http://www.ywamsalem.org/

Monday, November 29, continuing Wednesday, December 1, 2010. It’ll take place at Youth With A Mission, Strategic Frontiers @ thePark. To register, collect $99 then email…

Join us in Colorado Springs, CO for the first ever Backyard Academy, as YWAM SF partners with Not For Sale and local activists to stop human trafficking globally and in our own backyards.  During this full three-day conference, you will learn from experts in the field and equip yourself with tools to take action to end this atrocity. Organizers hope to collect a bunch of money and end modern-day slavery in this generation.

http://www.createthailand.com/scam

YWAM SanFrancisco invites you to travel to California and meet the people in San Francisco. They want each one to come face to face with Jesus.
Browse

http://www.ywamsanfrancisco.org/

or email

http://www.ywamjax.com/

or call (904)384-8400, or E-mail Aaron at

1. WANT TO MINISTER TO THE POOR WITHOUT CREATING DEPENDENCY?
2. AVOID TAKING A HIT WHEN YOUR MISSION TRIP CANCELS
3. REACHING JAPANESE FOR CHRIST CONFERENCES
4. GET CREDIT: DISTANCE-LEARNING COURSE ON MICROENTERPRISE
5. TINYURL TRICK: CUSTOMIZE YOUR BROWSER WITH THE TOOL
6. YWAM OFFERS TO ENHANCE YOUR RELIEF TEAM
7. THE LINK BETWEEN: CONNECTING CHRISTIANS LIVING BETWEEN CULTURES
8. INTERNET EVANGELISM COALITION VIDEOS
9. FREE EPHESIANS BOOKLET
10. GREAT OPP FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PERSON IN RALEIGH, NC
11. YOUR GIFT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
12. THE BACKPAGE: WHAT WILL VIDEOCONFERENCING DO FOR YOU?
13. CLOSING STUFF

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1. WANT TO MINISTER TO THE POOR WITHOUT CREATING DEPENDENCY? — Learn how through the “Foundations and Principles of Holistic Ministry” distance course from the Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Development at Covenant College. The January 8 – February 2, 2007 offering of the course is now full and the Chalmers Center is taking registration for the May 7 – June 1, 2007 course offering. The “Foundations” course is designed for anyone doing ministry and community outreach among the poor – pastors, church planters, ministry leaders and lay staff, and missionaries. This course is a guided- reading program with weekly written assignments and peer-to-peer interaction with other course participants. Because it is e-mail based, slow dial-up speed will not limit participation. Prior financial or economic experience is not required to participate. Group discounts and a Two-Thirds World discount are available. To learn more or to register, visit

   http://www.chalmers.org

   or call 706-419-1805 (U.S.), or email chalmers(at)covenant(dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] When registering, use Reference Identifier BRN-10/06.

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2. AVOID TAKING A HIT WHEN YOUR MISSION TRIP CANCELS –- Have you ever had to cancel a mission trip due to weather, political unrest, personal emergency or other crisis? Have you lost out on pre-paid travel expenses? What if you could get insurance that would pay you back for nonrefundable trip expenses? And what if you could help Brigada at the same time? Well, through a partnership between Brigada and Insurance Services of America it is now possible to do so! When you purchase insurance from Insurance Services of America on Brigada’s website your purchase will help to support Brigada’s work with the missionary community! Check out the “Round Trip” travel insurance plan at

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

   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. Insurance Services of America has agreed to help support Brigada from sales that are made on this link, so when you purchase on this site you will be helping to support Brigada and you will be protecting yourself and your ministry from financial loss!

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3. REACHING JAPANESE FOR CHRIST CONFERENCES — The Reaching Japanese for Christ 6th Annual National Conference will take place February 16- 18 at Northshore Baptist Church, Bothell, Washington. And now for the first time, on January 27th at Pacific View Baptist Church, Torrance, CA. there will be a one-day RJC conference in Southern California. Besides important workshops Dr. George Gallup, Jr. will speak concerning religious awareness of Japanese. If you are involved in or interested in ministry to Japanese in North America, these conferences are for you! Information is available at

   http://www.rjcnetwork.org

   or contact Don Wright at don_wright(at)comcast(dot)net

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4. GET CREDIT: DISTANCE-LEARNING COURSE ON MICROENTERPRISE — For those ministering to the poor in the Two-Thirds World, the Chalmers Center also offers a distance course on microfinance and microenterprise development services and interventions and a distance course on basic principles of Savings and Credit Associations (SCAs) and how SCAs can be used as a ministry tool. The microfinance and microenterprise course is also available in self-study format. To learn more or to register, visit http://www.chalmers.org or call 706-419-1805 (U.S.), or email chalmers(at)covenant(dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] When registering, use Reference Identifier BRN-10/06.

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5. TINYURL TRICK: CUSTOMIZE YOUR BROWSER WITH THE TOOL — Hats off to Jonathan for pointing out that we don’t have to “go to TinyURL” to create a shorter URL for that long web address. We just put the following Java code in our toolbar in IE, Firefox or Opera. Then we click and — wala! — the page we’re viewing is given a TinyURL! According to Jonathan, this also works a shortcut in Blazer on the Palm/Treo. Here is the javascript:

   javascript:void(location.href=’http://tinyurl.com/create.php?url=’+loca tion.href)

   Warning: Ironic, isn’t it . . . that the above script might wrap in your email client — so be sure to reassemble it into one line when we enter the above code into a favorite or bookmark. (Thanks Jonathan!)

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6. YWAM OFFERS TO ENHANCE YOUR RELIEF TEAM — Join Streams Express in “Streams in the Desert,” a trans-national relief & development ministry of YWAM-MMI. Streams would like to host all types of teams through their dispatches within the 10/40 countries. Streams dispatches are equipped and some are nationals in their country base. Contact the Streams Center now if you know the number of people in your teams coming to which country. Streams dispatches can host your teams and enhance their capability in the outreach with the needs of their target communities. Streams dispatches are particularly in the Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq, Liberia, Mali, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Tanzania, Syria, Dubai, China, Albania, Kosovo, etc.

   http://www.streams.mysite.com

   Skype: streams7express or email streams7(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 .]

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7. THE LINK BETWEEN: CONNECTING CHRISTIANS LIVING BETWEEN CULTURES — In searching for support in the wonderful, yet challenging task of uniting across cultures within intercultural marriage, Rukshan and Jody F. have often felt like pioneers. Though globalization increases the stakes of effective cross-cultural skills, much seems left unsaid – especially by Christians. “The Link Between” seeks to provide a network for Christians living out Christ’s call to “live at peace with all men” by crossing the cultural boundaries of parenting, marriage, church, career and life. The Link Between is continually compiling resources exploring these themes. If you are interested in contributing articles are resources, check out Jody’s blog at

   http://thelinkbetween.wordpress.com/

   or mail her at jodyfernando(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 .]

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8. INTERNET EVANGELISM COALITION VIDEOS — The Internet Evangelism Coalition

   http://www.webevangelism.com/

   is offering free access, until the end of November, to videos of presentations from its 2006 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Just click on “Meetings” in the left margin and you’ll see the selection for all the media. Questions? Just email naomi(at)webevangelism(dot)com. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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9. FREE EPHESIANS BOOKLET — SOON Ministries have produced a free 32- page small-group study booklet on Ephesians. Written in easy-English, it is intended primarily for the non-Western world. The booklet is available to download in PDF and Publisher formats, so that users can print it themselves. They are also free to sell copies without restriction, or translate the material.

   http://www.soon.org.uk/studyephesians

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10. GREAT OPP FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PERSON IN RALEIGH, NC — The Southeast Regional Offices of the Perspectives Study Program is looking for an administratively gifted individual to help work in the office. Bob Stevens is the Regional Supervisor over a nine state region that will run about 30 classes this year alone with over 900 students. Bob is looking for someone who has good administrative abilities, is good at closing out details and follow through, a self-starter with good computer and phone skills. Such a person must be willing to raise support or fund him/herself and be willing to make a minimum 2 year commitment, working at least 1/2 a day for 4 days a week. If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact Bob at BSUSWCMSE(at)aol(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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11. YOUR GIFT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE — Let’s talk end-of-year. Did your stocks do well? Got $10,000 you’d like to give to a ministry where it won’t be just another gift? Think about Brigada. With $10K, you could underwrite the rest of our entire calendar year 2006 financial needs. (We’re currently at just under $6800 and we need $16,650.) Once you give the $10K, the entire Brigada list of 11,000 subscribers would receive their weekly Brigada editions courtesy of your special gift! These blips would vanish. You’d make a *huge* impact because the entire annual budget is just $16,650! Perhaps you’ve only got $100? Your $100 would still make a huge difference here. 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.

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12. THE BACKPAGE: WHAT WILL VIDEOCONFERENCING DO FOR YOU? — Years ago, when I would hear about videoconferencing, I’d imagine how cool it might be… then quickly snap back to reality when I saw the hefty fees and per-minute charges. Well… welcome to 2006. Just a few days ago, I had the opportunity to greet and pray with 4 of our mission’s teams working on the island of Taiwan. They had come together for a strategy summit, with the intent of improving their respective outreaches. They hooked up a data projector and shined me on the big screen. From my home in Louisville, KY, I shared a 15-minute challenge & devotion, prayed with them, and then we did question and answer about the latest stuff with the over all organization. So basically, we were able to do a half-hour video conference across the Pacific and the total cost for everybody involved totaled zero dollars. Dream come true — for 5 people… or 500 people. You see, it doesn’t matter. If you get a chance, and the opportunity presents itself, try it out. All you need is a Skype ID, a webcam (pick one up for $40 at CompUSA or have someone bring you one on an upcoming visit), broadband Internet (you might have to visit an Internet cafe… which might be a problem if you’re in a limited access country; but except for that, Skype is supposed to be encrypted, as long as the technology they sold the Chinese doesn’t betray us :-) ), and a headset/mic. On the *conference* side, in addition to the above equipment, they’ll need a data projector and a screen.

    Here are some tips you could try to maximize the effectiveness of your videoconference:

    *** Headset/Mic: Be sure to pick up one of these for you, if you’re the main speaker. If you try to use the mic built into your laptop, you’ll get lots of ambient room noises *plus* the rebroadcasted echo of their questions. Look for headset/mic with a broad frequency range like the Logitech Premium Notebook Headset Mic (for about $50-$60).

    *** Outline: Plan your talk, but I’d recommend that you not write it out word-for-word. Part of the magic of these video-conferences is the spontaneity of it all. If you read a prepared speech, it’ll sound more … “canned”. At the same time, have your talk planned so you can get to the point without rambling. See the next point.

    *** Keep it brief: As fun as these conferences are, I’d suggest keeping your prepared talk to 10′ or less. Leave time for your audience to ask you questions. It’ll *soooooo* much more show off the technology. (After all, you could have just sent them a video or DVD of yourself and the quality would have been much higher.)

    *** Practice makes perfect: Try out your connection in advance, before the crowd gathers. Chad (the guy who prepared the equipment at the summit mentioned above) and I got together a week or so beforehand to work out any bugs. Make sure everything is smooth before you feel “under the gun.”

    *** Be on time: Your group will be looking forward to the new technology. But one of the downsides of this format is … you have to *be* there. In other words, email is “send-it-and-forget-it.” You can be 30′ late and nobody cares — or even knows. Videoconferences, by contrast, are “real time.” What does that word, “real” mean? Simple. If you’re not there, they’ll be *real* frustrated.

    Have fun and good luck. And again… welcome to 2006… the day and age of essentially free videoconferencing!

1. GO EQUIPPED TENTMAKING COURSE IN OSLO NORWAY
2. IN SEARCH OF WEBSITE HOSTS FOR TUNISIAN ARABIC MEDIA CONTENT
3. HOW DO YOU TYPE IN ALL THOSE SPANISH CHARACTERS?
4. RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT ACROSS BORDERS
5. THE LATEST DVD FROM CREATE INTERNATIONAL
6. HELP THEM FIND THE MASTER COPY OF THE HAO XIAOXI VIDEO
7. JOIN YWAM’S 48-HOUR DISASTER RELIEF RESPONSE HOTLINE
8. IN PRAISE OF THOSE STANDING IN THE GAP
9. THE BACKPAGE: MK RESOURCE LIST YOU’LL WANT TO SEE
10. CLOSING STUFF

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1. GO EQUIPPED TENTMAKING COURSE IN OSLO NORWAY — Global Opportunities and TENT Norway have joined forces to put together intensive, focused courses for those wanting to investigate tentmaking. Yet another new course will be launched this November 16-19, open for everyone as all the teaching is in English. This course is identical to the ones being run annually in Fort Myers FLA in the winter, Bergen Norway in the spring (at the TENT headquarters) and in Victoria BC Canada in the summer. You will hear from international speakers with tentmaking experience: Gerson Celeti from Italy, Ari Rocklin from Canada and Steinar Opheim from Norway. For more information and to register for the Oslo course, browse to

   http://www.tent.no/arrangement

   or write steinar(dot)opheim(at)tent(dot)no [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .].

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2. IN SEARCH OF WEBSITE HOSTS FOR TUNISIAN ARABIC MEDIA CONTENT — Some audio recordings of Tunisian dialect Arabic scriptures and worship music have been recorded. Now the question is, how can it be made available for the first time to 10 million Tunisians? If you know of a ministry (maybe especially one that focuses on media and Arabs…?) that would post this content online, please email details to:

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

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3. HOW DO YOU TYPE IN ALL THOSE SPANISH CHARACTERS? — Take a tip from one of the Spanish-speaking Team Expansion workers documented here:

   http://bushnells.teamexpansion.org/Misc/KeyboardLayout.htm

   He says once you’ve shifted to this approach, you’ll never go back. (Thanks Chris!!!)

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4. RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT ACROSS BORDERS — Streams in the Desert delivers relief and development to the unreached through cyberspace, utilizing a network of dispatches. A dispatch is an individual, team, family, YWAM base, or ministry on location in any part of the world where there is a relief and development need. Streams’ dispatches focus primarily on community-based development, in particular to disabled or handicapped children, involving the child’s family and eventually the neighborhood and surrounding community. Dispatches are primarily linked through Streams’ e-mail group, which facilitates the transfer of external resources with needs in the dispatch’s location. Dispatches are also coordinated with field mediators in a particular region. As of April 2006 there were 24 countries with dispatches. Streams also contribute to relief and development through training. Streams in the Desert is an expanding ministry with expanding staff needs, in particular in the areas of personnel/registrar, administration, mobilization, accounting/bookkeeping, and communication. The door is wide open for dispatches (YWAM or non-YWAM) staff, and outreach teams to join in its strategic ministry of relief and development. For more information, contact or write the Streams Center, Email: streams7(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 .]

   or log on at…

   http://www.streams7.multiply.com

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5. THE LATEST DVD FROM CREATE INTERNATIONAL — Hot off the presses is the New Contextual Gathering Showreel. This DVD features 5 examples of how home fellowships can be contextualised to reach the target audience. Now subtitled in English, this resource includes 3-5 minutes preview clips from our Kurdish, Turkish, Urdu, Indonesian and Hindi full length productions. Find this powerful example at:

   http://www.createinternational.com

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6. HELP THEM FIND THE MASTER COPY OF THE HAO XIAOXI VIDEO — This evangelistic Mandarin video is having a *huge* impact among villagers and animists in China, but no one’s been able to dub it into minority languages because no one knows who produced this video and thus there’s no way to get hold of the original master audio and video tracks. Rumor has it that this video was produced in Korea. If you have any info on who has produced this video, please write

   taihaole(at)pobox(dot)com and let us know. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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7. JOIN YWAM’S 48-HOUR DISASTER RELIEF RESPONSE HOTLINE — Disaster strikes. News reaches YWAM Kuala Lumpur. E-mails are fired out, phone calls made, meetings arranged. Within 24 hours YWAM recruits are mobilized from nearby bases. 24 hours after that they are on-site. Sound impossible? That’s the vision of the Disaster and Relief Office for Southeast Asia and Australia. Volunteers may come from any ministry in the world, must be available to reach a disaster stricken area once called, and must have the heart first of a servant. Medical training, construction work, and counseling skills are a plus. E-mail Elisha Tan at the Disaster and Relief Office for Southeast Asia and Australia at

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

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8. IN PRAISE OF THOSE STANDING IN THE GAP — Do you think these gifts encourage us here at Brigada? You bet they do. I can’t tell you how motivating it is. (Witness that I’m here at midnight doing this Brigada.) These people and groups stood in the gap this past week:

   GMI – $25 in honor of those who bought the Buddhist World CD. See their website at

   http://www.gmi.org

   In addition, $101.79 from Dial-abroad as a means of saying thanks for several players who went with dial-abroad.com (in July & August) [Please keep talking!] And $11.29 from Blessed Hope (Accxx communications) to say thanks for those who used their long distance service in June. Sign up at:

   http://www.lowermyphonebill.com/brigada

   Insurance Services of America stood good on their offer to share from insurance policies you bought for short-term mission trip travel by sending $ 115.92 (Please keep insuring! :-) ). Learn about their great policies at

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

   Hats off, too, to the Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino for sending $150. Please… if you’re searching for a church home with a missions heart, consider them. Learn more at

   http://www.pbcc.org/

   What’s more, we received great and encouraging gifts in these amounts from anonymous helpers: $200, $100, $25, $50, $50, $50, $26, $25, $25, $10 and $100 from the President of initiative 360. One anonymous donor wrote, “I know Brigada has served many Navigator missionaries including me. Thanks for your service to the Body.” Another wrote, “Keep up the excellent work.” Thank you so much for the encouragement.

   Want to be that motivation for this coming week? 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.

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9. THE BACKPAGE: MK RESOURCE LIST YOU’LL WANT TO SEE — I’ve saved this item for the “Back Page” editorial in this rare case for a couple of reasons. First, because it’s probably one of the best compilations we’ve ever seen at Brigada — in 11 long years, a new edition every week, and this one takes the cake. It’s neat, it’s thorough, it’s comprehensive, and yet it’s still easy to digest. What’s more, it’s free and available.

   But we saved it for another reason: because to us, it typifies the spirit of Brigada. Just imagine… an organization (Team Expansion) hires on a new worker as MK Coordinator. How does she get started? She volunteers to serve as the compiler of a resource listing of MK information. She puts her plea in Brigada and dozens of willing contributors send her mongo reference lists of information. Heather has to cull through it all, take out the duplicates, organize it, then return the completed listing back to Brigada.

   Now the payback: Think of the resource she has in her hands. She knows it backward and forward (because she wrote it) and she can instantly use it in her daily work. But unselfishly, she instantly makes it available to an entire *wave* of people in the same vocation. So *everybody* comes out the winner.

   Shouldn’t that be merely an example of what we *all* do for our various roles and specialties? But make no mistake: it takes work, follow- through, and volunteerism. With those 3 ingredients, this system is a lay-down. And Heather had them all, in abundance.

   So — here’s the fruit of her labor… and of everyone working together on Brigada. Thanks to those who contributed:

   http://www.brigada.org/today/articles/mk_resources.pdf

   So… hats off to you Heather… and all those who pitched in ideas. Bravo!

1. “PARTNERSHIPS THAT TRANSFORM” CONFERENCE: REGISTER NOW
2. MISSIONS TODAY, BY THE NUMBERS
3. YWAM DTS CREDIT TRANSFERS
4. NEW MISSION TRIP RESOURCE AVAILABLE
5. INDIA SUBCONTINENT TESOL OPPORTUNITIES
6. LAUSANNE WORLD PULSE
7. NEW BIBLE GAME: “WEEKLY BIBLE WORDOKU”
8. JUST WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED: A MISSIONS *CRUISE*!
9. CONNECT WITH THE GLOBAL CHURCH
10. THE BACKPAGE: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM “24″
11. CLOSING STUFF

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1. “PARTNERSHIPS THAT TRANSFORM” CONFERENCE: REGISTER NOW — The 2006 COSIM conference is scheduled for June 12-14, 2006 at the Billy Graham Center, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. The theme is “Partnerships that Transform: Here and There.” COSIM stands for Coalition on the Support of Indigenous Ministries. Speakers include: Gary Edmonds: “From Missions-TO . . . to Missions-WITH” / “Faisal” — “Partnering with indigenous ministries for transformation: A non-Western perspective” / David Kasali: “Will the African Church be ready?” Gloria Landge: “Equipping Christian women in the majority world for their vital role in community transformation” / Dick Robinson: “Partnerships that transform our understanding of . . . mission, the gospel, and the world.” Also: how-to workshops on local church involvement, accountability, assessing your cross-cultural partnerships, etc. Visit the COSIM web site and download the fact sheet-registration form at:

   http://www.cosimnet.org . Or write to

   werner(at)mission1(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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2. MISSIONS TODAY, BY THE NUMBERS — Bill and Amy Stearns have studied the numbers and this is what they’ve come up with: –35,000: Total American missionaries (down from 65,000 in 1988) –99%: Those committing to mission service who never make it. –7: The usual years it takes for a wannabe missionary to actually go. –50%: Those missionaries who return before the end of their first term. –40,000: The missionary candidates stymied from going because they can’t raise financial support.

   There’s a lot wrong with this picture. So, Bill and Amy and others are cranking with MissionNext and The Finishers Project–seeing an average of 2 new mid-career missionaries placed with sending agency partners every week now. Something’s going right! Learn more from Bill & Amy at:

   http://www.BillAndAmyStearns.info

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3. YWAM DTS CREDIT TRANSFERS — Gretchen would like to compile a list of US accredited colleges and/or universities which have accepted some or all University of the Nations (UofN) credits associated with completing a YWAM DTS. If you have had credits successfully transferred, please e-mail Gretchen

   billandgretchen(at)juno(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding e-mail address, please replace (at with @ and (dot) with.] She needs to know the name of the US college or university, when you attended, how many credits were accepted, and the dates and location of the YWAM DTS attended. (She’ll report back to us later.)

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4. NEW MISSION TRIP RESOURCE AVAILABLE –- “TRIP STUFF: Stuff you need to know about Doing Mission Trips in Your Church” is a collection of 230 useful documents developed or used by local churches. It includes samples, forms, guidelines, procedures, policies, tips and hints— everything from Application Forms to Standards of Excellence. TRIP STUFF is available on CD in Microsoft Word for $24. Send a check for $24 (in U.S. funds) to ACMC, Box 221, Brownsburg, IN 46112. Request TRIP STUFF and include your postal address. See more details and the contents at

   http://www.davidmays.org/

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5. INDIA SUBCONTINENT TESOL OPPORTUNITIES — Volunteers are needed to teach English at a national teacher training school and to national teachers of English. Other opportunities include teaching within a national public and private school system at multiple levels. It requires English as your first language, a Bachelor degree and teaching English as a second language certificate. Enter ASAP. For more details contact director(at)devcorps(dot)org [As a means if preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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6. LAUSANNE WORLD PULSE — This monthly magazine is now available free online, and you can sign up for email notification of new issues. The April issue includes a major focus on web evangelism.

   http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com

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7. NEW BIBLE GAME: “WEEKLY BIBLE WORDOKU” — Each week, Cyberspace Ministry issues a new Wordoku, a fascinating Bible puzzle that you can receive by email. Find out more at

   http://www.tagnet.org/cyberspace/eng-word.html

   or email cybermin7(at)yahoo(dot)com

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8. JUST WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED: A MISSIONS *CRUISE*! — Discover the World of Possibilities on a Cruise Aug 18 – 24! Wycliffe is hosting a cruise to Discover opportunities all over the World. The time promises to be fun, rewarding, challenging, and spiritually revitalizing. Speakers who have worked all over the globe will share experiences and teach sessions throughout the six days. There will also be a children’s program covering different world cultures, crafts, and customs from different language groups. There will be fun activities for the whole family in addition to those offered by the cruiseline. There will also be opportunities for individuals across all ranges of giftings and trainings from IT, to Translation, to Management to consider. Wycliffe invites you to discover the possibilities with other believers. The cruise registration deadline is May 29.

   Graduate Credits for Teachers may be earned while taking ICO (International Children’s Education Orientation) on board the cruise ship Inspiration. For more information and to register contact mts travel at

   http://www.mtstravel.com/tours/ctourWTMK06.html

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

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9. CONNECT WITH THE GLOBAL CHURCH — The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) now produces a new monthly E-Newsletter. The WEA is a global network of 127 national alliances representing 420 million evangelical Christians. One of the goals of WEA is to keep evangelical Christians around the world connected, informed and resourced. If you want to keep up to date from a global perspective, go online

   http://worldevangelical.net/newsletter

   and view a sample copy of this bulletin and sign up to receive it every month. This month you can receive a free download of A Study Guide – Working Your Way to the Nations: A Guide to Effective Tentmaking. The general WEA website can be found at

   http://www.worldevangelicalalliance.com

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10. THE BACKPAGE: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM “24″ — OK… I admit it. I’m really enjoying “24″ (the TV show). Hope you can view it where you live. I was slow to board the band wagon. What are we — in the 5th season, right? And I just started watching about 5 episodes ago. So… there are all these reflections on previous people that just lose me out… so what I’m having to do is gradually go back and watch the show from the very beginning! (I just finished season 2! :-) )

    Now… I’ll be honest… I turn my head during a lot of the really violent stuff and I can’t *stand* to watch any of the torture or threats against Kim. Yuck. I’m just not a big fan of violence. So why in the *world*, you say, am I watching 24?

    Good question. :-)

    Part of my admiration is based on the character of Jack Bauer. Another part is based on the character of David Palmer (the President — at least up until the end of season 2 that I just finished :-) ). And a third is all the “lessons learned” from the corruption in so many other people on the show.

    So what lessons am I drawing for missions? :-) Here’s one: I’m noticing that Jack is a man of action. (Duh. :-) ) He doesn’t shy away from a challenge. He doesn’t sit around and complain when one approach didn’t work. His mind clicks into gear to plan another… and he just keeps on struggling.

    But in just the same way that Jack is constantly saying, “I’m runnin’ outa time!” :-), I admire the patience and wisdom of President Palmer. (I know… I’m back in the dark ages of Season 2 still.) His willingness to wait . . . and wait . . . and wait on Jack to deliver evidence… is a testimony to a leader that has the endurance beyond the norm.

    Contrast all that integrity with the all the others… the double-no- good-for-nothing politicians who always seem to be hankering for oil money in the Caspian Sea or whatever… and all of a sudden, it pretty much sums up the tension between good and evil.

    Now for those of us working in missions, there are *lots* of applications. Let’s be like-minded to the “never-shy-away-from-a- challenge” mentality. Let’s be action-oriented, yet have the patience of Palmer when it’s necessary. Let’s speak the truth, weigh our choices against the best wisdom we can find, and for goodness sakes, let’s go save somebody’s life today — spiritually or otherwise.

    More lessons from 24 next week.

    Shew. My heart’s pounding already.

    Doug

1. CONSULTATION ABSTRACTS AVAILABLE ONLINE
2. TAKE CHRISTIAN VIDEO GAMES TO THE MISSION FIELD WITH YOU
3. TRACK THE AVIAN FLU
4. BRING THE FACES OF THE 10/40 INTO YOUR CHURCH FOR PRAYER!
5. TEACH ENGLISH AND REACH THE NATIONS
6. 21 DAYS OF BREAKTHROUGH FOR NORTH KOREA
7. FREE PROJECTORS
8. SUPPORT RAISING TRAINING
9. LOVING LAS VEGAS
10. WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND ON JUST ONE MEAL OUT?
11. THE BACKPAGE: UNSOLICITED ATTACHMENTS ARE OBSOLETE
12. CLOSING STUFF

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1. CONSULTATION ABSTRACTS AVAILABLE ONLINE — The Global Consultation on Music and Missions (GCoMM) is offering an amazing palette of choices at its July 11-15 event. Registrants will select from over 50 seminars, panels, plenary sessions, and media presentations. Experienced leaders from more than 20 organizations will present seminars within the following tracks: Foundations, Media and Related Arts, Contextualization and Case Studies, Methodology, and Overcoming Obstacles. Break-out sessions organized by geographical area and interest group will provide networking opportunities for participants. Check out the speaker information and seminar abstracts online at

   http://www.gcommhome.org

   Register online today!

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2. TAKE CHRISTIAN VIDEO GAMES TO THE MISSION FIELD WITH YOU — Now you *can* take it with you: Breakthrough Gaming has released its third video game title: Zippy the Circle. For the PC platform, Zippy the Circle is a 3D, adventure game with 13 exciting levels, each with a different style of play. The player takes the role of Zippy the Circle who must save his sister Tina from Jagged, who has taken over his home island. Zippy learns that even though bad things happen, God is still good! Zippy the Circle is available at:

   http://www.zippythecircle.com

   and has a MSRP of $9.95.

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3. TRACK THE AVIAN FLU — Through Google Earth it is possible track the spread of the Avian flu outbreak across the world. The information is easily downloaded. Organizations that go one step further and make placemarks for their missionaries and works will be easily be able to track the vulnerability. (Thanks Wayne!)

   http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2006/03/enhanced_avian.html

   http://declanbutler.info/Flumaps1/avianflu.html

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4. BRING THE FACES OF THE 10/40 INTO YOUR CHURCH FOR PRAYER! — Volume 3 of “The Waiting World” unreached people group prayer series can help your church or small group pray more effectively for the lost of the 10/40 Window. Thirteen five-minute prayer videos are featured on this volume and offer a mixture of Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim peoples. Special features on this volume are the Iraqi’s, as well as a general Arab video. Produced by YWAM Strategic Frontiers, the suggested donation for a DVD of Volume 3 is $29.95 (USD), plus shipping. Order all three volumes on DVD for a suggested donation of $69.95, plus shipping. E-mail Mike at klausmeierm(at)ywamsf(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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5. TEACH ENGLISH AND REACH THE NATIONS — Take a 4 week training course and learn how to teach English at the YWAM base in Lakeside, Montana USA. The course runs from July 24th – August 18th. For more information go to

   http://www.ywammt.org

   or email schoolinfo(at)ywammt(dot)org. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]You can also call 406.844.2221.

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6. 21 DAYS OF BREAKTHROUGH FOR NORTH KOREA — God’s been moving, promising, and doing a new thing for His work inside North Korea. NK Missions invites you to join them in praying into North Korea during the 21 Days of Breakthrough for North Korea. (April 3-23) Log on at

   http://www.nkmissions.com/

   to download prayer videos each day from 4/3-23 to pray together.

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7. FREE PROJECTORS — Equipping the Saints will provide slide and 16MM movie projectors free to ministries for the price of shipping (or pick them up at our warehouse!). Over 100 of each are available; some may need repair. Contact Equipping the Saints at

   http://www.etsusa.org

   email at etsusaricanet or call at 540-234-6222.

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8. SUPPORT RAISING TRAINING — The BodyBuilders “Personal Support Raising Boot Camp” is a two day intense training for first-time support raisers and under-funded veterans. Their goal: Getting you to 100% in 100 days!

   Upcoming Boot Camp dates: Seattle, Washington – April 17-18th Atlanta, Georgia – May 11-12th Austin, Texas – June 8-9th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – July 17-18th Register online today.

   Learn more at

   http://www.thebodybuilders.net

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

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9. LOVING LAS VEGAS — Mixed in with thousands of tourists exploring Las Vegas every summer, you will notice groups of high school students joining hands in prayer inside casinos, feeding the homeless, and talking about Jesus Christ to locals and tourists all over the city. Braving high temperatures, a blazing sun and the wild party atmosphere of Las Vegas, they stand firm on one unchanging truth: God loves the people of Sin City! In order to host these students, several adults are needed to serve as summer staff for Youth With A Mission – Las Vegas from June 24 – August 12. If you would like to have a blast this summer sharing Jesus Christ to a lost city, call or e-mail Renee at 702-658- 5450 or reneeb(at)ywamlasvegas(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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10. WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND ON JUST ONE MEAL OUT? — $10/plate, including tip, for a family of four? So how ’bout this: Consider “eating in” just one night a year instead, and send the difference to Brigada. $35 would go a long way if even 100 courageous partners took that stand. Just write in the memo line (or in the PayPal comment line), “eating in” :-) 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.

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11. THE BACKPAGE: UNSOLICITED ATTACHMENTS ARE OBSOLETE — I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the whole idea of sending unsolicited attachments is obsolete, broken, and just plain wrong. They’re dead. They should be outlawed. They’re no longer useful. They’re old- fashioned technology that no longer works. This past week, I’ve been visiting one of our newest teams, a five-person team in New Orleans, seconded to a great partner of ours called CrossRoads Missions. They’re working out of a fantastic center with a lot going for it… except they don’t have electricity or Internet yet. (In spite of that fact, they’ll host 4,000 volunteers by Sept. 1st! If you’d like to learn more, just browse to: http://www.crossroadsmissions.com ) So, without electricity and without Internet, it was pretty much like being in a third-world country, at least when it came to connecting to the Internet. I connected via my cell phone at the racing 192K downstream and about half that upstream. (Even so, that’s a ton faster than connecting via a satphone from Sudan, something I had to do just a few short weeks ago.)

    So perhaps you can understand my frustration when friends will unknowingly attach 1 megabyte snapshots of mooing cows, complete with audio. And then there are *enemies* (or vandals) who attach viruses, trojans, and/or worms or other kinds of malware — without asking my permission. The mooing cow can be 25K or 2.5 meg, depending on whether or not it’s compressed, and/or whether or not they compress it first. Sure I can sit there and look at the email on my pop3 server first, manually deleting the emails that look suspect. But remember that I’m sometimes using up valuable satellite minutes.

    Turns out some of my friends agree. Here’s an email just in from Africa, for instance: “… Now living in Africa, I have greater appreciation for the pleas I had often heard from residents in Africa requesting that the missions community reduce the size of emails, use less graphics on websites, do not send unsolicited attachments, and do not require web use. Internet and phone service here is very slow and expensive. In South Africa, for example, I have ‘unlimited’ web access. However, the phone company charges me by the second to use the phone line even for a local number. When traveling in other African countries it can be even worse. I once paid $5 to load the weekly update to my anti-virus software. Obviously, I am not keen to be online for unsubscribing to something I did not request. Thanks for hearing the perspective from another continent!” (Thanks for lending me a sympathetic ear, Barb!)

    So here’s my request: Whenever you’re tempted to send an attached file to a list of people that haven’t requested it, post it, instead, to a website or FTP site, then send a reference to the URL, so the recipient is in the driver’s seat to decide yes or no on downloading the file. (Notice even in this step, please don’t encode the URL to a hot-link word like “click here”. Go ahead and give your recipient the full name of the URL, so he or she has the option of copying and pasting the URL directly into a web browser. This approach insures you’re really going where you think you’re going.) Maybe it’s a soapbox, but in this day of digital-picture-bloat, it’s the only way we’re going to keep our sanity. Oh.. and please be careful out there: It’s a jungle out there (and jungles sometimes have narrow Internet pipes).

1. COST-FREE RENEWAL RETREATS FOR GLOBAL WORKERS
2. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION
3. MEMBER CARE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS
4. INTERNATIONAL CHURCHES REACHING UPGS
5. DISCIPLE-EQUIPPING MATERIALS TO ORDER
6. FUND RAISING CONFERENCE
7. BOAT BASED CHRISTIAN TRAINING
8. ACU SUMMER SEMINAR IN MISSIONS
9. BECOME AN ENGLISH TEACHER
10. TORONTO SEMINAR: PLANTS
11. EMERGENCY FOOD SHIPPING CONTACTS NEEDED
12. INCREDIBLE, AMAZING, PACE-SETTING FRIENDS
13. THE BACK PAGE: THE POWER OF THE OVERCOMER
14. CLOSING STUFF

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1. COST-FREE RENEWAL RETREATS FOR GLOBAL WORKERS — ELIM Retreats, a ministry of Barnabas International, is offering 7 spiritual formation/re-entry/renewal retreats for missionaries in 2006. The Retreat site is a 1400 acre private, gorgeous family property on the shores of Lake Huron, 2.5 hours north of Detroit, Michigan. The emphasis is on personal spiritual assessment and growth, interacting in small groups around the Word. The Retreat affords lots of unscheduled time. Each Retreat is 6 days. 16 participants of multiple cultures and agencies have their own bedrooms, sitting rooms and in most cases, private baths. Adult couples and singles only. Find pictures, faq’s, dates and registration at

   http://www.barnabas.org/elimretreats

   or email hstewart5(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 .] (Just one thing I noticed: You’d better be serious about retreating: I notice they ask that we not bring our computers. Gulp. Now there’s a serious retreater. :-) [I think I'd go into convulsions. :-)])

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2. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION — From hard drives to saved lives! Learn how your Information Technology skills can advance God’s Kingdom through Bible translation. Wycliffe Bible Translators is hosting two-day conferences on February 24 and 25, 2006 in San Francisco, CA and on March 3 and 4, 2006 in Pasadena, CA. One is also planned for the Seattle area in May. Wycliffe urgently needs over 200 seasoned IT professionals in order to complete the task of Bible translation for millions of Bibleless people. IT professionals are needed in the US and abroad for everything from exciting cutting edge language applications to enterprise systems, business analysis, electronics, management, software development, consultation and training. The “Check IT Out” conference costs $65 and includes 4 meals, materials, and snacks. Housing is available. For more information or to register, go to http://jaars.org/checkitout or you may write to Norm Purvis at: mobilization_wsw(at)wycliffe(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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3. MEMBER CARE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS — Wycliffe Bible Translators International and Missionary Care International will join forces to offer the 2006 Member Care in Crisis Situations Workshop, June 19-23, 2006 in Dallas, Texas. The first half of the workshop will deal with a variety of topics, including: What constitutes a “crisis situation?” How can we expect people to respond in times of personal or group crisis? What populations are most vulnerable? How can we respond as an organization? How can we use “Peer Responders” to care for people in crisis? The last half of the workshop will focus on debriefing skills for “peer level” debriefing. Participants should plan to attend the entire workshop, 8:00-5:00 Monday through Friday. A registration fee of $100.00 is due upon registration. Room and board fees for the workshop are $145.00/person, due upon arrival. For information or reservations contact Wycliffe International Member Care at:

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

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4. INTERNATIONAL CHURCHES REACHING UPGS — At no time in history have expatriate international churches had more potential to impact the world than today. International churches are filled with unique resources – talented people, money, and know-how. The Missional International Church Network (MICN) models and teaches how international churches can dynamically engage in God’s transformational work. The third MICN Conference will be 24-28 April 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand. Speakers are all experienced international church leaders. For information contact: conference(at)micn(dot)org or on the web at:

   http://www.micn.org

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

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5. DISCIPLE-EQUIPPING MATERIALS TO ORDER — In the new year it is typical to attempt some well-intended organization for more meaningful ministry in 2006. What is always needed is a fresh look at accepting and applying truly Biblical leadership. Dr. Kenneth O. Gangel has prepared an essential tool for a clear, scriptural vision of leadership, called “Biblical Leadership.” Evangelical Training Association

   http://www.etaworld.org

   has just published this new resource for $11.99. Learn about it and other disciple-equipping materials by accessing the website or by calling at 800-369-8291 or 630-540-7840. You can write Mark Simpson, ETA’s Global Training Consultant, at

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

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6. FUND RAISING CONFERENCE — The People Raising conference is designed to Double your effectiveness in raising individual or organizational funds. Attend the People Raising basic conference March 24-25. Move beyond the fear factor and raise more funds in half the time. Implement 10 key habits for success. Network with other Christian leaders. Arm yourself with tools needed for effective fund raising. You can’t afford to miss this breakthrough 2-day conference. Ask for the $100 spouse discount. This conference is essential for those raising personal support, coaching others or raising organizational funds. Tap into the more then 35 years of experience Bill Dillon brings to fund raising. Register by February 24th and receive the early bird special pricing. For more information or to register on-line go to

   http://www.peopleraising.com/conferences.cfm

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

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7. BOAT BASED CHRISTIAN TRAINING — Marine Reach, YWAM’s ship ministry, has announced its second Bluewater Discipleship Training School (DTS). After the success of last year’s Bluewater DTS aboard the 90ft schooner, Genevieve Challenge, it was necessary to look for a larger sailing vessel to accommodate more students. The hope is to develop the Bluewater DTS into a long term ministry that not only disciples young people, but also reaches out within the sailing community and beyond. As a part of creating this ministry it was decided to hold this year’s Bluewater DTS in a sailing community. Therefore the next Bluewater DTS will take place in Aberystwyth, Wales, UK, a place that offers good sailing, effective sail training and involvement in the local community. It will begin April 14th and ends October 14th 2006. You can get full details including the application form at

   http://www.marinereach.com/dts_bluewater or by email to bluewaterdts(at)marinereach(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

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8. ACU SUMMER SEMINAR IN MISSIONS — Abilene Christian University’s Halbert Institute of Missions is hosting its annual Summer Seminar in Missions May 15-June 2. There will be a wide variety of graduate and undergraduate courses available for credit or audit: anthropological studies, intercultural competency, evangelistic strategies of Bible translation, evangelism in a post-modern world, history of missions, campus ministry, spiritual formation in missions, and more.

   http://www.acu.edu/missions/summerseminar contact

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

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9. BECOME AN ENGLISH TEACHER — In the town of Kailua Kona on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii, University of the Nations offers a wonderful opportunity to become a certified ESL teacher in six weeks. At the beginning of every quarter this TESOL course uses state-of-the- art curriculum and an emphasis on technology to interweave theory and practical application, giving students intensive well-rounded training. For more info call 808-326-4400 ext. 4178 or write to tesol(at)uofnkona(dot)edu.

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10. MISSIONS FOCUS — Abilene Christian University’s Halbert Institute of Missions is hosting its annual Missions Focus 3 day program May 23- 25. Presenter- Dr. Laura Mae Gardner, D.Min., of Wycliffe Bible Translators on “Missionary Care.” There will also be training modules on the role of the church in the care of missionaries and services for missionaries on furlough: eye exams, dental work and blood tests.

    http://www.acu.edu/missions/summerseminar contact

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

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11. TORONTO SEMINAR: PLANTS — Principles of Language Acquisition: Natural Techniques and Skills is a proactive approach to learning a new language. Before you are field-tested you can be language lab-tested. You can evaluate your language learning strengths and weaknesses, learn the principles and skills of language acquisition, practice with national speakers of your target language, and actually grow in your target language. All within two weeks in the world’s most multi- cultural city – Toronto. April 2-14, 2006. Register on-line:

    http://www.missionprep.ca

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12. EMERGENCY FOOD SHIPPING CONTACTS NEEDED — Children of the Nations (COTN) is seeking shipping contacts to send containers of emergency food and supplies from Minnesota and Washington State to Malawi, SE Africa. If you have shipping contacts that can help COTN meet the needs of the COTN Orphan homes, school and feeding centers in Malawi, please email Dave Schertzer ASAP at daveschertzer(at)cotni(dot)org For more information on COTN, please visit http://www.cotni.org Thank you.

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13. INCREDIBLE, AMAZING, PACE-SETTING FRIENDS — They’re daring you to step up to the plate. Setting the pace at the head of the pack. And they’re the object of our deepest gratitude. Thanks to Caleb Project (the Training Department, and especially Marti Smith) for the $30 help. Learn more about them at:

    http://calebproject.org/

    And thanks to DialAbroad

    http://www.dial-abroad.org/brigada.htm

    for the $90.17 from this past month’s long distance sponsor-ers. Finally, we also really appreciate the two anonymous donors who chipped in $25 and $5 each. Never thrown anything into the pot before? That’s ok. You can start any time. Been reading for 10 years? Now’s as good a time as any. And the whole thing is — Brigada is free . . . so you’ll always be able to keep reading. Chipping in toward our expenses is just a way of saying thanks. Either way, we’ll still show up next week. Just go to “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. 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… thanks.

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14. THE BACK PAGE: THE POWER OF THE OVERCOMER — Night before last, as I was watching the Olympics, I was struck by the courage of Zhang Dan (and her partner, Zhang Hao – both from China) in her willingness to get back up and finish her routine. She took a nasty fall while implementing a move that had never been attempted before in competition, an unprecedented throw quad Salchow. (Don’t ask me to describe it; I only know it involves spinning around maybe 4 times up in the air.) She kind of did the splits when she landed, only it involved painfully smacking her knee directly on the ice. Ouch.

    The USA — and indeed, the world — loves an overcomer. Well the funny thing was, in spite of the fact that she didn’t stick the quad, because she came back out there and kept skating, they gave her the credit for finishing a *triple* throw. Granted, one could ask all kinds of questions about how they still managed to take the silver medal in spite of the fact that they broke their routine with the 5-minute medical leave. Maybe the judges, in the end, had a heart for them. After all, it’s the Olympics, not the Superbowl. It’s amateur athletics, not professional hockey. It’s young ladies that are 18 and 19, not hardened criminals. So, it would seem — give ‘em a break. Some would argue that they deserve it.

    Either way, is there a lesson hiding somewhere here for all of us? I think so.
    *** First, if we fall flat on our faces (or smack our knees), let’s get back up again. Who knows, we might still win — or at least come in 2nd. And no matter what, we’ll be showing gallant effort & unceasing commitment to the calling.
    *** Second, if someone extends grace to one of our peers (or enemies, for that matter), forgiving them for something that we believe should be punished, we’ve got to somehow overcome the tendency within us to question or challenge it. Somewhere in Italy, there’s a skater that’s whining about the fact that this girl complete washed out but still earned a silver medal for it. Jesus spoke to this on more than one occasion. Take, for example, Christ’s parable in Matt. 20:10, where the workers hired at the beginning of the day expected to receive more than those hired in the final hour. In the end, like the judges at the Olympics, the answer comes back, “It’s up to the judge alone to decide.” So let’s quit our whining.
    *** Third, and finally, let’s never let the good grace of the judge become a license to disregard the challenges, thus arriving ill- prepared. In other words, if we are granted grace, we’ll celebrate it. But let’s don’t *presume* grace. Romans 6.

    I guess there’s a corollary: We need to be working as if he’s coming tomorrow, while *planning* as if he’s coming in 20 years. We’ll certainly enjoy the journey a whole lot more.

1. RESOURCE TO ENCOURAGE MISSIONARIES
2. SINGAPORE SCHOOL OF FRONTIER MISSION
3. 1,500 PEOPLE GROUP PHOTOS NEEDED
4. COMICS COMPETITION BOOK AVAILABLE TO PUBLISHERS
5. LITERATURE AND WRITING WORKSHOP
6. KNOW OF A DORMANT USA NONPROFIT?
7. SOUTH PACIFIC MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTRE FIJI
8. “COME AND SEE:” THE N. CAPE COLOURED OF NW SOUTH AFRICA
9. WE APPRECIATE THOSE WHO PARTNER WITH US
10. THE BACK PAGE: WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP OUR PLANET
11. CLOSING STUFF

1. RESOURCE TO ENCOURAGE MISSIONARIES — A Bible study guide called, “Finding Strength for the Journey,” provides a tool for member care or personal encouragement. Add one to your Christmas care package. 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 cjlemke(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 .]
2. SINGAPORE SCHOOL OF FRONTIER MISSION — YWAM’s SoFM starts on the 2nd of March, 2006. Read more at http://www.ywam.org.sg/sofm.htm . It’s a three-month lecture phase plus nine-month field internship. The entire program helping you develop skills in 1) language acquisition, 2) cross-cultural, 3) frontier survival skills, 4) teamwork and also 5) find a place of long-term service. The Singapore SoFM offers its internship at 6 entry cities and among 5 unreached peoples in Indo China and East Asia. You can see cost information at http://www.ywam.org.sg/sofm_cost.htm This is a secondary school with YWAM. A Discipleship Training School (DTS) http://www.ywam.org.sg/dts.htm is required before taking this course. For more info, write sofm(at)ywam(dot)org(dot)sg [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
3. 1,500 PEOPLE GROUP PHOTOS NEEDED — COMIBAM (the Missions Cooperation of Ibero-America) and the Joshua Project are collaborating on a massive effort to compile 3,000 unreached people profiles in Spanish. They need your help with photos! You may submit your people group photos by visiting: http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php Use the drop-down lists to choose a country and then a people group in that country. Select the ‘Submit People Photo’ link which will walk you through the process of sending a photo. All photos submitted will be available to the Spanish project as well as the entire missions community. E-mail them at: photos(at)joshuaproject(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
4. COMICS COMPETITION BOOK AVAILABLE TO PUBLISHERS — If you are a Christian magazine or book publisher, you may be eligible to receive a FREE copy of COMIX35′s 2005 International Christian Comics Competition book. The book has been created as a “portfolio” of short comics for publishers worldwide and to showcase the contributing Christian comics artists as a resource. It is 148 pages and features 40+ short comics stories (1 to 4 pages) from 20 countries, with two 16-page color sections. Please mail your business card, a piece of promotional literature describing your publishing ministry, and a letter requesting your free copy to qualify. Others may order the books for US$ 25.00 each in the US, shipping & handling included, or US$ 30.00 when ordering from outside the US. Payment can be made by check or money order in US dollars. Please mark the outside of your envelope “Attn: 2005 Christian Comics Competition” and send to Randals Company LLC, 1021 Princeton NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 USA. (Currently we can only process free book requests and orders by postal mail.) Funds raised through books sales will be used for future ministry Competitions. To learn more about the work of COMIX35, visit their web site at http://www.comix35.org
5. LITERATURE AND WRITING WORKSHOP — SHARE Education Services http://www.shareeducation.com is providing a two day Literature and Writing workshop in Odessa: Nov 10-11 and Kiev: Nov 15-16. The first day will be a workshop for parents on teaching literature and composition to students in 6th-12th grade. This workshop will be especially helpful to parents who have their children in national schools and parents who are, or will be homeschooling their children (including video and on-line schooling). Day 2 will be a workshop for students (6th-12th grades) instructing them in various writing activities. In addition to the two day workshop SHARE will also be providing the Iowa Test of Basic Skills to students in grades 3-8. If you would like more information or you would like to register for this workshop, contact Sue Giblin sgiblin(at)share-ed-services(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. KNOW OF A DORMANT USA NONPROFIT? — The Finishers Project (Finishers.org), focused on Baby Boomers, now sees 1 to 3 new fulltime missionaries commit to serve with various North American mission agencies every week. Yet 40% of the Finishers missionwork seekers are below the age of 40! So Nelson, Nick, Bill and Amy are brewing a monstrous, neutral mobilization tracking and matching system called “MissionNext” for post-college – mid-career adults in the US and Canada. (Got advice? Ideas? Facilitators to second? Huge numbers of inquirers to track?) To speed the launch of this system, let them know if YOU know of a dormant U.S. 501(c)3 with some sort of Great Commission slant? Email NickNoll(at)n2c3(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
7. SOUTH PACIFIC MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTRE FIJI — Have you considered training for missionary service on an actual mission field? Studying, living, experiencing and ministering in a cross cultural situation is an excellent way to prepare for a life of missionary service. SPMTC is inviting a LIMITED number of international students to come and study in Fiji in 2006. You can find out more about SPMTC at: http://www.tiptopwebsite.com/spmtc Or contact Frank Grimsey, acting Dean of Students SPMTC, frgfiji(at)connect(dot)com(dot)fj [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
8. “COME AND SEE:” THE N. CAPE COLOURED OF NW SOUTH AFRICA — The Asian Christian worker was very excited as he began telling people about Jesus in the small community of Matjikloof in the Northern Cape. But, the Afrikaans-speaking people had difficulty understanding his language. He prayed, “God, what do I do?” Almost immediately, he began urging them, “Hello! Come and see!” They understood this and followed him to where another Christian worker was presenting the Gospel using a sketch board. Many people accepted Christ as their Saviour that day! Adopt the Northern Cape Coloured people for prayer or for more information contact http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email swacsc(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 .]
9. WE APPRECIATE THOSE WHO PARTNER WITH US — Though we’re always glad to run items for any ministry or individual, we definitely appreciate those who partner with us to sponsor and undergird the work of Brigada for now and in the future. Thanks to the anonymous friend who sent $50 this past week. If you’d like to pitch in toward our future just click “sponsor” (to use PayPal or a credit card), or just send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 11327 Jefferson Trace Blvd., Louisville, KY 40291. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. Thanks for any support you can give.
10. THE BACK PAGE: WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP OUR PLANET — We received a surprising number of positive responses to “The Back Page” editorial last edition (“Learning to love our planet”). In fact, no one wrote with a negative response. Perhaps there is near universal agreement that we ought to take better care of the environment God gave us. Where can you go to get ideas on how to do that? You can go to the “big sites” like http://www.epa.gov/ to get the big picture… or start with the small things like… http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ppu/p2tips.html You can, like I did, fall more in love with the environment by caring more about trees and the outdoors… http://arborday.org/ and at similar sites. Either way, the trick is to start doing something. If everybody pitched in just a little bit, we would see a positive difference almost immediately. Read more about our planet at sites like

http://nationalgeographic.com

http://discoverychannel.com

http://www.doi.gov/greening/sustain/

and more…

Little by little, start making a difference in the world’s future. OK… that’s all I have to say about that. :-) Doug

1. HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASES
2. WORLD’S LARGEST MEDICAL MISSIONS CONFERENCE
3. MINISTRY TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS
4. FIND AND FULFILL YOUR MISSION NEEDS
5. UNLIMITED INT’L PHONE SERVICE TO THE US: $5.95 MONTHLY
6. JUST 7 WEEKS ‘TIL STRATEGY COORDINATOR TRAINING
7. PERSPECTIVES ON THE WORLD CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT IN FL
8. HELP FOR THOSE RAISING FUNDS
9. ARE YOU A KINGDOM-MINDED GEEK LOOKING FOR A GREAT MINISTRY OPP?
10. GOOGLE-MAIL HAS ITS ADVANTAGES
11. SOOOOOOOOOO THANKFUL
12. CLOSING STUFF

1. HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASES — Is your organization experiencing health insurance rate increases? If so, try contacting Insurance Services of America. They are a Christian organization that specializes in helping individuals and groups find affordable health insurance options. They can put together a “tailor-made” plan to fit your group’s needs. Their group plan allows for takeover of existing claims & conditions and will provide your people with quality medical insurance worldwide – and they won’t charge you more when your people are in the US on furlough. Check out some of their plans online at http://www.missionaryhealth.net, email them at health(at)missionaryhealth(dot)net, [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or call them at 1-800-647-4589 (1-480- 821-9052 outside of North America) and ask for Mark. ISA has a wide range of plans for missionaries, mission groups and churches, so be sure to contact them to see how they can “shop around” for you to help you save money on your health insurance needs.
2. WORLD’S LARGEST MEDICAL MISSIONS CONFERENCE — The Global Missions Health Conference (GMHC) celebrates its 10th anniversary, Nov. 11-12, at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., USA. In conjunction with the conference and for the first time, the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization will host the North American Consultation on the Role of the Church in the HIV/AIDS Pandemic, Nov. 10. The committee hopes to draw prominent North American church pastors and Christian leaders to speak out on the AIDS Pandemic and to urge churches to get involved. USAID is sponsoring 16 international participants to attend the Nov. 10 event. For information or registration for the consultation or GMHC, see http://www.medicalmissions.com or e-mail rebeccab(at)churchcentral(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
3. MINISTRY TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS — MATS provides vehicle solutions through many God ordained sources for Christian Ministry persons, pastors, missionaries, staff persons, para-church, retirees. You can get everything from new and used bicycles to semi-tractors. :-) http://www.mats.org or email car(at)mats(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
4. FIND AND FULFILL YOUR MISSION NEEDS — Preswan Enterprises was recently founded for the purpose of finding and fulfilling needs throughout the world. Currently, Jerry (the export manager) is looking particularly at new/used farm equipment in his home area. Once he finds a need, he then seeks to locate a supplier of the product needed, facilitate the purchase of the product, and arrange for shipment. While he lives in Southeast Michigan (where some car manufacturing HQs are located), you may contact him with requests for any products, and he will work to find a supplier and means of shipment to supply your needs. Try him: jerry(at)firstcomp(dot)biz
5. UNLIMITED INT’L PHONE SERVICE TO THE US: $5.95 MONTHLY — TalkDaddy is now offering VOIP phone service from anywhere to the US for $5.95 per month plus and $49.95 startup. To subscribe to this service, you must have broadband internet. After you connect a TalkDaddy module to your internet, you plug a normal USA touch tone phone into the module. When you pick up the receiver, you will have a US dial tone which allows you to call any number in the 48 contiguous United States. Alaska and Hawaii are available for an additional fee.

People can also call you from anywhere in the world. They will dial into an automated system in the 479 area code here in the US and enter your three digit extension code when prompted. A few seconds later, your phone will ring. You can read more about the service at http://www.TalkDaddy.com and you can also subscribe online.

TalkDaddy is owned and operated by Christians serving in the marketplace in Northwest Arkansas. You can contact TalkDaddy at help(at)talkdaddy(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or by phone at 479.443.7878.
6. JUST 7 WEEKS ‘TIL STRATEGY COORDINATOR TRAINING — It’s happening in Perth, Western Australia. If you haven’t already gotten your application in for the training, there is still time and some spaces are available. The teaching approach is very practical and hands-on, not just theory but practice at doing the business of being an SC. Also, you will be looking at the commonalities of church planting movements, how to set things in motion so that if God sovereignly moved, a church planting movement could happen. You’ll put together a profile of your focus city or people, look at how to foster partnerships and create a master plan of how you will get the gospel to your city or people in the most relevant way. You’ll look at strategies that worked for others and some that didn’t fare so well. Just a reminder, the dates are: 13 November to 2 December. At this stage, there are no plans to repeat the course. So now is your chance! Download an application at: http://www.ywamperth.org.au/events/index.asp?tag=sc or email info(at)ywamperth(dot)org(dot)au and ask for one to be emailed to you as an attached file. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
7. PERSPECTIVES ON THE WORLD CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT IN FL — Youth With A Mission in Jacksonville Florida is hosting this internationally respected 15-week study program developed by the U.S. Center for World Mission. Featuring an experienced speaker each week, you will cover topics such as the Biblical perspective on mission, the spread of Christianity in history, mission strategies, and the mission task remaining. Classes start on January 8, 2006. Call 904-221-5990 or email at perspectivesjax(at)yahoo(dot)com for more information. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
8. HELP FOR THOSE RAISING FUNDS — Here are a few articles on how to write effective fundraising letters. You’ll find dozens more at http://www.FundraisingLetters.org (Note: Although these URLs will break or “wrap” into 2 lines in the email version of Brigada Today, you can jump to the online version and use these as hotlinks there. Just go to brigada.org if these links don’t work in your email client.)

Eleven Reasons Donors Stop Responding To Fundraising Letter Appeals http://www.fundraisingletters.org/index.php/eleven-reasons-donors-stop-responding-to-fundraising-letter-appeals/

How To Create Irresistible Fundraising Letter Envelopes http://www.fundraisingletters.org/index.php/how-to-create-irresistible-fundraising-letter-envelopes/

Where To Look For Creative Fundraising Letter Ideas http://www.fundraisingletters.org/index.php/where-to-look-for-creative-fundraising-letter-ideas/

51 Ways to Say Thank-you in a Fundraising Letter http://www.fundraisingletters.org/index.php/51-ways-to-say-thank-you-in-a-fundraising-letter-2/

(Thanks Alan Sharpe, President of Sharpe Copy Inc., London, England.)
9. ARE YOU A KINGDOM-MINDED GEEK LOOKING FOR A GREAT MINISTRY OPP? — The National Offices for the Perspectives Study Program recently relocated from Pasadena, CA to Fayetteville, AR (yes, Arkansas in the Ozarks!). They are looking for a few folks with IT experience (MAC and PC) to join their team as they prepare for the future of the Perspectives course both throughout the country and around the world. This would require putting together a personal support team, and at this point only US citizens need inquire. If you would like more information, call Dave at 479-587-1919 Ext. 709, or email David.Flynn(at)uscwm(dot)org .
10. GOOGLE-MAIL HAS ITS ADVANTAGES — Here’s a great article summing up Gmail and its potential (Thanks Nick!): http://wifi.google.com/faq.html
11. SOOOOOOOOOO THANKFUL — We’re grateful for those who spur us on here at Brigada Today. This past week, that included Dial-Abroad, who sent $129.30, which represented a sponsorship based on those who used long distance during August. Thanks Andy! To learn more about Dial- Abroad, go to: http://www.brigada.org/phone.html and click on the Dial-Abroad icon there.
To chip in or make a substantial donation, 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. 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. If you do know of someone who might help with these expenses, please feel free to relay this update to them. And thanks for any support you can give.