Brigada Today
11 of April 1997
Now with 5271 participants!!!
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....
PRAYER SCOREBOARD
As of yesterday, the Manna Church of Fayetteville,
NC had logged 14,300+ churches committed to pray for least reached peoples
on the Joshua Project 2000 list! Prayer-tracker Dick Gaffney wrote, "What
a blessing to hear from people all over this globe who want to pray for the
unreached people groups. These are exciting times!" If your church hasn't
registered, send a note to Dick at
RGaff13817@aol.com. If you've already
registered at Envision '96 or with AD2000, you've already been recorded.
Thanks for your work, Dick!
FINAL REQUEST FOR FINAL FRONTIER
This is your last chance to
participate in the Brigada study on which people group(s)
would be most
desperately unreached. Send your nominee to
DLucas@TeamExpansion.org
but please
make the subject line read:
final frontier
We've gotten some great
responses that will be reported on next week. I think you'll be surprised
at some of the results!
EPISCOPALIANS HAVE A HOME IN CYBERSPACE
Apparently, Episcopalians can
write to
Missionsmobilizer@Episcopalian.org to join a discussion group
about mobilizing missions among their group. And guess what! They're
evidently very active in Brigada groups too! A few years ago, you might
have concluded they were dying out. Guess it wasn't only Mark Twain's death
that was greatly exaggerated!
CATCH AN EYE AND A HEART WITH THIS NEW GRAPHIC ARTS FIRM
We're told
that this new missionary prayer letter service designs prayer letters with
eye-catching graphics and a professional layout to motivate readers.
"Trevco Designs" is owned and operated by Brenda Branson, of The
Evangelical Alliance Mission. There are evidently two options: design
letter only and forward camera-ready copy to designated mailing service
(2-day turnaround) or design letter and provide complete mailing service
(1-week turnaround). For further information, references, or to request a
brochure, contact Brenda
bbranson@teamworld.org. Whew! What a relief
this will be for some tired layout fingers!
GET PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF BRIGADA TODAY FOR FREE!
There
are two
ways to access previous editions of Brigada Today. The easiest, of
course, is via the web at
http://www.brigada.org where there's even a
search engine that will find that illusive text string you're searching for
(like... "Where do I write to get information on "Praying Through the
Window III"?). But if you don't have access to the web, you're still in
luck. Just send email to
hub@xc.org 
with only the words,
filelist brigada
in the text of the message. In a few moments, you'll receive an
emailed message containing a list of all the files stored in the top level
of the Brigada file archive. Just pick out the edition you want, by date,
then send another message that contains something like this:
get brigada brigada-today.970411
Or whatever date you want! It'll be automatically emailed to you
immediately. Kind of like a nifty fax-back service . . . except no long
distance bill! And it works from anywhere in the world!
THE SECURTY DEBATE CONTINUES
In a
recent Brigada Today, we
mentioned "back-masking" (where, using special software tools, you can bury
your message in the noise of a background to a graphic that you email to a
buddy overseas;
http://www.iquest.net/~mrmil/stego.html or
http://www.enter.net/~chronos/cryptolog1.html#Stego ). A friend (thanks
Art!) reminded us that . . . if your buddy's email is being watched closely
by sophisticated monitors . . . and he or she starts sending out pictures
to the same people... and they're not all that interesting anyway...
and maybe the same picture is going out with different binary signatures...
suffice it to say that back-masking isn't a panacea either.
So . . .
once again, treat email as if it's sending a post card... and watch what
you say!
SO WHERE DO YOU GET GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE FOR MISSIONARIES?
Karen
Lafferty
100340.3723@CompuServe.COM would like to know! And guess
what... she's willing to compile a list for us!!! So, personnel guys,
please get out that list and send her your best sources for good coverage,
at home and abroad. She'll compile the list and we'll make it available
here on Brigada. We're especially interested in
- policies that work for those living overseas
- reasonable policies for missionaries that live and work in the USA
- policies covering those who aren't USA citizens
Thanks Karen!!! (Insurance sales people are welcome to respond too!
)
Please send a three-line summary at the top of your page of info.... and .
. . please limit your response to a page max. Give a couple of examples of
premium costs please. Thanks!
TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT: GIVE US YOUR BEST MISSIONS FILM
Steve Cox
firstevan@compuserve.com wants to assemble a great list of missions
videos, movies, and other AV/media resources and their sources. Please
send him brief summaries and he'll make the final list available to us in a
couple of weeks. Thanks!
WEB WATCH
Here's a new prayer calendar at
http://www.churches.com/world/Missions/worldpray and the author, Roger E.
Doriot
doriotre@ticnet.com is even willing to email copies to those
without web access! On the same page is the calendar for world leaders.
Also, have you visited
http://www.hotmail.com lately? They're doing a
great business with on-the-web email . . . and they can now also let you
check your regular email box. It's all free. (Thanks for the reminder from
CMDNet, Bob!) Check it out! By the way, Bob's got a great site himself at
http://www.cmd.org.nz/books.html.
WANT A LIST OF AGENCIES WILLING TO WORK WITH TENTMAKERS?
Chris did.
He received email responses from Brigada Today participants and prepared
a summary sheet of agencies and their addresses. So now, if you're headed
out as a tentmaker with the UN or whatever, you can link up with other
tentmakers for service and support. Get Chris' list by sending a note to
hub@xc.org with only this line in the text of the email message:
get brigada un-tentmakers
As you guessed, the "un" stands for United Nations . . . not for "un" like
uncola!
And . . . isn't it
nice to read Brigada Today on the web . .
. so you don't have to mail out for all these "get" files? Bob Mayhew
fixes it so we just point, click, and read . . . and the files instantly
appear like magic! Thanks Bob!!!
GET READY FOR PTWIII WITH HINDU WORLD PRAYER FOCUS
In this 50th year
of India's independence, Christians are being called to humbly learn about,
pray for and reach out to the world's Hindu peoples. Beginning May 18
(Pentecost Sunday), Hindu ministry leaders are calling for a week of prayer
focus on the Hindu peoples. For more info, news release, cover
illustration, price and order information, etc., check out:
http://www.ywam.org/prayer.hindu.html In addition, the 12 minute Video
"Gods of India" is done, booklets will go to print any day now. And $2
Posters are done too. And by the way, those without web access can get the
same info by writing YWAM's International Communications Network at
wcn@xc.org. Thanks Paul!!!
PLEASE FOLLOW THE "PROTOCOL"
The welcome screen to this top level
Brigada conference is going through some revision. One change is that new
conference participants are being asked to email
hub@xc.org with this message:
get brigada help-detailed
get brigada protocol
The second line (new to the welcome message) is a set of protocols to
follow on Brigada conferences. Please get it when you have a chance and
follow it at all times. Thanks! (This "protocol" file builds on and adds
to earlier protocol files that were dated in their extensions [like
protocols.960929 or whatever]. The latter will soon be erased to conserve
resources.) (By the way, if you want to see the current welcome message,
send a message to
hub@xcorg with this line:
info brigada
IMAGINE THIS DEAL FOR IMAGE-MAKERS
If you're a photographer and
haven't checked out Seattle Filmworks in awhile, maybe you should give them
a second look . . . especially if you're now using digital images (for the
web or for your desktop publisher). Brigada participant Chris wrote, "They
have a deal where they will develop a roll of film, make a print of each
image, make a slide of each image, digitize each image, print a thumbnail
summary of each roll, and give you a new roll of film all for about $20. I
haven't tried them yet, but I will. Look for them at
http://www.filmworks.com or call 1-800-filmworks or email at
cs@filmworks.com. Thanks!
SO HOW DO YOU SPELL YOUR MISSION PROJECT?
Chris Bushnell is a
Personnel Coordinator for a mission agency in the midwestern USA (notice
that I say it that way when I don't want you to find out he works for Team
Expansion!
). He wrote recently about how difficult it sometimes is
for new missionaries or interns to state the full details of their project
in a concise enough fashion. As a result, he's now recommending that new
workers consider using this outline . . . or anything like it . . . as a
guideline:
- Who:
- tell about yourself, your family, your experience, your hopes and dreams.
- When:
- tell about your hopeful time-frame for your new work, including time spent in language and culture learning.
- Where:
- tell about the people and the place God has burned into your heart.
- What:
- tell about your mission organization and it's distinctives.
- Why:
- ell about your passion to obey the Great Commission and share His love.
- How:
- tell your potential supporters that you need their prayers, encouragement and financial partnership to fulfill your God-given passion.
I'd say maybe he's onto something! (By the way -- please pray for Chris;
he's just learned that he'll have to undergo knee surgery for a torn ACL.
Maybe skiing and missions don't mix after all! Better stick to golf, Chris!
)
WOULD YOU HELP ME WRITE THE GATEWAY PEOPLE CONSULTATION DECLARATION?
If you have an electronic copy of a past conference/consultation
"declaration" that you could send my way, I'd greatly appreciate it. I've
been asked to chair the effort to put together the declaration for the
Gateway People Consultation at the US Center next week . . . and I'd love
to get a look at your favorite manifesto! Just mail to
DLucas@TeamExpansion.org
with subject line "declaration" and I'll greatly appreciate it! Thanks!
GREAT SOURCE FOR PRAYER CARDS
One Brigada participant found a super
supply source for those prayer cards that everybody puts on their fridge.
You scan your color photo, place it into a Pagemaker document and send
the disk to Copy Craft Printers. They do the rest. For full color business
card prayer cards, it's reportedly under $115 for 1000 inc shipping!!!!!!!
Email
rollie@copycraft.com for a catalogue. Sounds like a good value to me!
NOW YOU CAN REACH YOUR AMDO TIBETAN NEIGHBORS!
Take them a copy of
the cassette entitled, "God's Powerful Savior" in the Amdo-Tibetan language
with beautiful Tibetan Flute playing for bridging and background. What?!
No Amdos next door? Well you can also get a brief testimony from a Tibetan
believer accompanied by Tibetan music and singing. Then join the growing
network of believers who are praying for an Amdo Tibetan church!
Order
from
Audio Scripture Ministries
P. O. Box 46063
Escondido, CA 92046
Fax 619 745 8150
Or write
asm-ca@xc.org. WWW site:
http://www.AudioScriptures.org/asm
TRAVEL CONFERENCE ALIVE AND WELL!
Those who had tried the
brigada-travel-bids conference recently might have been discouraged by few
quotes in your inbox. Apparently, there was some kind of mishap in the
configuration of the conference, making it impossible for the dozens of
travel agents there to see your request for a quote. Late last night that
was all resolved, so they're back on line!!! Plus (and maybe most
importantly), I have secured the commitment of at least one travel agent
who says he will focus his full time efforts on the conference, meaning
that you will get quotes back for every request! This guy can buy
wholesale fares from several sources . . . and there are over 50 other
travel agents subscribed, waiting to see how they can save you and your
ministry big bucks. So try it today! Just email
brigada-travel-bids@xc.org and explain your reqest for a bid. No need to
subscribe... your message goes to the conference "as is" and they write you
back directly with proposals.
PRAYER REQUEST FOR LIBYA
Thanks to Bob and CMDNet for this note on
Libya... "Each year the Southern Baptists, in conjunction with other
groups, focus prayer for a day on an area of the world in need of mission
attention. This year (May 16-17) the focus will be the Arabs of Libya. Only
a few Libyans living inside the country or abroad are known to be
Christians. A resource kit to support the prayer emphasis is available from
the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board. The kit consists of a video on
Libya, news coverage on Libya and a prayer guide. To order, call (800) 866-
3621 or write Customer Services, Foreign Mission Board, PO Box 6767,
Richmond, Virginia, VA 23230-0767, USA."
YOU'RE INVITED TO TEE-TIME
Chris
cajel@iquest.net wants to know
all about TEE . . . well maybe more specifically, he'd like to learn what
kind of TEE programs have been successful, what accessed via the internet,
video, cassette, etc., are there GED programs by video or net specifically
for urban areas, . . . etc. Don't forget to include programs designed for
the USA in your answer, too! He'll compile a list and we'll make it
available here in a couple of weeks.
ONE MORE RESOURCE FOR CHURCH-PLANTERS!
Don't forget that you can
send mail to
majordomo@genesis.acu.edu with only the following command
in the body of your email message:
subscribe churchplanters
[Note that this is not a Brigada group. In Brigada conferences, you
would never add your email address on the end of a subscribe command. It
causes the subscribe command to bounce to the owner of the conference.]
They reportedly discuss everything from vision to questions, specific
problems, experiences, testimonies, and practical suggestions!
HINDU CONFERENCE COMING THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT!
Here's a conference
that looks top notch! "Christian Witness in the Hindu World," billed as
"An Exciting two-weekend seminary in Los Angeles with Dr. Roger E. Hedlund,
South Asian expert and Christian Scholar. Sponsored by CenSas (the Center
for South Asian Studies) will be held at
Church on Brady
717 So. Brady Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Phone: 213 728-4850
E-mail:
bradyjobnt@aol.com
April 17, 18 & 19 1997 (Module 1)
and
April 24, 25 & 26 1997 (Module 2).
HERE'S A GREAT STORY FOR THIS WEEK'S SERMON
Need a little "closing
illustration" for commitment to missions and mobilization? Here's a real
live story from an Adult Bible Fellowship in a congregation in Louisville,
KY. I was helping a missions team there plan their "next steps" for
reaching a Muslim group in N. Africa through one of those PACE Projects
I've been telling you about (quick commercial --
http://www.brigada.org/pace
). They've been trying all kinds of
innovative approaches to make sure the church-planting effort gets promoted
in the home and throughout the church. One project they have is placing
collection cans for loose change and all in every home of their Couples for
Christ Adult Bible Fellowship (the primary advocate group behind this
project). So from what I understand, just about every family has these cans
sitting around their house now! Pretty cool idea! Anyway, one of the Moms
(whose real name is "Tina") was sharing about the effect on Ryan, her
5-year-old! Apparently, he had lost a tooth that previous week and gotten a
whoppin' $5 from the tooth fairy. (I know . . . it was only a quarter when
you were growing up! But hey! It's the nineties! Inflation!) Anyway . .
. Tina (the mom) was pretty shocked when Ryan walked to the Tina tried to
explain to Ryan, "Now you understand that you can't get this back?" He
said, "I know, Mom. I want Jesus to have that to help people learn about
God." They say, "Out of the mouth of babes...." . . . but it seems to me
Ryan is onto something. If we could just arrange our priorities to give
some of our uttermost energies, our uttermost prayers, our uttermost
offerings . . . to the uttermost unreached people . . . we would accomplish
the uttermost results ever imagined! So . . . grab those cans and pray for
your little ones to lose their teeth!!!
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with only the following message:
subscribe brigada
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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- Brigada Website: Bob Mayhew, Brigada Volunteer,
mayhew@xc.org
- Technical Development: Jonathan Marsden, MAFxc
jonathan@xc.org
- Brigada
Customer Service Manager: Revis Ann Massey,
RevisAnnMassey@xc.org
- Brigada
Coordinator: 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!
11 of April 1997
| "If you've been asked to lead, you've been asked to serve." |
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| Doug Lucas DLucas@TeamExpansion.org
| Phone: +1 (513) 244 8149
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