Brigada Today
20 of October, 1995
Now with over 1200 Participants!
(Praying today for Kathmandu, Thimphu, and Colombo)
News and Notes about Brigada, Your Gateway to Missions Networking!
[Pass this issue to a friend! To subscribe, see instructions at end.]
In this issue....
HOW ONE CHURCH IS TURNING "PRAYING THROUGH THE WINDOW" INTO ACTION
Thanks
to Judy Johnson and the folks at the Clovernook Christian Church in
Cincinnati, Ohio, who are putting legs on their prayers! They meet
tomorrow... on what will probably be the coldest day of the year yet in
Cincinnati (weathermen say 43 degrees will be the high) to walk through
"Over-the-Rhine" inner city section of the "Queen City". As they "prayer
walk", they'll focus on the people, the needs, and the opportunities they
see. Clovernook maintains a ministry especially geared toward this area of
Cincinnati... so the prayers won't be landing on deaf ears. Many members of
the congregation will turn right around and be back out into the area in
coming days to lend assistance and share hope. Meanwhile, many of
Clovernook's members are involved in praying for the 100 Gateway Cities of
the 10/40 Window. The front page article in their Sunday Evening Post
weekly newsletter was entitled, "Making a difference... In the world... in
Cincinnati... and You!"
USA TO HOST NATIONAL CONCERT OF PRAYER
Clovernook won't be the only
church praying tomorrow! According to Dave and Kim Butts
73764.3051@compuserve.com , "On Oct. 21 at least 200 US cities will be
simultaneously joined in prayer through a National Concert of Prayer.
Taking place from 7-9 pm in each city, these Concerts of Prayer will focus
on world evangelization. The theme is "Together for Revival." Since
October is also "Pray through the Window" month, each US city will be linked
with a nation in the 10/40 window." David is secretary for the
Denominational Prayer Leaders' Network, which works closely with the AD2000
& Beyond Movement. Wow.
FOLLOW UP ON "WANT TO BUY A SMALL COUNTRY?"
Oops. Our source made a
correction in last week's article on the Kuwaiti government wanting to "buy"
Malawi. The article did appear
in The Malawi Times, as we wrote last
week, but it was not the front page on June 9th, '93. It was the front page
on June 9th, '95! Just a bit more timely than previously reported.
Gulp.
FOLLOW UP ON 'FROM "THE HONEYMOON'S OVER" DEPT., UZBEKISTAN'
Thanks to
Dave Moody
DM@xc.org for the following response to last week's note from
Justin Long on Uzbekistan.
"UZBEKISTAN: WHAT? THE HONEYMOON'S OVER? BUT, WE'RE STILL INVITING
FOLKS TO THE MARRIAGE FEAST!
- Is it difficult for believers in Uzbekistan?
Yes!
- Have several churches been unable to register officially with the
government? Yes.
- Have there been instances of deliberate, premeditative
persecution of believers? Yes.
- Have some foreigners been asked to leave
because of their activities?
- Have people died for the Kingdom in Uzbekistan?
Yes!
- Does this concern foreigners and nationals alike? You bet!
All of this
is true and quite sobering, but it is also inaccurate! [sic]
- Are churches multiplying? Yes!
- Are Uzbeks coming to the Lord? In
historically unprecedented numbers! Not to mention Russians, Koreans
and other ethnic groups!
- Are foreign workers hopeful for a movement
of the Holy Spirit? Like never before!
Actually, most are concerned
that there aren't enough men (and women!) to haul in the nets, when
the Lord brings harvest (sorry for mixing two metaphors!).
- Are most
workers planning on leaving anytime soon? Not until their roles are
unnecessary, and their jobs complete!
Nobody knows what the future holds but let's remember who holds the
future! God has given his saints the power and privilege of causality
in Prayer. The only inevitability in the universe is the absolute and
complete dominion of Christ. Somehow, some way our prayers are
playing into this manifest reality. Let's pray this way for
Uzbekistan! Ephesians 1:17-23." Thanks Dave!
ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR SETTING UP SUB-SAHARAN MED.WORKSHOP & NETWORK
There
is a workshop taking place on appropriate medical technology for 3rd world
situations in sub-Saharan Africa in August 1996. Assistance is needed to
get contacts for the workshop. There are currently 34 participants from 17
countries of the at least 47 countries in this part of Africa. A follow
up/help network over the Internet is also being planned. Contact addresses
for this are also needed. If you can help please contact Tom Judd
JUDD104W@wonder.em.cdc.gov .
YOU SAY "SIKH" AND I'LL SAY "SEEK" 
Thanks to David Householder
DavidHousholder@XC.Org who actually conducted a straw poll at the North
American Council for South Asian Christians (NACSAC) in Chicago. (Can you
believe this guy?
He was actually walking through the convention,
asking people "man-on-the-street-reporter" style, "So, what'll it be:
(pronounced) "sick" or "seek"?"!!!) (In case you're still curious,
apparently one delegate from Uttar Pradesh insisted it was "seek"... but
then followed up by saying that in the mixture of Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu
used in much of Northwest India, it's "sick"! So... sounds like you'll be
right somewhere no
matter what pronunciation you use!
The funny
thing was the plenary session that followed! Dave wrote that in the middle
of his message, the speaker explained, 'Jesus told us to turn the other
cheek,' but pronounced 'cheek' as 'chick.' Aha!" It's never as simple as it
seems!
MORE "WHAT'S AFTER OCTOBER"
So you weren't able to arrange travel to
Cincinnati for tomorrow? Never fear... there's still hope. Nate Wilson
NateWilson@XC.Org informs us that there are several similar workshops
lined up for other cities. Take your pick: Denver November 3 ($15),
NateWilson@XC.org (303) 730-4170; Tulsa, OK, Oct 30 6-10pm
656-4533@MCIMail.com , (918) 587-1947; Wichita
SteveAIMS@AOL.com
316-942-8293; and Los Angeles, Nov. 18 (try
NateWilson@XC.Org for more
info). Evidently, according to Nate, The "What's After October" workshops
are designed to help church leaders follow up on the "Praying Through The
Window--100 Gateway cities" prayer campaign in October. "We want to give
creative ideas and helpful strategies that will help bring mission more into
the heart of the local church all year long," Nate explained. "The "Make A
Difference" package (described last week, available from Proclamedia at
76551.2032@compuserve.com or tel. 719-380-0505) has the same information
we'll cover in the "What's After October" workshops for the benefit of those
who were not able to attend a "WAO" workshop and for those who want to share
the "WAO" material with others!" Thanks Nate!
"GOOD TIMES" VIRUS IS ACTUALLY A BANDWIDTH THIEF!
That's the truth. The
hoax about the "Good Times" virus (making the rounds on a couple of Brigada
conferences this past week) is not all that funny. Because we all care
about our friends on "The Net", we end up forwarding the "Good Times"
warning to others, unknowingly wasting lots of the INTERNET's time and
resources. Rest assured... it's a joke. If you receive a warning about a
"Good Times" virus, just ignore it... or request that the sender re-send an
apology to those on the distribution list of his/her original message.
"Good Times" doesn't exist.
GLOBAL GLIMPSE: MOROCCAN BELIEVER IMPRISONED
Jamal, a young
Moroccan man, was sentenced to a year's imprisonment for witnessing about
his Christian faith. When asked what he had to say in his defense an
eyewitness said Jamal simply declared, "I am a Christian, but I respect the
Islamic religion" and sat down. He had no lawyer to defend his case since
he could not afford one. This is the fourth conviction of Jamal, who
boldly witnesses to his faith in Jesus Christ. Freedom of religion is
supposedly guaranteed by the Moroccan constitution.
Source: 10/16/95 --
source withheld.
Contact John
Hanna
jhanna@cproject.com
Caleb Project for authentication information.
John Hanna, Caleb Project, Littleton, CO
INTERESTED IN MEDIA... AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION????
Don't miss Dan
Henrich's message on the Brigada-strategy-tv-film conference. The
possibilities are awesome. It involves reaching Muslims through friendship
evangelism by interweaving media and workshops... and maybe getting paid for
it! For more information, contact Dan
DanHenrich@XC.Org or join the
conference by sending email to
hub@xc.org with only the following line in
the body of the message text:
subscribe Brigada-strategy-tv-film
PUT ON THE FRONT LINES ON YOUR FRONT BURNER
Thanks to Kevin Guttman
74562.3305@compuserve.com for
bringing On the Front Lines to our
attention. Kevin wrote, "It contains 12 short faith building stories of
national Christian leaders. Each story is 3-4 pages long & tells about the
dramatic ways that God has protected, provided & used these front line
leaders to advance His kingdom. These "unsung heroes" are from places like
China, North Africa, India, Liberia, etc. The book is FREE & would make a
good reading for people of all ages! To order contact the publisher,
Partners International
P.O. Box 15025
San Jose, CA 95115
or call 1-800-966-5515
or Email Kevin Guttman at
74562.3305@Compuserve.com ."
COMIC BOOKS ARE COMIN' TO A MISSION FIELD NEAR YOU
According to planners
of an international conference set for January, "Comic books have zoomed
into the missions field in a big way." (See
Brigada Today, Sept. 1.)
Conference organizers wrote to report that "January 22-26, 1996, a team of
professional comic book artists and writers, who are all Christians, will
teach a four day course in the Philippines, training missionaries and
Christian nationals how to create credible comics with a powerful message
for specific cultures." One planner, Len Cowan, stated, "People all over
the world read comics, and innovative missionaries have been putting the
medium to work in evangelism and discipleship materials." Len is a
communications coordinator and originator of the idea to bring comics pros
and missionaries together. "It's a great idea which has worked pretty
well, but the missionaries found out how hard it is to create a quality
comic book!" That led Cowan to contact Nate Butler, a well known industry
professional, who offered to assemble the faculty which would teach a
special course on how to do comics right. The format will include
instructional sessions, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops in
writing, illustration, editing & art directing, promotion & marketing,
communication theory, and evangelism strategy." Cool.
If you're
interested, email Nate
NateButler@aol.com or Cathleen (conference
administrator) at
Cathleen@XC.org
FOR AN UPDATE ON BRIGADA CONFERENCES
Don't forget that you can, at any
time, get an update on current Brigada conferences by sending email to
hub@xc.org with only the following word in the body of the message text:
conferences
This will cause our INTERNET server to generate a reply to you that lists
for you all conferences and a brief, one-line description of what they seek
to accomplish.
Have a great week!
TO SUBSCRIBE TO BRIGADA TODAY, send email to
hub@xc.orgwith only the
following message:
subscribe brigada
TO UNSUBSCRIBE (How ridiculous!), send email to
hub@xc.orgwith this line
in the text:
unsubscribe brigada
BRIGADA TODAY IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FOLLOWING TEAM OF REGULAR VOLUNTEERS:
- Global Glimpses: John Hanna, Caleb Project, jhanna@cproject.com
- ADVANCE: Mark A. Kelley, Kainos Press, 70420.1057@compuserve.com
- Web Wizard: Bob Mayhew, Brigada Volunteer, mayhew@xc.org
- Web Art: Patti Mayhew, c/o mayhew@xc.org
- Technical Development: Jonathan Marsden, CrossConnect jonathan@xc.org
- Compiler: Doug Lucas, Team Expansion & Brigada, DLucas@TeamExpansion.org
- and many other occasional contributors too numerous to mention! But
thanks for working together! That's the dream of Brigada!
20 of October, 1995
