Brigada

1) Create with Create

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:59:16 +0000

Got graphics? Wish you did? Either way, it’s worth a visit to Create International’s website at…

http://www.createthailand.com

They’re based in Chiang Mai and are a ministry of YWAM that produces evangelistic, mobilization, and church-planting media resources for unreached peoples. Each summer, they run a School of Cartooning and Animation for Missions to train missionary cartoonists. It’s not too early to sign up for 2011. Learn more at their site. (We’re thankful for their partnership with Brigada.)

2) Watch Doug on “The Beauty of Partnership Study Guide” Website

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:58:17 +0000

Now you’ll see why we sometimes (*all* the time?) run behind on Brigada, as I explain my experience with “The Beauty of Partnership Study Guide” in living color. Here’s your chance to catch a glimpse of what I do in my “real job” (for whatever it’s worth), while at the same time hear a real-life application of this new course. Just browse to…

http://beautyofpartnership.org/endorsements

And by the way, while you’re there, notice that they’re giving away all the course videos now. See one or all at…

http://beautyofpartnership.org/videos

And although we didn’t ask them to do so, check out the drop-down box at their purchase site…

http://beautyofpartnership.org/purchase

You can even make note that you heard about it on Brigada. (The author says he’ll send a 10% gift to Brigada in your name. So here’s your chance to buy all your Christmas gifts and help Brigada all at the same time!) I honestly *do* think this course would help in a number of situations and it was working for me effectively before the author offered to send a gift to Brigada. You won’t be disappointed. I recently attended COSIM and everybody was talking about this course. But don’t just read my words, hear my story in the video. Check it out.

3) Join the Globe in Praying for Muslim Friends

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:57:20 +0000

Don’t miss the opportunity to pray for Muslim friends and neighbors during the 30-day prayer emphasis, Aug. 11 through Sept. 9th. Learn more at…

http://www.30-days.net/

Tough to remember campaigns like this? Subscribe to their daily email.

http://www.30-days.net/resources/email/

The 30-day window corresponds to the Muslim month of fasting (Ramadan).

4) We Try our Best to Answer Comments

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:56:02 +0000

Got a question about a Brigada item? We do our best to answer every Brigada comment (when an answer is needed, that is). Just click the word, “Comment” after any Brigada item. We *usually* get back within 7 days.

5) Get Social with MailChimp

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:55:04 +0000

Our I.T. guy at Team Expansion recently recommended to me MailChimp.com and now I see why. You get up to 500 subscribers for free (more than enough for many missionary-types). If there’s a catch, it’s that you’re only allowed 3000 emails a month… but if you do a weekly prayer-request email to 499 people, you’ll never pass that limit so what’s not to like? Yes there’s an app for iPhone (is anyone else getting tired of hearing that? Makes me want to say, “Yes, there’s a nap for that.” ). MailChimp also provides you with links to social networking sites like Facebook. You can even connect it with shopping carts to sell books and services. All in all, it’s a great choice for Brigada participants because it’s highly effective and it’s *free*. (Thanks Greg!)

6) New Spanish Hymnal Presentation Software Program

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:54:36 +0000

For those familiar with the legendary Celebremos Su Gloria Spanish Hymnal, Libros Alianza and Obrerofiel are excited to release a brand new Celebremos Su Gloria product of this popular hymnal. With some churches using projection systems, there have been many requests for a PowerPoint(c) type system. This new Presentation Hymnal Edition of the Celebremos Su Gloria meets this technology need for many churches. It is competitively priced to equal what a church would normally spend for 30 pocket sized hymnals and 1 professional edition hymnal for their musicians to use. To find out more visit

http://www.tiendaobrerofiel.com

7) Plan Now for July 4, 2011

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:53:55 +0000

Global Recordings

http://www.grnusa.net

was recently involved in a very large outreach at the USA capital in Washington DC. Thousands of CD’s were given to those speaking many languages from many parts of the world including those from creative access countries. Plan now to join them in 2011. You can share the gospel, give cd’s, run disk duplicators, work with kids, set up tents, drivers, label, manage/organize, prepare food, and more. If you are interested in the 2011 outreach, write to

8) Where to Get Great Wheels

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:52:27 +0000

MATS International provides transportation solutions for Christian Ministries and Missions. Their mission is to provide affordable and reliable transportation to ministries and their staff. Since 1977, MATS has assisted thousands of ministries and their staff in finding transportation, including but not limited to: Mission organizations, Churches, Para-church ministries, Humanitarian organizations, Schools, Counselors, and Teachers Colleges & Universities, missionaries, and all their staffs. Find MATS at

http://www.mats.org

Tel: 888.776.7211 or 765.965.7777 or email:

9) Grateful, We Are

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:51:13 +0000

Thanks to Michael, Wade, and Steve. When you guys traveled, you used ISA for your trip interruption insurance… and you mentioned Brigada as your referrer, which resulted in ISA donating $67.36 to Brigada. We appreciate you! Learn more about ISA at…

http://www.missionaryhealth.net/brigada.htm

They specialize in any and all things missionary-ish. Doesn’t matter if you’re traveling short-term or long, they’ll try to help you. It’s quick and easy. And inexpensive, comparatively. Thanks ISA!

10) Rev up Brigada with a Gift from your Heart

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:50:27 +0000

Want to inspire Brigada to get caught up? Tired of seeing that dateline two months behind? Rev our engines please. Just click on one of the “Donor” links at the top of this page. Both are safe, the one with PayPal and the other with Authorize.net. Neither requires you to open an account with anyone … and neither ever spams you. We can even set up a regular once-a-month automatic withdraw from your checking account or major credit card. Set it up once and rest easily, knowing that you’re regularly helping get Brigada on the way to the nations. Or, if you prefer, just send an old-fashioned check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada), 11327 Jefferson Trace Blvd., Louisville, KY 40291. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) A gift of any size would help, whether monthly or one-time. If you know someone else who might like to help, just hit reply and tell us about him/her/them. Thank you for your help in fueling the fire of Brigada!

To comment on or ask about this item, browse to…

11) The BackPage: Five Ways to Make Your Computer Snappy Again

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:49:32 +0000

Does your computer seem to be slogging away, crawling through quicksand? Do you sometimes have enough time to go grab coffee, even though all you asked is to open a silly email? Do you drop your head in your hands and say to yourself, “I just can’t keep on living like this.” Do you sometimes see an hourglass more than you see an arrow? Are you tempted to spell cursor with an “-er” on the end? If so, you need to take drastic measures to make your computer snappy again. Take charge! There are several factors that can cause sluggishness. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Here are some steps, some easy, some not-so-easy, to help you get a grip on hourglassing.

*** Uninstall the stuff you don’t use — Many programs now automatically assume that you want to check for updates to their executables. Maybe the best bet is to just execute them — period. Personally, I think it’s better protocol if they ask you, during install, when, if ever, you’d like to check for updates. These pinging routines can really slow your computer down. If you’re not using a particular application, uninstall it. You can usually reinstall it later if you change work situations. This alone might work wonders, especially if one of those background pinging dudes is somehow malfunctioning.

*** Uninstall Google Desktop Search — Unless you regularly search for documents using Google Desktop Search, I personally suggest you nix it. The performance hit seems subtle, but it’s pervasive (every single file change). Not cool.

*** Upgrade your anti-virus software — All the anti-virus softwares delay you some, but to me, these are non-negotiables. You need them. But what you *can* do is upgrade to the latest version, which, in and of itself, sometimes will get rid of system delays. For example, Norton Antivirus 2006 is said to be a sluggard.

*** Add RAM — How much is enough? If you’re running anything since Windows XP, don’t stop at anything under 2 gigs.

*** Upgrade your hard drive — Yours is probably 5400 RPM. Now you can get 7200 RPM. Yours might have 5 gig of free space. Or less. Now you can probably double or triple your capacity for about $80. Your computer will thank you — and you’ll drink less coffee. :-)

These five aren’t the only five. But they just might be some of the most troubling. Got another suggestion? Add it below in Comments.