy CD entitled Developing a Missions Strategy that Fits Your Church. The CD contains a leader’s guide, a participant workbook, PowerPoint slides, and multiple supplemental documents. For more information or to order go to

    http://www.davidmays.org

    and or email davidlmays(at)sbcglobal (dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . then reassemble the address onto one line.]


  8. GET INSIGHT, GET CREDIT (ATTN: HIGHSCHOOLERS) — High school grads can earn a year of college credit for taking INSIGHT, a global studies/comparative worldview program of the U.S. Center for World Mission. Students take classes at the Pasadena, CA, campus or at regional locations across the U.S., earning 32 units of college general education credit, then transfer to the college and major of their choice. INSIGHT offers small class sizes, integrated coursework, tuition competitive with public colleges, and a supportive missionary community for the homeschooled student or re-entering TCK. Contact insight(at)uscwm

    (dot)org for more information or an application. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . then reassemble the address onto one line.]


  9. ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE: PARTNER WITH BRIGADA — We’re in the final week… in fact, the final few days. Would you ask your church, group, family, or your own bank account to chip in for Brigada, if not because of your own use, then how ’bout on behalf of someone overseas who can’t? If so, thanks!!! Just click on the “Sponsor/Donate” page:

    https://brigada.org/donate.html

    Really, we only need 92 more people, groups, or churches. Would you be one of those 92??? We have 4 more days left, counting today. If you *can’t* give, would you be willing to ask someone who might? We really only need *one* person to give $1000. Would you be willing to be that one person? As we say above, we’ve made progress, but still need the following gifts to meet our ministry needs…

    1 of 1 more gift of $1000
    2 of 5 more gifts of $500
    8 of 250 more gifts of $250
    5 of 13 more gifts of $100
    20 of 27 more gifts of $50
    56 of 70 more gifts of $25

    You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major credit card. Or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) 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 be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.


  10. THE BACKPAGE: WHAT’S THE BIGGEST IMPACTOR ON MISSIONS IN 2007? — Well, the end is near — the end of the year, that is. And Merry Christmas, by the way. Hope your holiday season is going smoothly. As we turn the corner toward New Year’s, there’s a tendency in all of us to look back… and look forward. Let’s start with the “back” part. AS you ponder 2007, what do you think has to be the biggest news story or event when it comes to world missions? What current event, person, place or thing had the biggest impact on missions this past year? Nominate your favorite… just browse to

    http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=56

    Click on “Comment” and add your two cents in the box below. Thanks!