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Brigada Today
21 Mar 2008
In this issue...
- BOOK REVIEWS WORTH READING
- GET CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY OR YOUR AGENCY'S FAMILIES
- The ZWEMER CENTER FOR MUSLIM STUDIES
- ASIA PACIFIC INSTITUTE OF BUDDHIST STUDIES MAY 19-30, 2008
- THE UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF NAMIBIA
- NEED A GOOD IRRIGATION SYSTEM?
- ETHNOMUSICOLOGY AND PERFORMING ARTS
- FOLLOW-THROUGH CONFERENCE FOR SHORT-TERM MINISTRY
- TEACHING AND LEARNING ENGLISH AS EVANGELISTIC TOOL
- EUROPEAN TENTMAKING - BUSINESS AS MISSION COURSE
- GIFT THE GIFT OF BRIGADA
- THE BACKPAGE: TAKE YOUR TEAM OUT FOR A DAY TO PRAY
- CLOSING STUFF
- BOOK REVIEWS WORTH READING -- No time to read full length books? Read
the David Mays version at
http://www.DavidMays.org
I keep hearing about them from various sources. The training guys
upstairs, a team leader friend in North Africa, President Bush (ok... I
was just teasing about that last one, but at least it got your
attention. :-) Seriously though, these are great reviews. Check it out.
Highly recommended.
- GET CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY OR YOUR AGENCY'S FAMILIES -- Member care is
an important topic now at the agency where I work. I suspect it's
important in your world too. Life Impact, Inc. provides International
Worker care in quality facilities. Their web-site lists several places
for R&R while in the USA for a home leave. They also have a "Hosted"
Oasis" in Sunriver, Oregon. From their Central Oregon facility, Dave
and Sheri can provide debriefings (processing personal, family, team,
and organizational issues), personal life coaching on your roadblocks,
and guided spiritual formation. Their desire is to keep you strong so
you can effectively help others. Learn more at:
http://www.lifeimpactoregon.org
- The ZWEMER CENTER FOR MUSLIM STUDIES -- The Zwemer Center at CIU
offers courses to help you understand Islam and Muslims
(credit/seminar). It's designed for field worker candidates, workers on
home leave, professional tentmakers in an Islamic country, pastors
serving where there are a growing number of Muslims, and students
sensing God's call to work among Muslim people groups. Scholarships are
available. Current course offering: SUMMER, 2008: Islam through
Christian and Muslim Eyes (Johnson) June 23-27; Responding to Muslim
Concerns (McCurry) June 30-July 4; The Spirit World of Islam (Larson)
July 7-11; Approaches to Muslims (Parshall) July 14-18; The Sacred
Sources of Islam (Masood) July 21-25. BY EXTENSION: Islam through
Christian and Muslim Eyes (Larson); Understanding Muslim Women (Stacey)
MORE INFORMATION: Ph. 1-800-777-2227, Ext. 5327, or email
TBonesteel(at)
ciu(dot)edu or register online [As a means of preventing spam for our
contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at)
with @ and (dot) with . then reassemble the address onto one line.]
http://www.zwemercenter.com
- ASIA PACIFIC INSTITUTE OF BUDDHIST STUDIES MAY 19-30, 2008 -- If you
are interested in special training for ministering to people influenced
by Buddhist worldviews, the Asia Pacific Institute of Buddhist Studies
is offering 2 one week intensive courses at the campus of Asia Pacific
Theological Seminary (APTS) in Baguio, Philippines, May 19-30, 2008.
Course #1-May 19-23 Dr. David Lim "Church Planting in the Buddhist
World" Course #2-May 26-30 Dr. Paul DeNeui "Missiology in the Buddhist
World". Request an application form from APIBS at
gmc(at)
apts(dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors,
in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot)
with . then reassemble the address onto one line.]
- THE UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF NAMIBIA -- Why do we say they are forgotten
peoples? Does nobody know who they are? No. Does nobody know they
exist? No. Has the world forgotten these people? No. Do they have
nothing to offer to the world? No. Many have asked why then is there a
website called "The Forgotten Peoples" website. It is simply because at
one time many years ago there was a huge presence of missionaries in
this region, however this number has dwindled. The peoples are the
Nama/Damara, the Herero, the Coloured of Namibia and the Mbalantu. They
have little to no evangelical presence, no strategic volunteer teams
visiting and no core of advocacy or prayer. Has God or even man
forgotten these peoples? No. Pray that the Lord will raise up
Christians in Namibia to share His word. Encourage others to pray for
the unengaged peoples of Namibia. To adopt one of these people groups
for prayer or for more information, please visit
http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email
forgottenpeoples(at)
telkomsa(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in
the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot)
with .]
- NEED A GOOD IRRIGATIObN SYSTEM? -- Try this one...
http://www.chapinlivingwaters.org
Perhaps you can use this as an outreach to a very dry area.
- ETHNOMUSICOLOGY AND PERFORMING ARTS -- Want to do something exciting
this summer? Why not explore ways of encouraging forms of creative
Biblical worship that reflects the hearts and cultures of indigenous
people from all over the world? There will be 3 courses at Horsleys
Green, England, between the dates of 4 August-19 September, 2008,
organized by the European Training Programme (ETP). Julie and Sue will
help you learn (in Module I) Research Methods for Performing Arts, 4-15
Aug 08. Module II: Applied Cultural Arts, 18-29 Aug 08. Module III:
Generative Analysis of Non-Western Music, 1-19 Sept 08. Please see the
ETP website for more important information and course fees:
http://www.eurotp.org/UK/index.asp
or write to julie_taylor(at)
sil(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the
preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .
then reassemble the address back on one line.]
- FOLLOW-THROUGH CONFERENCE FOR SHORT-TERM MINISTRY -- This conference
is designed for anyone who has served on a short-term or mid-term
mission trip, at a camp, studied abroad or any other type of ministry.
Those who want to live devoted lives to Christ every day will be
equipped and encouraged through general sessions, seminars, worship and
connecting with others who have a passion to keep the flame alive post-
ministry. Conference options include: September 13, Kannapolis, NC,
hosted by Crossroads Church. September 20, Portland, OR, Hosted by
Multnomah Bible College. For information please visit
http://www.thenextmile.org
or email info(at)
thenextmile(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors,
in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot)
with . then reassemble the address onto one line.]
- TEACHING AND LEARNING ENGLISH AS EVANGELISTIC TOOL -- English for
Asians and Africans
http://www.e4aa.org
and Better English for Filipinos
http://www.betterenglish.org.ph
are page-specific portals to what some say are the best ESL and EFL
resources on the Internet. They provide hundreds of links to free
interactive exercises and resources on the eight parts of speech,
writing, spelling, listening, vocabulary, speaking, pronunciation,
idioms, reading, dictionaries, encyclopedias, translators, diagnostic
tests, online newspapers and Internet radio stations from around the
world. They can be used by missionaries and others whose ministries
include teaching English. For more information, contact
gtgalacio(at)
yahoo (dot) com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in
the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot)
with . the reassemble the address one line.]
- EUROPEAN TENTMAKING - BUSINESS AS MISSION COURSE -- It's that time
of year again when TENT Norway runs its annual TENTmaking Business as
Mission course for those investigating tentmaking and for active
tentmakers looking for encouragement, vision building and adding tools
to their ministry toolbox. You will hear from experienced tentmakers,
develop your own plan for ministry in the hard places and how to thrive
in a new culture. Speakers this year include Gerson Celeti who will be
sharing from his experience from a lifetime of missions, Ari of GLOBAL
Opportunities a former tentmaker to China who has been helping new
tentmakers get equipped for 10 years and from Steinar, the director of
TENT Norway who has experience in microfinance development in
Azerbaijan. As always, these courses will also have guest speakers who
will share their stories. God has blessed TENT of Norway with their own
building in the historical part of Bergen which is ideal for running
courses. Sign up now, as class size is limited. Housing is available in
hospitable Norwegian homes. Visit their website for more information and
to register
http://www.tent.no
or send Steinar an email at steinar(at)
tent(dot)no [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the
preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .
then reassemble the email onto one line.]
- GIFT THE GIFT OF BRIGADA -- Want to give the gift that keeps on
giving -- weekly, to pretty much the whole world? Please pray for
Brigada, pass it on to a friend, suggest to your staff and team members
that they subscribe. And if you can, even in a small way, please
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Expansion are tax-deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if
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prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.
- THE BACKPAGE: TAKE YOUR TEAM OUT FOR A DAY TO PRAY -- Our
International Services team just took a day to fast and pray. I'm
recapping our experience not out of a desire to uplift our team, because
believe me, we're a team just like yours, no better, yet thankfully,
perhaps no worse either. If by sharing our trek, we can help you decide
to invest similarly in strategic prayer time, then all of this Brigada-
stuff will have been well worth it.
Like many other organizations, we open each day with a 10-minute prayer
time, plus we do an additional 30-minute prayer time together on
Wednesday afternoons, during which we partner together to pray
specifically and personally for every person in our ministry (about 310
adults these days). But because we've recently felt the need to strike
out on a course to raise the bar and improve in some (many?) areas, our
Leadership Team chose to ask all 30 of us to invest in an entire day of
prayer together.
We opened with a "Concert of Prayer" together. I'll try to remember to
post here a link to the "script" we used. We relied on Dave Bryant's
tried and true book on the subject ("Concerts of Prayer", a 1984 "oldie
by goodie"). We moved from stage to stage, transitioning from groups of
3 to groups of 6 and back again, until we finally came together at the
end as one body, praying together. (As you might imagine, the groups of
3 make it so much easier for everyone to participate repeatedly.)
We gave a 15-minute break, then moved into individual prayer walks. We
asked our team members specifically and intentionally to try to "listen"
to God. Because we are blessed with a campus designed for this kind of
event (see our work-in-progress at:
http://www.emeraldhills.info ), each of our roughly 30 team members
could walk individually along prayer trails, streamsides, and in open
meadows with lots of wildflowers, redbud, dogwood, and other signs of
God's creation. We gave about 2 hours for this experience. Some might
feel that that's a bit too long, but for the most part, it seemed to go
well for our folks.
Next, our sub-teams met for 90 minutes to debrief on the experience.
Many felt they had heard God speaking to them, either through scripture,
or in some metaphor in the woods or meadow. Our sub-team leaders took
notes, helping debrief these small groups of 5-8 participants in easier-
to-speak fashion. In the group that I led, two team members were brought
to tears as they debriefed the day of prayer and fasting. At least one
admitted never having fasted previously. We then thanked everyone for
taking part, then our Leadership Team met in an executive session to
assimilate lessons learned, along with the feedback. We asked each sub-
team leader to type up a report of all the comments and conclusions so
we could assemble "minutes" of the day, which we will then email out to
every team member across the board. That way, each staffer can take
lessons from what the others experienced.
Perhaps you've done something similar? If so, please navigate to this
item on the web at:
http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=66
then click on "comment" at the bottom of the article. Leave your message
(you need not publicize your name or agency, if you prefer), and watch a
list of similar ideas come to life there. Your comment will most likely
be posted immediately (unless you try to leave links in your message, in
which case, our blog spam-catcher will nix your message). Thanks for any
feedback you might want to leave. And remember that our staff is just
like yours, on a trek to try to do things better, for God's glory. We're
"one beggar telling another where to get bread." During our day together
in the woods, we found lots of spiritual bread. :-)
- CLOSING STUFF --
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COPYRIGHT -- This issue of _Brigada Today_ is Copyrighted 2008.
However, permission is granted to freely redistribute these materials,
including those available on the Brigada website, provided that
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