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Brigada Today
13 Apr 2007

In this issue...

1. SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON BIBLE SOFTWARE
2. MEMBER CARE AND UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS: THE WEB SITE
3. VOLUNTEER WITH OR UTILIZE "MISSION NANNYS"
4. MISSION TRIP SECURITY
5. COSIM: VISION IN CROSS-CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS
6. ENHANCE YOUR SUPPORT LETTERS
7. SPECIAL: THE LATEST WEA-MISSION COMMISSION BOOK
8. COMPOSE FOR MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
9. TEACH ENGLISH, GERMAN OR SWEDISH IN THAILAND
10. OPPORTUNITIES FOR INT'L SCHOOLING IN ACCRA, GHANA
11. ASK YOUR CHURCH TO SUPPORT BRIGADA'S 10-YEAR+ TRACK RECORD
12. THE BACKPAGE: MORE "COOL TOOLS" FOR TRAVEL & MISSIONS
13. CLOSING STUFF

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• SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON BIBLE SOFTWARE -- Logos Bible Software is offering a special discount for Brigada Today subscribers. Logos is the best Bible software I've personally ever used. Now you can purchase the world's best Bible software at 25% off the retail price! Logos Bible Software puts hundreds of searchable, interlinked Bibles and biblical reference works right at your fingertips. You'll not only be able to dig deeper into the Bible but you'll be able to take your entire digital library wherever you go. Missionaries and traveling pastors rave about the way Logos has improved their time in the Word. These aren't just electronic books that you can read on a computer, Logos provides a user- friendly, interactive search engine that guides you through word studies and passage exegesis – and it’s all accomplished with just a few clicks of your mouse! It integrates well when you add additional commentaries, study aids, and indices. Imagine the way we used to have to carry around study Bibles. To learn more go to
  
  http://www.Logos.com/brigada 
  
  or email mvandyke(at)Logos(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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• MEMBER CARE AND UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS: THE WEB SITE -- This web site is one of the resources offered by Ethne-Member Care (part of the Ethne to Ethne Movement.) The web site offers materials to support the mission and member care community in its work among unreached people groups. There are web links to many core resources (e.g., member care materials in Chinese and Spanish, trauma management, support for humanitarian workers); tools/checklists to help you in your work; and important articles on member care history, future directions, and suggestions for senders. Another special feature of the web site is the archives of the Member Care Update. This Update is free, sent monthly/electronically, and includes news and resources to further equip people with member care responsibility. It is edited by a group of senior, international consultants in the member care field. Recent issues have included a Self-Care inventory, Marriage Potential tool, Coaching article, Rationale for Taking Risks article, Travel Medicine update, and Support Team overview.
  
  http://www.ethne.net/membercare 
  
  

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• VOLUNTEER WITH OR UTILIZE "MISSION NANNYS" (sic) -- In a recent item on "Missions Nannys" (Mar. 23, 2007 Brigada: "4) NEED A NANNY?"), we recommended them, but the contributor had provided the incorrect URL. Here's their correct website:
  
  http://www.MissionNannys.org 
  
  

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• MISSION TRIP SECURITY -- If some of your people on a mission trip have a major accident, get arrested, or are abducted, do you know what to do first, whom to contact, how and when to inform families, how to respond to a political or ransom demand, and what the courts might expect of you? On May 10, 2007 the Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies (EFMA) is sponsoring a 90-minute Tele-class (or Webinar) entitled "Ready or Not? What Your Church or Mission needs to Know about Crisis Management & Security for Short-term Teams." Bob Klamser, Executive Director or Crisis Consulting International, a non-profit missions support agency that provides security training, consulting and emergency services to the missions community. The seminar is free for EFMA members and $35 per person for others. To participate, all you need is broad band access for your computer and a telephone. To see details and enroll on-line go to
  
  http://efma.gospelcom.net/getinvolved_learning.php 
  
  or contact David Mays at davidmays(at)efmamissions(dot)org

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• COSIM: VISION IN CROSS-CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS -- The next annual COSIM conference is scheduled for June 11-13, 2007 at the Wheaton Bible Church, Wheaton, IL. The theme is "Breaking Tradition to Accomplish Vision: From frustration to joy in cross-cultural partnerships." The featured plenary speakers and facilitators are Sherwood Lingenfelter, Provost, Fuller Seminary; Paul R. Gupta, President, Hindustan Bible Institute, Chennai, India; and John Watters, Executive Director, Wycliffe International. This will be a highly interactive conference to facilitate practical training, creative dialog, case study analysis, and strategic thinking. For more information, visit the COSIM web site:
  
  http://www.cosim.info 
  
  Or write to Werner 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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• ENHANCE YOUR SUPPORT LETTERS -- Do you struggle to get out your ministry support letter? Could you use a little punch in its wording and format? Writer's Edge International is a Christian business created just for you! They specialize in writing and creating prayer and ministry update letters which are attractive and enjoyable to read. Writer's Edge takes your letters, stories, or ideas and turns them into well-polished update letters that your supporters will enjoy reading. Your donors deserve to read a well-written and aesthetically pleasing letter, and Writer's Edge would like to help you with that. Contact them before May 15th, and receive $5.00 off your next purchase! Ph: (858) 413-5120 in the USA or browse to
  
  http://www.writersedgeinternational.com 
  
  or email info(at)writersedgeinternational(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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• SPECIAL: THE LATEST WEA-MISSION COMMISSION BOOK -- The WEA Mission Commission is releasing its newest book in the Globalization of Mission series: "Worth Keeping: Global Perspectives on Best Practice in Missionary Retention." It is written and edited by WEA-MC folks: Rob Hay, Valerie Lim, Detlef Blöcher, Jaap Ketelaar and Sarah Hay,
  
  The very special pre-print deal is a 52% discount offer through May 31, 2007 for this book only, which in part follows, but goes far beyond, the global research presented in "Too Valuable to Lose: Examining the Causes and Cures of Missionary Attrition." "Worth Keeping" is the product of years of work by the Mission Commission task force called ReMAP II, which was charged with the job of carrying out the attrition follow-up research but going far beyond into the areas of retention and best practices. The book presents the outcome of that 20 nation study, crafted and led by a team of international researchers and global cadre of associates. The 36 chapters and 58 case studies from around the world make the book unique. It will be released on May 31, 2007 as a 7" x 10" with 448 pages, soft cover, perfect bound. The retail price is US$24.99. Special pre-publication 52% discount offer: US$11.99 !!! It is being published by: WEA Mission Commission & William. Carey Library To order, go to the pre-pub sale webpage:
  
  http://www.missionbooks.org/worthkeeping/ 
  
  

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• COMPOSE FOR MOMENTUM MAGAZINE -- Justin Long, Editor of the online magazine, Momentum, invites you to consider submitting articles for upcoming issues ...
  *** 2007-05 -- Business as Mission -- In this and all areas, he's specifically hoping for non-Western writers as well as Western sources. Better contact him on this one to see if he can still use your material. :-)
  
  *** 2007-07 -- Western Asia (which includes the Asian portion of what we typically call "Middle East"--e.g. Israel and east, as well as Turkey and the -stans of Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan).
  
  *** 2007-09 -- Eastern Africa, with an especial emphasis on Sudan and Ethiopia.
  
  He can send you writer's guidelines. Learn more at: http://www.momentum-mag.org
  

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• TEACH ENGLISH, GERMAN OR SWEDISH IN THAILAND -- The worst hit place in Thailand during the 2004 Tsunami, Khao Lak is now recovering beautifully. Today tsunami survivors want to improve their employment opportunities in the recovering hospitality market, by building up their language skills. That desire opens the door of relationship and your chance to show God's amazing love. Travel there this summer for 2 months or more to the Step Ahead Training Center (YWAM Relief & Development) in beautiful Phang Nga, Southern Thailand. You'll have Aircon housing with cable TV, and a $200 monthly stipend. For more info., contact: quinley(at)stepaheadmed(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or see
  
  http://www.stepaheadmed.org 
  
  

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• OPPORTUNITIES FOR INT'L SCHOOLING IN ACCRA, GHANA -- American International School (AIS) in Accra, Ghana is nearing completion of its first year with 60 students. AIS is a Network of International Christian Schools (NICS) school. AIS is now taking applications for the 2007/08 school year. Enrollment will be limited to 120 students preschool-12th grade so, don't delay. Check out
  
  http://aisaccra.org/ 
  
  If you are interested in teaching at AIS or other NICS schools check out
  
  http://www.nics.org/ 
  
  

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• ASK YOUR CHURCH TO SUPPORT BRIGADA'S 10-YEAR+ TRACK RECORD -- When you send your gift via PayPal or check, we'll gladly mention your church (or you or your group). But more importantly, you'll be helping undergird a ministry that has come to you faithfully with an edition for every week since January 1995. Just click on "Sponsor/Donate" 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. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) 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 thank you in advance for helping.

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• THE BACKPAGE: MORE "COOL TOOLS" FOR TRAVEL & MISSIONS -- In previous issues, we've listed these tools:

  #1: Beat jet lag (Sleep E., Party W., Gear up to sleep, Herd your kids)
  #2: Get your own mosquito tent (for malaria-infested areas)
  #3: Insist on AC adaptors that don't require converters/transformers
  #4: Rent or buy a "worldphone", satphone, and/or sat modem
  #5: Pack by checklist, pack light
  #6: Use roller bags
  #7: Bring a filtered water bottle
  #8: Carry a thin notebook & a pen, write everything down
  #9: Use a money belt
  #10: Try a photographer's vest
  #11: Stay healthy, but don't become O.C.
  #12: Find a camera/kit you can truly *carry*, then *use* it
  
  With this edition, we add the following

  #13: Pack modularly -- When I was a scout as a 7th grader, they taught us to pack "a sack of sacks." Today, that advice still applies -- for missionaries and short-term missions travelers too. This is a great use for those plastic grocery bags from your neighborhood grocery. Socks all in one sack, underwear in another, shirts in another, etc. Double-bag the electronics gear (in a clear bag if you can), soccer cleats in another, soccer ball in another, shin guards & air pump in another, a couple of "kits" or soccer outfits in another, you get the idea. Some say to pack your underwear on top, but I figure the terrorists have all heard that advice by now anyway, so forget it. :-) Send as many liquids as possible through your checked bag. For those liquids you have to carry on, don't forget to have them ready in a clear zip-lock bag, and send them through the x-ray machine separately.
  
  #14: Get hold of a good pair of passive noise-reducing earphones -- These will do you double-duty. Not only can you use them with your mp3 player or laptop, but also, most airlines have switched to the same "stereo mini-plug" size for their in-air entertainment and movies sound tracks. So rather than use their cheapies, you can reduce the ambient jet noise (and crying kids, bless their hearts :-) ) by at least 10 dB, while getting better fidelity at the same time.
  
  More cool tools next time.

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• CLOSING STUFF -- SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION -- Important! Please don't just hit "reply". Subscriptions are automated. First, you need to determine the mailing source of your individual copy of Brigada Today. We're now sending them from 2 sources. To find out, just look at the "From:" address of your last edition. The domain will tell the tale. Here's how to do it:
  
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  COPYRIGHT -- This issue of _Brigada Today_ is Copyrighted 2007. However, permission is granted to freely redistribute these materials, including those available on the Brigada website, provided that such redistribution is to those who will help the Good News of Jesus Christ to reach the unreached.* To copy or reproduce _Brigada Today_ for any other reason is illegal and is not permitted. * When you quote or paraphrase material from Brigada, please include this phrase: "For a free subscription to Brigada's weekly missions publication, write brigada-today-subscribe@googlegroups.com and/or visit Brigada on the web at www.brigada.org."

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