Brigada » youth

3) Help Orphans Or Develop A Powerful Helps Ministry –

brigtoday — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 04:57:16 +0000

Aquaculture International, Inc. will be taking teams of youth and leaders to Africa and South America this summer. Those who stay all summer will have all expenses paid. They will be building places to grow fish, vegetables, greens and more in a power grid free system at orphanages. Look at the website below for the location closest location to you of a three hour presentation, two day training or Aquaponics Conference. Included will be the technology of aquaponics, combining aquaculture with hydroponics for mutual benefit, and how you can participate in the summer adventure. For more information about Aquaculture International, aquaponics and how to register go to:

http://www.aquacultureinternational.org

Students and faculty of sponsoring Colleges and Universities do not have to pay registration. The registration fee will be refunded to those who become part of the Aquaculture International Team. If you do not learn more than you have in any lengthy course that you have ever taken, your registration fee will be refunded in full.

6) Missions Trips/Camps for Kids, Teens, Preteens and Adults –

brigtoday — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 04:54:05 +0000

Teen Missions is among the pioneers behind the concept of providing a short term missions trip experience for teens. The ministry had confidence that as young people saw the mission field first-hand, God would call many to a life dedicated to world evangelization. The first team went out in 1971 and since that time over 40,000 North American young people have assisted with a variety of evangelistic and building projects with over 100 established missions in over 70 countries. Learn more at…

http://www.teenmissions.org

Teen Missions challenges, trains and disciples young people, exposing them to worldwide missions. A large number of our former alumni are in full-time Christian ministry serving the Lord worldwide as pastors, teachers, Christian authors and missionaries. Director and founder Robert M. Bland is a former Youth for Christ director from Ohio and past recruitment director for Christian Service Corps.

11) OMF Youth Night in B.C., Canada

brigtoday — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:49:39 +0000

It’s happening October 23, Friday, 7:30 – 9:30pm, Tapestry Church 9280 No. 2 Road, Richmond, B.C. It’s open to all youth – high school, college and career, young professionals and the young at heart! It will be an evening to explore missions with worship, short talks, and interactive events. Visitors from other countries are welcome! :-)

20070923 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:29:00 +0000

In this issue…

CUTTING HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS — Cutting health insurance costs for home base staff and overseas workers is always challenging. One solution might be to consider a Self-Funded plan. Now groups as small as 11 employees can get self-funded (StopLoss) quotes. One key advantage of a self-funded plan is that you keep more of your health insurance premium in your organization. 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

ATTEND REGIONAL MOBILIZATION MEETINGS (SAMPLE IN PITTSBURGH) — Are you located in the Pittsburgh area? Here’s a sampling of a couple of major missionary mobilization meetings you can attend. Wouldn’t it be cool of there were more of these kinds of meetings all around the world? As for Pittsburgh, “The Pittsburgh Network for the Great Commission” Breakfast meeting is about to cover “Native American Awareness.” The’ll also interview a Cuban Pastor, all on Saturday, Oct.13,2007, 8:30- 10:30am at West Ridge Community Church.

http://www.wrccc.org

or call 724-695-7500 RSVP to slonchka(at)comcast(dot)net

You can also catch “Praise & Prayer over Pittsburgh”, 7:00pm, Oct.13, 2007 at West End Overlook Park. Special Guests include Richard Twiss and Darrell Fields, & Michael Duncan Project, Prayer led by Pittsburgh area Pastors. A coordinated effort by the Pittsburgh Prayer Network

http://www.prayforpittsburgh.org and the Pittsburgh Network for the Great Commission

http://www.pngc.org (website under construction)

(Truth in publicizing notice: Hats off to this network for sending in a check to support Brigada! That just makes me doubly want to ask that you’ll be there! :-) )

FREE WEBSITE OFFERS HELPFUL RESOURCES — Looking for info on leadership and leadership training. Check out…

http://www.teal.org.uk/index.htm

The best part? It’s all free.

PRE-FIELD TRAINING IN ASIA FOR ASIA MINISTRY — For anyone planning to minister in Asia, an excellent nine-week program is conducted once a year in Malaysia. The Malaysian Cross-Cultural Mission School (MCMS) will be conducted in Kuala Lumpur, beginning January 7 and continuing through March 16, 2008. It is an intensive program that covers the practical challenges of cross-cultural ministry. MCMS faculty includes missionaries and mission leaders from many parts of the world who are involved in the real life of a missionary. This is no “Ivory Tower” theoretical pastime; it’s the real thing! For more details, talk with Peter, the director. E-mail:

peters(at)linkmail(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

THE ‘EASY’ TANZANIAN LANGUAGES TEAM NOW HAVE THEIR OWN WEBSITE — This site is

http://easytanzanianbibles.googlepages.com/home

and it is totally Tanzanian as regards authorship, checking, field- testing, copyright and ownership. The leader is Revd Samuel Mpanilehi at smpanilehi(at)gmail(dot)com , who works in close fellowship with

http://www.easyBibles.com

where over twenty such projects are developing.

OMF BC EVENTS IN OCTOBER — OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) in B.C. invites you to the following events: 1. Saturday, October 13 (1:30 – 6:00 pm ending with a Chinese supper), Heart for Asia Conference in Victoria, 2. Friday night, October 19, from 7:30 – 9:30 pm, OMF together with Fujian Evangelical Church (FEC) present Youth and Missions. 3. Saturday, October 20, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Heart for Asia Conference to be held at Peace Mennonite Church (PMC). The theme for the events is: Passion for the Impossible – Reaching the Neglected Frontiers. For more info, including themes and speakers, email:
pacificregion(at)shawlink(dot)ca or call 604.278.1208.
GLOBAL MISSIOLOGY “ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY” EDITION — Global Missiology is a free quarterly online publication with original research and contributions from practitioners and scholars of international representation with global perspectives. The third quarter English language issue is focused on the subject of “Islam and Christianity” and has just been made available. Chinese and French editions are also available with articles that are not translations of the English, but rather original contributions from specialists working in those language contexts. All versions can be found at
http://www.globalmissiology.org

as well as a complete searchable archive of more than 4 years worth of articles. email editor(at)globalmissiology(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

THE COMING REVOLUTION — Because, according to at least one author, Status Quo Missions Won’t Finish The Job. Check out this new book just released by R. Mark Baxter. After some stories and shocking statistics, Mark shares reasons for the present state of missions, the potential that exists to see the Great Commission fulfilled, and ways to personally get involved. More information on The Coming Revolution is available at

http://shop.blessthenations.com

Also, you can email Mark at missionsconsultants(at)yahoo(dot)com

OMF REACHING CHINA — International has been reaching East Asia with the gospel since Hudson Taylor founded the organization as China Inland Mission in 1865. If you would like to get involved in a work that includes more than 1,500 workers from 20 countries with a focus on more than 400 unreached people groups throughout East Asia, visit

http://www.omf.org/us

WHAT’S THE RATIO OF YOUTH WORKERS TO YOUTH IN THE FIELD? — Would anyone happen to know about how many young people there are in any cross-cultural settings? … and how many Christian workers are serving primarily for their benefit? In other words, what’s the ratio of youth workers per youth? Got an idea to post? Just navigate to:

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=37

And click “Comment” below the item. Thanks!

HATS-OFF TO BRIGADA SPONSORS — Thanks to the West Ridge Christian Church

http://www.wrccc.org

for their innovative and encouraging support of regional missions mobilization meetings. May God bless their $100 gift to Brigada. We appreciate you! Thanks, too, for the anonymous donors who gave $100 and $25 this past week, along with the prayer coordinator who gave $25. Thanks, too, to Blessed Hope who gave $15.47 in sponsorship gifts. Learn more about their great phone plans at

http://www.lowermyphonebill.com/brigada

Thanks to the Kingdom Come Training worker who gave $20. May God bless their training outreach for His glory.

Finally, may God bless the radio ministry workers who just sent $100. We’re so thankful for their love for you, for your work around the world, and for getting the message out via radio.

WOULD YOUR CHURCH CONSIDER A ONE-TIME GIFT TO SPUR ON BRIGADA? — Here’s how: Just click on the “Donate” page. You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major credit card. Or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 11327 Jefferson Trace Blvd., Louisville, KY 40291. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACK PAGE: EXPLORE, DREAM, DISCOVER — This past weekend, I was fortunate to have the privilege of leading a couple of sessions for some adult children of missionaries (MKs). One referred to a quote by Mark Twain about sails. I looked it up when I got home. Twain was reported to have said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” It’s important to note that no one can find the source of this quote, so it’s likely that Mark Twain never actually said it. Regardless of who said it, it got me thinking.

And in the process of thinking about it, I came across something that Twain *did* actually say, in “Innocents Abroad”: “What is it that confers the noblest delight? What is that which swells a man’s breast with pride above that which any other experience can bring to him? Discovery! To know that you are walking where none others have walked; that you are beholding what human eye has not see before; that you are breathing a virgin atmosphere. To give birth to an idea-an intellectual nugget, right under the dust of a field that many a brain-plow had gone over before. To be the first–that is the idea. To do something, say something, see something, before anybody else–these are the things that confer a pleasure compared with other pleasures are tame and commonplace, other ecstasies cheap and trivial. Lifetimes of ecstasy crowded into a single moment.”

When it comes to mobilizing missionaries, we haven’t talked much about discovery and adventure — even though much of evangelistic missionary work involves it. I think it’s because we’re afraid we’ll breed only missionary-tourists. But there is a sense in which the pioneer spirit is not only preferred, but actually *required* by some missionary opportunities. Some call it an “apostolic gift.” Call it what you want, but when Paul forged on through shipwrecks & stoning, the truth is, he was pioneering. When he believed so strongly in the Cause that he traveled on foot throughout the known world of his day, he was pioneering. Paul’s musing about going where no man has gone before (Romans 15:20) is enough to cause me to believe Twain was on the right track. We probably need to talk some about adventure, dreaming, thinking big. We need some big thinkers today. Thinkers that will dream, then *do*. After all, Twain also is reported to have said, “There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded.” That’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Doug

20070826 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:33:00 +0000

In this issue…

GET TRAINING AS A STRATEGY COORDINATOR — The Great Commission Initiative provides strategy coordinator level training designed to facilitate global church planting movements by equipping church planters, pastors, discipleship directors, lay leaders and mission strategists with the most current missiological thinking and practice. GCI uses the very best trainers available from various parts of the world-people who have first-hand experience with Church Planting Movements and other phenomenal movements of God. Participants are taught how to learn foundational and biblical principles from these men and women, and then to contextualize them to their particular people group. They focus on four specific areas of training: (1) worldview analysis (2) church planting movements, (3) the discipleship methods that facilitate them and (4) oral communication strategies. Participants who complete the entire cycle of training do so having completed a Master Plan for evangelizing their people group. The training involves three phases of training accomplished in three separate weeks. Each week of training is separated from the others by three to four months. In between training sessions, participants are given assignments relating to the development of an evangelistic strategy for their people group. The $450 per week registration fee includes food and lodging, as well as training costs. For more information, please visit

http://www.txgci.org

DIRECT A PROGRAM OF CARE FOR THIRD CULTURE KIDS — Frontiers US Sending Base needs a Children’s and Youth Ministry Coordinator to direct a program of care for TCK’s and their families. The Coordinator will oversee pre-field and re-entry care for families and coordinate kids programs at annual events. This position is full-time and will be fully underwritten by personal ministry partners developed by the candidate. If you are interested, please contact Pamelaia pamelaia(dot)sanders(at)gracetogo.org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

GOT FEEDBACK ON THE MANNACARD? — Mark recently asked if we had received any feedback on the MannaCard, mentioned in the March 16th edition. There, we said, It’s a method of moving money and information to/from the mission field. They claim they can significantly reduce the expense & wait involved for wires, checks or cash. Try them out at:

http://www.mannacard.com

Got feedback? If so, just start/add a comment at

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=32

HEARD ABOUT MICROCREDIT? — One anonymous Brigada reader encourages you to give it a try providing “Microcredit” to small businesses in the developing world so that they can better their economic situation and thus come out of relative poverty. These may not be Christian organizations, but they may allow Christians to express love while making contacts in unreached parts of the world in order to gain an opportunity to live and share the Gospel in the long (or short) term. The Brigada participant emphasized that he had not fully reviewed any of the sites so he encourages all of us to read everything before making any commitments.

http://www.kiva.org/

http://www.unitus.com

http://www.GlobalPartnerships.org

http://www.accion.org

http://www.GrameenFoundation.org

CHECK OUT THIS FREIGHT SWITCHBOARD — According to one anonymous Brigada participant, you don’t have to call multiple carriers or check multiple Web sites to gather rates and service information. Freightquote.com has already done it for you! Their online solution needs only a few pieces of information from you, and then it returns a complete menu of options. You choose the carrier, service, and price that best fits your need. Then book, track, and manage all your shipments in one place-through your secure Freightquote.com account. According to this user, their system is fast, easy, and free to use.

http://www.freightquote.com

MAKE A STATEMENT WITH YOUR GIFT TO BRIGADA — Got a statement, memorial, remembrance, sponsorship, or other message to share to the 11,000 people in the Brigada audience throughout the globe? Just click on the “Donate” page:

http://www.brigada.org/donate.html

You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major credit card. Or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 11327 Jefferson Trace Blvd., Louisville, KY 40291. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

20070429 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 01:56:00 +0000

In this issue…

MISSION TRIP THIS SUMMER? CONSIDER THE DAY TRIPPER –- No, we are not talking about the old Beatles song! The Day Tripper is an international medical and medical evacuation plan for short-term teams. With rates as low as 63 cents per day you can’t go wrong with this plan! PLUS when you purchase this plan from Insurance Services of America on their web site

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

you will be helping to support Brigada! In addition to this plan, coverage is available for any international need – short-term trips, career missionaries, trip cancellation, short-term teams and term life insurance. Find it all and more at the site above.

BRIGADA “BRIGADE” (FEEDBACK PAGE) REALLY WORKS — If you’ve taken a look at our feedback page lately, you’ll know that it really works. Within hours after a Brigada posting, we already are seeing results. The Javascript question in the Apr. 27th issue (Item #6, “SPEAK JAVASCRIPT? OP. WORLD HAS A JOB FOR YOU!”) was handled easily. A user answered the need, then, just as we asked, posted an entry that said, simply, “I took care of it.” In the past, we would have had to wait on a human compiler to gather up the data. Now, we can start looking at it within hours, rather than weeks. So stop by the Brigade. You just might find an answer to a question that you or your organization faced too.

http://brigada.org/brigade

NEW MISSION AWARENESS TOOL FOR YOUTH — Good News Productions, International has two new mission awareness tools to partner with you in getting youth excited about missions. The first is an exciting new children’s program called GNPI Kids Live that will work in conjunction with any VBS program. It is a FREE, six-part digital DVD presentation of missions from a kid’s perspective. To preview this material, go to

http://www.gnpi.org/kidslive

GNPI is seeking to challenge kids to get involved in missions through prayer and thinking of creative ways they can help raise funds for missionaries and nationals who are working to take the Gospel to those who have never heard. These kids may also grow up to be workers in God’s harvest field (Matthew 9:37-38)!

RETREATS FOR PROSPECTIVE MISSIONARIES — “The Journey Deepens” is a weekend retreat to help prospects explore what it is like to be a missionary, discover whether a missionary or sender role is God’s fit, and connect with mission agencies. These retreats are for college students, young professionals in their 20s and 30s, adults in their 40s and 50s, and high school seniors willing to explore becoming a missionary. Each retreat of 50 participants and 10 experienced missionaries from multiple agencies is highly relational with extended worship, small group discussions, personal reflection and much prayer. Discussions include guidance, finances, singles/families, etc. The first 2007 retreat will be Oct 5-7 in Pasadena, California on the campus of the U.S. Center for World Missions. The other 2007 retreat will be Oct 26-28 in Atlanta, Georgia. Presented by MissionsFocus Int’l and co- sponsored by Finishers, MissionNext, Perspectives and the U.S. Center for World Mission. Mentors/recruiters may apply online at

http://www.TheJourneyDeepens.com/retreats.asp

TRY THIS FREE PASSWORD KEEPER — Thanks to Nick, Creative Arts guy for Team Expansion, for referring us to

http://keepass.info/download.html

It’s a versatile password keeper that works for mobile, MAC, and Windows/PC platforms, as well as USB flash drives. It also comes at a very attractive price: free. (Thanks Nick!)

IS YOUR HAND-WOUND CASSETTE PLAYER FLYING OFF THE HANDLE? — If so, Audio Scriptures Ministries of Holland, MI, has a fix for you. The newer replacement cranks are sturdier than the originals. Missionaries and organizations using the TapeTalk2 players and the Messenger hand wind players (from Australia) are encouraged to contact ASM for replacement handles. They are provided free of charge anywhere Scripture cassettes are used. Donations for the parts are also welcome, but not required. Information on the new cranks is available at

http://www.asmToday.org

Click on the “what’s new” link. You can also call 616-396-5291 or email asm(at)audioscriptureministries(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

TENTMAKING COURSE IN VICTORIA BC CANADA — Learn more about tentmaking and using business as mission as a platform for ministry in the hard places. GLOBAL Opportunities and TENT Norway have developed a successful course model that will challenge and equip people from all walks of life for effective ministry skills. Read what former students are saying about the course on their website and then rush to register, as each year they must limit the number of people who can attend. Already this course is 30% booked. GO ahead, join them on July 5-8, 2007.

http://www.globalopps.org/course/victoria2007.htm

or email ari(at)globalopps(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

COACHING TRAINING TO MULTIPLY YOUR IMPACT — Transformational leadership requires new ways of communicating with those you work with. Coaching skills are essential. Now you can get a 60-hour Core Coaching Skills Certificate Program. There are programs in Singapore, Los Angeles, and Hungary. Go to

http://www.creativeresultsmanagement.com/courses/coaching01/htm

for details. Or email help(at)creativeresultsmanagement(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

ANOTHER ANTIVIRUS CHOICE FOR MAC USERS — Some of our MAC brothers & sisters will be interested in ClamXav

http://clamxav.com/

It’s a free virus checker for Mac OS X. It uses the tried, tested and very popular ClamAV open source antivirus engine as a back end. (Thanks Ed!)

ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR HOMESCHOOLING — Basic Skills Assessment Service located in Oregon City, Oregon has a program available to homeschoolers to help with tracking and compiling of credits. They have two programs one for K-6 grade called TRACKS. The program for Jr High/High School is called the Diploma Program. It allows the parent the flexibility to choose the curriculum but helps to keep track of credit hours and grades. A transcript is compiled during the High School years and a diploma is issued when all the credits are complete. Basic Skills Assessment Service phone: 503-650-5282 or e-mail info(at)basicskill(dot)net

For more information see their website:

http://www.basicskills.net

UPGRADE TO “PACKING MODULARLY” — A missionary to Japan improved on my suggestion to pack modularly (Apr. 13th edition, BackPage “missions travel tips/tricks, tool #13). She suggested packing a separate bag for each day, with all the changes of clothing one needs for that day inside the bag. That way the traveler can just grab a bag and go. It’s a good improvement on my tip.

HATS OFF TO OUR BEST FRIENDS; MAKE A STATEMENT TO BRIGADA — Thanks to the anonymous donor from Equip, Inc.

http://www.equipinternational.com

who gave $150 this past week to undergird Brigada! Want to give a gift to cover for some young missions recruit who can’t afford to give? Just click on “Sponsor/Donate” 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. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACKPAGE: 3 GUYS RUN NORTH AFRICA — Did you happen to follow the story about the 3 guys who ran (yes, on foot) across North Africa? Charlie Engle, Ray Zahab, and Kevin Lin needed exactly 111 days to cross the entire Sahara Desert on foot. They stated on the beach in Senegal and then made their way through Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt all the way to the Red Sea. They faced desert temps, cold nights, sand in their eyes, dysentery, plus all the usual stuff associated with running the equivalent of two marathons per day for over 3 months straight. Gulp.

Why do these guys run? I tried to track down a good cause at their respective websites. Maybe it was to make a case for clean water, like they said. (Personally, that just seems like a stretch for me.) Somehow, it just seems more likely that they run because of the challenge. You know, like the mountaineers say, “Because it’s there.” And maybe a bit because they *can* run. They probably *have* to run. They’re compelled to run by a force as indescribable as the life that courses through their veins.

Either way, the question remains, what about you? What do you *have* to do? We’re always stirred when we hear about an Olympic athlete who competes for the sake of a sister with polio, or a scientist who works like crazy to find a cure to the disease that killed her husband, or the wealthy businessman who gives a million dollars to a cause that his deceased wife held dear. So what stirs you to action? What drives you to stay up and finish a job?

I wish we could recreate this kind of marathon-like commitment to finish the cause of world evangelism. Can you imagine if every believer in every local church would care so deeply about getting the gospel to the ends of the earth? There are so many competing forces, the chief of which is apathy itself. Either way, we’d better find a way to wake up the senders to the marathons that lie before us. We’d better find a way to stir go-ers into action, and givers into obedience. If there’s even one believer in your local church who still doesn’t tithe, we’d better find a way to reach him or her, then mobilize those new funds for the sake of the gospel — around the block, and around the planet. Only then will our marathon go-ers have the resources to beat the next sandstorm, or survive the next dry stretch. Only then will their listeners hear the truth that changes eternal destinies. Only then will the God of the ages be glorified in the way He desires. Only then will we complete our purposes here on this earth. And the 2nd coming will happen. And then we’ll never thirst again. And we’ll reach a final rest that’s worth the run.

Until then — lace up. It’s a new day.

20070204 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 03:04:00 +0000

In this issue…

NEW MISSIONS AWARENESS TOOLS — Good News Productions, International has two new missions awareness tools to get youth excited about missions. The first is an exciting new children’s program called GNPI Kids Live that will work in conjunction with any VBS program. It is a five-part digital DVD presentation of missions from a kid’s perspective. It is fashioned after a talk show in which the presenter is a puppet character named Rocky Surface. … To preview this material, go to

http://www.gnpi.org/kidslive

The second tool is a movie called All Things New. It is being marketed as a fundraising tool for youth to raise funds for missions trips or Christ In Youth conferences, while also raising funds for Good News Productions, International and Christians’ Haven (The ministry in the Philippines on which the movie is based.). As Matt Proctor, President of Ozark Christian College, put it, “This movie will call viewers to risky obedience and the need to put hands and feet on their compassion.” To view the trailer and get other information on this film, go to

http://www.allthingsnewmovie.com

You can also get more information on these tools by calling 800-457- 4674 and asking for Amber.

GO ONLINE, DOWNLOAD, LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE — If you have a broadband connection and a computer, you have access to a world of foreign language instruction — for free. And if you have an MP3 audio player, you can even carry lessons around with you to listen on the bus, in the car or anywhere else you listen to music. All kinds of language lessons are available in free “podcasts” (which are like radio programs you download from the Internet.) In his Chicago Tribune column “On Language” this week, Nathan Bierma lists the web sites for learning a major foreign language with the best quality, free language podcasts he could find. It is available at:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0701230287jan24,1,5624467.story

If that URL is too long, you can access the same web page with this link:

http://tinyurl.com/2kz323

Nathan includes resources to learn Mandarin Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic, Greek, Latin and English as a Second Language. (Thanks to the anonymous friend who tipped us off to this item!)

VIDEO PRODUCTION WORKSHOPS — High school youth around the world have a chance to learn the video production process from start to finish, creating programs with powerful Christian content in the process. Good News Productions, International is leading this innovative program called Media Challenge as a way to engage techno- savvy youth around the world in the process of reaching their peers using the tools of the media. The goal is to challenge Christian youth to speak out about issues of faith and practice, using the specific cultural context in which they live as the background for their programs. The workshops offer more than technical training; significant time is devoted to script development and writing to assure the content is on target and effective. For 2007, two USA based workshops will be held; one on the campus of St. Louis Christian College (July 1-7) and a second at Cincinnati Christian University (July 8-14). Two international workshops are scheduled; one in Zakosciele, Poland (July 22–August 4) and another in Chiang Mai, Thailand (June 17-23). Information about the USA workshops, including the curriculum and application process, can be found online at

http://mediachallenge.org

Information about the International workshops can be obtained by writing to director(at)mediachallenge(dot)org. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Churches and missionaries who would like to host and/or sponsor an international workshop are also encouraged to contact the director, Bob Sartoris, at the address above. If you’d like to be involved in the workshops this summer, better hurry. There’s an end-of-March deadline coming up quickly.

BUILDING A MISSIOPEDIA — It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 7 years since the 2nd edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia was published. What’s the next generation of mission dictionaries, encyclopedias and atlases? Is it possible to do for mission reference works what Wikipedia did for human knowledge? Will we know unless we try? Justin Long has launched an experimental Missiopedia at

http://www.momentum-mag.org/wiki/index.php

If you have something you think should go in an encyclopedia about missions – an article about a country, a people group, a province, a city, a denomination, a ministry, or what have you – then now is the time for you to step up to the plate and participate.

MISSIONARY VIDEO CHANNELS — Recently Justin Long asked if anyone was doing missionary videocasting on YouTube or Google Video. Justin got a few responses and, in order to make it manageable, he’s added a relevant page on the new Missiopedia wiki that he is developing (which might be blank so far, but let’s grow it). Anyone can add to the list by clicking to the page and clicking ‘edit’ at the top. See it (and the whole Missiopedia) online at

http://www.momentum-mag.org/wiki/index.php/Missionary_Videocasting

TWO ACMC CONFERENCES GOING FORWARD AS PLANNED — Here are at least two conferences on March 15-17 in Delaware and Detroit that are still going forward as planned. Perhaps they represent historic “last conferences” of ACMC. Though the conferences will not be, for legal reasons, under the banner of Initiative360, the content, speakers and resources will be the same as listed in the brochures. (Note that the Austin, TX conference on March 3 was cancelled.) Organizers reported that after last week’s Brigada, “People began calling in like crazy,” asking for information. For info on the Detroit Conference go to

http://www.davidmays.org

For the Delaware Conference, see the brochure at
http://www.gracextensions.org/files/ACMCWilmingtonDE07.pdf

or call 800-959-3523 (Tom Telford) or 410-561-8424 xt 210 (Joe Steinitz).
CORRECTED CONTACT INFORMATION FOR “MORE MISSIONS DRAMAS” — [We recently featured an item "MORE MISSIONS DRAMAS" (Jan. 19th edition), but apparently the contact information was faulty. Here's the item again, but the contact person has now provided us with a working email address.] As a follow-up to the BACKPAGE in the Brigada Today of January 5, Wycliffe Bible Translators also offers a series of 20 mission-themed skits called “World Class Missions Dramas” written by Blackie Blackwell and Amy Jung, edited by Ron Binder. These were specifically written to accompany Perspectives on the World Christian Movement lessons, so they are short, don’t need elaborate preparation in terms of set or props, and are dialogue-driven like a readers’ theater. They are available as an email attachment, on CD, or hard copy from Wycliffe Southwest in Temecula, CA. Contact Media Resources by phone at 951-719-1105 or email: media_resources_wsw(at)Wycliffe(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

AND *MORE* DRAMAS — Get even more ideas for dramas over at…

http://www.dramashare.com/

where organizers seek to cater to those involved in missions and outreach and have many non-verbal dramas among the 1600+ scripts in their database.

TRAINING IN ETHNOMUSICOLOGY — Want to do some serious study to be equipped to help others utilize their heart music? Attend the graduate- level courses in Ethnomusicology at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL) in Dallas, Texas. Three courses will be offered this summer: Applied Ethnomusicology (June 11-22), Field of Ethnomusicology/Anthropology of Music (June 25-July 13), and Analysis of Non-Western Music (July 19 – August 15). Learn more about them at:

http://www.gial.edu/courses/ethnomusicology.htm

or e-mail ethnomusicology(at)sil(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

RESOURCES FOR CHRISTIAN TEACHERS — You can find materials to help Christian teachers, including parents, relate everything they teach to God and the Bible at

http://www.transformingteachers.org

Check out the Visual Valet, online articles, and downloads. The site has links to Christian teacher and school organizations around the world. If an organization you know about is not listed, please send suggestions to hklassen(at)janzteam(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

LAUNCHING A CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENT AMONG AN ORAL CULTURE? — Scriptures In Use

http://www.siutraining.org

is holding two workshops this spring that you should consider. March 30-31 will be an Orality Awareness Workshop at Word of Grace Church, Mesa., AZ that starts at 7 p.m. Friday night and ends by 3 p.m. Saturday. They’re asking $25 for lunch and materials. Contact briannah(at)wordofgrace(dot)org to register On May 10-12 “Communications Bridges to Oral Cultures” will be offered at First Christian Church, Phoenix, AZ. Sessions will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The class is designed for CPM Coaches and trainers. $75 for lunches, breaks and materials. Cindy(at)fccphx(dot)com to register. For more information on SIU and the training — jimbowman(at)siutraining(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

DO YOU PLACE OVERSEAS CALLS FROM YOUR USA-BASED CELL PHONE? — If so, check out Nickel Talk, if you haven’t already.

http://www.nickeltalk.com/

It’s pretty straight-forward — 5 cents per minute, with no connect fees, on all mobile calls to Europe, Latin America, Asia & Australia. No monthly fees, no prepayment, no contracts, no phone cards, no pins, and keep your existing service. What could be simpler? (Note that we’re not referring this to earn some kind of sponsorship or affiliate bonus. This is just one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread.

HELP ALAN GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE PERSECUTED CHURCH — Got a video or a recorded testimony on the persecuted church? Alan is a Missions Minister from Indiana who would like to get the word out. If you have a resource or a referral, click on over to…

http://www.momentum-mag.org/wiki/Persecution#Get_the_Word_Out

Let’s build a great list of interview footage, stats, worksheets, hand- outs, websites, … anything and everything that will help him get the word out about the persecuted church. [What's the use in duplicating Justin's great wiki! :-) Let's ride the wave! ]

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR VOLUNTEERS — OM Ship’s new vessel, the Logos Hope, is close to being ready for full-time service bringing knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world. They are looking for volunteers, who can join them for two weeks or more, to complete the last projects required to get the ship out of the shipyard. Volunteers are asked to cover their travel, health and insurance expenses but food and lodging after arrival are provided.

For more information about this opportunity, please visit:

http://www.omships.org/go=2

or you can contact OM Ships at info(at)omships(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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 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 .]

ONLINE MAGAZINE CORRECTION — Catch INTERLIT Magazine, which helps those publishing Christian literature in the non-western world, at:

http://ccmipartners.org

In the Feb. 12th edition, the contributor’s original submission had left out a strategic “n”. Please pardon any inconvenience. (Thanks Tim!)

INDEBTED TO PARTNERS — Thanks to those who make Brigada happen through their prayers and financial partnership. This past week, Good News Productions stoked the fire with a $100 gift. Learn more about their ministry of media development and distribution at:

http://gnpi.org/

Insurance Services of America added fuel by sending sponsorship gifts in the name of Jason and Jon, who each had purchased insurance with them. So ISA promptly sent $20.95 in their name. It’s that simple. Purchase an insurance policy or trip interruption insurance with ISA and they’ll immediately help Brigada. Learn more at:

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

Note that you must use this link or *tell* them in order for the sponsorship to happen. Thanks!

KEEP BRIGADA PUMPING — Want to help Brigada pump out weekly editions to mobilizers, church members and mission professionals around the world? Just click on “Sponsor/Donate” 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. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax- deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACKPAGE: MANY MOURN, SOME MOBILIZE CALEB PROJECT/ACMC — This past week, I felt as if I were standing in a visitation line at a funeral home. Countless fellow-strugglers identified with last edition’s “BackPage” item about the passing of Caleb Project and CMC (and the associated “Initiative 360″ merger). One Brigada participant from San Jose, CA, wrote ” I, too, was stunned when I went to the i360 site and found that message. … I was especially concerned about them personally. … Let’s keep praying and pushing–can’t let the Devil have a good day!” A reader from Plano, TX, shared, “I read today’s issue of Brigada quickly when I saw the subject line. I was an advocate for ACMC since I can remember attending a conference in the 1970′s. Initially, individual members received a copy of every publication they created. … Why is it a surprise to you that ACMC had trouble making ends meet when it takes an entire year for you to raise $17K per year for Brigada? You are reaching how many people via email regularly? I will attempt to restrain myself from my soap box speech. Everyone thinks that ‘someone else’ will support the ___ ministry. (And, I’m guilty of this also.) Thank you for your continued faithfulness to the Lord, and your efforts to help keep the global Christian community updated with Brigada.” This friend’s note reminded me how vulnerable… how fragile our respective ministries all are. We all need to constantly work hard to keep them fueled. Gulp.

Another participant from Oregon wrote, “I so appreciated your ‘eulogy’ about ACMC/Caleb Project. I went to my first ACMC conference in the early 90′s. That’s where I first learned about missions, the Perspectives class, met great people like Paul Borthwick and David Mays, and where I learned my first steps in ‘doing missions’. … I began using Caleb Project materials at about the same time. I was able to use them as a resource for our children’s pastor to teach missions to kids. They have been a great resource on unreached peoples materials. … All I learned from ACMC … I’m still using and always will. I remember doing conferences in my area and having people remark over and over how they didn’t know ACMC had such a great network of resources and people. … I too don’t understand what took place, even from the folks that were a part of it but God’s still in control.” Well said. One Caleb Project staffer wrote, “I just want to express my appreciation for the letter in Brigada yesterday. This has been a very difficult time for all of us, made more difficult by frustration and confusion and the speed with which things happened. … Thanks for the note Doug. I appreciate your heart. Thanks for speaking plainly and passionately. We do hope others can learn from our experience.” David Mays, a long-time ACMC consultant wrote, ” Thanks much Doug. You are a great encourager.” He has filed his own take on the ill-fated merger at

http://www.davidmays.org/i360.html

(I asked for and received permission from him to share the URL.)

Throughout these and many other notes, there was one common theme — a flood of memories of all the great services these two incredible organizations had provided down through the years. Another theme: trying to make sense out of their passing. So far, there were few answers.

However, all is not lost. Bravo to organizations like Pioneers and Team Expansion who are doing their best to provide options for former staff from both agencies. Pioneers, in particular, is trying to create a semi-autonomous working unit that would pick up employees and dreamers from both networks. Watch future Brigada Todays for more news as these and other developments unfold. And above all, keep praying for these precious — and hurting — souls.

20060702 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 02:17:00 +0000

In this issue…

“PARTNERSHIPS THAT TRANSFORM” CONF: CDs/MP3s NOW AVAILABLE — The 2006 COSIM conference, held June 12-14 at the Billy Graham Center, Wheaton, Illinois, advanced the theology and practice of cross-cultural ministry partnerships. COSIM stands for Coalition on the Support of Indigenous Ministries. Speakers included: Dick Robinson: “Partnerships that transform our understanding of . . . mission, the gospel, and the world / Gary Edmonds: “From missions-TO . . . to missions-WITH” / “Faisal” — “Partnering with indigenous ministries for transformation: A non-Western perspective”. Dr. David Kasali’s address, “Will the African Church be ready?” was the high-point of the conference for many. Also, how-to workshops on: accountability — short-term mission trips for long-term transformation — assessing your cross-cultural partnerships — etc. Recordings of all sessions are now available as CD or MP3 download. Visit the COSIM web site:

http://www.cosimnet.org

LINKING LITERACY AND ORAL COMMUNICATION — Nearly 4 billion people cannot read. But what about the millions who are learning to read but continue to read too poorly to understand? There is a very simple way to help turn poor, struggling readers into good readers. It is the Talking Bible in that reader’s own language. The advent of the talking Bible now offers a wonderful new way to help poor readers become good readers. A poor reader with a talking Bible can open the printed Bible and follow the text while listening to the narration of that text in audio. The new solid state, digital Talking Bible will make it easy to select the exact passage in the printed text. Talking Bibles International says it will have its revolutionary, new solid-state, digital Talking Bible available by summer’s end. An exciting new era is dawning. For more information visit:

http://www.talkingbibles.org or contact: info(at)talkingbibles(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

SO BY NOW YOU MUST HAVE HEARD… CALEB PROJECT & ACMC WED — It’s not too late to send a wedding gift (joking). But seriously, Caleb Project and ACMC are merging. See the details at…

http://www.calebproject.org/main.php/about_us/looking_to_the_future

See links there for more information. We’re all on the edge of our seats to see how this will shake out in practical details.

CHECK OUT THE ALPHA TEST OF THE “MONITOR” — This is a database of events, trends, analysis, statistics, photographs, reports, etc. that Justin Long, Senior Editor of Momentum, is maintaining to use to build each issue of Momentum Magazine. It is now a web-based database. Each entry has a single brief comment and a link to the website where the article is found. I’m liking this page a *lot*. You can check it out at:

http://www.momentum-mag.org/monitor.htm

THE RESULTS: WHICH CAMCORDER IS THE BEST? — [drum roll] OK, thanks too all those who gave input on the question, “Which camcorder is the best?” We’ve combed through the input, and here are some over all themes. First, as Ed pointed out, this is a market that moves fast, so it’s important to figure out your needs based on work process, the user’s technical capabilities, local servicing available, etc. He urges users to see the reviews at web sites such as (in no particular order):
http://reviews.cnet.com/Camcorders/

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/ **** This one in particular is great

http://www.dvspot.com

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/photo_and_video/ click on camcorders

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/camcorders/

http://www.videomaker.com

http://www.amazon.com

Second, don’t assume you have to spend $3000 to get something that works for you. Bob, one of our good friends at Good News Productions (gnpi.org), recently looked at camcorders with a view toward high image quality, manual functions (for aperture, shutter, focus, white balance), ease of use for novices, external audio input, firewire port (for connection to computers), cost, and manufacture track record. Using these as our guide, we chose the Panasonic PV GS500, a 3 CCD DV tape camcorder for around $800. Interestingly, Brad, another Brigada participant, settled on a similar model, the GS-250, as his favorite.

Bob pointed out that there are multiple options out there in terms of video recording formats (tape, disk, hard drive) and each has its own pros and cons, requiring the smart shopper to consider how and where the camcorder will be used. Also, some features that one camera user insists on having would intimidate others, as in manual controls versus total automation. Image quality ranges from small, single CCD (the image capture device) to 3 CCD models, multiple digital video formats, wide screen, high definition, and a host of other considerations in how different camcorders record the image. The bottom line is truly that you have to pay more for higher quality, so at some point the buyer has to set a limit and choose a camcorder that fits within the budget. The good news is that competition among manufacturers keeps the costs reasonable and the features constantly evolving into better bang for your buck.
MORE ON LATEST GUIDANCE ON TRAVELING/CONNECTING TO THE ‘NET — We continue to feel good about using MS Outlook and a secure email account, or at least a secure webmail provider. (Thanks for giving your two cents on this, Justin.) Another Brigada participant, Todd, recently pointed to evidence that maybe Hotmail.com wasn’t so “country neutral” as was originally thought. (For example, he has personally experienced regionally targeted ads which seem country aware.) Also, don’t forget about using a web interface like Hushmail,
http://www.hushmail.com

which offers encryption built-in from the server… and you can install an Outlook plug-in that let’s you access your Hushmail messages via Outlook, so you can compose offline and save online minutes (which is probably going to be important if you’re connecting via a remote dial-up). Finally, whatever you use, be sure to try it out in advance. The worst time to be experimenting is when you’re on the road already, under the gun. If at all possible, try out these connections in advance.
THE HERERO PEOPLE — Find these people in central and eastern Namibia in Africa. In the traditional Herero village, the village head is the link between the living members and dead ancestors of the family. He is responsible for keeping the holy fire burning at the main hut of the village. This fire symbolizes continuous contact with the deceased ancestors. In the event the fire should go out, it is a slight or insult to the ancestors and endangers the spiritual security of the offender as well as the other members of the family. If the village head should die, the living link between the village and ancestors is dead. What results is tremendous grief and mourning for long periods of time, until a new head is established. Pray for the Herero people of Namibia, that they may come to know the true intercessor for all people, Jesus Christ. Pray that they come to know the One who will never die and that they will no longer feel the grief that comes with lostness! To adopt the Herero people for prayer or for more information, click to…
http://www.forgottenpeoples.info

or email lynchdp(at)iafrica(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

GET PRE & MID FIELD RUSSIAN LANG. TRAINING THIS FALL/SPRING — 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 in the Russian language & cross-cultural skills you will need to be effective in ministry. 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 their 16 week fall course 2006 (Aug. 28- Dec. 15). Spring 2007 (Jan. 22 – May 11) US toll Free: 1-800-799-7976 or 1-803-333-9119. or click to

http://www.russianlanguage.org

or email 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 .]

MINISTRYHOME.ORG — The free online social network for ministry! MinistryHome allows you to promote your ministry, raise funds, build teams and network with like-minded individuals, all for free (Note that some packages are for sale there too… but the $15/mo. cost seems reasonable.) This has the potential to radically change the way missions teams are built and resourced. Joining the MinistryHome community only takes a few minutes. For more information, visit

http://www.MinistryHome.org

FREE PAPERS ON RUSSIAN YOUTH MINISTRY — Dr. Mark Harris has made available a set of seven papers based on the research he did a few years back among Russian young people. In addition, there are four papers to help you understand Russian Baptist churches, and a few other miscellaneous papers on ministry in Russia. These are free for the downloading at

http://www.markharris.us

SPECIAL ARTICLES ON DISCIPLESHIP — Here is a whole series of discipleship articles and training materials all available on the web! Some people think of discipleship only at its beginning stages. But that is only the start! The Flow maps out the progress of discipleship from the beginning right to the end: the beginner, the intermediate and the advanced. There are even articles on how this advanced stage connects to leadership training. Also please notice BFF’s special offer. Full-time Christian workers overseas, 4 from each country can get a free BFF CD 2.2 mailed to them. See the homepage for details. The CD has many of these materials in eBook form with lots of Powerpoints, maps and handouts. Printed material can be purchased. BFF has a liberal copy policy which enables a teacher to share the materials with the ones he serves. Learn more at

http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS — Thanks to the folks at Reignbridge for their gift of $50. Don’t miss their “Kids Praying for Kids” DVD… Learn more at:

http://www.reignbridge.com

Want to join them? 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: LEARNING FROM THE HOMETOWN OF “HOOSIERS” — You’ve probably seen the 1986 movie, “Hoosiers.” If not, it’s definitely worth the rental. Sites like ESPN and the American Film Institute frequently rave about it (#4 of the “Top 20 Sports Movies of All Time”, #13 on the list of the “100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time”). USA Today found it to be the best sports movie of all time. So over these next three weeks, I’d like to draw some lessons from my personal visit to the “hometown” of Hoosiers… the place where it actually happened. (You’ll actually get more out of these entries if you’ve seen the movie, so if you don’t mind, pick it up and review it again so the lessons will be fresh. Tune in next week, once you’ve done that, for more about my visit to Milan, Indiana, where the *real* Hoosiers story begins.

20050327 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 02:40:00 +0000

In this issue…

1. GREAT RESOURCE FOR INTERNATIONAL CALLS VIA CELL PHONES
2. THE BIBLE AND MISSIONS
3. AUDIO SCRIPTURES AND ADOPT-A-VILLAGE MERGE
4. X-ERS & BOOMERS IN MID-AMERICA MAY 6-7
5. FINISHING WELL IN COOL COLORADO JUNE 10-11
6. MIM SEEKS DENTISTS, HIGIENISTS, ASSISTANTS
7. LEARN MORE ABOUT MARTYRS
8. WANT TO LEARN ABOUT CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE STORYING?
9. ANOTHER GREAT TOOL FOR MAKING LOCAL/LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS
10. BEST PRACTICES IN CHURCH MISSIONS WEB PAGES
11. WORLD EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE WORLD ISSUES SUMMIT
12. LEARN TO REACH JAPAN
13. WORLD METHODIST EVANGELISM’S INT’L CHR YOUTH CONF.
14. GET YOUR MUSIC
15. COME TO PERTH, W. AUSTRALIA TO TRAIN AS A STRATEGIC COORDINATOR!
16. HELP THIS RESEARCHER LEARN ABOUT YOUR MOTIVES :-)
17. FLASH! ANONYMOUS DONOR GIVES $1,000 TO BRIGADA!
18. CLOSING STUFF

1. GREAT RESOURCE FOR INTERNATIONAL CALLS VIA CELL PHONES — Gotta make a cell phone call to another country? Get ready to mortgage the farm, unless — you’ve got Nickel Talk! Thanks to Donna for tipping us on this one… Check it out at… http://www.nickeltalk.com/ 5 cents per minute to some countries, 26 cents/min. to others, like Bosnia (but then again, it’s a verified $4.38/min. from our landline). No commission here. No affiliation fees. Just one beggar telling another where to find bread.
2. THE BIBLE AND MISSIONS — The main goal for students in the School of Biblical Studies (SBS) is to know God and be equipped to make Him known. In YWAM Turner Valley’s School of Biblical Studies, students receive training and assistance as they carefully study the entire Bible using the inductive method. This nine month course goes from September 12, 2005 to June 30, 2006. YWAM Turner Valley is Frontier Missions focused, and works to help disciple two unreached people groups. For more information on SBS and other opportunities, please email turnervalley(at)ywam(dot)ca [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.ywamturnervalley.com
3. AUDIO SCRIPTURES AND ADOPT-A-VILLAGE MERGE — On April 1st Audio Scriptures International and its sister organization, Adopt-A-Village, merged to become Talking Bibles International. This change will allow them to serve the non-reading community from a larger platform, more effectively and efficiently. The goal and focus of the ministry will remain the same, namely, to reach non-readers with the Word of God in a format they can understand and relate to, namely, the Talking Bible in their own languages. Talking Bibles International’s goal and desire is to place 100,000 Talking Bibles into non-reading homes in India over the next 5 years. Talking Bibles International will continue serving as an audio Scripture resource center for churches, individuals and ministries in the USA. It will continue recording New Testaments in more languages, reaching homes with the Bible in audio through its extensive website … providing Talking Bibles in Africa, South America, Central America, Asia and Europe. For more information contact info(at)talkingbibles(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 visit http://www.talkingbibles.org
4. X-ERS & BOOMERS IN MID-AMERICA MAY 6-7 — Heard of the Finishers Project? Well now there’s a similar service at http://www.MissionNext.com What’s more, they’re pulling together a “MissionNext” face-to-face gathering gets Xer and Boomer adults together May 6-7, 2005 in Omaha, Nebraska. For more info, call +1 203 740 7278. Or email Headquarters(at)Finishers(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
5. FINISHING WELL IN COOL COLORADO JUNE 10-11 - Nelson, Bill & Amy and Paulette at The Finishers Project are inviting a few mission-minded Boomers to get together in Colorado Springs. Well, more than a few–as in a few hundred. Front-Range hospitality, living-sacrifice conversations, seminars & workshops, encouragement and tons of info for adults considering mission service. But watch it: From the first Finishers conference, 96 of the 300 participants ended up on the mission field within two years! Complete info at http://www.finishers.org/events/index.html or call 1 203 740 7278. Or email Headquarters(at)Finishers(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
6. MIM SEEKS DENTISTS, HYGIENISTS, ASSISTANTS — Mediterranean Integral Mission (MIM) is seeking English or Spanish speaking Christian dental professionals for work in small cities and remote regions among mountain tribal peoples in North Africa. French and/or Arabic is useful but not required. Contact MIMUSA[at]telefonica[dot]net
7. LEARN MORE ABOUT MARTYRS — The 8th National Conference on the Persecuted Church will be held in Columbia, SC on April 15/16, 2005. Speakers representing different countries where great persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters has been going on will be presenting reports and answering questions. There will also be time allotted for prayer on behalf of those who suffer silently. For further information, please contact the Director, Sam Elisha, 803-754-4030 or email semintinc(at)cs(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
8. WANT TO LEARN ABOUT CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE STORYING? — It’s all the rage, no matter where you go. Now *learn* it! Pick it up on September 13-15, 2005 in Anaheim, California, USA. Register on-line at International Orality Network http://www.oralbible.com or e-mail Tom Meiner tmeiner(at)ccci(dot)org. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Register now (by April 15, 2005) for a $50 discount. (Hats off to Emily at Team Expansion, Bill at Power of Connecting http://powerofconnecting.com and Missions Catalyst Newsletter from Caleb Project for letting us know about this important event.)
9. ANOTHER GREAT TOOL FOR MAKING LOCAL/LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS — While we’re on the subject of phones, don’t forget: http://www.lowermyphonebill.com/brigada is a great site to learn the best routes and carriers for phone calls. You’ll probably be able to save $10/mo. or more, depending on your use and call times. Thanks!!!
10. BEST PRACTICES IN CHURCH MISSIONS WEB PAGES — Is your church hitting on all cylinders when it comes to the missions pages on its web site? This MS Word file from ACMC will help take the guesswork out of the kinds of information and inspiration your church can place on its missions web pages by showing what other churches are providing. Check out links to pages from over fifty categories and sub-categories. Chosen from dozens of churches—including many of North America’s most notable missions churches. For more information contact: dave(at)acmcsouthwest(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
11. WORLD EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE WORLD ISSUES SUMMIT — With the theme of “Move the Stones”, it’s slated for May 3-6, 2005 Orlando, Florida (Co- sponsored by National Association of Evangelicals and Evangelical Fellowship of Canada). It’s the World Evangelical Alliance Issues Summit. You will meet WEA’s senior regional leaders and International Council members, along with specialists in Religious Liberty, Missions, Women’s Concerns, Youth, and Theology, and a whole lot more. To register go to… http://worldevangelical.org/ call (425) 778-5513. email: info(at)worldevangelical(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. LEARN TO REACH JAPAN — Purchase CD’S of 21 recorded workshops from the recent “Reaching Japanese For Christ” conference. Workshop presenters included Japanese missionaries, Japanese pastors, para- church staff workers in ministry to Japanese from OMF-JCFN, Campus Crusade for Christ, IVCF, ISI, BGC, etc. Price of the 2 CD set (in MP3 format) in English is $15 which covers postage in the US & Canada. For an order form and a list of the workshop topics, go to http://www.TheJapanNet.com . For questions, contact John.Whitehouse(at)uscm(dot)org
13. WORLD METHODIST EVANGELISM’S INT’L CHR YOUTH CONF. — Slated for July 19-26, 2005, in Teresopolis, Brazil, young people, ages 17-30, are invited to this conference to be hosted by the youth and evangelism leaders of the first Region Conference, the Methodist Church in Brazil. The conference is being planned around the theme, “That the world may know Jesus Christ!” as part of the World Methodist Evangelism Emphasis 2004-2006. Join young people from around the world at the 8th International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism — the first time for ICYCE in South America! http://www.worldmethodist.org/youthevents.htm or email worldevangelism(at)scarrittbennett(dot)org or write: World Evangelism, World Methodist Council Scarritt-Bennett Center, 1008 19th Avenue South Nashville, Tennessee, 37212-2166 ,USA or call 1-615-340-7541 or Fax: 1-615-340-7549.
14. GET YOUR MUSIC — Mount Carmel provides music CDs, and DVDs to missions and missionaries at wholesale prices. New releases and popular music CDs from Michael W. Smith, Caedmon’s Call, Third Day, Amy Grant, Chris Rice, Integrity, Hillsongs, Selah, Fernando Ortega (the list is endless) at nearly 50% off retail. They also offer the complete Adventures In Odyssey and Focus On The Family’s Radio Theater titles at up to 50% off. Mount Carmel ships to almost any country in the world. In most countries, 10 CDs can be sent for as little as $11.00 via Air Global Priority. Their web address is http://www.mountcarmel.com and for e-mail correspondence contact Bill at wic(at)mountcarmel(dot)com
15. COME TO PERTH, W. AUSTRALIA TO TRAIN AS A STRATEGIC COORDINATOR! — The Strategic Coordinator Seminar is about planning and implementing evangelism, business and church planting among your favourite segment of society. It’s an intense 3-week seminar (13 November-2 December 2005) led by veteran missionaries experienced at implementing people- and city-transforming strategies. In the seminar you will create a working plan for the evangelization of your focus population; be it gothic youth in London, indigenous peoples of Australia, an unreached people group in Africa or a mega-city in Asia. If you want to see your church take a more active role in evangelizing your focus people through prayer, going and sending out missionaries; if you are a missionary who desires to see more prayer, people and finance on an international level directed towards your focus group, then this seminar is for you. Contact the Registrar: info(at)ywamperth(dot)org(dot)au or telephone +61 8 9328 5321 or fax +61 8 9328 1324 or log onto: http://www.ywamperth.org.au Please tell them you read about it in Brigada!
16. HELP THIS RESEARCHER LEARN ABOUT YOUR MOTIVES :-) — Here’s a researcher working on a private research project to benefit missionary candidates who are trying to determine what skills and experience are needed beyond Bible school for entry into pioneer evangelism and church planting ministry environments. He’s asking the Brigada community to participate in an anonymous poll online by going to http://www.Propempo.com and answering on the far right: “What best describes the business purpose for your presence in a limited access country?” There are six choices given: 1/ community development & relief; 2/ medical; 3/ tourism & travel; 4/ micro-economic or business development; 5/ education – ESL; 6/ other For those skittish about the online poll, they could email/phone him directly. He’ll share his results with those who ask for it.
17. FLASH! ANONYMOUS DONOR GIVES $1,000 TO BRIGADA! — Can you believe it? In this one fell swoop, this guy underwrites 1/16 of the total expenses we’ll need for an entire year’s worth of secretarial, web-hosting, communications, advertising, postage, and more! We appreciate you!!! Now here’s the challenge: Do you know of someone who might join this guy and also become of volunteer anonymous supporter!? If so, please step up to the plate! Bottom line: 13 more like this guy… and we’re done talking about it for a whole year! Thanks again to the anonymous friend!!! May God raise up more like you! If you’d just like to help Brigada, just click “sponsor” in the top menu (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. Thanks! 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.

20040725 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 03:30:00 +0000

In this issue…

ONLY HAVE $25? ADDED TOGETHER, IT WOULD DO THE TRICK! — Thanks to the anonymous donor who sent $25 this past week. So, if you were feeling bad because you can’t give a larger gift, just realize… if everybody pitched in together, it would go a long way toward helping us provide for the Brigada-sponsored secretary. Just log on to: http://www.brigada.org then click “sponsor” in the top menu, or just send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 11327 Jefferson Trace Blvd., Louisville, KY 40291. Thanks! 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 by anonymous.

DIALING OVERSEAS? SAVE BUCKS; HELP BRIGADA — Are you in a place with high international phone rates? For the cheapest rates for many country-to-country calls worldwide, go to http://www.brigada.org/phone.html And thanks to our friends at Dial-Abroad for the $162 they sent as a result of Brigada users’ calls on their network during the past month. I’m telling you… Dial-Aboard is a big help to covering the cost of the Brigada-sponsored secretary!

BE DISCIPLED TO REACH THE NATIONS — Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Turner Valley, Canada is staging a Discipleship Training School (DTS) to grow your faith and equip you to reach the nations with the Gospel. It includes 3 months training with 2 months mission trip. Here are the upcoming dates: September 15 / 04 to February 4 / 04 and March 23 / 05 to August 12 / 05. Prices: $ 3,200 CND (tuition and accommodation) plus $ 3,500 CND (missions trip). To DTS grads, they also offer the School of Biblical Studies (SBS), a 9-month inductive study of each book of the Bible. Dates: September 13 /04 to July 1 /05. Price : $8100 CND. Contact: turnervalley(at)ywam(dot)ca [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] http://www.ywamturnervlley.com

5TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON LANGUAGE LEARNING (ICLL5) — If you want to stay abreast of the cutting-edge issues in language and culture learning or are charged with the responsibility to keep your organization’s personnel pressing on toward communicative competence in language and culture, then the 5TH International Congress On Language Learning (ICLL5) is for you! The Congress is hosted by Mission Training International (MTI) and will be held October 11-15, 2004 in Colorado Springs, CO. The theme is “The Right Help at the Right Level”. Registration closes September 20. Register at http://www.mti.org/icll5 or get more information by writing info(at)mti(dot)org or call 800-896- 3710 or 719-487-0111. [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

HOW TO HANDLE TRAVEL WARNINGS — Here’s a Missions Pastor in Phoenix named Jeff who is trying to find out how other churches and mission organizations deal with State Dept travel warnings such as “defer non- essential travel.” How do you deal with church leaders who fear putting short-term teams at risk and protect the church from lawsuits by families should a team member be injured or killed on a trip? Do you have ways to protect the church from the non-Christian relative who might want to sue the church if there was an incident? Email Jeff Jeff(at)fccstriving(dot)com. He’ll share the results with us here later.

HELP FOR AWANA CLUBS — One or our greatest mission fields is children. Awana Clubs address this field and now there is help for those working in the local church in clubs: ARK – Awana Record Keeping software to keep track of information on the clubers, their awards, their progress, even inventory tracking of all the supplies. Software is available from Missionary TECH Team for $25 yearly support update service fee. For more information http://www.missionarytechteam.org/Software/index.htm or email JWood(at)techteam(dot)org. [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] The web page has additional contact information.

GO TO THE NATIONS… AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER — Here’s a 4-week TESOL course in effective English teaching techniques, sponsored by Youth With A Mission in Lebanon, PA, USA, will run from September 19 to October 15, 2004, and it will be offered again from October 24 to November 19, 2004. See the website at http://www.ywampa.org for details and application forms, or e-mail your questions to ywampa(at)comcast(dot)net [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

MENTAL HEALTH AND MISSIONS CONFERENCE — This year’s Mental Health and Missions conference will celebrate its 25th anniversary by capturing glimpses of the past, present and future. They will remember how God inspired mental health professionals to serve missions and how he has used the conference to aid that work, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This annual conference will be held November 18-21, 2004 at the Potawatomi Inn located in Indiana. Registration ends November 1, 2004. Register at http://www.mti.org/mhm For more information, write info(at)mti(dot)org or call 800-896-3710 or 719-487-0111. [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

SOUTH ASIAN YOUTH UNITE — SAGC 2004 is the first International gathering of South Asian Youth and Young Adult believers and Ministry Leaders from all over the world. It’s happening in Vancouver, Canada from August 4th – 8th 2004. The Convention theme is “Serving God’s Purposes in our Generation” Acts 13:36. For further information on Registration, Accommodation, Resource Personnel, Worship Bands and other details, please check the SAGC 2004 website at http://www.southasianconnection.com OR you may e-mail us at info(at)southasianconnection(dot)com. [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
MORE GOOD NEWS ABOUT PANERA — Jeffrey wrote (after last week’s reference to Panera giving away free wireless broadband to its customers) to fill us in on the fact that they also give away leftover bread supplies to non-profits after closing time! Cool! So — here’s one beggar telling another where to find bread — Panera! :-)

GREAT TIP FOR WORD USERS: CALCULATE! — Here’s a great tip for users of Microsoft Word. Open “Tools|Customize”, then click on the “Commands” tab. Scroll down in the left-hand side for the “Tools” menu heading, then highlight it. Now in the right-hand side, scroll down ’til you find “Tools Calculate”. Drag and drop that item to the top menu bar. You can right-click on it to “change button image” to a picture of a calculator, then right-click again to “default” style to get rid of the words. Now, next time you have a column of figures in a table, or several figures (one after another) in a line of text, highlight it, then click the calculate button, and see the result in the status bar. Better yet, do a ctrl-v “Edit-Paste” and you’ll see the total appear before your very eyes. It’s a great time-saver to have a first-class calculator in Word! Yahooo! :-)

20031130 Brigada Today

Editor — Sun, 30 Nov 2003 22:59:00 +0000

Sign up for long distance via a Brigada sponsor today! Save money, help Brigada instead of some big corporation, & get clear signals!

In this issue…

RESOURCE TO ENCOURAGE MISSIONARIES [THANKS!] — A Bible study guide called, “Finding Strength for the Journey,” provides a tool for member care or personal encouragement. Author Janice Lemke drew from experiences as a missionary when writing this series of thirty studies that explores topics such as perseverance in hardship, dealing with depression, handling conflict, and benefit from trials. For Brigada readers, they’ve discounted the price to $5.00, plus shipping. There’s a bigger discount ($4.00 each) for orders of 20 or more. For more information contact cjlemkecscom (cjlemkecscom) (And thanks to the author for sending a personal check to Brigada for $100, just to say thanks for previous times we’ve mentioned her book!)

SAVE ON YOUR PHONE BILL, HELP BRIGADA INSTEAD OF BIG BUSINESS — When you pick up the phone and make a long distance call, you’re definitely helping *somebody*. Unless you have personal friends at MCI, would you consider teaming up to help provide for a Brigada secretary? Check out our options at: http://www.brigada.org/phone.html (Thanks to Andy and the folks at Dial-Abroad for a $40 sponsorship check representing Brigada folks dialing long distance through October. So to those Brigada folks who have signed up with Dial-Abroad, thanks *loads*, and please be all the more talkative in the future!!! :-) )

TRUE-LIFE TESTIMONY: PORNOGRAPHY FILTERS BLOCK BUT DON’T PROVIDE — Perhaps those living on Mars haven’t heard that we’re trying to raise funds for a Brigada secretary. Everybody else probably knows by now, I guess. :-) Actually, the project has gone okay, with only a few “bumps in the road” so far. One of those is our attempt to offer a pornography filter to the Brigada world, and thereby subsidize a portion of her salary. Literally hundreds of you went and looked (Thanks!). A few dozen opted to try it (We appreciate it!). Only 6 people bought it. (We love you — you noble 6 people you! Oops… I’m one of the six. :-) ) Bottom line: After 10 months promoting Integrity Online, we’ve still not received a single sponsorship check… not even for $25. All of this can be interpreted several ways. a) If you’re someday tempted to believe you can sponsor a secretary via proceeds from a pornography filter, perhaps you should have a look at the latest bridges for sale in New York. :-) b) Maybe there are other options God has in store. c) Lots of people realize the *need* for filtering pornography, but either they don’t care enough to buy a filter or they handle it in other ways. You’ll have to form your own opinions. For now, we’ve pulled the banner from the Brigada site, just so there’s no illusion that our secretary can even eat *lunch* once riding on Integrity Online. :-) Just FYI…

HAVE YOU SEEN THE “UPDATED” JOSHUA PROJECT SITE? — If not, you’ve *got* to have a look. Log on at… http://www.joshuaproject.net
*** Get a complete picture of the unreached peoples.
*** View all people groups for any country.
*** View all countries for any specific people group.
*** View Patrick Johnstone’s Affinity Bloc and People Clusters.
*** Download free of charge a complete MS Access application and data for viewing data from numerous perspectives. (Note: You have to install Access on your own PC for this to work though.)
*** Download Joshua Project data in various formats or an up-to-date Powerpoint presentation on the status of World Evangelization.
*** View a people profile for any people group on the planet.
*** Find specific ministry tool availability by unique linking into other sites to see Language, Scripture, Jesus Film, Audio Recordings and God’s Story resources direct from their producers.
*** Submit updates But that’s not all. Read on!

MORE INFO AT JOSHUAPROJECT.NET — But wait… there’s more!
*** See a global summary and interesting people group facts.
*** Try various unreached peoples queries such as the 100 largest unreached people groups, the Adopt-A-People UPG153 groups or all groups smaller than 10,000 and many more.
*** View Patrick Johnstone’s Church Planting Progress Indicator (6- level) and his Agency Progress Indicator (6-level) for most people groups.
*** Get answers to frequently asked questions such as “Why the jump from 1,600 to 6,400 unreached peoples?”, “Why are there so many different people group numbers in the mission community?” and “Where else on the web can I find unreached peoples data?”

The [top-notch] compilers welcome feedback from anyone regarding the site and its content. In beta-testing these features over the past couple of weeks, I’ve found them to be responsive, passionate about the unreached, and *sensitive* to my questions and input. In fact, one of the key compilers is working totally as a volunteer!!! Another leader there has been with the project since its inception at AD2000. *Very* helpful information. Let’s *use* it!

http://www.joshuaproject.net

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS AT THE USCWM — If you ever thought of working “behind-the-scenes” in missions mobilization, training, strategy or services, then perhaps “Explore” is for you. Designed for people who wish to learn more about the U.S. Center for World Mission in Pasadena, CA, this 4-day seminar covers the history, impact and mission of the USCWM, with a focus on how you might use your gifts here to reach unreached people groups out there. The next Explore Seminar is scheduled for February 4 – 7, 2004. Space is limited, so register early. For more information, please visit the USCWM website http://www.uscwm.org or email DavidFlynnuscwmorg

EUROTRAIN: AN INNOVATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNG LEADERS — Top Flight Leadership is taking nominations for EuroTrain 2004, an innovative training experience for young leaders. EuroTrain (for leaders age 16- 22) is a completely unique experience and an answer to the new paradigms needed to develop new generations of leaders. For three weeks next summer, EuroTrain participants will travel through four countries in Europe learning leadership, developing ministry skills, getting a grasp of their destiny, building key relationships, and creating a plan for long-term personal and leadership growth. Get the details and nominate a young leader (or request to be nominated) at http://www.eurotrain2004.com or contact Top Flight Leadership at <infoeurotrain2004com>, 866-9- LEADER, or 817-447-1100. </infoeurotrain2004com>

THE NAMA/DAMARA PEOPLE — They’re a people of central and southern Namibia in Africa. A Nama woman in Keetmanshoop, Namibia was open to hearing the Gospel, but she said, “Belonging to a church is enough to get you into heaven.” She would not pray to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Like most Nama/Damara people she believed that joining a church gets you into Heaven. It was confusing to her and the five others with her to grasp that they aren’t saved by joining a church. In times past, her people have been told that they could not work without first having a “baptismal certificate” (joining a church). Because of that, many claim to be Christians, but the true Gospel has never been preached to them. Pray for the Lord to build prayer support for the Nama/Damara, an unengaged people group. To get more information or partner with the IMB in adopting the Nama/Damara People or for more information, check out their site http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email swacsciafricacom

STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN SHORT-TERM MISSION — A group of U.S. mission agencies and short-term practitioners have developed nationally-derived Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission (SOE) at http://STMstandards.org (e-mail: rpetersonSTEMminorg; phone: 952-996-1385). The seven standards were developed on the heels of similar codes in the UK and Canada. The need for such standards is growing as each year more than one million U.S. volunteers are sent out as short-term missionaries. Churches, agencies and schools can use these standards as a training and assessment tool and can choose to adopt the standards as a way of demonstrating a commitment to excellence in their outreaches. Membership brings professionally structured guidance for achieving goals and an impressive network of organizations offering opportunities for resource sharing, improved training, minimized risk, and mentoring. Members of the steering committee come from Campus Crusade for Christ, YWAM, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Reign Ministries, Teenmania, STEM Int’l, Adventures in Missions, Perimeter Church (Atlanta), Taylor University, Northwestern College and many other groups.

THE HERERO PEOPLE — They’re from central and eastern Namibia in Africa. Godhard Kahuure, a Herero and a police officer in the small town of Okakarara, Namibia, was standing outside a fence watching three Christians telling people about Jesus. He asked them what they were doing. When the translator explained it, he invited them to his home just a few steps behind the jail. All four sat under a tree on old metal chairs in his sand yard. He heard the Gospel and prayed to receive Christ. Afterward he explained that he has been “waiting for someone to come and tell him God’s Word.” Pray for the Lord to build prayer support for the Herero, an unengaged people group. To get more information or partner with the IMB in adopting the Herero people, visit http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email swacsciafricacom

TRAINING FOR SHORT-TERM MISSIONS LEADERS — Don’t forget about the training for short-term missions trip leaders. It’s a Boot Camp in San Diego, CA Jan. 7-9 or in Dallas, TX Feb. 2-4, 2004. This training is conducted by Global Missions Fellowship. For more information about these Boot Camps, email jenniferbankheadgmforg To learn more about the ministry of GMF, click over to http://www.gmf.org/

SYNERGY SUMMIT FOR CHURCH MISSIONS MOBILIZERS — Specifically designed for mission agency staff involved in church mobilization, the two-day “Synergy Summit” program includes training, networking, encouragement and resources. Sponsored by DualReach, the Summit will be held January 15-16, 2004, in San Juan Capistrano, California (south of Los Angeles). Seminars will focus on topics for beginner and experienced church representatives, and special sessions will address the interests and needs of mobilization directors. The registration cost is only $150. For a complete schedule, go to http://www.dualreach.org or send an email to infodualreachorg.

MISSIONARY MENTORSHIP CONFERENCE CALL — Elijah Company Missionary Mentorship will host a FREE one hour conference call for anyone seeking missions involvement. The call will be on Thursday, December 11 at 8:30 P.M. E.S.T.. The aim of the conference is to provide coaching. Veteran missionaries will share followed by a time of questions and answers. The conference is a lead-in to other training options. Reply to mentorshipelijahcompanyorg for the dial-in phone number, access code and outline of contents. See their new website at http//www.elijahcompany.org for bio¹s and other related info.

20030928 Brigada Today

Editor — Sun, 28 Sep 2003 22:05:00 +0000

In this issue…

SPONSORS MAKE A DIFFERENCE! — Can you believe it? Caught up … after *months* of trailing badly behind! Thanks to the wonderful sponsors who have not only provided funds to hire a Brigada Secretary, but have also provided a strong intangible incentive: “These folks *care*!” We appreciate the anonymous sponsor who sent $30, saying, “Thank you for your good work!”, as well as the other very encouraging partners who wrote, “Hi Doug. I’ve been enjoying the Brigada updates for several years now. It’s great help in keeping up with missions events and topics. I’m now serving with a church planting team in Spain and it’s even more important to stay connected. You are doing a great job and I am happy to be able to contribute to your Secretary Fund!” (Enclosed: Check for $100) Honestly, we dedicate this issue of Brigada Today to those two sponsors because in a very real sense, they are the reason we’re caught up today!

For more information on sponsors, click here.

SAVE ON YOUR PHONE RATES / HELP BRIGADA — Save on overseas phone calls and help support Brigada – go to http://www.brigada.org/phone.html for more information.

THE LOCAL CHURCH: A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY — Member Care Southern Africa has recently published a 127-page book, entitled “Member Care for Missionaries – A Practical Guide for Senders,” written by Marina Prins and Braam Willemse. The book serves as a practical resource to equip senders in the comprehensive care of their missionaries. Subjects such as the Biblical basis for member care, what the missionary experiences on the field, the support team within the local church, and re-entry care are some of the topics covered in the book’s three sections. A short chapter on attrition is also included. The book is based on thorough research, practical experience from the presentation of workshops in local churches, as well as the practical field experience of both authors who served as missionaries in Malawi. The book is available in both English and Afrikaans and comes with strong endorsements from Marjory Foyle and Kelly O’Donnell. The price is US$12.00 per copy (excluding postage). For further detail contact Member Care Southern Africa at mcsaxsinetcoza . To order a copy, go to their web site at http://home.wol.co.za/~20141204

HURRY! 2 ONLINE COURSES FREE / FREE “E-BIBLES” — Study the “School of Mission” and the “Practical Ministries” courses while online (connected to our servers), or download them and study offline, then dial-up to your Internet service provider (ISP) to connect with your whole class, your discussion group, your instructor or the registrar by email. The 13-week introductory semester has already begun, and ends December 24. To try out the courses, just login as “guest” and password is “password” at these links: http://www.agape-biblia.org/index02.htm – School of Mission http://www.agape-biblia.org/index04.htm – Practical Ministries Then click on “Introduction” on the left side, and you’ll see how to enroll. After taking the 3-month introductory semester, you can continue studying with “Agape-Biblia” four more semesters for a certificate, or open your own online “School of Mission” and “Practical Ministries” website with the free software. (The same courses are also available in Russian.) Also available are FREE electronic Bibles in Russian (3Mb with notes and commentary), Hebrew-Greek, English, Spanish, German and French (1.5Mb each) with more to come! Each Bible works independently, or links to any of the other Bibles to compare chapters. For the above courses you will need the English Bible: http://www.agape-biblia.org/Biblia02.htm

MISSION TEAM SEEKS SCHOOL TEACHERS — A mission team serving among the Watchi people in southeastern Togo, West Africa is seeking one or two school teachers to work with the team’s eight elementary age children. The team provides a three-room school, with American home school curriculum and computers, a furnished house, a vehicle, and partial salary. A teacher is needed beginning in January 2004. Commitments should be for one or more school semesters. An education degree and knowledge of French are helpful, but not essential. Learn more about the team and the position at http://www.watchiharvest.com Email the school principal at togodudeyahoocom

YOUNG PEOPLE IDENTIFY OBSTACLES TO MISSIONS — Here’s a new book release, “Scaling the Wall”, by Kathy Hicks of OM USA. At the Urbana 2001 Missions conference hundreds of college students were posed the question, “What is keeping more people from becoming involved in the great commission?” Their fears were written on a large wall and later collected, compiled and categorized. Fears such as loss of friends, loss of money, disapproval of parents, inadequate experience surfaced as common obstacles to be overcome. In this brand-new book, missionaries, from many organizations and from around the world who have experienced these same fears, share their personal stories of how God overcame and met their needs in ways they could have never expected. The distributor, Gabriel Resources, offers discounts on books to individuals, missionaries, mission organizations and churches. Email orderomlitomorg or call 1-8MORE-BOOKS (1-866-732-6657) toll-free in the USA & Canada or 706-554-1594.

CHURCH MOBILIZATION TOOL – DualReach has developed the Design Your Impact Workshop — a five-hour seminar that enables church leaders to discover their congregation’s key characteristics and resources (their DNA) and identify a strategic missions focus that can unleash powerful, new global dynamic from their church. Workshops are led by trained individuals with extensive teaching resources. They include 7 video clips of model churches, 2 animation clips, PowerPoint, Facilitator’s Manual and Participant’s Notebook. Upcoming training dates: Oct. 15/San Juan Capistrano, CA (south of LA); Dec. 2/Orlando, FL; Jan. 14/San Juan Capistrano, CA; and Jan. 29/Vancouver, BC. Details at: http://www.dualreach.org/resources/ or email infodualreachorg

THE WORLD OF STREET CHILDREN & HOW TO RESPOND — Here’s another new release entitled, “Street Children,” by Andy Butcher. In it, he documents an estimated 100 million Children spend their days on City Streets around the world, 10 million of these are totally on their own, uncared for and unprotected. He cites 4611 children and adolescents that were executed in Brazil between 1988 and 1990. These frightening statistics are just a snapshot of the plight of street children in the world today. The result of extensive research, this book combines hard statistics with individual stories to challenge our indifference and awaken our conscience. Andy Butcher’s newly updated book compares the situation facing Street Children today with that epitomized in the Dickens novel Oliver Twist. Frighteningly, he concludes that if we look at a global perspective, little progress has been made. Gabriel Resources offers discounts on books to individuals, missionaries, mission organizations and churches. Email orderomlitomorg or call 1- 8MORE-BOOKS (1-866-732-6657) toll-free in the USA & Canada or 706-554- 1594.

A FINISHERS FORUM — Catch this event slated for Charlotte, NC October 24-25, focused on those willing to serve the Lord in the missions enterprise, home or abroad, short-term or as a second career. This is a powerful time to consider how to spend the rest of your life. It for those post-college through post-career. For details and registration see http://www.finishers.org/events/

HOSPITALITY FOR THOSE WHO SERVE — ServantCARE http://www.servantcare.com is a ministry that cares for those who serve, and they’ve been establishing “Hospitality Homes” around the world for those who serve while they travel, whether for ministry, or on furlough. To date they have “Hospitality Homes” in 16 states and 11 countries, but need more, especially in the United States. The goal is to have five locations in the N., S., E., W., and Central part of each state. They would like more volunteers to serve as a B & B, or to do exchanges. Please let Christian friends know of this opportunity to serve. For information contact Anita at apservantcarecom . They also have a home in S.E. Alabama that serves as a retreat center for individuals or couples in need of rest and refreshing.

FINISHERS PROJECT — “Finishers” has added an interesting new feature to its website. Each partner mission agency is able to post five of its top needs so you can easily find a specific compelling assignment that fits you. About half of the top needs are in North America. Each entry contains facts and a summary description. There are several ways to sort the list. See http://www.finishers.org/start/topneeds.php

TESOL SCHOOL: PREPARE TO TEACH ENGLISH — Teaching English opens many doors to ministry throughout the world, but it takes some training to teach English well. Youth With A Mission in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA has scheduled the next TESOL school for January 18 to February 13, 2004. For information, see the website: http://www.ywampa.org, or e-mail to ywampacomcastnet .

ESL-JOBS.COM — This is a new website to mobilize Christians to take real jobs teaching English as a second language in Asia. These are now being filled by secularists and Mormons. These are first of all ministry positions, but they also offer income. Finishers Project partner organizations are placing applicants with real employers. There are many partial support and missionary assignments as well. Successful applicants must speak English as a first language and have a college degree. Help mobilize our own to represent Jesus in these spiritually needy countries. Visit http://www.esl-jobs.com and commend it to your friends, especially those in their 20s and empty-nesters.

SPECIAL REPORT ON PHONE & VIDEO CONFERENCING — Here’s the special report on phone and video conferencing from Andrew Steele, a Senior Assoc. with International Christian Media Commission in the UK. Thanks Andrew!

First of all for video conferences (and quite often audio only links) everyone involved needs a broadband connection. Although most services claim to work on 56k dial-up modems our experience was distorted sound and vision unless a broadband link was present. Sometimes audio worked OK but video without broadband was never successful.

The most effective package that we discovered in our searches is iVisit. This comes in a free version and a slightly more functioned subscription based version. Both provide audio and video streams plus the usual text chat service. The subscription version (US$25 per year) adds the option to create private meeting rooms). iVisit connections seem to work well until organisational firewalls come into effect. Theoretically they shouldn’t hamper the service but somehow we kept running into issues when firewalls were in the loop. http://www.ivisit.info

University College London provides a set of conferencing tools that are full of promise but need some technical assistance to set up. So, we haven’t been able to test the software yet. So if anyone wih the skills wants to volunteer to help us get the package up and running we’d be keen to speak. http://www-mice.cs.ucl.ac.uk/multimedia/software/

MSN Messenger and Microsoft’s NetMeeting software are both useful tools provided you only want to conduct a two way conversation with video and audio. In fact for two way work our experience was that these packages were more intuitive to use than other packages. http://messenger.msn.com

For lectures and presentations we found a combination of either Real Server or Windows Media Server for the presentation and a simple text chat using MSN Messenger (or one of the other messenger programs) worked well. Real Server (now called Helix Server) and Windows Media Server require an arrangement with an ISP willing to host the server software but both come in a free version that served our needs adequately for small groups. http://www.realnetworks.com/products/server/
http://www.robertwisbey.com/how_to_web_cam_wme.html

We also found a few commercial providers whose rates were prohibitive for regular use.

We are still convinced that we can find a combination of tools that will do what we need but are resigned to the fact that, so far at least, those part of the world without broadband Internet will be limited in their ability to link up. That means we’re sticking with our tried and trusted methods of connection so that all our contacts can participate regardless of where they are and only use the ip based technologies when we are sure that everyone can link up.

Andrew Steele
adminicmcorg

20030907 Brigada Today

Editor — Sun, 07 Sep 2003 22:07:00 +0000

In this issue…

CD-ROM TOOL: FOUR PRIMARY GOALS — Don’t forget… You only have a month remaining to get the special introductory pricing on the Brigada sponsoring project, the “Countries and Peoples of the World” CD-ROM. The stated aims of the project are:
*** MOTIVATE individuals and churches to PRAY for the least reached countries and peoples of the world.
*** ORIENT individuals and churches to ADOPT one or more of the least reached peoples of the world
*** EQUIP individuals and churches to GO and work long term among one or more of the least reached peoples of the world.
*** SEND and SUSTAIN individuals and church planting teams engaged in EVANGELIZING and DISCIPLING of the least reached peoples of the world through STRATEGIC ALLIANCES and PARTNERSHIPS. If you were thinking you’d just use the Bethany Unreached People Profiles on the web, better look again. They’ve recently been completely pulled. As far as we can tell, there’s no trace of them left anywhere on the web. That makes this *library* of unreached people profiles one of the best remaining sources for quality up-to-date information. (The Bethany profiles were mostly all compiled in 1996 anyway, so they were well over a half-decade old anyway! This CD is fresh as of this *month*!) Order at: http://www.ywam.org/books/countries_and_peoples.htm Note they hope to begin shipping the product this weekend! We’re told that Brigada participants had ordered over 60 of these CDs within the first 4 hours of the initial Brigada announcement! Yahooo! :-)

BEST SOURCE YET FOR SPECIFIC, IN-DEPTH, INT’L EMAILED NEWS — I think one of our staff here at Team Expansion (Martin) has discovered what just might be the best source yet for country-specific, in-depth news analysis. And guess what: It’s all absolutely free! Martin & Bob, both Field Coordinators for Team Expansion, recently shared with me their reliance on OSAC http://www.ds-osac.org/ You can browse OSAC’s news “live” on the web, sign up for country- specific emailed news links (which open web stories), and even place news “tickers” on your website — all for free! Compared to other offerings, this is like drinking news from a fire hydrant! Only in the new millennium could something like this be so ever-flowing and *free*!

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR USA FLIGHTS: SMALL PREMIUM, BIG PAYOUT — If you’re headed out for a flight right here in the USA, don’t forget to consider travel insurance before you fly. For practically pennies a day you can cover unexpected expenses for small stuff… and the catastrophic stuff. Adams & Associates International, a Brigada sponsor, has travel insurance plans for all kinds of domestic and foreign trips. For more information, call 800-922-8438 or visit http://www.aaintl.com
FREE DOWNLOADS FOR STUDYING EVANGELISM OF RUSSIAN YOUTH — Several papers (which became part of a doctor of missiology dissertation) are free for the downloading and distributing through the following site: http://www.markharris.us The papers discuss the religious background of Russian young people who became believers, the way they describe being evangelized by Westerners, how they describe their conversion, and how they evaluate Western evangelism. They have much to say to us! The research is also useful for understanding youth in other post-communist countries. Mark, thanks for sharing your thoughts with the whole Brigada family!

IN THE MOOD TO STRIKE BACK AT SPAM — More and more Brigada readers are in the mood to strike back at spam. Got Linux? Get SPAMBOUNCER, says Richard, from South East Asia Mission Teams. Learn more at: http://www.spambouncer.org

According to Richard, “It is the best and most complete solution we have found to date. It catches way over 95% of the spam I get (600 to 1000 messages weekly on one 6 year old address).” Richard adds that one of the best parts is that spambouncer is free, courtesy its author and a fellow spam hater, Catherine A. Hampton. Thanks Catherine!

Richard says SpamBouncer goes one step beyond MailWasher. It can be configured to automatically send a complaint to the ISP administrator. What’s more, it uses the IP address from which the spam originated, NOT the “From:” line. Sounds like a great plan. Can’t wait for the same thing for Windows users! Thanks for writing, Richard!

Les, meanwhile, likes http://www.spamcop.net He reports that for $30/year, SpamCop reduces his unsolicited ads and other junk mail to a trickle… maybe “3 or 4 per week!” (I remember those days! About 3 years ago!) Thanks Les!

COMPUTER BUYING ADVICE — Tom, of O.M. Lit and Gabriel Resources, is looking for advice on purchasing a laptop and digital camera to be used in China. Got any brands he should lean towards or avoid? Any tips on power, software, etc.? E-mail him at worldlysainthotmailcom (worldlysainthotmailcom) . He’s agreed in advance to prepare a summary report for us. Thanks Tom!

“THANKS!” FROM A SATISFIED BRIGADA READER — Thanks to Les, of DCI World Changers, who wrote recently to testify, “The website you launched for us is over two and a half million hits now…” You can check out his work at http://www.worldchristians.org/ Isn’t it hard to believe that anything could start here in a Brigada newsletter and eventually grow to reach 2.5 million visitors? Yikes. So thanks to all our sponsors for keeping us going!!!

SO FAR: I’M SURVIVING WITHOUT RESPONDING TO PLAXO! — This has the makings of a new TV “reality show”! “I survived Plaxo!” Yup… so far, I have somehow managed to resist all urges. To date, I’ve never clicked on a single Plaxo ping! In fact, if you write me about Plaxo, odds are I’ll never see it anyway, because I now have a MailWasher filter set up that automatically filters anyone mentioning Plaxo in the subject or body. So if you’re planning on writing in its defense :-) (wasting your breath, by the way :-) ), better misspell it. Maybe … Plaque-so? :-) What an ironic twist. Plaque in the blood stops up blood veins; Plaque- so on the Internet stops up our bandwidth! It’s all starting to make sense! :-) (Okay… I’m joking, kind of. :-) ) I think for me it stills boils down to a resistance to anything that seeks to coerce me to participate in giving out my personal information to a large database over which I’ll never have absolute control. (I’d put them on the “Do not email me” government list, but some judge would probably just shoot it down anyway. :-) ) I don’t give my social security number to telemarketers… so why should I confirm anything to the Plaxo people? Who knows… If they sell the service someday, maybe the new owners won’t follow the same strict set of voluntary “privacy rules” that the Plaxo people have contrived. One Brigada participant wrote to assert that, hey… your information is already in there anyway… to which I have to respond — well then why are they bugging me if they already know about me! :-) That’s spam! He went on to say it isn’t a “worm”. Well neither are many of the other 100s of spam messages I get daily. Nope… I’m a survivor. Let’s print up some bumper stickers: “Never respond to machine that sounds like build-up on your teeth!” :-)

LOOKING FOR A TRIP ON THE AMAZON? — Here’s one reader’s offer for work in the Brazilian Amazon and work in medical missions on a medical boat trip. The reported purpose: To share the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with the river population. This group is working with some 40,000 river residents said to be without Jesus and medical attention. For more information, see http://evangemed.tripod.com/amazon2002/index.html Email wilsonbonfimevangemedmailzzncom (As always, be sure to carry out your own thorough checking of each opportunity submitted to Brigada Today. We can’t possibly “screen” each item as to its history or current involvement.)