Brigada – 2024-04-14

In Ed Stetzer’s opener in this series in Christianity Today, he emphasized measuring outcomes, not activities. How do we know when we’ve finished with the job? He also emphasized the need for *quality* as much as quantity. “Although church growth writers repeatedly stress the importance of growing quality churches, they focus their measurements almost exclusively on the size and growth rate of the church.” He tries to figure out how to measure both factors.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2017/may/church-planting-metrics-measure-whats-important-part-one.html

Then in the follow-up, “Part Two,” Kenn Oke emphasizes sub-targets that matter, qualifying the indicators, and the criteria he thinks we should be measuring.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2017/may/church-planting-metrics-measure-whats-important-part-two.html

The instrument and graphing model that Avant Ministries uses is indeed very interesting. Does your church or org have anything similar? (Please click “comment” following the web version of this item. Thanks!)

This past week, I tried out several trial versions of Bibles on my devices, including the ever-popular YouVersion. But honestly, there was a version so compelling that it’s worth evaluating:

http://www.bible.is/

It’s so simple and easy *and* it’s so easy to *listen* to it, whether it’s while you drive, shop, work out, or *whatever*. Plus you can download chapters *before* your voyage, allowing you to listen while you fly, even if there’s no wi-fi. And it’s all FREE! Wow — thanks Faith Comes by Hearing!

Let’s refresh this topic, now that a year has gone by. Where can a new Global Outreach Pastor learn the most about outreach to refugees around the world? In particular, where are some of the best case studies, books, and websites to help bring him up to speed? (A new Global Outreach Associate Pastor called this past week and we’d love to refer him to some quality books, websites, and other resources.) Any leads? If so, please click “Comment” following the web version of this item.

We’ve all come across some great resources for “coming home” and debriefing — like TRAIN International in Joplin, MO (their “ABIDE” workshop) and the book, Reentering Well,” by Melissa Chaplin, which utilizes the movie, Cast Away featuring Tom Hanks. But what are the latest and greatest resources for *kids* in particular, who might potentially have difficulty “coming home?” Where can *they* get help? If you have a resource or idea, please click “Comment” following the web version of this item.

Our great friends at Missions Catalyst brought to light last week a new story in a super video, “Helen is an Eritrean gospel singer who spent 32 months imprisoned by the Eritrean authorities in a shipping container. Freezing cold at night and burning hot by day, and even tortured, Helen chose to worship. In her wilderness, God gave her a new song.” And we’re the better for it! Learn more at…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSRqIUOL-Eg

Brigada has learned that WORLD REFUGEE SUNDAY is coming up soon. What can we all *do* about 65 million forcibly-displaced peoples? Who else can go with us in this voyage? Who really cares and is willing to take on intangible and overwhelming odds? To learn more, visit…

http://www.refugeehighway.net/world-refugee-sunday.html

…Grace Episcopal (Alexandria, VA) and “TIME Ministries” (Vancouver, WA), both of whom bought policies from ISA for insurance while traveling overseas, resulting in a gift by ISA to Brigada for $33.43! If you ever need insurance, please consider ISA by visiting…

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

…our great friends at HonorShame.com, where you can pick up a portion of a special honor-shame paraphrased Bible for just $2.99. Learn more at…

http://honorshame.com/1-peter-hsp/

…a special gift from “Rich” of $50, for which we are *extremely* grateful!
…a gift of $50 from the people behind the website at…

http://spanishchristian.org

Amazing that they share at the site AND share here through Brigada! We appreciate you!
…an incredibly generous gift of $600 from a great friend in California. When we asked him for the story behind his gift, he responded, “No real story, just love what you guys are doing! I have been receiving Brigada for well over a decade and nearly every time there is something I find helpful. I love the fact that you maintain a very simple text based email with no “click here for more information” or other time wasters. You guys rock! Keep up the great work!” Whoa. We are sobered, inspired, encouraged, and spurred on to keep spinning out Brigada! Thank you brother!!! May God bless you!

For so long, I wondered around in a fog, wondering — What in the world is DMM (disciple making movements)? How is it different than the way we have traditionally tried to do evangelism and discipleship? How might it even be different from the way we’ve traditionally tried to disciple believers? Are there case studies that can illustrate its huge claims of growth? Would someone please break it down into a handful of simple components so I can get my arms around it? Are there training programs I can do right now, for free, with my friends and family members locally, without having to travel far away at great cost?

Well now, all these questions and more have been answered in one podcast, about a half-hour in length. Finally, there’s a single free broadcast (that is *not* a fundraiser) in which we can learn the answers to all these questions and more. Find it here, today, …

http://www.moredisciples.com/practices

or catch it wherever you get your podcasts (like iTunes), by searching your podcast source for “More Disciples,” Episode 29, “Practices.”

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Compiled/Edited by Doug Lucas and Tina McCormick, Team Expansion
Brigada online has more graphics and links at https://brigada.org

In this issue…
1) Exciting Tract Ministry Uses a Piece Of Paper To Change Lives
2) Russian Christian Resources
3) Joshua Project Just Released a New App that Gathers News/Photos
4) June 20th is World Refugee Sunday? What Will Your Church Do about it?
5) Mobile Passport Control — Now You can start the U.S. Entry Process
6) Download this “Praying the Promises” PDF for free!
7) How Would You Review WorkFlowy?
8) Helping MK’s/TCK’s Reenter
9) Morton Security Simplifies their Name, but Offers Same Services
10) Errors and Omissions
11) What if you could Program a web App Instantly, Yourself, for free?
12) Logos Releases “Basic:” A completely *free* Version of Logos Bible
13) We’re Grateful for…
14) The Last Bit: Can’t Get Excited about the 4K Mapping Project
15) Closing Stuff