Brigada » SYIS

10) Sharpen your Interpersonal Skills in St. Paul, Courtesy MRC –

brigtoday — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 03:50:23 +0000

Minnesota Renewal Center is hosting another Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills (SYIS) workshop, to be held at their facility in St. Paul, MN, October 31 – November 4, 2011. The cost is $315 per person. For more information and registration, please see their website at…

http://www.minnesotarenewalcenter.org/SYIS.html

6) Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills in Phoenix —

brigtoday — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 03:54:21 +0000

Are you ready to identify, learn and practice skills that will enhance your effectiveness and your enjoyment of the people God has placed in your life? This is your invitation and opportunity to register for Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills (SYIS), a workshop entirely focused on improving your daily interactions. SYIS will be held May 1-6 at Frontiers’ headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Register by March 8 to take advantage of the early-bird discount price of $295. Details are available at

http://www.frontiersUSA.org/SYIS or write

MemberCarefrontiersUSAorg

7) MRC to Host SYIS in St. Paul –

brigtoday — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:53:15 +0000

Minnesota Renewal Center is hosting another Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills (SYIS) workshop, to be held at their facility in St. Paul, MN, March 7-11, 2011. The cost is $315 per person. For more information and registration, see their website at…

http://www.minnesotarenewalcenter.org/SYIS.html

8) Want to Sharpen Your Interpersonal Skills Tomorrow (literally)?

brigtoday — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:52:00 +0000

If you live in or near Langley, British Columbia (or would like to travel there like… *today*… :-), you’re in luck. The course literally starts March 1st and lasts for one week. Learn more at

http://www.itpartners.org

It will be held at the Gateway Missionary Training Centre, Langley BC. The cost is $250.00 CDN or USD equivalent and includes lunch and materials. Some accommodations are available at Gateway. Questions? Contact Melanie at 1-888-476-9376 or (604) 530-4283 or email

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8) Sharpen Your Interpersonal Skills

Editor — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:00:00 +0000

International Training Partners offers Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshops in different parts of the world. These five-day, highly interactive workshops focus on biblical application of skills in relating to one another and to the host people. A workshop hosted by Barnabas International will be held near Birmingham, AL, October 5-10, 2008. Contact Dan at

for information. Go to

http://www.itpartners.org/

for details on all of the SYIS workshops with space available for more participants.

20060716 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 02:16:00 +0000

In this issue…

EMMAUS ROAD PRE-PUBLICATION OFFER -— Emmaus Road International is pleased to announce the reprinting of two of their books: Prepare For Battle; Basic Training in Spiritual Warfare and The Reentry Team; Caring for Your Returning Missionaries. Through September 15th, they are offering a discounted pre-publication sale. You can read more about the books at

http://www.eri.org/publications.html

But you must send an e-mail to Emmaus_Road(at)eri(dot)org for details of this offer. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

THE UNREACHED: THE CHURCH MAY BE SMALLER THAN YOU THINK — Just when we thought we were making progress… In 1974, the Lausanne Movement woke us up to “about half” the world being “hidden” from the gospel. Recent years have led us to believe that figure had shrunk to as little as 1/3 or even 1/4 of the world’s population being out of reach of the gospel. But from the looks of the top guy at Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), Kevin Swanson, maybe we’re farther away from our goal than we thought. His article at…

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s06060084.htm

states that “*three* out of four people alive on the earth today still have not heard the Gospel.” Rats. Back to the drawing board. (Thanks for pointing us to that URL, Matt!)

VIDEOS IN 900 LANGUAGES — Check out the new web site for the World Christian Video Directory at

http://www.worldchristianvideos.org

It lists over 900 languages of Christian videos and resellers, organized by title, organization, language and country. It’s an attempt to list evangelistic, apologetic, discipleship and informational Christian videos in all the languages of the world. (Thanks Ken!)

MISSIONARY TRAINING CAMP — Elijah Company will host another training October 12-15, 2006 at Living Waters Farm in Virginia. These four-day intensive exposures often illuminate the pathways for those desiring to be in missions. From the last training Robyn wrote: We are still processing the closest four days with Jesus ever! Meaning you discipled us so deeply according to the Word that we felt so close to Him, we truly were able to “hear”. Please do not wait too long to register. For more information and applications write to elijah(at)elijahcompany(dot)org or call 757-226-3507. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Learn more at: http://www.elijahcompany.org .

NEW VOICE OVER IP SERVICE: TRY IT, LIKE IT? — Fernando wrote this past week about a new and different version of Voice over IP (VOIP) software he had just discovered. “Web Call Direct”

http://webcalldirect.com

has two features not found in similar services like VoipCheap or VoipFree; a) you can place a call between any two phones in the world. In other words, you first set the number of a land line accessible to you and then the number of the phone you’d like to call. The first one rings, you pick it up and then the second phone rings and the communication is established. The end result is a communication between regular phones without the computer. b) You can do all of this from a webpage using any computer in the world; no need to download any software. You can also call from your computer (if that is your preference) as with any other VOIP service (computer to computer or computer to phone). Fernando did encounter problems trying to use his credit card, though his PayPal account went through without a hitch. As with the other services mentioned previously in Brigada, US, Europe and a bunch of other countries are totally free. So if they can work out the possible credit card issues, this service will be one to watch. (Thanks Fernando!)

SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS — International Training Partners offers Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshops in different parts of the world. These five-day, highly interactive workshops focus on biblical application of skills in relating to one another and to the host people.

A workshop hosted by International Training Partners will in Colorado Springs, Colorado October 8-13, 2006. Contact Robin Bower at rbower(at)itpartners(dot)org for information. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

Go to

http://www.itpartners.org

for details on all of the workshops and information on ITP. If your mission is interested in sponsoring an SYIS workshop, contact Paul Lere at plere(at)itpartners(dot)org

FRANCOPHONE AFRICAN CONFERENCES IN THE WORKS (CRAF) — The 5th Francophone Africa Regional Consultation will take place in May 2007: CRAF Central Africa for central Africa countries will be held on 07-11 May 2007 in Bangui (CAR) and CRAF West Africa for West Africa countries will be held on 14-18 May 2007 in Lome (Togo). CRAF provides an opportunity for innovative leaders to come together to hear how God is at work across Francophone Africa, learn cutting-edge insights from one another, assess where each nation is at the unfinished task of the Great Commission, and engage the critical challenges facing the Church in Francophone Africa. To facilitate this process, two-thirds of the programme is devoted to group interaction. Each morning there will be a key address on Church Planting Movements.

For more information, contact Mr. Younoussa Djao at ydjao.craf(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 .]

NEW CHURCH-PLANTING RESOURCE — Roland Muller’s, “The Messenger, the Message, & the Community” examines three critical issues that the cross-cultural church-planter must face. Muller’s popular Honor & Shame, as well as Tools for Muslim Evangelism are included in this book, (revised editions) plus much more. There are over 300 study questions for those who want to interact with the material. This book is now available from

http://rmuller.com

Order now, as quantities are limited.

WILL YOU HELP “SEND” BRIGADA? — Want to help make a way for Brigada to keep cranking out the door and onto missions radars worldwide? Just click on “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a 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. 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. In any case, thanks for considering Brigada in your estate giving, your monthly church missions fund, and/or your own personal giving for this calendar year.

THE BACKPAGE: HOW DO WE *REALLY* GET PEOPLE PRAYING? — Now that I’m a missions committee chairman in a local church, I’m perplexed with the question, “How do we *really* get people praying about missions, missionaries, and the lost people they’re trying to reach?” Fern Creek Christian Church, where my family attends when I’m not traveling, runs about 800 people in size. Having been at my post for less than a year, I’m still learning the ropes. We’re about to stage our first “Missions Fair”, but I can already sense that it’s going to be a tough challenge to get the rank and file of our church *truly* engaged with prayer and missions . . . and especially, with prayer the unreached peoples. Obviously, we have tons of videos, posters, books and other resources. But people are soooooo busy. They are so distracted. They are so already over-committed with their kids’ sports teams, 60-hour work weeks, and gas prices. Over the next few weeks, we’ll give them booklets, magnets, and lots of stories. We’ll introduce them to 20 or so missionaries that our church supports. They’ll walk through displays in our Fellowship Hall. But the real question remains, “Will their prayer lives be truly affected by what they experience?” That’s the key question. Think about it. I’ll let you know what happens in my situation. I’d love to hear more about yours. Send a message, if you have an idea, to:

brigada-feedback(at)googlegroups.com

(You don’t have to join the group. No one else will see your response. It’s just a holding tank for future responses.) Thanks for any advice! We’ll feature feedback in a future Brigada Today.

20060611 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 02:19:00 +0000

In this issue…

LATEST GUIDANCE ON TRAVELING & CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET — Those involved in outreach activities in foreign countries would be wise to us a HotMail account. While well known ISPs such as AOL have world wide accessibility, using them identifies a person with the nationality associated with that ISP. HotMail is country neutral and doesn’t draw attention. Use of an Internet card with HotMail is usually cheaper too.

Most countries have AOL access and AOL has online storage. Messages can be read at a Internet cafe, replied to, and saved on AOL for later retrieval when you get back home.

Here’s a pay-as-you-go service called Budget Dial Up:

http://www.budgetdialup.com

is a recommended when traveling. You purchase time in blocks and only pay for what you use. There are no monthly fees. They have a subsidiary for travelers called

http://www.mytravelaccess.com

Thanks to Stan, Mark, Fred, George, and Mike.

TRAINING IN CHRISTIAN MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT & MICROFINANCE — The Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Development will conduct its next Christian Economic Development Institute (CEDI) on July 31 – August 5, 2006 at the Jumuia Conference and Country Home in Limuru, Kenya, located outside of Nairobi. This training institute is sponsored by the Anglican Church of Kenya along with Five Talents International. It is appropriate for anyone doing outreach or ministry among the poor in the Two-Thirds World – pastors, church planters, church members, ministry staff, missionaries, and relief and development workers. The institute provides training on practical, church-based strategies for ministering to the poor without creating dependency. Specific topics include how to implement a relief or development intervention for your community without doing harm, how to promote rotating and accumulating savings and credits associations, how to partner with microfinance institutions, and how to offer small business training to low-income entrepreneurs. Prior financial or economic experience is not required to attend the training. The cost for this CEDI is $550 USD and covers room, board and tuition. For specific information about the courses taught and to register for the CEDI, visit

http://www.chalmers.org

and click on the Limuru, Kenya link located under the Christian Economic Development Institute heading.

TERM LIFE INSURANCE -– There are an increasing number of term life insurance options available for the international worker. If desired, coverage can be limited to AD&D (Accidental Death & Dismemberment) only. Amounts of coverage can be as low as $50,000 and up to and over $1,000,000. If purchased together with health insurance, term life coverage can be found for any country in the world. For term life quotes: name, age, overseas residence (country and city) and type of work are needed. For more information contact

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 .] Toll free in USA: 866/636-9100. Visit

http://www.gninsurance.com

PREPARE TO RAISE SUPPORT IN MUCH LESS TIME -– It doesn’t have to take years to raise your support for mission service. There are proven, transferable attitudes and skills that you can develop which will make support raising quicker, easier and much less terrifying. A new training option is now available through live, interactive video conferencing. You can receive, on loan, a high tech video conferencing unit which is easy to plug in and use. You need high speed internet access and a TV monitor. You meet live on line with an experienced trainer for five hours a week three weeks. It is low cost and it will equip you with the communication and relational skills you need to be successful in partnership development ministry for a lifetime.

http://www.kingdomcometraining.com

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 .]

BIBLE STORYING RESOURCE WANTS TO HELP YOU! — Please tell story4all about your storying work, training or events and your ministry could receive a highlight on the story4all podcast, with events listed in the web site “Calendar”. story4all is here to help those who want to learn more about Bible storying, oral strategies, those who want to make disciples of oral learners, as well as to facilitate networking between agencies and individuals and vice versa. Check out the story4all web site and podcast, and contact story4all by visiting:

http://story4all.com

Have you heard the story4all podcast yet? Cut & paste this URL into your “podcatching” software to freely subscribe to the weekly show:

feed://story4all.libsyn.com/rss

GET PRE & MID FIELD RUSSIAN LANGUAGE TRAINING THIS FALL — Studying at the Institute of Strategic Languages and Cultures (ISLC) (formerly Russian Language Ministries) will give you a good head start in learning the needed language and culture. Their experienced staff is called by God to equip you with the language & cross-cultural skills you will need to be effective in ministry to Russian. Courses are tailored to your learning needs and offer an intensive and focused experience with, gradual effective immersion in the language, communicative learning methods & flexible duration for all programs. Their U.S. based courses are taught in an encouraging spiritual atmosphere with a focus on future ministry. Classes now forming for our 16 week fall course (Aug. 28- Dec. 15). US toll Free: 1-800-799-7976 or 1-803-333-9119.

RLMoffice(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 .]

http://www.russianlanguage.org

SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS — International Training Partners offers Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshops in different parts of the world. These five-day, highly interactive workshops focus on biblical application of skills in relating effectively to one another and to the host people.

A workshop hosted by Arab World Ministries will held near Sanary-sur- Mer, France September 10-15, 2006. Please contact Carrie Lyon at clyon(at)marnet(dot)org for information. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

Go to

http://www.itpartners.org

for details on all of the workshops and information on ITP. If your mission is interested in sponsoring a SYIS workshop, contact Paul Lere at plere(at)itpartners(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

FREE ONE YEAR SCHOOL OF PRAYER — There are keys to answered prayer. Best-selling authors, prayer leaders, and conference speakers, Eddie and Alice Smith, with the U.S. Prayer Center now offer their 52-Week School of Prayer online! Imagine receiving a unique lesson on prayer in your email inbox each week for an entire year! You’ll never need to leave home to attend a class or pay an enrollment fee. They will teach you how to have a fulfilling quiet time; to experience intimacy with God through prayer; to pray our family and friends to Christ; and more. Appropriate across denominational lines. Offer it to your friends, your church, or ministry. Be one of 100,000 the Smiths will mentor with this free course. Receive as a bonus for enrolling the amazing PDF report, “138 Ways to Mobilize Prayer.” Simply enter your first name and email address at:

http://www.TeachMeToPray.com

TEFL TEACHER TRAINING IN ISTANBUL — It’s slated for July 6 – 8. Here is an opportunity to learn how to teach English to non-native English speakers. Teaching techniques, language skill development and curriculum selection and options will be just some of the topics. The primary focus of the seminar will be Conversational English. Workers from any organization are welcome. Dayle Burkhart is the TEFL Resource Director for Greater Europe Mission. She is also the author of the Helping Internationals Succeed with English (HIS English) curriculum http://www.hisenglish.com
Dayle has worked with ESL/TEFL for more than 20 years. For more details and to register contact Dayle at

dburkhart(at)hisenglish(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
WE GET HELP… WE BE THANKFUL — Thanks to the church in Tulsa, OK, which sent $125 along with a thank-you note for the “resources Brigada keeps on supplying.” Well we’ll be honest — your support helps us keep on supplying. God be praised! Thanks! Want to help Brigada spread the news about missions resources, unreached peoples, and outreach conferences all around the world? Just go to
http://www.brigada.org

and click on “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a 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. 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. In any case, thanks for considering Brigada in your estate giving, your monthly church missions fund, and/or your own personal giving for this calendar year.

THE BACKPAGE: HOW TO APPROACH A PEER (OR NOT) — Last week we talked about the concept of approaching “the head man” in a tribe . . . or a company. Our basic premise was: go to the person in charge. But what if you have an issue with someone who is your peer… someone “across departmental lines” or someone in the team across town. You feel funny going to his/her team leader or boss because you’re afraid you’ll get him/her in trouble, right? Good answer. What’s more, the boss might not know you or accommodate your desire to discuss the matter. He or she might think you’re stepping out of line to bring up something that had nothing to do with your work area.

So what if you observe shoddy or less-than-best performance on the part of the guy across the hall, who serves under a different boss? My own take is — it depends. If the team member has a reasonable team leader (one who is reasonably gifted in leadership), sometimes it might make more sense for you to report the troubling behavior or less-than-best performance. Speak directly to the person’s overseer. However, if the team member’s point-man is seemingly less understanding… or if you’ve had a hard time getting your point across to him or her (sometime before), then there are times where you’ll feel uncomfortable going to the team leader of the friend. In cases like these (where the team leader isn’t as present), you might decide to throw out the “head man” rule and approach the struggling brother or sister directly. Here are some important and easy tips to maximize your chance of success:

*** Focus on one thing at a time, in a positive way, if possible: Refuse the temptation to bring up a laundry list. For example, if the I.T. guy can’t train, can’t program, can’t write instructions, and can’t show up to work on time, and, to make matters worse, if his boss is unreasonable as well, yes you might have to approach him directly, as a peer. But don’t make a list… or at least, don’t *show* him the list. Just decide on the highest priority item and approach him on that item first. In the previous case, maybe you begin by pulling him aside and asking him to help you understand a particular protocol or command. In the process, you coax him to train you in a friendlier fashion, then you tell him, “It really helped me when you described the solution in such-and-such a terms.” Make sure the guy knows you *appreciate* what he just did (the helpful training behavior). Truth be known, you’re mentoring him… but it’s perhaps team-member-specific-mentoring, in that he’ll probably interpert it as being the kind of behavior he ought to show *you* and you alone. That’ll be ok at first. At least it’ll help you do your job better.

*** Go one-on-one: Trust us… If you go as a group, it’ll feel more embarrassing, more overwhelming, and bigger than life. Go one-on-one.

*** Uplift the positive: Whenever possible, try to “catch her in the act of being good” rather than criticizing her errant behavior.

*** Try to establish a relationship first, *then* correct: It’s a *ton* easier to take correction from a *friend* rather than someone at a distance. What’s more, we’ll *care* more when a friend gives us feedback. We seem to always be able to rationalize or justify when it’s someone about whom we have little invested interest.

*** Whenever possible, use metaphors if appropriate: For some reason, people remember stories better. So if you can say it with an illustration, without it becoming hokey, do it.

Using these 5 simple approaches, perhaps you can turn a lemon into lemonade: The person with troubling behavior just might become a close friend, believe it or not. And friends are good, … because it’s truly a jungle out there!

Doug

20060212 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 03:31:00 +0000

In this issue…

SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS — International Training Partners offers Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshops in different parts of the world. These five-day, highly interactive workshops focus on biblical application of skills in relating to one another and to the host people. A workshop hosted by International TEAM will be held in Dubai, UAE April 22-27, 2006. Contact Bill Turner at desertspring(at)tapmail(dot)org for information. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Go to http://www.itpartners.org for details on all of the workshops and information on ITP. If your mission is interested in sponsoring a SYIS workshop, contact Paul plere(at)itpartners(dot)org. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

CALEB PROJECT TO HOST THE CONNECTION CONFERENCE — More than 750 leaders representing more than 100 area churches are expected to tap into an array of workshops and exhibits at a state-wide missions conference called The Connection: God’s People Empowered to Reach Our Communities and the World, March 16-18, 2006, at Cherry Hills Community Church in Denver’s south suburb of Highlands Ranch. Urban and Hispanic ministries are a new focus this year, including worship led by the multi-ethnic Confluence Band. The non-denominational event is sponsored by a coalition of churches and international mission agencies. Speakers and mission consultants will offer 72 workshops in eight different tracks. This regional missions conference is designed to equip, empower, and release God’s people in their unique role and application of Acts 1:8.

The plenary speakers for this conference are Fran Blomberg, adjunct professor of Intercultural Ministries, Denver Seminary, missions consultant, and Doctoral student at Western Seminary; Ted Travis, Pastor of Jubilee Community Church in Denver and president of Neighborhood Ministries; and Scott Wenig, Pastor of Aspen Grove Community Church and professor of Applied Theology at Denver Seminary. The eight equipping tracks will include: Urban Transformation, Church Mobilization, Children’s EXPO, Effective Short-term Missions, Your Next Steps in Missions, Encountering Muslims, Purpose-driven Business, and a track for Hispanic ministry.

Conference details can be found at http://www.calebproject.org/connection

ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS FOR GCoMM 2006 — Hundreds of musicians, music missionaries, educators, worship pastors, and Christian leaders from around the world will gather for the second Global Consultation on Music and Missions (GCoMM 2006), to be held July 11-15 at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. At GCoMM 2006, a superb team of plenary and seminar speakers will explore the cultural aspects of music and worship. Register for GCoMM 2006 before April 1 and receive an early-bird rate of $245, which includes 12 meals. The convenient online registration will also allow you to reserve your spot in Bethel University’s on-campus housing, obtainable on a “first come, first served” basis for $25/night. Discounted registration rates are also available for students and those coming from outside of North America. See all details and register now at

http://www.gcommhome.org to take advantage of these select discounts. [GCoMM 2006 is made possible in part through a Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.]

INTENSIVE CROSS-CULTURAL INTERNSHIP IN NORTH AFRICA — Live with a Muslim family, study Arabic, and learn “how-to” study another culture May 20 – June 3 in North Africa. The program is led by a professor with 20 years of experience in the region, and is an excellent way to experience what it would be like to work long-term among Muslims. Participants include potential missionaries, current missionaries who want to improve their cross-cultural skills, and any who need a first- hand experience with Muslims in order to increase their effectiveness and missionary vision. The internship can be taken for academic credit or noncredit and is sponsored by The Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies, based at Columbia International University (CIU) in South Carolina. Registration deadline is April 1. For more information please email eurocourse(at)hotmail(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . ]

CALIFORNIA WEB EVANGELISM CONFERENCE — Don’t miss TechVangelism conference on technologies for communicating Christ cross-culturally, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, California, 18 March 2006:

http://techvangelism.org

SECOND WORLDWIDE INTERNET EVANGELISM FOCUS DAY — Internet Evangelism Day this year will be 7 May 2006. The purpose of this focus day is to share with Christians the potential and strategies for effective online outreach. Any church or mission group can create a custom program using downloadable PowerPoint, video clips, dramas, music, handouts and posters from the site:

http://ied.gospelcom.net/index.php

ZWEMER — What is currently taking place around the world as a result of cartoons about Muhammad suggests we in the West need to focus more on Muslims! This is the 10th Summer Institute in Islam, July 3-28, 2006 on the campus of Columbia International University in South Carolina. In the four, one-week courses, the focus in on understanding Islam, building healthy relationships with Muslims and training workers to effectively present the gospel. With over 35 hours of class instruction for each course, Zwemer’s distinctive over other similar programs is that it provides in-depth training for the Church’s greatest challenge in the 21st century. Material can be taken for credit or as a seminar (non-credit). Please go to http://www.ciu.edu/summerstudies and follow the link to Zwemer. You can register on line or e-mail muslimstudies(at)ciu.edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] You may also call 1-800-777-2227, Ext. 3325.

NEED A GETAWAY? — If you can’t hit the entire Connection, at least take part in a getaway. See it at: http://www.pastorsretreatnetwork.org/ — free meals, room, and more… if you’ll rest and enjoy life in a laid back sort of way. Very interesting business model. :-) (Seriously – they want to take care of missionaries!)

UNREACHED PEOPLES CONSULTATION POSTPONED –- The Unreached Peoples Consultation, “Connections for Kingdom Advancement” scheduled for March 21-24 in Virginia Beach, VA, has been postponed. The Alliance for Missions Advancement (AFMA) is planning to reschedule the consultation this October or November. An announcement will be released when the dates are solidified. For up-to-date information, visit the consultation website at http://www.upc2006.org or call AFMA at (757) 226-5850. (Thanks.)

THANKS TO THOSE WHO CHIP IN — This past week, we received these welcome gifts: $6.38 from Good Neighbor Insurance because someone signed up with them via Brigada,

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

and $10.08 from Blessed Hope Communications for those who talked on the phone this past month! :-)

http://www.lowermyphonebill.com/brigada

We also rec’d $18 from Insurance Services of America, where Mark Sneed is the VP, again, as a kind of “finder’s fee”.

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

Thank you to these sponsors. Please remember them and the gracious way they’re helping Brigada.

THE BACKPAGE: SNOOPY’S TIPS FOR SAYING THANKS — I remember a Charlie Brown comic that pictured Snoopy trying to make friends with the cat next door. Snoopy walks up to the cat with the “right paw of fellowship” extended . . . but covering his paw is a ball glove (with extra padding). It’s a comical commentary at curing cross-cultural conflict. But the trouble is — sometimes it’s a lot like real life. We reach out to others to say thanks but fail to appreciate the cultural differences.

Let’s take, for instance, the missionary who gets behind on his or her reports. 2 months pass, 3 months, 4 months… and the next thing you know, a supporting church has to come knocking, with a question like, “Have I somehow been dropped off your mailing list?” :-) Well in this case, the churches that banked on regular reporting are now hearing nothing . . . and that *silence* becomes the distance-maker, pushing more and more *space* between the missionary and the donor.

So how can we say thanks? I’m learning that it varies some. For one supporter, it truly might be just by sending the written report. For Team Expansion, that’s supposed to go out *monthly*. But for another one, it might be a phone call (upon receipt of an out-of-the-ordinary gift). For another, maybe it could mean attending the funeral of the donor’s close relative. Yet another might appreciate a handwritten thank-you note, “Just writing to tell you that we really appreciate you.”

In today’s world, we sometimes get so busy with automation and mass production that we forget . . . personal is good. They had to sign the check. Let’s sign the card. So whether it’s with the pen or phone, or a voice or visit, let’s all work harder at saying thank you in a way that inspires greater and greater levels of trust and respect. I believe God will get more and more glory as we do that. And that’s a good thing… because it’s a jungle out there. We need Him.

20051106 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 02:18:00 +0000

In this issue…

1. TRAINING IN CHRISTIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
2. ENCOUNTERING THE WORLD OF ISLAM ONLINE
3. GRANTS AND LOAN DIRECTORY
4. MAPPING FOR MISSION WORKSHOP
5. PEACE COLLEGE SEMINAR ON CONTEXTUALIZATION
6. SHARPENING YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS (SYIS)
7. DO YOU FIND ENGLISH DIFFICULT?
8. WEB PUBLISHING, DATABASE PROGRAMMING FOR $10 US AN HOUR
9. THANKS FOR THE PARTNERSHIP!
10. THE BACK PAGE: LESSONS FROM A SMALL AIRCRAFT FLIGHT
11. CLOSING STUFF

1. TRAINING IN CHRISTIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — The Chalmers Center for Economic Development provides distance learning courses on church- based, field-tested strategies that promote financial self-sufficiency among the poor. These courses are email-based guided readings with instructor feedback on weekly written assignments along with peer interaction. Three courses are offered. The first is scheduled for Jan. 2-27, 2006. It provides an understanding of the needs of the poor and lays the goals and strategies for Christian economic development in low-income communities. The second gives an overview to Christian microenterprise development and microfinance. The third teaches the basic principles of Savings and Credit Associations (SCAs) as a ministry tool. To learn more about these courses or to register, visit the Chalmers Center web site at http://www.chalmers.org . You can also contact the Chalmers Center by phone at 706-419-1805 (US) or by email at chalmers(at)covenant(dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
2. ENCOUNTERING THE WORLD OF ISLAM ONLINE — Caleb Project is pleased to announce EWI Online, the distance-learning version of Encountering the World of Islam. In 12 weeks, EWI Online provides a positive, balanced, and biblical perspective on God’s heart for Muslims and equips Christians to reach out to them in Jesus’ love. Students learn about Muhammad and the history of Islam, gain insight into today’s conflicts, discover the frustrations and desires of Muslims, and learn how to pray for and befriend them. EWI Online involves textbook readings, downloadable lectures, weekly online discussions, meeting a Muslim and visiting a local Islamic center, four quizzes, one paper and a Concert of Prayer. Students complete one lesson each week. Winter classes begin January 2! For more information, email info(at)encounteringislam(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or see http://www.encounteringislam.org
3. GRANTS AND LOAN DIRECTORY — The “American Grants and Loans Directory” is now available. This publication contains more than 1500 financial programs, subsidies, scholarship, grants and loans offered by the US federal government. It also includes over 700 financing programs available by foundations across the United States. The Canadian Subsidy Directory is also available for Canada. The CD version is $69.95 and the printed version is $149.95. To order, just call 450-224-9275 in Canada.
4. MAPPING FOR MISSION WORKSHOP — Catch some introductory training for the Global Ministry Mapping System (GMMS) for ArcView, December 5-9, 2005 at Global Mapping International (Colorado Springs, CO). Learn how to implement the GMMS for your ministry. Tuition will be $300.00 for GMMS licensees & $500.00 for those who have not acquired the GMMS (Price includes printed materials and lunches/snacks). Multiple attendees from a single organization will each receive a $50.00 tuition discount. For more information, contact Tony tony(at)gmi(dot)org or call 1-800-569-6312. Remember to respond quickly. Space is limited to 10 participants. If you sign up by November 21st, you’ll guarantee your spot and save $25.00 off registration. (Note: The cost of lodging and meals other than lunch are not included in the tuition fees.) Visit http://www.gmi.org/gmms to find out more.
5. PEACE COLLEGE SEMINAR ON CONTEXTUALIZATION — The 2006 Peace College seminar will be held on the 11th through the 29th of August in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (This represents a slight change from the announcement made at the 2005 seminar.) Please plan to arrive on the 10th and to stay at least through the end of the day on the 29th. This year’s topic will be contextualization. Look for a detailed reading list by the end of November along with details on venue and costs. If you have any questions, please direct them to peacecollege(at)swissmail(dot)org
6. SHARPENING YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS (SYIS) — This valuable workshop will be held February 27 to March 3, 2006 at Gateway Missionary Training Centre in Langley B.C. The Cost will be $190.00CDN which includes lunch and course materials. This course, developed by Dr. Ken Williams, is offered internationally and has been greatly appreciated by intercultural workers around the world. Gateway Missionary Training Centre has offered the workshop each year since February 2001 to missionaries from a variety of organizations. For more information contact info(at)gatewaytraining(dot)org or call 604-530-4283 and ask for Beverly.
7. DO YOU FIND ENGLISH DIFFICULT? — Then go to http://www.easyenglish.info and click on ‘What’s new’. Now download ‘Stories from the Book of Genesis’. Helen Sealey has written these exciting stories in short sentences, using Accessible EasyEnglish (level A 1200 words in the lexicon). She has designed them especially for anyone who struggles to read English. The EasyEnglish Bible Dictionary is also available now, from the same website. This item explains over 800 Bible words in EasyEnglish.
8. WEB PUBLISHING, DATABASE PROGRAMMING FOR $10 US AN HOUR — Here’s a Christian-owned company that does Web & Flash Publishing/programming, Graphics Designing, Database Programming, Image Processing and Data Capturing (data capturing from faxes, books, magazines, forms), Admin Support, Data Entry, File conversion (from one file format to another). For more information, please contact Brian cbpdirect(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 .]
9. THANKS FOR THE PARTNERSHIP! — Thanks to Dial-Abroad for their sponsorship in response to Brigada readers signing up with their service. This past week, they sent $103.76… so if you ever need phone services, please consider them first. Just go to http://www.dial-abroad.org/brigada.htm and choose the long-distance service, “Dial-Abroad”.
10. THE BACK PAGE: LESSONS FROM A SMALL AIRCRAFT FLIGHT — When I’m not writing Brigada material, I’m trying to do my best to lead a little missions agency called Team Expansion, with about 260 full-time workers in 36 countries. When our field workers experience a loss of a parent or child, we try to make sure someone from our “home office” attends the funeral with them. I’m guessing most other agencies do the same. Well one of those funerals was scheduled to happen today. The funeral was slated to take place in a small rural community in Central Illinois. Commercial flights just didn’t line up . . . so I was forced to plan to make the 9-hour drive (originating at a missions convention I was attending), leaving at 2am or so. Not an ideal situation… but doable. (We do what we have to do, right? :-) ) Well the truth is, my co-workers love me… so after I went to sleep at 9:30pm or so, they were like little elves, scurrying around arranging better options for me. :-) When my alarm went off at 1:30, I found a note under my door explaining that they had managed to secure a friend of the mission to fly me there in a private plane. What’s more, another staff person had volunteered to accompany me. I was instructed to go back to bed and sleep for another 4 hours. Instead of having to drive 9 hours one way, the pilot got me there and back in 5 hours round trip!

As I pondered the events of the day, I took away a few lessons from the whole process.

First, I’m convinced that scheduling the trip to the funeral was the right thing, even though it was hard. The truth is — sometimes we evaluate our courses of action based on how difficult we guess they’ll be. More and more I’m realizing that if I just focus on doing what’s right, lots of the infrastructure grows up after the decision is made.

Second, traveling by plane — “as the crow flies” — sure makes a lot more sense than driving along traditional roads. The metaphor is probably goes without saying: Let’s solve problems by tackling them “head-on.” Let’s don’t allow traditions to slow us down, regardless of how many times “we’ve done it that way before.”

Finally, I was thrilled at my team’s willingness to take initiative. Can you believe they changed my travel plans “while I was sleeping!” But one of the reasons they took that initiative, I think, was because they knew me well enough to know that I’ve empowered them to do more than just *talk*. They know they can take action and, within reason, make big changes — even changes that impact the president :-) — and life will go on. In fact, lots of times, it goes on better!

So … next time you think you have your travel plans set for the morrow, beware closing your eyes to go to sleep — if you’ve trained your team to dream, plan, and take action. You just might wake up to learn that the tables have turned… and the outcome just might be tons better than what you had originally hoped!

And that’s a good thing… because it’s truly a jungle out there.

Doug

20050717 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 01:29:00 +0000

In this issue…

1. NOW GET GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE FOR HOME & OVERSEAS STAFF AS 1
2. SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
3. GO GLOBAL WITH GLOBAL MISSIOLOGY
4. EFFECTIVE PLANNING, TRAINING AND LEADING OF SHORT-TERM TEAMS
5. DENTAL TRAINING FOR MISSIONS
6. INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE ON THE FUTURE OF AIRLINE INDUSTRY
7. WHAT ABOUT DOMESTIC SHORT-TERM MISSIONS?
8. GET THE LOWDOWN ON THE LATEST IN LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONS
9. HOW DO CHINESE CHARACTERS REVEAL THE GOSPEL
10. FOR SOME, DANCE UNLOCKS KEY TO CULTURE
11. THANKS TO THOSE WHO ARE HELPING US HELP GET BRIGADA OUT
12. HELP PUSH DOUG OVER THE EDGE (AND LEARN FOLLOWERSHIP)
13. BACK PAGE: WHAT DOES THE AGENCY WANT OUT OF IT?
14. CLOSING STUFF

1. NOW GET GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE FOR HOME & OVERSEAS STAFF AS 1 — Finally, here’s a plan that puts no limit on length of time workers spend on furlough. It is underwritten by a USA carrier rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Thus this is not “surplus lines insurance” or plan offered by an “off-shore carrier.” The plan includes all standard benefits for the international worker including medical evacuation, etc. plus provides direct pay and has medical and Rx co-pays. The company has developed an international PPO with 1600 contracted doctors who are American Board Certified or the equivalent. They have also contracted 300 international hospitals. This is the largest international PPO in the world. For more information contact: 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 .] Toll free in USA: 866/636-9100. Or visit http://www.gninsurance.com
2. SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS — International Training Partners offers Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshops in different parts of the world. These five-day, highly interactive workshops focus on biblical application of skills in relating to one another and to the host people.

A workshop hosted by International Training Partners will be held at Palmer Lake, Colorado near Colorado Springs October 9-14, 2005. Contact Paul Lere at plere(at)itpartners(dot)org for information. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

For details, a free quote and to apply for coverage go to http://www.InsuranceForTrips.com , email them at health(at)missionaryhealth(dot)com, [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or call them at 1-800-647-4589 (1-480- 821-9052 outside of North America) and ask for Mark. Insurance Services of America is a Christian organization that specializes in helping missionaries and mission organizations find affordable healthcare. They have 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.
8. GET THE LOWDOWN ON THE LATEST IN LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONS — The Second Latin Missionary Consultation will take place in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 19 to 23, 2005. The First Consultation was in Stavanger, Norway, on 2004, with a very good result. This will be a good opportunity for Latin missionaries serving overseas to share their ideas and fellowship with other missionaries. For more information visit the consultation website at http://www.missionarios.com
9. HOW DO CHINESE CHARACTERS REVEAL THE GOSPEL — Did you know that Chinese culture/characters contain evidence that the ancient Chinese descended from Noah and knew the Genesis history? Want to learn more and even share this with a Chinese friend? The Intercessors for China 2006 prayer calendar shares some of this evidence and its evangelistic potential in twelve beautifully illustrated monthly profiles and has 365 carefully researched prayer items for China’s cities and minorities. Why should you care about this in July? If you buy before August 1, you can take advantage of their “Two More for China” offer. You’ll get two copies of the 2006 calendar, “Chinese Characters Reveal the Gospel,” plus two copies of the current 2005 calendar, “Chinese Christian Women,” all for less than $15, including shipping. One for you and one to share: that’s two more praying for China! Callers in the US/Canada can dial toll-free 1-888-462-5481. Others can call 1-717-687- 8564. Email: order(at)prayforchina(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Calendars can be ordered after August 10 at the regular prices as posted at http://www.prayforchina.com
10. FOR SOME, DANCE UNLOCKS KEY TO CULTURE — The weekend of the 8-11 July 2005 was very exciting for all those who took part in the very first International Dance Weekend at All Nations Christian College in Ware, Herts. Organised in partnership with the Christian Dance Fellowship of Great Britain, participants and teachers came from all over the country and beyond, including Germany. Three main dance areas were studied from the Indian form of classical dance Bharatha Natyam to Oriental Egyptian dance and Bollywood. … For more information or details of opportunities to study the Arts and Culture, contact Jill Ford on arts(at)allnations(dot)ac(dot)uk [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or visit http://www.allnations.ac.uk
11. NG TO GHANA WEST AFRICA? — The North American Women’s Association, committed for over 35 years to helping women & children in Ghana, has compiled an extensive, resourceful insider’s database for Ghana at http://www.noworriesghana.com Laurie Korum, missionary nurse to Ghana for more than ten years, doesn’t promise to have all the answers but is willing to help field questions for those considering coming to Ghana. Her contact is Ghana_Laurie(at)hotmail(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
12. THANKS TO THOSE WHO ARE HELPING US HELP GET BRIGADA OUT — This past week, we appreciated a gift from Andy at Dial-Abroad for $105, representing the long-distance calling benefits some Brigada readers generated through using Dial-Abroad long distance. If you’re talking on the phone anyway, and you’re thinking about switching anyway, try Andy’s services by clicking here. Thanks Andy!

Would you like to help make Brigada happen next week and beyond? Your sponsorship or gift helps offset the costs of our webspace, some secretarial help, and a small amount of advertising. To chip in or make a substantial donation, just click here (to use PayPal or a credit card), or just send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 11327 Jefferson Trace Blvd., Louisville, KY 40291. 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.
13. HELP PUSH DOUG OVER THE EDGE (AND LEARN FOLLOWERSHIP) — I know, I know. You’re getting tired of hearing about Doug’s dissertation survey. But the truth is, we really do need some more takers… and this survey only takes 5 minutes. It’s anonymous — in that your input won’t be shared with anyone (especially not with your supervisor). :-) Likewise, the responses of your supervisor are kept secret too. Through these surveys, we’re learning lots about the relationship between followers and their bosses, and the perceptions of each about the other. We’ll publish the broad strokes here — and if all goes well, Doug will finish a Ph.D. out of the whole thing. We’ve had about 250 people participate, and about half that many bosses have completed their matching portion (which, unfortunately, is a necessary part of the project). Would you please consider passing this request to your mission or church staff? If you’re a member of a local church, would you ask your minister(s) to participate? (It’s free of course!) Anyone who has ever completed a Masters Degree or Ph.D. can identify. We just need a bunch of viewpoints… hundreds of them. (To be precise, we need at least 500 pairs of responses — followers and their bosses. :-( Still a ways.) If you’ve ever considered yourself to be Doug’s friend – - or not — now is the time to rally the troops. Just send your staff members to: http://www.brigada.org/followership The simple instructions are all there. I’m really not kidding… maybe this will only take 5′. Please give it a shot. (Any employee of any non-profit or church anywhere in the galaxy can participate.) Thank you, thank you, thank you. :-)
14. BACK PAGE: WHAT DOES THE AGENCY WANT OUT OF IT? — The final installment of our thinking about change in missions is centered on the agency. (For those who have been napping :-), we’ve asked “what does the church want” out of missions today, and what does the missionary want.) Again, it appears to me we’re living through a period of profound change. For example, today’s generation of students are asking completely different questions about their world and how to reach it. Neal Pirolo, author of “Serving as Senders”, wrote us this past week with this observation: “As aging mission agencies are being forced to relate with a younger generation in the Church, they must come to realize that there is a major, basic different point of view. The younger generations more and more want a greater and greater involvement in the decisions relating to the tasks to which they commit. Past generations ‘signed the check’ and said, ‘God bless you. Go do it.’ Today’s (and tomorrow’s) generations want to be a part of the strategizing, planning and execution of the task. (And they are more interested in task-related proposals than ‘career’ commitments.)” This can have a *major* effect on mission agency models, as you can imagine.

But other changes are happening across the board. Again, we see effects brought about by shifts in technology, missiology, cultural values, and even the shrinking nature of a planet perhaps more in tune with itself and its inhabitants.

Our Training Director at Team Expansion, Glen Gibson, handed me an article earlier this week that helped crystallize some of these changes and their impact on missions. In it, the director of CBInt’l, Hans Finzel, lamented that missions agencies ” are not changing fast enough or deep enough to meet the needs of today’s world.” He concludes, “What worked … in the 1980s and even 1990s does not apply today.” He’s observing changes like…
*** Leadership election to leadership selection
*** US-based launching to globalization
*** Country boundaries to people groups [OK Hans... maybe we started this shift back in 1974. :-) ]
*** From territorial divisions to functional teams of ministry
*** From rigid field structures to simplicity and mobility
*** From lifetime mission careers to the revolving door of short-term service
*** From command and control administration to decentralization and regionalization
*** From using the sending churches to serving our partner churches
*** From fee-based administration to funding for value added
*** From recruiting on the campus to mobilizing from the church
*** From classic, narrow ministry focus to 360-degree deployment. [See Hans's article in the July 2005 EMQ, p. 330.]

Whoa, if that’s not a bunch of major shifts, then I’m not sitting here at 3:18am compiling Brigada Today. Yikes… it’s enough to scare the wits out of the control freaks among us.

What do *you* think today’s mission agency is seeking out of the mission agency – church – missionary continuum? What are the motivations for agencies to move forward? Why do they keep trying to do what they’ve always done? What are the “itches” that they scratch? Why do we need them? What causes their eyes to glisten and their little hearts to warm with gladness? How do we avoid offending them (and do we care? :-) )? How will they best relate to individuals as missionaries and church leaders of today and tomorrow?

Those are the haunting questions that cry out for answers. (Is that melodramatic or *what*? :-) ) Want to register your thoughts? Jot a note to this email address: brigada-feedbackgooglegroupscom You won’t have to join the group or register in any way. Your feedback will be assumed anonymous, though you’re welcome to leave your name and contact information if you desire. Look for information about these responses in next week’s Brigada Today. And until then, please be careful out there — it’s a jungle you know. Doug

20050703 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 01:31:00 +0000

In this issue…

1. DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
2. DUALREACH RESOURCES PUTS ANSWERS IN YOUR CHURCH’S HANDS
3. LOOKING FOR FREE WORSHIP SOFTWARE?
4. PARENTS OF MISSIONARIES: THE “INVISIBLE PIECE” IN MISSIONS
5. WANT TO LEARN RUSSIAN OR ARABIC FOR MINISTRY?
6. TEACH ENGLISH AND REACH THE NATIONS
7. SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
8. DON’T MISS THE MUSIC AND MISSIONS EVENT OF 2006
9. POST YOUR PHOTOS HERE, EVEN VIA EMAIL
10. TEACH TO REACH
11. FREE DESIGN SERVICES FOR OVERSEAS MINISTRIES
12. THE BACKPAGE: WHAT DO MISSIONARIES WANT?
13. CLOSING STUFF

1. DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — How well do you understand the needs of the poor you serve? Distance learning courses on Christian economic development are available this fall from the Chalmers Centers at Covenant College. These courses are email-based with instructor feedback on weekly written assignments. They feature interaction with other distance students. The courses will help you understand the needs of the poor and how to design the appropriate programs and strategies for Christian economic development in your context. To find out more about these courses or to register, visit the Chalmers web site at http://www.chalmers.org Or you can contact the Chalmers Center by phone at 706-419-1805 or by email at chalmers(at)covenant(dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
2. DUALREACH RESOURCES PUTS ANSWERS IN YOUR CHURCH’S HANDS — If you haven’t already stopped by, don’t forget about DualReach resources, available at: http://wwww.dualreach.org You can sign up there for “Synergy Newsletter,” the free missions newsletter, which supplies you with a toolkit for mobilizing people in your church, along with other helpful resources. (Thanks for the helpful gift of $25 toward Brigada’s expenses! We appreciate you!)
3. LOOKING FOR FREE WORSHIP SOFTWARE? — Try OpenSong http://www.opensong.org It does projection and manages song lyrics and chords, including transposing. It has Windows and Mac editions, with Linux in the works. Cool! (Thanks Tex! :-) )
4. PARENTS OF MISSIONARIES: THE “INVISIBLE PIECE” IN MISSIONS — Parental disapproval keeps numerous young people off the mission field. Those who do go frequently leave behind parents who are supportive but hurting. Parents, missionaries, and recruits can contact the National Network of Parents of Missionaries (NNPOM) for understanding and help. Cheryl, a licensed clinical counselor, and Diane, a POM since 2002, connect POMs with others who understand their experience through NNPOM’s website, tip sheets, and quarterly newsletter. Regional NNPOM groups serve the greater Cincinnati, OH, and Yuma, AZ, areas. NNPOM also desires to help missions leaders who want to provide care for the parents of their missionaries. Missions departments and organizations may link to the NNPOM website. Check out http://POMnet.org or email information(at)POMnet(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
5. WANT TO LEARN RUSSIAN OR ARABIC FOR MINISTRY? — Studying at the Institute of Strategic Languages and Cultures (ISLC) (Formerly Russian Language Ministries) will give you a good head start in learning the needed language and culture. Their experienced staff is called by God to equip you with the language & cross-cultural skills you will need to be effective in ministry to Russian and Arabic speakers. Courses are tailored to your learning needs and offer an intensive and focused experience with, gradual effective immersion in the language, communicative learning methods & flexible duration for all programs. Their U.S. based courses are taught in an encouraging spiritual atmosphere with a focus on future ministry. Classes forming for Fall (Aug. 29 – Dec. 16). US toll Free: 1-800-799-7976 or 1-803-333-9119. Check ‘em out at: http://www.strategiclanguages.org or email RLMoffice(at)juno(dot)com
6. TEACH ENGLISH AND REACH THE NATIONS –- Learn how to teach English as a second or foreign language at an intensive 4-wk training schooling at the YWAM base in Lakeside, Montana, U.S.A. Teaching English can open up opportunities to go into restricted nations. The school will run from July 25 – August 19. Those interested can find more information on the web at http://www.ywammt.org or e-mail schoolinfo(at)ywammt(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or call 406.844.2221.
7. SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS — International Training Partners offers “Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills” workshops in different parts of the world. These five-day, highly interactive workshops focus on biblical application of skills in relating to one another and to the host people. They’re also planning a workshop hosted by Christian Life Assembly School of Missions (PAOC) at a beautiful retreat facility in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, September 19-23, 2005. For info, contact Milann Davies at mdavies(at)christianlifeassembly(dot)com for information. Go to http://www.itpartners.org for details on all of the workshops and information on ITP. If your mission is interested in sponsoring a SYIS workshop, contact Paul Lere at plere(at)itpartners(dot)org.
8. DON’T MISS THE MUSIC AND MISSIONS EVENT OF 2006 — Mark it on your calendar; there’s been an extra day added. The second Global Consultation on Music and Missions (GCoMM 2006) will take place July 11-15, 2006 at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. At GCoMM 2006 you will have the opportunity to learn, fellowship, and worship with leaders in music and missions ministries from around the world. Plenary sessions, seminars, and panels will explore topics related to music and the arts, missions, and indigenous worship world-wide. Subscribe to the GCoMM informational updates listserv from the site at: http://www.gcommhome.org or by writing to info(at)gcommhome(dot)org. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] [GCoMM 2006 is made possible in part through a Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.]
9. POST YOUR PHOTOS HERE, EVEN VIA EMAIL — Don’t forget that at http://www.imageevent.com you can post photos for family, supporters, and friends to view anytime. It’s easy to use and inexpensive. The service allows you to email the photos to the site regardless of size and it handles them. It also has a feature to password protect albums so that only people with the password can view them. This should be a valuable feature for those serving in sensitive areas. (Thanks Scott!)
10. TEACH TO REACH — Grab a TESOL course August 29 through September 23 or October 3 through October 28 at Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA. Additional information and application forms can be found at http://www.ywampa.org or write ywampa(at)comcast(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
11. FREE DESIGN SERVICES FOR OVERSEAS MINISTRIES — Engineering Ministries International http://www.emiusa.org based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a Christian ministry providing free engineering and architectural services to overseas ministries and churches who are serving the poorest of the poor and preaching the gospel of Christ. They send a team of fully qualified design professionals to the project location for 10-14 days to survey the project site, meet with your leadership, and prepare preliminary designs. Final designs are completed when they return home. All services provided are free to you – they ask for partnership for one airline ticket, and simple in-country lodging and transportation for their team. Since 1982, they’ve completed over 500 projects in 75 developing countries. They are also looking for volunteer professionals to join their project trips to fulfill critical team roles in engineering, architecture, surveying, structural design, water/wastewater, electrical, and more. For more information, call 719- 633-2078, or write info(at)emiusa(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
12. THE BACKPAGE: WHAT DO MISSIONARIES WANT? — In the last edition of Brigada Today, we posed the question, “what do churches want?” We explored the possibility that some congregations might have changed a bit over the past few decades in what they’re hoping to “get back” out of their mission support.

Likewise, it feels to me that today’s onsite workers are different too. Many still want deep teammate relationships, good solid direction and accountability, along with a *cause* into which they can pour their lives. I’m noticing… it doesn’t have to be a cause with global consequences. Many of today’s workers seem comfortable with pouring their lives into a relatively small group of people. Today’s new generation of missionaries don’t seem motivated primarily by the quest of big salaries. In fact, as long as their needs are met, big money seems more and more hollow to them.

A quarter of a century ago, workers would sometimes commit to a particular field sight unseen. Remember your missions history lessons? In William Carey’s time, it wasn’t uncommon that workers would pack extra clothes in their own coffins when they sailed to their newly embraced far-flung fields. Nowadays, I’m not sure some ever even *leave* our homelands. Because of the immediacy of instant messaging and cell phones (not to mention satellite phones), some are able to stay in close touch with relatives and friends back home (oh — and supporters too :-) ). As a result, they never experience a true “leave- taking” … nor the accompanying adaptation.

At the same time, some want more connectivity with home. Some are much more homesick than “E.T.” (“E.T. phone home.”) Many want to see their field in advance, before they commit. And *sooo* many are unwilling to make more than a one- or two-year commitment. Sometimes it feels as if this generation of workers is less prepared in Greek and exegesis, less knowledgeable in the history of missions and cultural anthropology, and less likely to *want* to learn any of those subjects. Instead, they seem to want to “dive in” much more quickly into deep-seated relationships and ministry. This can be both a positive and a negative, depending on the circumstances.

How ’bout you? What’s your opinion? Want to register your thoughts? Jot a note to this email address: brigada-feedbackgooglegroupscom You won’t have to join the group or register in any way. Your feedback can even be anonymous, if you desire.

As was the case with the previous question, we probably need to delve deeper into “what missionaries want”… because many literally *are* working in a jungle out there. Doug

20050123 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 24 Jan 2005 02:46:00 +0000

In this issue…

1. WANTED: SOMEONE WITH CONTACTS IN FOOD WHOLESALE WORLD
2. OPERATION WORLD
3. VOICE OVER INTERNET
4. BLESS GOD’S CHILDREN WITH NEW BOOKS
5. INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE BIBLE REFERENCE MATERIALS
6. SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
7. 2020 VISION: NEW BOOK ABOUT GOD’S WORLDWIDE WORK
8. CONSISTENT COMPUTER BARGAINS
9. RETREATS FOR PROSPECTIVE MISSIONARIES
10. ANOTHER TAKE ON “ENCOUNTERING NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS”
11. THANKS TO THOSE WHO MAKE BRIGADA WORK!
12. WHAT’S NEXT FOR BRIGADA TODAY?
13. THE BACKPAGE: WHY DO I RUN IN THE RAIN?
14. CLOSING STUFF

1. WANTED: SOMEONE WITH CONTACTS IN FOOD WHOLESALE WORLD — Know anybody who can set this new team up with a bulk food wholesale and distribution network? You’d be a part of a “business as missions” approach that would create an alternative platform for Christian workers among Muslim peoples. The workers have found an excellent product that far exceeds its industry standards for the highest grade. Olive oil… their new company can supply it by the pallet in bottles small and large, plus 5 liter tins. If you can help, write to: oliveoil(at)nym(dot)hush(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
2. OPERATION WORLD — Secure a special price on this landmark book by Patrick Johnstone by ordering through WEC International. Get case lots of 20 for $100.00 plus postage sent to US addresses only. Contact http://www.wec-usa.org or phone 215-646-2322 ext 150. Ask for Dave.
3. VOICE OVER INTERNET — The ability to speak telephone-style to someone else in real-time over the Internet has been around for a while. This VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is certainly highly usable now. SKYPE is a program that is being highly praised; it is essentially an instant-messaging system with voice. Advantages: – it’s no-pay – it works well – it encrypts communications, so missions with staff in Creative Access nations are using it for safe aural communication – it will even access phones for people who do not have the program – it will do conference calls – though their stated limit is 5 persons, apparently there is a way of increasing this. http://www.skype.com/ (Thanks Tony, for this reminder about Skype.)
4. BLESS GOD’S CHILDREN WITH NEW BOOKS – You can put books into the hands of God’s children with Usborne Books Missions Projects. Mission supporters participate in a pledge-based project that encourages them to read the Bible and devotions together. Supporters can make donations towards the purchase of books for missionaries to give to children. Usborne Books matches the donation with up to 25% cash or 50% value of books. The books benefit schools, orphanages and churches. The fundraisers are perfect for short-term mission trips to English or Spanish-speaking countries. Learn more at http://www.BlessThemWithBooks.com or contact Beth(at)UsborneBooksEshop(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
5. INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE BIBLE REFERENCE MATERIALS — Ever thought, “I wonder who is working on Bible Reference Materials for all those minority languages?” Michael does too. If you are, know anyone who is or are interested in it please email Michael. He can be reached at Working4eternity(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 .]
6. SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS — International Training Partners offers Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshops in different parts of the world. These five-day, highly interactive workshops focus on biblical application of skills in relating to one another and to the host people.

A workshop hosted by Youth With A Mission will be held near Bangkok, Thailand March 14-18, 2005. Contact Lennie at lenniev(at)loxinfo(dot)co(dot)th for more information.

Go to http://www.itpartners.org for details on all of the workshops and information on ITP. If your mission is interested in sponsoring a SYIS workshop, contact Paul Lere at plere(at)itpartners(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
7. 2020 VISION: NEW BOOK ABOUT GOD’S WORLDWIDE WORK — It’s happening, but you won’t get the details on the news. In 2020 Vision find out how the Gospel is reaching people in some amazing places! Got my own copy in yesterday . . . and it’s *great*. Lots of really cool illustrations, many of which that will preach! Exciting breakthroughs in new harvest fields are highlighted, along with scriptural insights into God’s heart for the nations. Read about the Black Berbers, the Parmiri, and the Meo people and also that the percentage of born-again Christians is growing fastest in places like Cameroon, Aruba, and Togo! Written by Bill and Amy Stearns, 2020 Vision is an invaluable tool for God’s people, providing not only in-depth updates on missions today but also practical ways for individuals and churches to get involved. Ideal for adult Bible study groups focused on reaching the whole world for Christ. For more information, an excerpt, and the Table of Contents visit: http://www.bethanyhouse.com/2020vision. To order, e-mail orders(at)bakerbooks(dot)com or call 1-800-877-2665 or (616) 675-9185 (Bethany House ships internationally as well).
8. CONSISTENT COMPUTER BARGAINS — CCB is a national leader in representing nonprofits with special pricing programs since 1991 and is proud to continue providing technology solutions and support at a discount from the industry’s leading vendors, helping nonprofits to carry out their mission more efficiently and affordably. In the US, call 1-800-342-4222 or visit us online at http://www.1computerbargains.com
9. RETREATS FOR PROSPECTIVE MISSIONARIES — “The Journey Deepens” is a weekend retreat to help prospects explore, discover and connect with how they could become a missionary in another culture. These weekends are for college students, professionals, and high school seniors who are willing to become a missionary but not sure if that is God’s will or how that could unfold. Each retreat of 50 participants and 5 experienced missionaries from multiple agencies is highly relational with extended worship, small group discussions, personal reflection and much prayer. Discussions include the missionary call, support-raising, singles/families, etc. The next retreat will be April 15-17 in Davis, Oklahoma (between Dallas and Oklahoma City). The Journey Deepens is presented by MissionsFocus Int’l and co-sponsored by ACMC, Caleb Project, Perspectives and the U.S. Center for World Mission. Browse http://www.TheJourneyDeepens.com
10. ANOTHER TAKE ON “ENCOUNTERING NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS” — In a previous edition of Brigada Today we included a link to a review of a chapter in Encountering New Religious Movements: A Holistic Approach. Irving Hexham, Stephen Rost & John Morehead II, eds. (Kregel, 2004; ISBN#: 0-8254-2893-9). This book has received overwhelmingly positive reviews in popular and missions sources, including _Christianity Today_ (where it is a finalist as a 2004 CT Book of the Year), Anvil and Evangelical Missions Quarterly. In the interests of balance, readers will benefit from the following review from Global Missiology:
http://www.globalmissiology.net/docs_pdf/reviews/hexam_encountering_new_religious_movements.pdf
11. THANKS TO THOSE WHO MAKE BRIGADA WORK! — Where would we be without them?! I remember a time “pre-Brigada-sponsored secretary”, when we were six months behind schedule on releasing these editions. Needless to say, we’re very thankful for the consideration our readers and sponsors give for these ads and charitable gifts/partnerships. This past week, we received help from: AcquireWisdom.com – $157.10 in commissions for those who visited! Anonymous from Newport News, VA – $250 YWAM Lebanon, PA – $300. They included this note: “We know that your newsletter is widely read, because we get inquiries in response to our announcements in your newsletter.” They added, “Right now we have a student from Japan who heard about our ESL school from your announcement…” Praise the Lord… We’re here for the long haul!
12. WHAT’S NEXT FOR BRIGADA TODAY? — We’re here for the long haul. Patrick Johnstone, author of Operation World, recently wrote, ” The sad demise of EMIS Pulse means that the role it played in sharing about evangelical missions news from around the world, leadership changes and forthcoming events and conferences is no longer happening in the same way. You do some of this, but are these areas which could be expanded?” We’re willing to serve that role. You can help by…
*** Getting the word out about Brigada. Please mention it to your missionaries, your staffs, your team members and friends, print it in your church bulletins, put it in your church newsletter, post it on your bulletin board, and more. Just point people to the website or ask them to send a simple message to: brigada-today-subscribe-yahoogroups.com
*** Sending in items of interest to missionaries, mission agency reps, church missions team members, and more. When submitting items, you can help by going to the website at http://www.brigada.org and clicking on “submission guidelines” in the top line menu.
*** Praying for Brigada’s future
*** And if you’re led by God, helping provide for our Brigada-sponsored secretary. Your mission or company could do a sponsorship for the publicity, then write off the entire amount as advertising. Or, you or your church could make a gift. Just mention if you need a receipt; be sure the check is made out to Team Expansion.
13. THE BACKPAGE: WHY DO I RUN IN THE RAIN? — (The following item originally ran in the Feb. 5th, 1999, edition of Brigada Today. We run it again this week in celebration of our 10th-year anniversary.)

I’m sure many would have called me crazy. :-) (In fact, that’s actually a pretty regular occurrence. :-) ) I had just flown in from Bosnia about 24 hours earlier. The temp. was 34 degrees F., just above freezing. A cold rain was gradually turning to snow and nightfall had crept in over Louisville’s western skies.

But I couldn’t wait to show up for soccer practice. By the time we got rolling, there were 8 of us there… 4 v 4 in the scrimmage. It was great. I intercepted three low goal kicks and converted 2 of them to goals! Took another great pass from Sergey and left-footed it just inside the left post for a 3rd score.

As we walked off the field after practice, I was trying to explain to Sergey the way I felt. After all, he’s 27 and I figured he had forgotten. “You’ve got to remember, Sergey, that this is all so fresh and new to me. I mean, I’ve only been practicing with you guys for 18 months. Every time I see you run a play, I’m filing it away in my head, trying to soak it all in. The excitement is beyond words. And Sergey,” I looked him in the eye, “maybe you remember what it was like in those first couple of years?? Maybe for you it was when you were 10 or 11 years old or whatever, when the game was still fresh and exciting?” He stopped dead in his tracks, looked deep into my eyes with the slightest smile, then spoke with a soft voice that still carried telltale signs of his Ukrainian roots. “Doug, it still is.”

Duh. Why else was he out there in the rain! The 8 of us probably came for 8 different reasons. But for Sergey and me, it’s pretty obvious. There’s something about the game. You can see it in our eyes when we’re putting the leather conditioner on our boots. You can sense it in the air when we’re stretching before practice. And you can *definitely* see it in that occasional “thumbs up” I get… or, like last Tuesday night, when our coach said one of his first encouraging words to me in 18 months. “See Doug, that all started with you. You stole that ball, passed it downfield quickly, and he scored, partly because of your hustle. Way to go!” I beamed. After practice, he tried to be his normal tough self. But it was too late. He had already let it slip. :-) …

What about your life? What’s going on in your marriage, or your relationship with your friends or parents or brothers or sisters? How are things at work… or on the language route… or in class? And more importantly, what’s going on in your relationship with the Father? If you’re a beginner, like I am in soccer, maybe it’s still fresh and new. But if you’re a long-termer, like Sergey, seems to me like you’ve got to figure out how to rekindle the romance… how to make it fresh again. Maybe it’ll take some extra effort. Or maybe you can remember the early days and say, like Sergey, “It still feels that way.” Whatever the case, I think that’s what the writer of Lamentations had in mind when he wrote, in Lamentations 3:21-25: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”

So this lesson I’ve learned and I hope I’ve learned it well: Next time you have the opportunity to show up for practice in a freezing rain, go early, and stay late. And find the freshness again. You’ll be glad you did.

20050116 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 02:47:00 +0000

In this issue…

1. HAS IT REALLY BEEN 10 YEARS?
2. RUMORS OF BRIGADA’S DEATH WERE EXAGGERATED
3. DAN SCRIBNER SAID “THUMBS UP”
4. IT WILL TAKE TIME
5. PERHAPS THE MOST ENCOURAGING RESPONSE…
6. WANT TO MINISTER TO THE POOR WITHOUT CREATING DEPENDENCY?
7. SO WHAT WAS THE FIRST TRUE BRIGADA “ITEM”?
8. WANT TO SHARE YOUR OWN BRIGADA EXPERIENCE?
9. SCHOOL OF FRONTIERS MISSIONS IN FLORIDA
10. ANYBODY ABLE TO WORK WITH AOL?
11. MUSIC AND MISSIONS CD
12. LEARN A PRACTICAL SKILL FOR MISSIONS
13. TALKING BIBLE A GREAT PERSONAL AUDIOVISUAL
14. BE CHANGED BY THE WORD SO THAT YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
15. DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL FOCUSED ON UNREACHED PEOPLES
16. GIVE INPUT ON AN MK AND WIN BIG MONEY
17. SYIS IN TURKEY: SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
18. BOOK REVIEW NOT OPEN AND SHUT
19. FAVORITE “BACKPAGE” EDITORIALS
20. CLOSING STUFF

1. HAS IT REALLY BEEN 10 YEARS? — In just 4 days, it will be. The first feeble Brigada Today was actually sent between two people. Late on the evening of January 25th, 1995, I wrote Jonathan Marsden with some newly created gadgetry he had cooked up for me as a worker in a high-tech non-profit called “CrossConnect”. (Turned out that it was *really* non-profit, so CrossConnect was sold a few times and no longer exists as a separate entity. But Jonathan is still there… and occasionally I’ll drop him a note just to see if he still hears about Brigada stuff. So Jonathan, if you’re out there in India or who knows where, if you can see this, please hang with me here a moment.)

What did that first issue say? Well a number of things… some of which have long since gone by the wayside — nearly. One of the proposals was that we set up people-specific prayer/news email groups. I wrote, ” On a monthly basis, thousands of additional individuals around the world are gaining access to what amounts to a global communications network, commonly referred to as the Internet.” (Can you believe I had to kind of *define* it? :-) LOL ) … We propose to create a series of ‘electronic newsletters,’ available to anyone with an Internet connection (including those with Compuserve, America Online, Delphi, etc.)” Online services like Delphi faded in importance, but AOL, which eventually bought out rival Compuserve, has survived and thrived.

I went on to add, ” We would start with one simple newsletter, which would, as a minimum, carry news about mobilization for the 100 Gateway cities and the people groups that live in them.” That ‘simple newsletter’ has changed very little in format over the past 10 years. (I haven’t had time to think about it! :-) ) And that “simple newsletter” became, a very short time later, Brigada Today. And yes… it really has been 10 years and . . . whoa . . . there’s a Brigada Today to match every single Friday… all 520 of them… since January 25, 1995. Yikes. :-) See them all on the web for free at: www.brigada.org
2. RUMORS OF BRIGADA’S DEATH WERE EXAGGERATED — Several spoke out in favor of such a proposal. Well-known missions leaders like John Robb, Pete Holzmann, and many others wrote encouraging words. Some, like Patrick Johnstone, originator of Operation World, were just a tad more realistic, even though they agreed upon the need. ” I do not see that any system that tries to collect, collate and disseminate info – even on the 100 Gateway Cities and 130 Gateway Peoples (for a start) can work,” responded Patrick. “The burden on all will bring it rapidly to the point of overload.” Gulp. No wonder I’m tired. And what am I doing staying up ’til 2:30am at a people group consultation in the Mediterranean anyway??? :-) Some things haven’t changed. However, Patrick, if you’re reading — maybe it didn’t exactly *overload*. :-) He added, ” I think your present plans are almost certain to founder on the lack of the right personnel and adequate finance.” Oops. :-) Been a long time since I saw that line. Whoa. Maybe it’s hard to start things. But if it is, maybe it’s even harder to keep them going. Patrick should know. He’s labored tirelessly, day and night, to catalogue and chronicle the growth of the Lord’s church throughout the globe… and many have been inspired by his work, myself among them. Again, I hasten to add, I believe Patrick was only trying to improve on the project by being bluntly realistic. He also said, “To use electronic networks is a real option (of a number) We should develop a workable system, and maybe your proposal could lead to that.” To be fair, Patrick was slated to be married just a handful of days later. He was also planning his honeymoon that same night. What could I expect? :-) His mind was elsewhere. (Speaking with my best impersonation of his ever-so-proper British accent), I was quite fortunate to have gotten so thorough a look at all! :-)
3. DAN SCRIBNER SAID “THUMBS UP” — Whoa… I probably hadn’t taken another look at Dan Scribner’s response since that January of 1995. I’d forgotten he even replied. Ten years ago this week, he emailed back, ” Warmest greetings in the Lord. Brigida [sic :-) ] sounds like a wonderful plan. I hope AD2000 can contribute / assist in any way possible. At the moment we are up to our ears in alligators planning the GCOWE conference in May. We only have about a dozen staff here in the International Office. Please keep me in the loop of communications regarding this and if there are any specific AD2000 related questions I certainly will try to give my input.” Whoa. As you know, Dan went on to become one of 2 key players in making JoshuaProject.Net a reality today! And you know what? He’s still just as encouraging! :-)
4. IT WILL TAKE TIME — John Siewert worked for MARC, the Missions Advanced Research and Communication arm of World Vision. He wrote, in a prophetic tone, ” My experience in serving as discussion leader for one e-mail forum is that any e-mail-based undertaking takes more time than expected if responses are going to go back to those who ask questions, etc. Therefore Doug and the editor need to have some prime time set aside for this project.” Whoa. Was he ever right. (Yawn. I’m sleepy.) :-)
5. PERHAPS THE MOST ENCOURAGING RESPONSE… — But perhaps the most encouraging response of all (to the initial proposal) came from a Global Mapping employee named Dave Nesmith. ” In the vernacular of Madison Avenue, you have run it up the flagpole–I salute it.” He went on to add, ” Let us reject out of hand the notion that it won’t work. The resources and the technology are with us. The only preventive factor is the lack of our will and desire to make it happen. High-tech is handing us a golden opportunity. Let’s grab it!” Whoa. :-) Dave, wherever you are, thanks for the boost 10 years ago!
6. WANT TO MINISTER TO THE POOR WITHOUT CREATING DEPENDENCY? — Then get training from real-world practitioners and colleagues to equip you to implement programs in your church or community that truly empower the poor. The Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College offers courses for both the 2/3 World and U.S. contexts. Come June 13 – June 18, 2005 to the Christian Economic Development Institute at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA USA. Chalmers’ partners include World Relief, Food for the Hungry International, and World Vision US. To register, email chalmers(at)covenant(dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or visit http://www.chalmers.org
7. SO WHAT WAS THE FIRST TRUE BRIGADA “ITEM”? — Trivia… fun facts to know and tell… :-) Once you get past all the proposing and responding, the actual first true *item* was a note about Sali Berisha, then the leader in Albania, who on January 25th had proposed setting up private radio and TV channels to offer a broader and more impartial dissemination of information. We all know what *that* brought about! :- ) The second item had to do with a proposal of 30 days of prayer for the Muslim world (another proposal which has survived the decade). (Throughout the coming year, we’ll highlight each month “Ten Years Ago This Month in Brigada”. It’ll perhaps give us a chance to take a look back at from whence we’ve come… and sometimes might even clue us in on where we might be headed in the future.)
8. WANT TO SHARE YOUR OWN BRIGADA EXPERIENCE? — Do you have a favorite memory of Brigada? Would you want to take a moment to write about something you purchased, a service you used, or an opportunity you followed? Now you can. Just copy this URL into your browser window: (or, if you’re reading on the web, just click it)

http://distantland.typepad.com/brigada/

Here you’ll find a spot to leave a comment, recall a memory, even offer a testimony. Others in the Brigada family will be able to visit the page and celebrate what God did in your life — and maybe even give glory to God for what happened in your situation. Hey – 10-year-old birthdays don’t come that often! :-) OK… enough sappy stuff.. Let’s get to work! :-)
9. SCHOOL OF FRONTIERS MISSIONS IN FLORIDA — The SOFM is an intensive Christian training course beginning with a 12-week lecture/teaching phase followed with an overseas internship in the 10/40 window. The purpose of the SOFM is to give student’s essential principles and tools needed to start long-term effective church planting movements among unreached people groups. Some of the topics being studied are: Principles of church planting among unreached peoples groups, The Power of Team Leadership, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries, Chronological Bible Presentation, History of Missions and much more! School starts on April 17th. For more information contact Jose at myglobito(at)yahoo(dot)com or call (904)221-5990. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] You can also check: http://www.ywamjax.com
10. ANYBODY ABLE TO WORK WITH AOL? — Does anyone know anything about the rumor that Brigada-Today is on a “blocked list” with AOL? If so, does anyone know the proper technique to be removed from that list? In contrast to spam (which is unsolicited), Brigada Today only goes out to those who subscribe to it. If we’re on that list, it’s a mistake. Maybe some subscribers don’t know how to remove themselves, but we never send Brigada unsolicited.
11. MUSIC AND MISSIONS CD — The first Global Consultation on Music and Missions was held in 2003. The multimedia CD-ROM of the Proceedings is now available. The CD-ROM has about 50 presentations, about 300 files total. Presenters, including John Piper, shared penetrating insights from around the world. If you are interested in the integration of music, missions and worship, you’ll be thrilled with the wealth of materials. One person said, “This was a phenomenal conference – probably the best conference I have ever attended.” Every missions organization should have one of these CD-ROMs as a reference. Though it is easily worth $40, it is available for only US $10. Write ethnodox1(at)netscape(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or see http://www.worldofworship.org/GCoMM/index.htm
12. LEARN A PRACTICAL SKILL FOR MISSIONS — Simplified dental care can open many doors to evangelism and relationship building among the unreached. No drills, injections, electricity, or sophisticated equipment are involved – only simple hand instruments, a compassionate heart, and two weeks of your time. Now you can bring greatly needed dental care to your community. Courses are offered monthly in Texas. http://www.dentaltrainingformissions.com or email dentaltrainingformissions(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 .]
13. TALKING BIBLE A GREAT PERSONAL AUDIOVISUAL — ASI in California says that the invention of the Talking Bible revolutionizes how one can now give non-readers access to God’s word in audio. A Talking Bible has an audio recording of an entire New Testament in a desired language sealed inside. It looks like a Bible but has a button to push rather than pages to turn… no longer any need for a cassette player and an album of individually labeled cassettes. The task suddenly becomes doable and affordable…that task is to take the work of the Bible translators, record them and make them available as Talking Bibles.

Half the world’s adult population cannot read. Among them are millions of non-reading Christians. They need God’s Word in audio format. ASI and others can now give them Talking Bibles with entire New Testaments speaking their languages. It seems unthinkable that the church/mission community would not do this.

ASI is appealing for churches to observe an annual Talking Bible Sunday. A Talking Bible Sunday will help church people become aware. The special offering will give them the opportunity to participate in this global effort …. an effort to give Bibleless non-readers Talking Bibles in their languages.

For more information visit ASI’s website http://www.audioscriptures.org. Or call ASI at 1- 800-318-7262 and ask for Dori. You’ll be glad you took the time to do this.
14. BE CHANGED BY THE WORD SO THAT YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD — YWAM Turner Valley Canada offers the 9 month School of Biblical Studies (SBS). Students in this school learn how to inductively study the Bible for themselves and are helped to prepare for the important goal of sharing God’s truth. The school begins in September 2005. Please call 1-403-933-3755 for more information or check out http://www.ywamturnervalley.com
15. DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL FOCUSED ON UNREACHED PEOPLES — YWAM Turner Valley Canada offers exciting Discipleship Training Schools (DTS)! Dates for DTS are March 23 – August 12, 2005 OR September 14th – February 10th 2006. The schools include 12 weeks of teaching and training in Canada. Some topics taught are: The Cross & Repentance, Bible Meditation, the 10/40 Window, Evangelism, Islamic/Buddhist Worldview and more. Turner Valley DTS also includes an 8 week mission trip to Southeast Asia or North Africa, working with SPECIFIC unreached people groups. North Americans can call toll free for information to 1-877-FOR-YWAM, Internationals please call 1-403-933-3754. Also check out the website at: http://www.ywamturnervalley.com
16. GIVE INPUT ON AN MK AND WIN BIG MONEY — Here’s a gal who is doing research with MKs and adult MKs at mkPLANET.com. If you are interested in helping out, check out http://www.mkplanet.com/community. Near the top/center of the page is a short message called “Join a research project giving MKs a voice!” That’ll have all the information about the study and the different ways to be involved. Everyone who signs up will automatically be entered for their draw to win one of two $20 US gift certificates to Amazon.com!
17. SYIS IN TURKEY: SHARPEN YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS — International Training Partners offers Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshops in different parts of the world. These five-day, highly interactive workshops focus on biblical application of skills in relating to one another and to the host people.

A workshop hosted by International Training Partners will be held near Istanbul, Turkey April 4-8, 2005. Contact Robin Bower at rbower(at)itpartners(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] for more information.

Go to http://www.itpartners.org for details on all of the workshops and information on ITP. If your mission is interested in sponsoring a SYIS workshop, contact Paul Lere at plere(at)itpartners(dot)org.
18. BOOK REVIEW NOT OPEN AND SHUT — In our item last week, “For Academicians: Reviewing Morehead’s “New Religious Mov’ts”, it’s plain to see we didn’t offer both sides. One responder suggested the inclusion of the following link to give equal time: http://www.globalmissiology.net/docs_pdf/reviews/hexam_encountering_new_religious_movements.pdf Our apologies if we overlooked anyone! Remember we don’t have the luxury of reading *all* the reports and texts mentioned each week. Consider the source.
19. FAVORITE “BACKPAGE” EDITORIALS — Whenever I travel and meet Brigada participants, it’s always amazing to me that they remember these BackPage Editorials. This month, in honor of our 10th birthday, we bring back some of our most oft-requested editorials… Sergey and “Does It Every ‘Just Happen’”, which first aired the 8th of May, 1998:

“DOES IT EVER “JUST HAPPEN???” — Those who know me well (and many who know me only marginally) know that I have a love for God, family, friends, and soccer. :-) (In spite of what some might think, that’s really the order I try to keep them in!) I only hope and pray that somehow we’ll have all four in Heaven. [grin] The first three have been around a while in my life, but the last love, soccer, is fairly new to me. Although I’m playing on a competitive team this year, I’m really just a beginner (I have a whole two years of playing experience in a poorly run recreational league previously). As you might have guessed, it’s not easy to find a competitive team for a 41-year-old. So I play in a league designed for age 20 and up. I’m very fortunate to practice alongside some very talented players. (Our coach took an under-23-year-old team to the national championships last year . . and won!) To land a spot on the team, I just explained how hard I was willing to work and how serious I was about learning. Lo and behold, the coach put me on the team! And when the center forward of our team suffered a broken leg earlier this season, all of a sudden, I found myself as a starter in his place… and this past Sunday, I played the entire game there! (We won 5-2, with only marginal help from me.)

I have several heroes . . . and most are about half my age. :-) One young man from Ukraine is incredible. I mean… when he was born, his mother probably delivered a soccer ball first, and then Sergey. The ball was probably tied to his ankle and. . . I don’t think he’s ever untied it since! I love practice times even more than games because I get to watch him and really study him in action. He’s constantly moving… constantly sizing up the play and constantly vigilant about how he can contribute most. And even though he’s a star (and deep down inside, he has to know it!), he still pushes the ball my way PLENTY of times in any given night.

Last Tuesday evening, at one point during our scrimmage, I chipped the ball to him and, frankly, placed it rather poorly. The ball arrived at chest-height and his back was to the goal with defenders all around. Not a great situation. But for Sergey, it was all automatic. He cushioned the ball down to his feet and instantly faked then back- heeled it with such force that it swished right through the defenders legs. Sergey scored a goal without even looking at the net… without even having to turn around to glance into the eyes of his opponents. Incredible.

As he turned and ran up the field, I turned with him and asked, “How in the world ….?” With a shrug of his shoulders he responded, “It just happened.” I was quick to reply… “It DIDN’T just happen. It took 27 YEARS of daily practice to make it happen!” (He’s 28 years old.)

Ever since that moment, I’ve been reflecting about my fledgling soccer career. I coach an under-14 team (my older son’s) and assist coaching an under-10 team (my younger son’s). I play on a competitive team and sometimes play “pick-up” soccer in between. But maybe I’ll never “catch up” with Sergey. There are too many hours… too many YEARS of his life filled with touches on the ball. However, I’m not exactly envious. Instead, I’m filled with admiration and actually inspired to keep going. I figure I’ve got nowhere to go but up! :-) Who knows… give me another 25 years and maybe I’ll be ready to play! :-)

My REAL job is to lead a mission agency — about 120 missionaries in a couple of dozen countries. Where I sit, I get to read reports literally from all over the world. Now, after last Thursday’s practice, whenever I hear a success story about a villager who has walked in from 50 kilometers away just so he can study the Bible… then take it back to his village and repeat it to dozens of others… I’ll think twice about whether or not it “just happened.” Someone had to sweat bullets on Bible college mid-terms, then raise financial support, leave family and friends to go to the field, learn a foreign language, and most of all be determined enough to not quit when the going got tough. Someone had to pray, trust the Lord for supernatural intervention, and follow His guidance. After all that, if someone walks in and listens, should we be so surprised? Sergey might say, “It just happened…”, but truth be known, it didn’t JUST happen. Someone MADE it happen.

We live in a world of quick fixes — quick food, quick microwaves, quick computers, quick everything … just about. But in the midst of it all, some things aren’t so quick. You can’t learn to play Sergey’s kind of soccer without a few years of daily practice with someone who knows what he’s doing. And you can’t learn a language overnight, either.

I admire Sergey… but my heart is filled with just as much admiration for a guy I know who has invested the last 5 years learning Mandarin. He’ll probably never get a trophy (at least not here on earth), never be named an “MVP” in front of a crowd of 30,000 cheering spectators, and I can predict with a fair amount of certainty that he’ll never make the kinds of salaries that today’s pro athletes take home, either. (At least not as long as I serve as president of his mission agency! :-) ) But can he ever speak Chinese. I mean… it rolls off his tongue. When he opens his mouth, everyone expects English to come out… but if there’s a Chinese person looking on, inevitably, their mouth drops open.. their eyes bug out… (I love seeing that reaction!). His Chinese didn’t “just happen.” He didn’t “just happen” to teach Greek to house church leaders last year. He didn’t “just happen” to train evangelists that ended up baptizing 18 people in just one recent month. It took YEARS… and it’ll take YEARS for many of us to learn language, learn effectiveness, learn the field.

So — should we give up? Not on your life. But we probably SHOULD start thinking about recruiting some additional players for the team. :-) If they have to wait for me to invest the next 25 years to reach Sergey’s level, well, . . . let’s just say I hope my bones will still hold me up on the field when I’m 66! :-)

God bless your day! Be careful out there… it’s a jungle!!! Doug Lucas” [end of quoted story (SPECIAL UPDATE AS OF 23 OF JAN, 2005: Sergey married a Japanese immigrant, moved an hour away and we’ve not heard much from him lately. But the guy learning Mandarin learned it. He’s now a sought-after teacher involved in training house church leaders all over mainland China. Team Expansion now has 250 full-time missionaries, instead of 120. My older son is now 18 and, due to proper humility on his part, he won’t let me tell you the details of the soccer scholarships he’s looking at for college. I’m now coaching my younger son’s high school team at the local Christian School. And next week I start a new season with an over-30 team, where I’ll be captain of the “Energy United” team. God be praised for the incremental gains, step by step… Never, never, never give up. Because, 10 years after the birth of Brigada, it’s *still* a jungle out there.)