Brigada » culture

3) COSIM conference on cross-cultural partnership June 6-8, 2011 —

brigtoday — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:57:08 +0000

“Partnership: Trends, Trials & Triumphs” will be the theme for the 16th annual COSIM conference, and will be held at Columbia International University, Columbia, South Carolina. COSIM stands for Coalition on the Support of Indigenous Ministries. Featured author-speakers will be Steve Corbett (When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself), Mary Lederleitner (Cross-Cultural Partnerships: Navigating the Complexities of Money and Mission) and Steve Moore (Who Is My Neighbor? Being a Good Samaritan in a Connected World). Learn more at:

http://cosim.info

4) Build Your Multi-cultural Team –

brigtoday — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:56:53 +0000

That’s what Next Step can help you do at their Multi-cultural Team Building Workshop, January 23-29, 2011, at the International Linguistics Center in Dallas, TX. It will only set you back $100… and the instruction you get will be deep and wide. Understand yourself better… and thereby understand your team better. Training Consultants from SIL (including their Multi-Cultural Community Facilitator) will help you think through who you are, as well as help you figure out how to learn who *they* (the multi-cultural members of your blended team) are. Interested? Contact Alan at…

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14) Oscar Launches Online Mission Community

Editor — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:44:00 +0000

OSCAR, the UK Information Service for World Mission, has launched it’s own social network for those involved or interested in cross-cultural mission. OSCARactive, as it’s called, utilises Ning to create a number of interactive features to help people across its network and beyond give peer-to-peer support, advice and encouragement. All of those who are interested or involved in world mission are welcome to join. Go to

http://www.oscaractive.net/

To comment on this item, simply click “Comment” below the item at …

15) The Backpage: Biblical Leadership In Your Country/Homeland

Editor — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:44:00 +0000

What are cultural tendencies that sabotage Christian leadership? What about Christian followership? This past week, a Team Expansion team leader asked us for insights on this question in hopes of understanding these things and dealing with them more effectively. To get the ball rolling he nominated the idea of democracy. He wrote, “It’s a beautiful thing in many scenarios but the fact that you never see it used on sports teams points out that it has its limits. Doing everything democratically on a mission team might not always be possible.” What can you add? Just click “Comment” below.

6) Free Cross-Cultural Leadership Articles You Can Use

Editor — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:53:00 +0000

Stimulate ideas and resource your staff around the world with short, practical articles on cross-cultural leadership and coaching. Use their growing library of 20 free articles. Here’s an idea: send an article once a month to your team spread out around the world. Use the questions in each article to get a blog or e-mail discussion going. As a team you’ll be gaining mutual understanding, learning, and interacting together – all without the cost of travel. The articles are at:

http://www.creativeresultsmanagement.com/resources/articles01.htm

RESOURCES FOR CHRISTIANS LIVING INTERCULTURALLY

Editor — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:23:00 +0000

The Link Between: Connecting Christians Living Between Cultures is a networking blog which provides resources for Christians living interculturally through marriage, adoption, career, or missions. Find hundreds of cross- cultural resources and connections to other Christians living ‘between cultures’. Jody, the author, is also looking to build connections with others in similar situations. Contact her to share your resources through her blog at

http://thelinkbetween.wordpress.com

COSIM CONFERENCE: "BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK"

Editor — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:11:00 +0000

It’s slated for JUNE 9-11, 2008 in the Chicago area and it’s the place to go for “best practices in cross-cultural ministry partnerships.” Discover how godly character, cultural intelligence and organizational competence work together as essential building blocks for partnerships that glorify Christ and really work. Participate in interactive learning sessions to address real-world issues designed around the unique needs of churches and ministries involved in cross-cultural partnerships. For more information, visit

http://cosim.info

or write to Werner, Chairman of the COSIM Resource Team, at

werner(at) mission1(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.]

20071230 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:52:00 +0000

In this issue…

SCOTT’S “BEST READS OF 2007″ — Back again by popular request is Scott Shaum, of Barnabas, Int’l, with his “Best reads” of the year.

See his “Best reads” article at:

http://www.brigada.org/articles/best-reads-2007.html

Learn more about the organization with which Scott serves at

http://www.barnabas.org

or email him directly

Barnabas International sshaum(at)
barnabas(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]
FLORIDA TENTMAKING COURSE STILL HAS ROOM — Did you know that GLOBAL Opportunities is celebrating its 10th year in running intensive, hi- impact tentmaking courses? Read on their website what course alumni have to say and then register for the next course in Florida, Feb 20-24 2008. Many say that no tentmaker should leave without this training, and if you are between tentmaking jobs, you should go and refresh your vision by attending. Focused on the core principles and skills for being effective, this course is designed for those considering tentmaking (using profession as mission), those wanting to promote tentmaking, and mission leaders wanting to build a tentmaking component into their agency. Every year, hundreds go overseas as ESL teachers, but how many are equipped to share their faith? If you are considering business as mission, the course provides the key ministry principles you need to be effective. Check out their course outline of 30 plus sessions at
http://www.globalopps.org/ltn/LTN2008.htm

You can also contact Dave directly at 239.243.0881 or email him at david(at)globalopps
(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.] GO will donate $5.00 to Brigada for each student that registers from this ad… so if we could just raise up 400 people for this course, we’d be *set*!!! Please go! :-)
TAKING THIS SURVEY WILL HELP MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT — A UK based ministry called Aid for Trade wants to develop on-line training for microenterprise development. They have put together a brief on-line survey to try to discover the needs for this type of assistance among people on the field. It takes between 12 and 15 minutes to fill out. If you have an interest in Business as Mission and few minutes to help out, please go to:
http://www.internationalsurveys.info/aidfortrade

to fill out the survey in a secure on-line environment. By the way, they’ll even provide a summary of the results to us here in a future Brigada. Also, if you know of other resource people in this area, they’d appreciate you connecting them with those “in the know” in this arena.

EQUIP YOUR MISSION TO BETTER PROTECT KIDS FROM CHILD ABUSE — In Sept. 2006, leaders from 12 mission organizations met together to explore ways to work together on best practice standards in child safety and abuse response. The result was an intermission Child Safety Network. A second meeting was held in May 2007 involving leaders from 22 organizations. The third Child Safety Meeting is scheduled for February 13-15, 2008 in Rockville (suburb of Richmond), Virginia and is open to new organizations as well as those already involved. The seminar is for leaders of mission agencies and faith-based NGOs and for those with this area of responsibility within their agency. For more information and to register, see The Child Safety and Abuse Response Networking Workshop website at:

http://intre.org/event/info.php?site=46

The deadline to register is January 23, 2008. Email further questions to child-safety_intl(at)sil
(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 back onto one line.]
TAKE PART IN GLOBAL LEARNING CENTER SYMPOSIUM — The annual Global Learning Center Symposium, hosted by Grand Rapids Theological Seminary is February 6-8, 2008. This year’s theme is “21 in 21: 20-somethings and 21st Century Mission.” Through a variety of events, they’ll be exploring what it looks like to engage the emerging generation in global mission. Dr. Bill Taylor of the World Evangelical Alliance will be a plenary speaker as well as some 20-somethings themselves. Check out:
http://grts.cornerstone.edu/resources/glc/symposium

or e-mail

glc(at)cornerstone
(dot)edu [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.]
GET READY, GET SET, THEN GO — The Center for Intercultural Training (CIT) provides a complete, cross-cultural training program in 9-10 weeks that includes culture prep, language acquisition, and team and relationships skills. A shorter program is also available that includes culture prep and language acquisition. Training is available for the entire family during this upcoming spring term (begins February 13). Bible Intensives are offered during the summer months. A Debrief and Reentry module is also offered twice annually. For more information, call 800.887.1786 in the USA or visit
http://www.cit-online.org

HOSPITALITY CENTER ADDS MINI RV PARK — The Southern California (USA) hospitality center, Rancho de la Paz, has added three RV sites with hookups to their six guest rooms. Available to individuals, couples, and families, on a donation basis, this ministry houses missionaries, ministers, and full-time Christian workers who need temporary housing for up to two weeks. Rancho de la Paz also serves as a Writers Haven for those needing un-interrupted writing time. Web site:

http://across2u.com/rancho.html

Phone: 1-951-245-4082 or Email: rancho(at)across2u
(dot)com for information or to make reservations. [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.]
ANOTHER RESOURCE FOR RAISING SUPPORT — As the first wave of missionaries came through Kingdom Come Training partnership development courses in 2007; they became increasingly aware of the need to give ongoing assistance to people raising support for ministry. For 2008 they’ve announced the Support Assist Team. The “Team” consists of KCT and those who take the training via live, interactive multipoint videoconferencing. KCT provides the training plus ongoing encouragement, coaching, consulting and practical support. The rest of the team stays in touch, reports progress, shares prayer needs and reports back on what works what doesn’t. Everyone celebrates when someone reaches 100% support. It all gets coordinated through e-mail and the KCT website. Give Jerry a call at (503) 314-7211. jerry(at)kingdomcometraining
(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] or browse to

http://www.kingdomcometraining.com
FUTURE MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIPS — During the next 60 days, discussion groups will be meeting at 16 locations across the USA both to learn about and critique the idea of pre-candidate fellowships before introducing them 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/

There you’ll find the list of cities hosting these discussion groups. 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.]
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE TO FEATURE “STORYING” — The January/February 2008 issue of Momentum will focus on Orality. Justin is looking for… – resources for teaching orality – dates for workshops, conferences, etc. – statistics related to orality – articles surveying orality ministries in particular regions – a chronology of the development of orality ministry – frequently asked questions you have encountered – short (1-2 page) case studies written in a popularized style
If you can help with those or other possible ideas,

editor(at)momentum-mag
(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.]
WE FEEL SOOOOOOO LOVED AND APPRECIATED!!! :-) — Thanks to these visionary friends that have, through their partnership, propelled Brigada Today into 2008:
$100 from a new friend in Tallahassee $25 from the good people at Florida Personal Injury Law

http://www.fortheinjured.com/

$100 from a friend in Menlo Park, CA $100 from Perspectives Atlanta, GA $50 from long-time subscriber Diana, author of Adventures With PawPaw children’s books designed to introduce children to other countries and cultures, on the web at:

http://www.adventureswithpawpaw.com

$100 from Mission Mobilisers International Inc. in Australia

http://www.mobilise.org.au

$25 from Reignbridge, featuring Fawn’s book “Power of Honor” $25 from a great friend in the UK $250 from a Sunnyville, CA couple. Shew. How can we say thanks enough? $50 from Women of the Harvest. Please check them out at…

http://www.womenoftheharvest.com

(Whoa… great website. Pubs, retreats, resources, well-organized, sharp! Clean… Even if you’re not a woman, check it out to learn from it! :-) )

$25 from Mission Indep. Bap. Church in Chicago. $25 from a faithful friend in Colorado Springs $300 from Youth With a Mission, Lebanon, PA… Whoa. Praise God. $50 from new friends in Massachusetts $100 from a faithful friend in Sweden $500 from great new friends in the UK! Woooo-hoooo! :-) $200 from Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino, CA! Amazing. $50 from Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, Birmingham, AL $25 from Somerset, KY $25 from West Chester, PA $35 from Ukraine $100 from a member of the Board of Missions, Cumberland Pres. Church. $100 from Mission Nannys; take a look at their growth…

http://www.missionnannys.org

Up to 2001, only 22 volunteers had been sent out. Since then, the number has jumped to 90 with 14 going out last year alone. (They’re looking for more women volunteers 18-75 willing to go in 2008, by the way. Families need domestic assistance, homeschooling help, etc. for 3-6 months. Check the web or email bettysullins(at)
juno(dot)com [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.]

To all these folks and to all those who pray for Brigada, thank you for a *fantastic* last week! Only 4 more days to go for 2007 gifts. (Recall that we’re counting for 2007 gifts that come in through Jan. 10th.)
FOUR FINAL DAYS FOR 2007 GIFTS TO ARRIVE: WILL YOURS BE ONE? — Whoa… So, with the $2360 that has come in since last edition, we stand at (drum roll) $13,918.90 for the year, just $3231.10 away from reaching the budget we had published in January, 2007! So … if you were holding out on writing that $3000 check, just to see who else gave… :-) now would be a great time to give. :-) Or… even if you only had in mind a PayPal donation of $25. It would *still* be a great time. We’re also just $1177.10 away from matching last year’s finish. Who would have believed it!!!
For those who mail in checks, we’re waiting until Jan. 10th… (because one could have written out a check on Dec. 31st, mailed it, and we might not see it for a few days). So … to be fair… we’ll count PayPal gifts toward 2007 needs all the way up through Jan. 10, 2008. As a result, all is not lost! :-) Even though we’re only standing at $11,558.90, we still have time to try to make our 2007 budget needs of $17,150. To pull this off, we only need exactly 50 more people, groups, or churches to step up to the plate. Just *one* courageous soul would need to give $1000, 3 more would need to give $250, 14 more for $50, and 32 more gifts of $25 in order to meet our 2007 needs. Here’s the summary chart to meet those 2007 ministry needs:

1 more gift of $1000 3 more gifts of $250 14 more gifts of $50 32 more gifts of $25

Gulp. The final yard. Would you pray with us that everyone who *can* *will* step forward? Thanks. By the way, if you decide to send a check on the 10th, just date it Dec. 31st, then drop us an email to let us know it’s coming. No need to express mail it or anything. Anything arriving, unannounced, after the 10th, will be treated toward 2008′s ministry needs. Thanks again for the amazing energy boost!

Just click on “Donate“. You can make a gift from your PayPal account or from any major credit card. Or if you prefer, you can send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 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.) 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.

THE BACKPAGE: THE DARKER THE SKY, THE BRIGHTER THE GALAXY — I recently had the chance to drive to the top of a very tall & remote mountain (13,796 feet above sea level). I was amazed by the views it afforded, especially at night, when it grew very dark. And I do mean *dark*. (Since we were hours from the nearest city, it was a case of *extreme* darkness.) Stars were everywhere. I wrote in my journal, “I don’t deserve to behold this majesty. It’s so quiet up here, except for the stars… and they seem to be *singing* glory to their creator!” No matter which direction I looked, I could see deep space objects with the naked eye. And when I looked at any given point in the sky with my binocular, I would see *dozens* of galaxies, clusters, and nebulae in seemingly every field of view. What impressed me most was how *clear* these objects were. You see, when it comes to astronomy, the darker the sky, the more visible the dimmest glows.

I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon with missionaries. For example, in times of great financial need or hardship, the smallest gift can appear as a very bright spot in an otherwise very dark month. So please don’t ever forget — your gift of prayer and finances can be *the* difference- maker in inspiring your favorite worker to keep shining brightly in areas of bleak spiritual darkness. Thank you for your support & sacrifice for those working around the world. Thank you for making their work possible through your partnership and vision.

To those serving internationally, there is one more meaning that occurred to me. Sometimes it is in the midst of hardship that we come to experience the glow of God’s love & care most prominently? Yes, you’ve left family, friends, and grandparents. So in the midst of this darkness, we pray that God can cause a glow in your heart like you’ve never felt before… as long as you’re looking for him and giving him *place*. Give God place in your own heart. Search for him. He’ll glow for you again too.

20071209 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:39:00 +0000

In this issue…

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.]
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

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.]
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!)

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.
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.]

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.]

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.]
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:
http://www.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), 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.) 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.

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!

20071202 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:40:00 +0000

In this issue…

CHE TRAINING IN 2008 — Are you interested in establishing a Community-Based Health Care Program which integrates the physical and the spiritual? LifeWind International’s (formerly Medical Ambassadors International) Training of Trainers I (TOT I) introduces people to Community Health Evangelism (CHE). The CHE strategy teaches concepts, gives vision and practical “How To’s” for implementing and managing CHE in your ministry. I TOT I-February 25-March 2, Asheville, North Carolina TOT I-June 15-20, Portland, OR TOT I-Sept. 15-20, Colorado Springs, CO

If you are interested in attending one of our US trainings please email Kristin(at)lifewind
(dot)org or visit

http://www.lifewind.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.]
GRATIS! FREE & EASY DOWNLOADS OF CALVIN’S INSTITUTES IN SPANISH? — Well now you’ve got ‘em. Just as easily pick up the Reformed/Presbyterian Confessions (also in Spanish). Browse to..
http://www.paginasprodigy.com.mx/RACHMEXICO

They’re in Windows help file format.

A HOOT OF A MISSIONS BOOK JUST IN TIME FOR YOUR HOLIDAY — “The Great Siberian Rail Adventure” is the hilariously heart-stopping story of a missionary family moving 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. Packed with cultural insights, “The Great Siberian Rail Adventure” humorously celebrates a slice of life on the mission field. Expand your horizons this holiday season; give the gift of adventure. Order by contacting Bill

iceshaper-books(at)yahoo
(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 addresses on one line.] Copies are $8.00 per copy (plus shipping).
WORLD EVANGELISM USING FREE ENGLISH LESSONS — The FreeEnglishNow (FEN) website is reaching 53,600 visitors, distributing approximately 3,300 CDs of the entire 16-lesson course, and downloading 6,700 lessons in TXT and MP3 for Handheld use monthly. Spoken English lessons incorporate eight chapters from the book of Acts in modern English and include enough audio recordings for nine months of spoken English study. FEN reaches young professional and university students largely untouched by the organized church in 188 countries. FEN can provide a free CD of the entire course to missions wanting a tool for evangelism. FEN can also put your header and link on the CD to enhance your ministry. Just write FreeEnglishNow(at)europa
(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 back onto one line.] or browse

http://www.freeenglishnow.com
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IN OVER 5,000 TONGUES — Global Recordings Network now has recordings of gospel messages and basic Christian teaching available in 5,693 languages and dialects. They have also placed 4,515 of these languages on their web site for free listening or downloading to your MP3. Check out their web site at:
http://globalrecordings.net/

You can also write to info(at)globalrecordings
(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.] Readers in the USA can also call toll free 888-444-7872.
CULTURE SHOCK RUSSIAN STYLE — Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? “Peterburgers” is a humorously piled platter that’s culturally insightful and spiritually challenging. Treat yourself to funny adventures in Russia told with culture shock training for missionaries (and their supporters back home) in mind. Order by contacting Bill iceshaper-books(at)yahoo
(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 addresses back onto one line.] Copies are $10.00 each (plus shipping).
“BREAD of LIFE”: CLOSE-UP ON THE MBALANTU PEOPLE — Driving through Ovamboland in Northern Namibia, north of Windhoek, the plentifulness of the grain crop, muhango, was striking. Muhango is a staple of the diet in this area of Namibia, used as a type of porridge in most daily meals. It is millet in which the peoples survival depends, much as bread is a survival food in many other countries. I was struck by the much stronger need than this physical need here, the “bread” of life only given through Jesus Christ. Please pray for the tribes of Ovamboland which includes the Mbalantu people. Pray that they will soon be filled with the bread of life. Pray for someone to deliver that bread to them. Pray for harvesters in this ripe and fertile ground. For more information on how to become a prayer partner for the Mbalantu, please contact forgottenpeoples(at)telkomsa
(dot)net [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.]
THAI COUNSELING CENTER SEEKS DIRECTOR — Cornerstone Counseling Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand is currently searching for a new director. The primary aim of the center is to provide assessment and counseling to missionaries who would otherwise need to return to their home country for therapeutic care. Cornerstone is a faith-based organization. Therefore, the director and all counselors raise their own support for living expenses and provide their services as volunteers (no fee for services). If you are interested in the director position or joining as a staff member, contact founding director Tim Friesen timothyf(at)cornerstonecounseling(dot)in
(dot)th [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 back onto one line.] or phone (US Land Line: 616 452-9003 or Mobile: 616 915-8098)
UNDERGIRDING BRIGADA UNDERGIRDS THE MESSAGE TO THOUSANDS — Would you ask your church, group, family, or your own bank account to chip in for Brigada, if not for you, then for someone overseas who can’t? If so, thanks!!! Just click on the “Sponsor/Donate” page:
http://www.brigada.org/donate.html

Really, we only need 92 more people, groups, or churches. Would you be one of those 92??? We have 6 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 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), 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.) 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.

THE BACKPAGE: WHAT’S YOUR CAUSE WORTH LIVING FOR? — Whenever I meet someone new, I try to size them up and find out what jazzes them. For example, the young man beside me here on the plane is a ‘surfer dude’. He lives to surf. In fact, he’s traveling 4500 miles from his home just to find “tubular waves” (or whatever one calls them). Much of this flight, he’s been watching DVD footage of various surfing competitions around the world, including the surfing “world cup”. (I didn’t even know there *was* one!) Anyone can clearly see that surfing is what jazzes him. So my question is…

What jazzes you? What do you wake up thinking about — and what engages your mind all the day long?

My hunch is… to truly finish the job of world evangelism, we’re going to need a mighty throng of world-changers who are jazzed about Jesus… and *passionate* about unreached peoples.

Did you ever attend a concert given by your favorite singer or band? Can you think back to the way you felt during that one special song, when all of your emotions and all of your mind swirled around that song’s message and music? Perhaps you were worshipping the Lord; or maybe it was just an awesome combination of musical talent that really connected with you. Did it practically bring you to tears? Did you find yourself crying by the time it was over?

It’s *that* kind of passion we have to stir if we’re going to finish this task. It’s humongous. And it’s complicated. And it’s difficult. We need that passion. And we need that mobilization again. We need to recover that first love. How can we do that in every congregation, every small group, ever heart in every gathering…. How?

Got any ideas? Because … when we answer that question, we’ll be able to expand the Lord’s kingdom like never before.

Got an opinion of how to raise up that kind of concern again? It’s happened before. The Haystack prayer meetings, William Carey, even the apostles themselves. How do we create that kind of passion again? If you have an idea or a prayer, just log on at

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=55

and click “Comment”. Tell us how you feel. Who knows. Your idea might spark the imagination of a person perfectly positioned to tackle your concept. Thanks for taking time to respond.

20071125 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:42:00 +0000

In this issue…

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF POLYGAMY? — OK… remember my two sons? They’re at it again. Today at lunch they started asking me about polygamy. Well I knew to tell them that elders and deacons should just have one wife. But what do I tell them — scripturally — about marriages in countries that *allow* polygamy legally? I know it’s a problem, when missionaries confront new cultures where polygamy is dominant. Christianity arrives, the missionaries teach monogamy, and — what does that say to existing believers who are already married to 4 wives? If you have an answer… or a good scriptural response (especially one in the New Testament), please browse to

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=55

and click on “comments” at the bottom. Thanks for any help you can give.

MOBILE VERSION OF POWEROFCONNECTING — On the go? Grab some info on Partnership!” visionSynergy has created a mobile (or cell phone) companion to its PowerofConnecting website, which is viewed by people from over 145 countries. See it at

http://www.powerofconnecting.mobi

To see what it looks like, use Testiphone’s simulator at…
http://www.testiphone.com/?scroll=off&url=http://www.powerofconnecting.mobi/

View the growing number of iPhone-optimized mobile sites at the Religion section of AppsSafari, at

http://www.appsafari.com/category/religion/

PowerofConnecting’s main site, a trove of mission partnership and networking resources and advice, is at

http://www.powerofconnecting.net

(Thanks Dave!)
NEW MISSIONS TEXTBOOK TEACHES PROPER PERSPECTIVE ON MUSLIMS — Charles Gailey and Charles Gailey have just released their new work, “Discovering Missions,” an introductory textbook on world evangelism. The book examines the biblical foundations for global outreach, outlines the history of world evangelism, and has chapters on the globalization of the church, the implications of culture, the importance of language in gospel communication, short-term missions, the missionary call, mobilizing the local church and a peek at some future trends.
Institutions wanting to look at “Discovering Missions” as a possible textbook may order a copy for half price by writing on institutional letterhead to: Teresa Eller, 2923 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO, USA 64109, or by faxing a request to: 816-531-0923. Upon adoption as a text, the charge will be canceled. The book is also available at discount prices on such sites as Amazon.com.

One of the co-authors, Howard Culbertson, is putting together a CD of teaching/learning resources. Professors that adopt the textbook can get that CD free by contacting the author through his website:

http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/

HELP IN UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE — If you need help in sorting through international health insurance visit

http://www.gninsurance.com

and click on “Tips for Understanding International Health Insurance.” You will find over 150 articles dealing with international health insurance. Also, if you want a short understanding of Medicare coverage browse

http://www.gninsurance.com/medicare.asp

or email jeff(at)gninsurance
(dot)com or call 480/813-9100. [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.] Call toll free in the USA, 866/636-9100. Visit

http://www.gninsurance.com
GET GLOBAL INTEL REPORTS FOR FREE VIA “STRATFOR” — Have you tried it? Our Global Security Coordinator and our New Fields guy both glean resources from it regularly. Browse to:
http://www.stratfor.com

Funny… They’ve been using it for years, but it wasn’t until a friend reminded me of it that I realized we haven’t mentioned it in Brigada Today for quite some time. (Thanks Steve!!!) Give it a try; if you want to stay up to date about how global politics are affecting the country where *you* work, odds are, you’ll love Stratfor.

OUTREACH LITERATURE — SOON Ministries has spare capacity to add any of your ministry’s not-yet-Christian contacts (e.g. BCC or radio ministry inquirers) to their mailing list of their easy-English outreach paper SOON or their similar papers in African French, Swahili and Fulani dialects. Larger quantities of these papers are available to national workers and missionaries for outreach:

http://guide.gospelcom.net/resources/free-papers.php

(Thanks Tony!)

IMPROVE YOUR CHURCH WEBSITE — Internet Evangelism Day’s self- assessment tool for church websites now provides a free 15-page evaluation report that can transform the effectiveness of your site:

http://ied.gospelcom.net/church-site-design.php

(Thanks for that referral too, Tony!)

TRAIN AS A STRATEGY COORDINATOR — If you intend to design platforms for ministry and launch new outreaches among unreached peoples, the upcoming Strategic Coordinator Seminar to be held in Perth, Australia, 18th February to 7th March 2008. Coming from Hong Kong are guest speakers who will share from their experiences as Strategic Coordinators. Seasoned trainers, they have many stories of how God has used them – and others – as facilitators for evangelism, church planting and community transformation. This one is shaping up to be a challenging and exciting time. So don’t delay. Apply now before time runs out. Download an application here:

http://www.ywamperth.org.au/applications/sc.pdf

Or email the Registrar to have an application sent to you:

info(at)ywamperth
(dot)org(dot)au [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.]
AMAZING FEELING OF MOTIVATION — I’ll have to admit… it’s an amazing feeling of encouragement and motivation when Brigada receives gifts such as a $500 push from a member of Arab World Ministries. Isn’t it kind of ironic that the people who work in some of the toughest places on earth end up with some of the least kudos, partly because they can’t even tell people about their progress? Think about it. When they start being really successful, that’s when they could get in the biggest trouble! So here’s a big prayer of thanks for *all* those who are working in the dry places on earth… in the spiritually parched portions of the planet. Please take this opportunity, on behalf of *all* of them, to offer up a prayer of thanks for those who labor in Jesus- darkness, with hopes of being able to live as a still small voice on behalf of a loving savior.
Thanks, too, to Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino, California! $200 will go a *long* way… a *very* long way, in fact, toward helping us finish 2007 strong! Thank you!!!

HELP US FINISH STRONG? — The gifts above, added to last edition’s total of $9817.90, bring our 2007 total to $10,517.90. That’s *tremendous*, but is there anyone out there that could help us even try to match 2006′s outcome of $15,096 ? Would you ask your church, group, family, or your own bank account to chip in, if not for you, then for someone overseas who can’t? If so, thanks!!! Just click on the “Sponsor/Donate” page. Really, we only need 92 more people, groups, or churches. Would you be one of those 92??? We have 6 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 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), 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.) 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.

THE BACKPAGE: LIFE IMPROVED IN 2007; TAKE SPAM FOR INSTANCE — Throughout the years, we’ve written quite a lot about spam here in Brigada. (If you’ve been visiting your aunt on Mars for the past 15 years, we’re using the word, “spam”, to describe unsolicited email messages — junk email.) Funny that after all these years, our office finally switched in 2007 to software that allows us to use Outlook. For the first time in my life, I’m finally seeing what Outlook can *do*! It has automatically classified 754 messages as spam in just the past few days. That doesn’t even count the spam that was caught before that by our office’s server-side spam-catcher. Shew.

So here’s what I’m learning about spam:
*** Ask your office leadership to install a server-side spam removal tool. Your ISP might be able to give you advice about how to install that. They might even do it *for* you for a small fee of $50 or so. Well worth it.

*** Try to position yourself to use Outlook. If possible, upgrade to Outlook 2007. I’m convinced its spam removal tools are the best in the industry now.

*** Configure your email client *not* to download images in emails. Sure you’ll miss all the glitz and glamour. But half of those images are designed to be “bugs” to see if you really open your mail, so the address is verified. Besides, do you *really* want to see those Victora Secret ads? (Get Outlook.)

*** Configure your email client to ask you before it sends a receipt saying you opened the email. If it’s a personal friend, you can click ‘yes’. If it’s a spammer, you don’t want to say yes. (Get Outlook.)

*** Whenever a piece of spam *does* get through the gate, tell your email client that it’s spam. With Outlook, that keystroke might be Alt-A|J|B. That stands for clicking “Actions” in the top-line menu, then “Junk email”, “Add Sender to Blocked Sender’s list”. (Get Outlook.)

*** Check your Junk email folder sometimes. (Yawn. :-) )

*** Remind your friends that if they send you too many forwarded messages about someone stealing kidneys from a man in an iced bathtub in Portland, you might someday become careless and accidentally hit Alt- A|J|B on one of their emails. (Oops! :-) ) In other words, please be judicious about what you forward. And please *do* ask your friends before you subscribe them to newsletters or email lists. Otherwise, we all become part of the spam problem.

So with Outlook, suddenly, spam just isn’t that big of a deal to me any more. I used to get 100 or 200 messages a day. Now, 100-150 of those are going in my junk mail folder. Hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!! Life *has* gotten better in 2007!

Has life improved for *you* in 2007? If so, tell us how. Just log on at:

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=54

to tell your story about how life improved in 2007… or about your battle (hopefully victory?) against spam. Thanks!

20071111 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 01:44:00 +0000

In this issue…

HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASES — Is your organization experiencing health insurance rate increases? Do you want to help support Brigada?

If so, be sure to contact Insurance Services of America. They are a Christian organization that specializes in helping individuals and groups find affordable health insurance options. They can put together a “tailor-made” plan to fit your group’s needs. Their group plan allows for takeover of existing claims & conditions and will provide your people with quality medical insurance worldwide – and they won’t charge you more when your people are in the US on furlough!

Check out some of their plans online at

http://www.missionaryhealth.net/brigada

OR email them at brigada(at)missionaryhealth
(dot)net [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] or call them at 1-800-647-4589 (1-480-821-9052 outside of North America) and ask for Mark. ISA has a wide range of plans for missionaries, mission groups and churches, so be sure to contact them to see how they can “shop around” for you to help you save money on your health insurance needs. Plus they have agreed to help support Brigada from sales that are made on this link, so when you purchase on this site you will be helping to support Brigada and you will be protecting yourself and your ministry from financial loss!
VIDEO SERVICES IN SE ASIA — Serving in SE Asia or supporting workers there? Need a documentary piece to take back on furlough, an update of your building project, a documentary of the aid your organization is providing? Acts Multimedia has recently launched a full plan/shoot/edit/package service for missionaries, supporting churches or organizations. Based in Chiang Mai, Thailand their focus is providing services throughout SE Asia. For more information view their video here
http://actsmultimedia.vox.com/

or send them an email multimedia(at)actsco
(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.]
VIDEO RESOURCES FOR PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC SPEAKING — Check out Wing Clips. They offer a digital download service of feature film clips for pastors and teachers. They have a premium service ($14.95/mo) and a free service. Check them out.

LEARN TO RAISE SUPPORT — Here’s a comment from a recent participant in the Kingdom Come Training course in missionary partnership development: “…The course allowed us the opportunity to craft our ministry presentation under expert guidance. But more importantly, it helped us anchor our efforts in Biblical principles with proven results.” All you need is high speed internet. KCT will send you the webcam equipped laptop with professional video conferencing software and you join a live, interactive course with two other locations. Give Jerry a call at (503)314-7211 or browse

http://www.kingdomcometraining.com

or email jerry(at)kingdomcometraining
(dot)com [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.]
COULD “HONOR” OPEN UP CULTURES TO THE GOSPEL? — After 5 years of being out of print, “The Power of Honor,” by Fawn Parish, is back! Conversations Press will give a $1.00 for every book ordered by Brigada readers. If you order before Christmas, they’ll offer a discount, but better act immediately. You may go to
http://www.powerofhonor.com to order

or email fawn(at)reignbridge
(dot)com [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.] If you think of it, please mention Brigada.
BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE DIMILI KURDS — Tim is working on his Masters Thesis which is taking the form of a website focused on the unreached Dimili Kurds of Turkey. The website will focus on directing prayer for this people group as well as mobilization. He is seeking any information related to work being done with them (feel free to withhold sensitive information, but regardless, all sensitive information will of course be kept confidential), progress of any bible translation etc or a recommendation of resources that would be helpful in his research. Once the website is completed he will send the Brigada family a link so we can all pray together for this people group. He can be contacted with information or questions at dimilikurds(at)allpeoples
(dot)info [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address onto one line.]
LOOKING FOR MORAL BEHAVIOR RESOURCES — Here’s a Brigada participant that is charged with teaching behavioral expectations to her organization’s new candidates. The resources her group has for helping new members understand these behavior parameters are seriously out of date. Before they start a major project they would like to know if any of your groups have some materials that would be instructional, using updated technology and Bible based. If you have any resources that can be shared or know of materials available please log on and share all you can at:
http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=49

THANKS TO THE DIFFERENCE-MAKERS! — This past week, we rec’d $15.13 from Blessed Hope in the name of those using their phone services during June & July; See
http://www.lowermyphonebill.com/brigada/

for ideas on how to lower your bill! $50 from an anonymous long-term participant in Budapest, Hungary $50 from a partner on the East Coast $100 from a great friend in Sweden $300 from YWAM in Lebanon, PA Thank you to these partners and those hooking up with them! This, added to last edition’s total of 8,452.77, brings our 2007 total to $8,967.90. This is still quite a ways from our goal of $17,150. Gifts in 2006 added up to $15,096. :-( Is there anyone out there that could step up to the plate with a larger one-time gift from an inheritance or some other fund? If you could even get us *closer* to the ball park, we’d greatly appreciate it.
WOULD YOU MAKE A GIFT WHEN OTHERS CAN’T? — Some live in circumstances that essentially do not permit them to give to help make Brigada tick. Would you be able to give something on their behalf? If so, just click on the “Donate” page. We’ve made progress, but still need the following gifts to meet our needs…
1 of 1 1000 (1 gift of $1000)
3 of 5 500 (3 more gifts of $500)
9 of 250 2500 (9 more gifts of $250)
10 of 13 100 (11 more gifts of $100)
23 of 27 50 (26 more gifts of $50)
60 of 70 25 (60 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), 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.) 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.

THE BACKPAGE: HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THESE 2 SCRIPTURES? — My boys asked me a pretty tough question today. Frankly, I need your input. They pointed to Paul’s admonition in Romans 13:1, stating that “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. … He who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted…” Add to that I Pet. 2:13: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”

They then asked how to reconcile that passage with a nation’s willingness to intervene when another government was committing genocide, whether in the Balkans, with Hitler, or in Darfur. They felt pretty strongly that Hitler had to be stopped. So they couldn’t understand (or ‘explain away’) the verse in Romans 13:1. Can you help me explain these verses to them? If so, please log on at…

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=50

Click on the “Comment” line below the item to give your view. Hopefully, we can find the answers. Thanks.18

20070624 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:44:00 +0000

In this issue…

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!)

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!

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

http://www.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.

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.

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”!

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 .]
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!

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 .]

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 .]

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

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

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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!)