Brigada Today
29 of August, 1997
Now with 5954 participants!!!
News and Notes about Brigada, Your Gateway to Missions Networking!
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Compiled by Doug Lucas, Louisville, KY
[Pass this issue to a friend! To subscribe, see instructions at end.]
Just received this item from Luis Bush at AD2000 International Office in Colorado Springs. "During
GCOWE 97 a list was unveiled of 579 ethno-linguistic peoples from the
original Joshua Project 2000 list of 1739, who did not have a reported
church planting effort underway. As a result of GCOWE 97, of the 579, only
172 remain unclaimed for any kind of commitment to church planting by
December 31, 2000. This came after pledges made at GCOWE 97 by:Luis went on to write... "Please pray for these 172 unclaimed peoples, ... that mission agencies, churches and individuals around the world will be raised up to send and support a church planting team to be operative by December 31, 2000. As of June 1997, AD2000 data reflected that, of the original Joshua Project 2000 list, 579 of the 1739 peoples were without a reported mission agency church planting effort in their midst. AD2000 data was based on the results of a survey conducted over the year ending June 1997, resulting in the submission of more than 25,000 pieces of information received from over 450 distinct mission organizations from over 80 countries."
Course, I can already hear what you're some are going to say. They're going to point out faults with the list. So Luis wrote, "This is an incomplete and an imperfect picture! However, it is a starting point toward ensuring that there is a church planting effort targeting the least reached peoples. The selected list of unreached peoples called the "Joshua Project 2000 List" includes those more than 10,000 individuals with less than 5% evangelical and 2% Christian. Several groups have smaller than 10,000 and others which exceed the percentages. As new information becomes available the list is being updated."
If we get these final commitments, will world evangelism be finished? Sorry Charlie. No such luck. And Luis, to his credit, points out, "This in no way implies that these peoples have been reached or that the task is even close to being done among these peoples. From the beginning of the launch of the Joshua Project 2000 in December 1995, the goal has been to see, at a minimum, a church planting team and a church planting effort resulting in a life-giving church of at least 100 believers in one or more reproducing fellowships among every people on the Joshua Project 2000 list. This does not mean that the AD2000 & Beyond Movement is responsible for this progress. However, we can praise God that we are nearer to reaching that objective than imagined less than two years ago. Let us pray and work together to the end that there can be a church for every ethno-linguistic people by the year 2000. It can be done, it ought to be done, it must be done with your help."
To get a complete ascii summary copy of the list of the remaining 172 peoples, send email to
hub@xc.org 
containing this simple message:
get brigada unclaimedlist
Okay... so I admit it. I left out a hyphen. But it's just one measly (meazely???
Meezely??? How in the world is that spelled?
) hyphen. So okay... I
admit you couldn't download the "web evangelism" item without that hyphen,
but . . . after all... I mean... picky, picky, picky.
(All kidding aside... last week's WEB EVANGELISM AND 'USEFUL FONTS' ITEMS READY TO
"GET" item had a typo. The correct command should be
in an email to
hub@xc.org . Sorry for any inconvenience
it caused! And... seriously, thanks for the notes pointing to the problem.
More than 1 billion people in 219 countries had seen the Jesus film by July 1997. It is currently in use by
680 mission agencies and denominations, and is available in 410
languages, with another 220 in preparation. More than 85% of the world
population are able to watch and understand the film. Paul Eshlemann, the
project's director, says that black market copies of the film have also
increased the circulation. "Our greatest aim," according to Eshlemann, "is
that every person will have had the chance to see the Jesus film by the
end of the millennium. There is no reason why we should not reach that aim."
Thanks again Gwen.
Already. Amazing how God heals us, isn't it. Now
if we can just be so patient for him to heal us of the emotional challenges we face!
Have you been following the developments in the email encryption world? Apparently, the
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), an international body responsible
for adopting Net standards, has dismissed a specification created by RSA
Data Security and instead is considering a technology from RSA's arch
rival, Pretty Good Privacy. Although nothing's set in stone yet, it appears
that the S/MIME people (RSA) missed a deadline to propose something
long-term to the IETF, who was already souring on S/MIME because of its
owner's seeming desire to hog its development rights. To put it in the
IETF's own words, "The truth is that S/MIME is out, as far as the IETF is
concerned." (Those were the words of John Noerenberg, chair of the proposed
working group considering the PGP technology for the task force). Bottom
line: Looks like PGP might have a chance to become a global standard after
all! Stand by for later updates. And thanks, TC, for keeping us informed!
In other news this past week (Thanks Tom!!!),
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=4627355-b58 told us
about a ruling that a federal judge ruled that U.S. government regulations
on the export of encryption software are unconstitutional. See the URL for
more info.
In reality, he knows it won't be that simple, so he's asking for materials or
references from as many who will give them. Write him if you have a
favorite handbook on how to do it! He'll send us the compiled list so we
can publish it online for Brigada Today.
... unless you have options. Well don't forget you can do it two ways -- first, you can
use call-back services like CrossLink (email them at
Crosslink@earthlink.net.
Or you can use internet calling services
like Net2Phone (find it at
http://www.net2phone.com. Both are quite
reasonable, and the last method is probably even free. And ... if you
were wondering about that nasty rumor that those calling back from South
Africa would have to pay a big penalty, the CrossLink folks tell us that it
hasn't actually been approved yet. So you can still use CrossLink without
fear from South Africa.
So... if you're serious about making a global mobilization contribution to a
Spanish-speaking world, drop us a line at
DLucas@TeamExpansion.org and we'll
reassemble a new team and appoint a new team leader. Thanks! And... thanks
again to the original gentleman who hasn't been able to get Internet access
-- thanks for trying at least!
Finally we're getting to the bottom of the
original request for a good toll-free number for ACMC resources, which
include several helps for local churches wanting to upgrade their missions
promotion/policy-making. 800-798-ACMC. Interestingly enough, it's the same
toll-free number that ACMC has had all along!
Apparently, by signing on, you can get web access from any of some 50+
countries for just $1/call + 10 cents/minute + $6.95/month. The charges
(including the monthly $7) are only levied when you use the service... so
there are no fees hanging around when you get home. Sounds like a no
brainer, if you ask me. Course, the number of overseas pops is in the
process of growing... but the concept is great!
Thanks Larry!
She wrote this past week, "The Consortium of Global
Education, a collection of 47 SBC colleges and universities investing in
international matters, will hold its annual meeting at Grand Canyon
University September 26-27. For our banquet I have purchased small
minority "people" for prayer reminders. Surely there already exists small
cards with info on people groups which I can place with these little
people. I would like several different cards to mix around tables which
will seat around 10 people." She added, "If no cards exist, what is my
best and quickest source of this information for making cards?" Where
would you send Treva? Write her at
tgibson@grand-canyon.edu.
Last week's item on finishing
seemed to touch a nerve [
THE MYSTICAL ART OF FINISHING WHAT WE
START]. For example, one reader wrote that he had served on the mission
field for years, "...and upon returning home, our church had us stand up
to be recognized. The following Sunday a team of highschoolers that had
been in _____ [we'll leave out the name of the country] for two weeks for a
summer program were given the entire Sunday morning service to share."
This Brigada participant wrote that throughout his home service, he wasn't
"given so much as ten minutes to share our hearts in our HOME church. I DO
understand the teaching value of such short term trips in the lives of our
teens, but it seems something is wrong with our priorities when we cheer
teams coming home after two weeks, who have no idea about cross-cultural
struggles, who bring back sensational stories of the effectiveness of their
practiced skit or pantomime, not having any idea their ministry really
impacted the culture they were in, and can't even find ten minutes for
those who have sacrificed lives, who are running the race with the intent
to finish. Many readers of Brigada Today are the kind who are running to
finish. And this article was a precious jewel for us. Thank you, Doug." So
-- next time you have a full-timer coming home from years of service
abroad.... well, let's just say, if the shoe fits....
Give them
equal time . . . or try to think about alternatives. ... or something.
Another Brigada participant wrote with a tip -- Finishing Strong (the book)! According to Neal, "To introduce his theme, the author gives statistics that one in ten who start in ministry, finish! Nine out of every ten who begin to minister, crash!" Neal went on to observe, "It is no wonder that Jesus mused, 'Will there be faith on earth...!'" The book is authored Steve Farrar (Point Man; we'd better get it) and published by Multnomah Books.
Yet another Brigada participant wrote, sharing a song he had written -- an
exclusive release on Brigada Today. He's a musician in Germany working
with GEM. This song will be released on CD within a year and I his promise
that, when it is released,
he'll let Brigada Today know about obtaining it!
For the meantime, you can at least read the words in your next
sermon! And his current release, "Found Free," is available now and,
according to Don, has similar content. Don wrote, "The style is 'James
Taylor,' southern pop/rock with country elements. We did it in Nashville
but it's not released in the states." Yet.
You'll have to email Don
directly if you're interested
106155.2350@CompuServe.COM. Either way,
here's the lyric that talks about finishing... (thanks Don!)
Hold On by Don NewbyDeep within the jungle A hundred native cheers Lands a four-man Cessna alone. Unwritten language, Greeting drums and spears Suddenly a long way from home. Tropical diseases, Dietary change Begin to take their physical toll. Translate the message For the hungry hearts Hundreds come and drink till they're full.
Hold on, hold on, Hold on in these days of strife. Hold on, hold on, Hold on to eternal life.
747 Runway wet with rain. In the concrete jungle alone. No one there to welcome Or say they're glad you're there. Suddenly a long way from home. Raise a little family, Work the nine to five, Blessed with all the comforts of home. Inoculated churches Intellectual rebuff. From deep within the heart a painful groan.
Hold on, hold on, Hold on in these days of strife. Hold on, hold on, Hold on to eternal life.
Four and twenty elders Before the shining sea, Bowing down in front of the throne. Two men on their faces Hear the words, "Well done." Now at last they're finally home.
Hold on, hold on, Hold on in these days of strife. Hold on, hold on, Hold on to eternal life.
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12, NIV).
For example, if you have just experienced an incredibly great event in your
life, you could say that it "blessed your socks off."
Next, if you decide to do some work for someone online -- like look up something on the
web for them, for instance, or email them an important file -- you can say
you're involved in "virtual foot-washing." (Now when have you ever heard
that term before???) Finally, if you've worked really hard trying to set
up a new evangelistic approach and everything is prepared, then you could
say you're "ready to rock and roll."
But -- aside from the new terms you might want to sprinkle in your everyday speech
-- I'm also learning something very important about the mission
enterprise. I'm now fully convinced that churches across the nation . . .
and probably around the world, too . . . are becoming more and more
comfortable with the term and function of a "mobilizer." There are over
100 people here at Caleb Project's staff retreat and, with only a few
exceptions, all are involved in ministry that affects the globe via an
indirect, motivational and equipping basis. In other words, they recruit
others, they equip them, they train them, they help prepare strong sending
bases in congregations, . . . but very few actually go full time to
establish new churches.
Is their ministry working? Without a doubt. I just spoke with the "People Specific Advocate" for a group in Central Asia (one which is fairly difficult to reach because of government restrictions) and learned that in one city to the north, there are some 300 believers gathering weekly for worship! That's quite a shift from 5 years ago, when there were only a handful of believers from that people group. Certainly the advocate isn't claiming credit for those new believers, but his contribution of prayer, a stronger sending base, and real live recruits is a partial ingredient to the fact that the ministry there is working well!
What does this say to the mission enterprise in general? Well for one
thing, it probably means we need to view furlough time ("home service" and
"support-raising" -- or, to use a newer term, "partnership development") in
a whole new light. Previously, we were generally gearing up so that people
would believe in us as individuals. If they learned to trust in us, we
concluded, then they would support us. But this new model puts a slightly
different twist on things, . . . and it's probably a healthy one. You see,
now we should be helping them to accept ownership and responsibility for
reaching the unreached where we're serving. After all, if they do that,
then they'll want to support someone going there, right!? ... and that
someone just might be you!
So -- here's hoping your socks will be blessed off. Hmmm. Seems to
lose something in the translation when I say it.
Maybe you have to
have an earring in your ear for it to work???
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DLucas@TeamExpansion.organd many other occasional contributors too
numerous to mention!29 of August, 1997
| "If you've been asked to lead, you've been asked to serve." | |||
 Page | Doug Lucas DLucas@TeamExpansion.org | Phone: (502) 297-0006 |
 Index |
| 3700 Hopewell Rd. | FAX: (502) 297-9823 | ||
| Louisville, KY 40299-5002 | Organization: Team Expansion | ||
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