6) Teach People to Read and Write in their Mother Tongue
Register now for Literacy Tutor Training online starting January 13 for six or eight weeks. Share the gift of reading and the gospel by teaching people how to read and write in their mother tongue using Bible-based materials in 260+ languages. Teacher-training classes are taught in English by live instructors using video calls and an online classroom. Scholarships are available. Contact Instructor@LiteracyInternational.net for more information or register directly at…
https://www.literacyevangelism.org/get-involved/training
7) Does Anyone Else Dread Swapping Out Laptops?
I (Doug) think I’d rather go to the dentist.
Swapping out a new laptop is a mixed bag. Certainly, we all look forward to the increased productivity that can come with speedier chips, brighter screens, and larger hard drives. But… wow. Once we experience the couple of days of lost productivity trying to transfer files and install applications, it can leave one with that gnawing sensation that says, “Was it worth it?”
Apple users say it’s easier for them. Sigh. But alas… I’m a Windows user through and through. But… wow.
Reinstalling Microsoft Office is always a hassle. Inevitably, I choose the wrong download file — and end up with Office 365 — which is NOT my fave because I enjoy being able to work offline… so I want to OWN the application, not rent it over the web. So then I have to use an Office uninstall cleaning tool or approach (examples: https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-remove-microsoft-office-from-the-registry or https://support.office.com/en-us/article/uninstall-office-from-a-pc-9dd49b83-264a-477a-8fcc-2fdf5dbf61d8 ) because if there’s any TRACE of Office 365 on your machine, Microsoft keeps assuming you want it more than anything else. (These are important links to remember.) I know … I sound like a whiner. But — does it have to be this hard? Anyway, I’m starting to turn a corner on it (after three days). Hopefully, now I can start enjoying that increase in productivity???
8) This is a Great Time To Start a Prayer Diary
Admit it. You’ve seen others do it — and envied their discipline. So what’s stopping you from doing it yourself? Nothing. This day, you could order one of these super-cool YWAM prayer diaries. The folks at WorldChristian.com have said that this is their “most consistently ordered product, year-after-year,” which means that someone is getting this right. Take a look — but don’t delay. The new year is coming. And so is your prayer life.
https://www.worldchristian.com/product-category/ywam-prayer-diaries
9) Discover “Overseas Instruction in Counseling” (OIC)
Looking for a way to help local (nationals) study, apply, and live the Bible with one another as they seek to “do life” together in a new movement? Trying to find a way to help new or existing believers help others? Two Brigada participants recommended Overseas Instruction in Counseling this past week. OIC is dedicated helping leaders apply the Word — and overcome every challenge life throws their way. Learn more at…
10) 18th Annual Mission Connexion Northwest
The 18th annual Mission Connexion Northwest will be held on January 17 & 18 at Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin, Oregon. The theme for this year’s conference is One Body, One Voice, One Mission. The key note speakers include Dick Brogden, Live Dead; Becky Pippert, author of Out of the Salt Shaker; Michael Badriaki, author of When Helping Works; and Dr. Stephen Yoon, of the IGNIS Community of North Korea. Learn more at…
Special guest Michael Ramsden, president of Ravi Zacharias Ministries International, will speak Saturday January 18th.
11) DiscoverApp Takes Seekers On a DBS Journey in Any of 9 Languages
We marvel at what can happen when some innovative people get together to change the world. One of the outcomes that can happen is called the Discover App. It’s basically Creation to Christ in 30 sessions, available in the app for free in 9 languages: English, Yemeni Arabic, Fusha Arabic, Moroccan, Somali, Dari, Indonesian, Pashto, and Turkish. There are no in-app purchases. The designers want to get the Word out to all these people groups. It will even READ to the person (the audio is included). We love this. Learn more at:
12) TESOL Training in Thailand and the Philippines
Teaching English continues to be a top platform for ministry as we turn the corner into 2020. Let your teaching be exemplary for the kingdom. Asean Center for TESOL offers an intensive, five-week certificate course in Chiang Mai, Thailand, including 10 hours of practice teaching to non-native speakers! Online courses do not include practice teaching, and are often not recognized by those hiring. For application forms or more information, email infothai@actesol.com or visit…
13) We’re Grateful for…
…a $500 gift from an anonymous (and very generous) friend who is super-interested in leadership training. My goodness. God bless you!
Gifts from anonymous friends and partners in the amounts of 25, 10, 50, 20, 50, 100, 100, 100, 50, 10, 50, and 360. There was a $100 gift from a member of OC International who wrote, “Please let the readers know that bulletins distributed by the CMIW (Community of Mission information Workers) entitled “Correct Me If I’m Wrong” are now in 3 languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese. To learn more, visit globalcmiw. org, click on “Bulletins,” and have a browse.” In addition, there was a $600 MAJOR gift from a global worker who loves Missio Nexus. There was also a $25 gift from a staff person at LightSys, an organization which helps faith-based missions with I.T. needs. Bless you! Thanks to the prayer coordinator who sent $60. And to others who sent $100, $30, $100, $100, $100, $50, $20, $50, and $50. To all these friends of Brigada, and the “true fans” as they’re called (who give $100 or more), we’re soooooooooooo grateful!!!! Thank you beyond a thousand thanks!
Want to join these partners in helping Brigada through 2019? If so, just click “Donate” at www.brigada.org, or mail a check payable to Team Expansion (Brigada), 13711 Willow Reed Drive, Louisville, KY 40299. Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so, for USA citizens, your gift to Christ by writing a check to Team Expansion is tax-deductible. Thank you, in advance, for your partnership!
14) The Last Bit: “The Hope and Dreams of All the Years”
This past week, we heard from a team in North Africa who gathered together for Christmas. One worker shared with the group these memories:
“I remember when Christmas used to be a time I looked forward to with eager expectation. I remember when it was Christmas movies, music, decorations, sitting by the fire drinking hot chocolate, and getting presents I’d asked for. As I grew up it turned into baking with my Mom and putting lights up on the roof with my Dad. It was a break from finals and stress. It was dreaming about the day I’d have my own traditions and family. Imagining the joys of mistletoe and filling my home with the laughter of family and friends. Though there were good motives and desires to worship God in all of those hopes and expectations, as I reflect now, I find there was…is… a lot of selfishness in me at Christmas.
“This year as I ponder the incarnation – “the hopes and dreams of all the years” – I’m drawn to the glimpse we have of what was going on behind the scenes that very first Christmas:
“Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross…” (Phil 2:6-8)
“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Rev 12:10-11)
“Then as Christmas continued for the next 33 years, Jesus continued to tell His followers what the Kingdom He was born to establish meant. He said things like:
“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) Given the reality of the Word became flesh, would it be a stretch to equate these words with “Merry Christmas!”?
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:31) Merry Christmas.
“You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45) Merry Christmas.
“Brothers and sisters, could this upside-down, flesh-defying, Kingdom that Jesus lying in a manger represents and from which Paul wrote, spur us on to live out his exhortation:
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil 2:1-4)
“Brothers and sisters, you proclaim the incarnation – the Word became flesh – the Christmas reality – every time you put others’ needs before your own. Today, may you take joy, in knowing that every selfless deed and word shouts Merry Christmas. Every way you counted your spouse’s or your child’s interests more significant than your own, you sang a more glorious “Merry Christmas” than any tune we could sing. Your choosing to be away from your family this holiday season, because you count the unreached in unreached places as more significant than yourself, proclaims “Merry Christmas” far, far closer to the words and deeds we celebrate intended than any marketed Christmas entertainment ever could.
“May each of you be blessed as you say “Merry Christmas” through your service, selflessness, and sacrifice. And may you identify more closely than ever with the suffering Servant, the humbled King, the crushed Messiah who came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
“That’s what unites us. That’s why we’re here. Merry Christmas brothers and sisters.” [end]
It seemed like a fitting way to end the year — to help us remember why we’re involved in all of this. It’s … because of Christmas — and Easter — and everything in between. (Thanks to the worker from North Africa who gave permission for this testimony to be featured here in Brigada.)
1) This Is It: The Last Chance to Help Brigada End in the Black
This past week was a good week for helping Brigada end in the black. In fact, we’d be able to *completely* finish in the black now if just 19 people would pitch in $100 each to become “True Fans” of Brigada. All a person has to do is click to www.brigada.org then click on the link upper right, “Empower Brigada.” Any size gift would be appreciated. No gift is too small. No gift is too large — because it all goes toward unreached peoples to Jesus Christ through Brigada. Literally — just $1900 to go!
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