Brigada Today
18 of April 1997
Now with 5338 participants!!! . . . headed for 10,000!
News and Notes about Brigada, Your Gateway to Missions Networking!
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In this issue....
DUST SETTLES FROM THE GATWAY PEOPLE CLUSTER CONSULTATION
Well, the
dust is now settling from the Gateway People Cluster Consultation, held
this past weekend at the US Center for World Mission in Pasadena, CA. I
wish I could give you a full report but two or three issues are "in the
way." First, we all signed a security release stating that we'd be very
careful about what we publicized. It would be a whole lot better for you
to read the official press releases by subscribing to the consultation news
conferences and retrieving the files that organizers have posted there. (To
retrieve those files, create a message to
hub@xc.org 
with these lines as
the content:
subscribe gpcc-announce
filelist
Look the file list over when it comes to your inbox and use the "get"
command to download the press releases you'd like to see.
But there's a second reason it's tough to give a full report. The truth
is, we don't know for sure what will come out of the conference. So much
of the consultation was designed to be a kick-off of a process - the
process of
- recruiting and training more "resource advocates" (those who
champion the cause of some unreached people group)
- recruiting and
training more "strategic partnership facilitators" (those who work mostly
in the field to create more networking between field workers
- creating
training opportunities for both the preceding roles
- launching
additional consultations and networking opportunities to help breed more
interaction between those who have a love for a common unreached group, and
- refining a new kind of categorizing of the full JP2000 list of 1739
peoples into around 140 or so "cluster" groupings.
I can tell you that consultation delegates worked hard, very hard, at
addressing all five of those goals, as well as hitting security and several
other issues at the same time. Pages and pages of feedback were collected.
They'll now be collated and feedback will be given to conference
delegates. This is an ongoing process. It's a marathon not a spring. So
let's have patience . . . and see where this takes us. I believe we're
definitely moving forward.
And at least one other clarion call came out of the meeting: YACC. "Yet
Another Call for a Clearinghouse." Nearly every working group seemed to
be asking for a source for information about people group mobilization
tools, adoption cross-matching, and security training. Brigada-peoples can
help in the meantime to pick up some of that . . . but I believe other
tools will also rise to the surface in the months to come. So let the games
begin . . . and let's hope that this YACC results in a real option that
works for all of us!
FINAL FRONTIER - THE ANSWER
We received responses from some 33
different individuals to the recent request for recommending a "final
frontier" least reached group for the "Brigada missionary couple." Remember
that this particular couple had volunteered to go anywhere in the world
that God would send them . . . but their quest was to go to the most
desperately unreached group. Well, . . . I know we can't claim to have
"the answer" . . . because the answer is that there are desperate needs in
so many places. But what I can promise you is that the representative
sampling you'll receive in our compilation is a group of some of the most
desperately unreached peoples in the world. To get the 15-page
compilation, send email to
hub@xc.org with only this phrase in the text of
the message:
get brigada finalfrontier
We'll keep you up to date occasionally as this particular couple discerns
God's will for their lives!
(Note to those viewing this document on the web: This particular file won't
be placed the web because of its sensitivity. To retrieve it, use the "get"
command above.)
DIVERSITY MAGNIFIES GOD?
As I write this, I'm sitting here at the
Gateway People Cluster Consultation (at the US Center for World Mission in
Pasadena, CA), listening to John Bendor-Samuel, President of Wycliffe. The
key issue of his devotional this Friday morning is that "diversity
magnifies God." It never occurred to me before that God would be glorified
through what I took as disunity. His thread of thought took us through the
Babylonian captivity and the way it dealt with idolatry and through the
development of synagogues. In a sense, as Dr. Bendor-Samuel pointed out,
God used the judgment that resulted from Babel to glorify Him. Each
language has its own beauty, its own power. It lifts up God in unique ways
. . . that perhaps would never have been possible in one monolingual world.
Of course, the final question he asked is the most interesting: What's
going to be the language of Heaven? Bendor-Samuel said we'd be
multi-lingual. God actually said in Rev. 21 that they "would be my peoples"
[plural]. We won't have any problem understanding one another -- 'cause
the Bible says that in Heaven there'll be no tears there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW DO WE LIFT UP LIBYA?
Well now there's an easy way to get started.
You'll recall last week's reference to one denomination's emphasis on Libya
PRAYER REQUEST FOR LIBYA. Well now a Libya network is
enlarging that all the more to a worldwide thrust . . . and you can start
by requesting a file that we've logged here at Brigada. Just send a note to
hub@xc.org with only this line in the text:
get brigada libya-pray
Included is info on how to get a new video on prayer for Libya for just $5
(how can they produce the video, package it, and mail it to you for that
price?????), and how to unite in a global plan to pray for Libya for one
24-hour period (6pm May 16 to 6pm 17). Sharp little packet for mobilizing
prayer at you church or agency. Grab the "libya-pray" file for free!
WANT TO LEARN HOW TO MENTOR CHURCH PLANTERS?
Then DCPI has a deal for
you! You can call 800-255-0431 or write
BeckerDCPI@aol.com and ask for a
brochure about the upcoming Mentors Conference will be in Indianapolis from
April 30-May 2, 97.
SOUTH AFRICA FARES A TAD HIGH?
Having trouble finding a good fare to
South Africa to attend GCOWE97? Try sending a note to
brigada-travel-bids@xc.org with info. about your travel needs. You'll
probably receive 5+ responses or "bids" from which you can choose... and
some of them will be bottom dollar but top value. Also, by the way, we had
previously published news about a travel agent in Canada who had worked out
special fares to South Africa but apparently, she can always get half-off
fares on SAA
schaubeck@baxter.net. You can also contact Celia Klare, the
official GCOWE travel agent, at 800-847-4640 in the USA, 315-422-2612 for
our non-USA participants, fax: 315-422-5932.
WANT TO REALLY NETWORK? INT'L CONFERENCE ON COMPUTING & MISSIONS
Check out
http://www.iccm.org (or write
info@iccm.org, the web site
for the International Conference on Computing and Missions (ICCM).
Scheduled for June 6-10, 1997 in Abilene, TX, the conference hopes to
provide a unique experience of spiritual fellowship, information-sharing
and vision renewal by providing a forum for missions-related people to meet
personally and to share ideas, information and expertise in order
to perform their jobs more effectively. If your missions job is at all
computer-related, then this is the place to be!
FREE GRAPHICS FOR YOUR CHURCH/MISSION NEWSLETTER!
Check out
http://members.aol.com/charismaco. There, the Charisma Design Company is
offering free clip-art collections for your publishing needs! Church
representatives without internet access can receive the disk version for a
$4.00 (more outside of the USA or Germany). Thanks Charisma! (You can also
call +1-303-617-7342 (North America), or +49-7153-75617 (Europe), e-mail:
charismaco@aol.com.
INTERESTED IN ONE OF THOSE TELEPHONE "CALL-BACK" PLANS?
Check with
PacificStar Telecom Service
pacifics@sainet.or.jp. They've got that and
more!
NEED CROSS-CULTURAL YOUTH MINISTRY?
Cross Cultural Youth Ministry
would like to know! Write
ccym@lts.net for more info. Their strategy is
to place trained youth ministers in partnerships with missionaries or solid
national churches throughout the world. They would also like to serve as a
clearinghouse for missions agencies or organizations that are searching for
youth workers.
PATHS TO A STRONG CITY NATIVE CHURCH
The path begins at the 3rd
Annual Native Urban Church-Planting Symposium, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
April 28 - May 1. Write
103535.3026@compuserve.com or call
204-586-1137 for more info.
CALLING ALL TRANSLATORS OF REDEMPTION ACCOMPLISHED AND APPLIED
If
you're translating (or have translated)
Murray's Redemption Accomplished and Applied into Russian,
dbsmith@paco.net would like to know.
GLOBAL GLIMPSE
This week mission leaders from across the 10/40 Window
will be meeting to discuss how to further cooperation in reaching many of
the world's least-reached people groups. Possibly one of the most
strategic meetings this year, discussions will revolve around how best to
help link in churches which have adopted people groups and startup mission
agencies as they begin to focus on specific unreached people groups. This
is often a challenge because of the sensitive nature of ministry in most
places in the 10/40 Window. Conference planners expect a great
breakthrough in the areas of cooperation, partnership, and communication.
(Source: Caleb Project field report, 4/14/97.) John Hanna, Caleb Project,
Littleton, CO.
YOU'VE READ THE JAPANESE BOOK; NOW GET THE JAPANESE MOVIE!
You heard
that Praying through the Window III Prayer Calendar was done in Japanese.
Now the movie is done! For 1500 yen you can get a copy
of To the Ends of the Earth in Japanese!!! Write
japmin@ibm.net for more info.
CHAT SPLAT - IRC FOR THEE?
Anybody know of any IRCs for
missionaries? (An IRC is an "internet relay chat" or something like that;
using special software, several people can "talk" [via the keyboard] to
each other live; differs from email in that the communication
is real time; all parties have to be on the Net at once.) If you do, email Jerry
Witt at
HALUSA@WITTY.COM. Jerry, please send us a list if you find some,
okay?
CORRECTION ON ADOPT-A-PEOPLE CLEARINGHOUSE
My bad on the reference
to the Adopt-A-People Clearinghouse a couple of weeks ago. I mentioned
that I didn't believe it had ever been their purpose to "register"
adoptions (by a church or individual) or report them upon request by
inquirers. I got back a note from the AAPC staff person (I think there's
currently just one or two) saying that indeed that always had been one of
their priority purposes. I've asked them to drop us a couple of paragraphs
on how they receive and/or distribute this info. I'm clueless, even though
our mission organization is a supporting member! My bad.
AN HTML EDITOR TO GO!
Need an HTML editor for your mission
newsletter (that's someone who prepares your written newsletter for the
web)? Linda (see her web site at:
http://www.inworks.net/comm/image/image.htm ) wants to
help. Check out her services . . . e.g., $15 to prepare the bulletin for
the web, $25 to post it on the site. She'd like to provide a central place
for mission news.
PATTERSON "OBEDIENCE ORIENTED EDUCATION AND EVANGELISM BY EXTENSION"
You can now get a complete sample set of the 62 booklets including the
Church Planting Guide, and the Pastoral Trainer's Manual for US$95 plus
US$25 seamail or US$50 airmail postage. To order, please send two checks to
the Missionary Training Service (address below) in US dollars (one for
US$72.50 and the other for the remaining amount - this is because they
apparently can't process checks above US$72.50 at the moment without
incurring large charges).
The Missionary Training Service
18 Aston Way
Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2XY, United Kingdom
E-mail:
coordmts@xc.org
I've got to save up my pennies and get a set of these! They're sharp and
have apparently been very effective in each location where they've been used.
NEW CONFERENCES READY FOR ACTION!
Wow
- a whole flurry of new
conferences has emerged these past couple of weeks. One is
BRIGADA-PEOPLES-QASHQAI, moderated by Justin Long of David Barrett's office
in Virginia, promises to wave the flag for the Qashai. According to the
welcome message by Justin, "Only a miniscule number have ever met a
Christian. There are some Christians in the cities, but not many have
ventured out to the rural areas where they live. There is not even one
church in the world that worships in their language, nor do they have any
Christian radio broadcasts. The Bible hasn't been translated into their
language. There are nearly a million of them -- but at most maybe 50,000
have heard the Gospel in their lives." Join it by sending email to
hub@xc.org with only this sentence in your email:
subscribe brigada-peoples-qashqai
There will probably be only one or two failings per week.
GOT RESOURCES? GET NETWORKING!
This just in from Mary Ann Stone of
the AD2000 & Beyond International Office. Let's load her up with all the
resources we can find!!! "It is a delight to watch the growing response to
Joshua Project 2000 goals of adoption networking and church planting for
unreached peoples. The Lord is indeed placing the vision "a church for
every people" on the hearts of individuals and organizations around the
world. However, with such interest comes an increasing plea for resources
which are both informative and motivational. Prayer teams and groups,
researchers and church planters are hungry for a better understanding of
the peoples to whom they have made a commitment.
To assist those concerns, AD2000 and Beyond, is seeking to compile a
resource list of available videos and films which feature any of the Joshua
Project 2000 unreached peoples. (List is available on the World Wide Web
http://www.ad2000.org ) We plan to gather informative resources whether
Christian or secular in nature. If you or your organization has produced
or distributed such a video or film or know of others who may have done
so, please contact Barb Bills at AD2000
barb@ad2000.org with the
following information as soon as possible:
- Name of the People targeted in the video or film.
- Country where the filming took place.
- Publisher name, address, phone, fax, and e-mail.
- Retail price for the video or film.
- Versions and formats for the resources.
- Languages in which available.
- Additional Contacts: Name, Organization, Address, Phone, Fax, Email.
These resources will eventually appear in a new column on the AD2000 Joshua
Project 2000 peoples list and on our Web site at
http://www.ad2000.org
TO DOUG: PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!
This past week, I heard from a
Brigada participant who made a good point. He said I had commented more
than once on the way that international use of encryption (encoded)
messages would always look suspect until it was utilized by the masses. So
he asked courteously why I never used PGP or any other encryption software.
"Hmmmm," I said. "Because I routinely don't have anything private to say
in my typical notes," I thought to myself. But you see, that's exactly
what 99% of all Internet users are saying . . . which makes the other 1%
feel a bit anxious (and look suspicious) when they do choose to use PGP!
So . . . starting this week, my signature (at the bottom) carries a
reference to my PGP "public key" and I've pledged to start using PGP more
as each week goes by. Yikes.
The price we pay for progress!
But you know, he was right. If we really wanted to help secure email to be birthed
on the net, we'd all go out and get PGP public keys (there's no cost
involved) and start using this stuff... or utilizing the new S/Mime (or is
it S/Myme) built-in security in other emailers.
So how 'bout it, Brigada family. Can we start looking at this PGP stuff or
what?
To learn more about PGP security, do a search on the net for it this week.
Then send in your best PGP tutor file/URL to
DLucas@TeamExpansion.org with
PGP HELP
in the subject line. We'll make the results available to everybody
next week and maybe we can help the whole world be more secure!
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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!
18 of April 1997
