Now with 1871 Participants!
News and Notes about Brigada, Your Gateway to Missions Networking!
[Pass this issue to a friend! To subscribe, see instructions at end.]
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In this issue….
* THANK GOD FOR “ADOPTERS”!
* FROM THE “END OF THE WORLD” TO YOUR DOORSTEP
* BRIGADA-PROJECTS-TRAINING IN FULL SWING
* DID YOU HEAR ABOUT ‘HIM’???
* ADVANCE FOR FEBRUARY IS READY FOR YOUR “GET”-ING
* GO STEAL SOME BOOKS
* SOME PEOPLE DO READ
* YOU CAN STILL GET IN ON THE 30-DAY PRAYER VIGIL
* ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST?
* A PENNY FOR YOUR [PHONE CALL] THOUGHTS?
* I’M SURE YOU WANT TO INSURE
* SECOND THOUGHTS ON CENSORSHIP
* TRAVEL THE FRIENDLY WEB, er uh SKIES
* IF YOU FIND A GOOD MISSIONS STORY…
* ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO WEB
* PAGES OF THE DAY
* FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE MASTER…
* REMEMBER THE PHOTOGRAPHER?
* PRAYING THROUGH THE WINDOW IN 1997
* INTERESTED IN TRAINING FOR TENTMAKERS?
* DESPERATE TO LEARN ABOUT THE WORLDWIDE WEB?
* TO THE MANY WHO HAVE WRITTEN BOB WHITNEY
* TO SUBSCRIBE TO BRIGADA TODAY
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THANK GOD FOR “ADOPTERS”!
Thanks to the Beavercreek Christian Church in Dayton, OH, who in cooperation with Team Expansion has now “officially” taken responsibility for making sure a new church is established among the Yanadi people of southern India. Long-time Brigada Today readers will remember the Sept. 15th issue, where the item, ” HAVE YOU REGISTERED YOUR INTEREST IN A PEOPLE GROUP?” explained my own personal quest to find an unreached people group for which I could “register” interest on the People Group Consultant. I did some basic research, made a couple of phone calls, sent a couple of emails and prayed. Frankly, I’m kind of ashamed to admit that it started more or less as a “test” of the system. When I clicked on the “more info” button in the “People Group Consultant”, would someone write me back? Could I really find interest in a group? Would I be able to discover all the essential information? Could it actually lead to measurable results? Well… what started as a test is blooming into reality! Now, some four months later, through the power of God, a church has taken up the challenge to actually see the project through and make sure God’s message goes to them. In fact, Beavercreek’s “Minister of Missions”, Eric Derry, leaves for a trip to study the Yanadi in just 3 weeks! God answers prayer.
So where does that leave you? Are you willing to take time to study and pray for one of the least evangelized peoples of the world? Would you be willing to “adopt” one, as a kind of “advocate”, until such time that a church and/or agency will accept the baton to make sure a new church is planted there? It all starts with joining brigada-peoples (send a message to hub@xc.org with only the words “subscribe brigada-peoples” in the text of the message). Throw your interest out there in the conference and watch the group of 223 mission researchers and prayer warriors come alive!!! And if you have access to the web, visit the People Group Consultant (PGC) at
http://www.xc.org/pgc.html or the new PGC Research Assistant at
http://www.xc.org/brigada/pgcra/
Do it today!
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FROM THE “END OF THE WORLD” TO YOUR DOORSTEP
The world’s 14 million Tibetan Buddhists are Central Asian peoples who find common cultural and religious roots in the Tibetan form of Buddhism. By no means limited to Tibet, they can be found in Russia, Mongolia, China, and the Himalayas. Most of the 65 people groups among them have no church in their own culture. Now they’re coming by the groves to North America where a growing network of Tibetan Buddhist study centers reaches out to non-Asians in the United States and Canada.
Is your church interested in reaching Tibetan Buddhists in your own community, or in placing people in the Tibetan Buddhist lands of the 10/40 Window? If so, try Interserve. They can help you with speakers experienced in many facets of ministry to Tibetan Buddhists, with books and other resources on the general subject of ministry to Tibetan Buddhists, and with information on placement opportunities in Asia. Write them at InterServe@xc.orgto find out more.
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BRIGADA-PROJECTS-TRAINING IN FULL SWING
The new Brigada-projects-training conference is now in full swing, complete with a new moderator, . Most recently, one of the participants reported on a recent trainers’ consultation, “Quadralogue”, at Columbia International University, October 2-5, 1995. The outcomes were numerous, including the very nature of the dialogues that various participants encountered. In 4 words or less, it sounded as if there was a tremendous unity of purpose among all who participated! Outcomes??? Many. For example, contact Bob Ferris 75463.3610@compuserve.com or Steve Hoke 74543.3221@compuserve.com for help developing a training “profile” for your organization, agency, or church. You can also order a copy of the “desired missionary” profile which was developed by sending a check for $ 5.00 to Dr. William Taylor, WEF Missions Commission, 4807 Palisade Drive, Austin, Texas 78731. Or get a pair of training manuals (one each by Dr. Ferris Dr. Harley respectively) the profile, and shipping by sending $22.00. (Checks made out to WORLD EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP.) Sounds like good stuff. Somebody buy it and send in a couple of paragraphs of review, okay? :-)
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DID YOU HEAR ABOUT ‘HIM’???
In this case, that’s short for Himalayas! GCOWE veterans will recognize the name David Sang-Bok Kim as that of the man who is Executive Director of the Torch Missions Center, Seoul; Korea. He wrote this past week, “We had a great time at Himalaya AD 2000 Conference at Siliguri, Indian, Jan 15-21, where more than two thousand came from eight different regions of the countries adjacent to [the] Hamalaya[s]. It was an exciting conference. We had rain during the first three days, but no one moved. Amazing! … We praise the Lord for the good time. God is working in Asia. In May 27-30 we will have N.E. Asia regional conference here at Torch Center, where eight countries will be represented, and Korean churches will officially adopt 2000 unreached people groups. We also need to adopt 2000 North Korean churches which used to be existent before the Korean War in 1950 but abolished by the North Korean government. South Korean churches adopt them one by one just as we adopt the unreached peoples. So much for today.” [end of quote] Ho-Hum. Another day, another 2000 N. Korean churches adopted plus another 2000 people groups adopted. Yawwwwwwwwwn.
I jest, of course. Indeed. This South Korean thing is one of the most exciting models we’ve got in the entire world, folks!!! Could anyone wonder why we’re excited about the AD2000 Movement and the momentum it’s garnering??? Yikes. When will we ever learn to mimic the S. Koreans. I tell ya… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — when I grow up, I want to be Korean! :-)
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ADVANCE FOR FEBRUARY IS READY FOR YOUR “GET”-ING
Here’s the executive summary for the February issue of Mark Kelly’s ADVANCE:
THE GOSPEL FOR EVERY PEOPLE — Billy Graham’s global television broadcast; praying for Muslims; Morocco; North Korea; Thailand.
THE PERSECUTED CHURCH — Laotian churches forcibly closed; churches in China, Mexico torn down; Pakistan believer tortured; former Indian shaman has a price on his head; Egyptian teenager kidnapped; American believers in Saudi Arabia.
SPIRITUAL FORCES OF DARKNESS — Muslim rebels threaten war in Philippines; Christian attacks on Islamic study centers; confrontation in Nigeria; budding Muslim revolution in South Africa; Christian infighting in Brazil; Russia’s children suffering; two bills in the U.S. Congress.
REJOICE! — Believers in Nepal released; God drawing radical Hindu leaders to himself; God protects precious Bibles in China; China lawmakers consider expanded rights; Muslims dream of Christ; Ethiopian village turns to Christ; Indian law bans fetal sex tests; Wycliffe Bible Translators releases 400th New Testament.
NETWORKING — Handbook on cross-cultural field visits; children’s missions expos; Global Prayer Digest; advocate or networking church training; MANNA for Muslims 1996; International Conference for Computers in Missions; Penetrating the 10/40 Window; Christian psychiatrist offers teaching on dreams; AD 2025 Global Monitor; Internet e-mail insecurity; Malay prayer calendar; video introduction to Islam; new WWW search engine; Internet for Christians; Web sites.
FRONT LINES — The tyranny of the status quo.
As always, to retrieve it, just send these words to hub@xc.org get brigada advance.9602
Thanks Mark!!!
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GO STEAL SOME BOOKS
Well… prices are low enough to make you think you’re stealing them! WORLD CHRISTIAN NEWS & BOOKS distributes books by mail and has access to books from hundreds of publishers. So next time you think of purchasing books (in print), try them. And by the way, some of you have apparently ordered the 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus booklets from them. They tell me they’ve distributed over 28,000 copies! The second printing is nearly gone!!! (Wow. If people are actually using these prayer guides… Whew!) Check out their web site at http://www.ywam.org/books.html or write wcn@xc.org and request a print out (include your snail-mail address). Old-fashioned and expensive obsolete ways to contact them: P.O. Box 26479, Colorado Springs, CO 80936, USA. Tel: 1 (719) 442-6409; Fax: 1 (719) 380–0936. Thanks Paul!
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SOME PEOPLE DO READ
:-) Thanks to Bruce Koch for his math-oriented eyes! We stated a goal of being 1/5th of the way toward Jonathan Marsden’s “10,000 mark” (in # of Brigada participants) by our 1-year anniversary. Then the following week, we summarized that our goal was 2500. ‘Course, one of Bruce’s jobs is to coordinate ministry accounts for the US Center for World Mission. So he’s accustomed to “missionary math”! :-) Sorry gang. Now you know why I’m in missions and not accounting! :-) So my question is… what’ll it be? 2000 or 2500? Only you can determine the answer by sharing this Brigada Today with a friend. Instructions on how to subscribe are at the end. By the way Bruce, thanks for your sharp eye, you rascal. :-)
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YOU CAN STILL GET IN ON THE 30-DAY PRAYER VIGIL
You have heard of prayer and fasting mountains, but also there are mountains of prayer and fasting arising ceaselessly! Prayer is becoming the consuming passion of many in the body of Christ. And prayer guides can help! If you aren’t already there, remember that the 30 Days Muslim Prayer Guides are available daily. Join the millions praying and fasting from Jan. 21 – Feb. 19. Send an e-mail to hub@xc.org with the message body reading: subscribe 30-Days.
(Thanks to Ron RonKernahan@xc.org for reminding us!)
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ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST?
Neither is Randy Roberts randyr@lfa.com but at least he knows a good series when he sees one! The CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR is running a series of good, weekly articles (on Mondays) on Muslims in America during Ramadan.
Jan 22: Finding Their Place
Jan 29: Family and Community
Feb 5: Political Inroads
Feb. 12: Faith and the Future
Maybe you can find these on the web, but as Randy says, if not, there’s always the local library! :-) Thanks to Randy, who is not a Christian Scientist. :-)
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A PENNY FOR YOUR [PHONE CALL] THOUGHTS?
Interested in a getting long distance in the USA for a flat rate of 13 cents per minute? And what about international rates? How’d you like to call Russia for $1/min., Taiwan for 56 cents/min., Australia for 48 cents, UK for 34 cents and Poland for 81 cents/min? These prices go farther down with volume use. Contact Brigada participant Geoff Waterhouse at The Finsure House Inc., 5302-E, Memorial Drive, #1407, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083 USA. Phone 404-297-1952/1638, Fax 404-297-0915. By the way, off-peak is about 10 cents/minute. Don’t forget to tell them you heard about it on Brigada. Maybe they’ll give you a free phone card. :-) Sprint eat your heart out.
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I’M SURE YOU WANT TO INSURE
Get this. The same guy that does phones does insurance. He’s got Expatriate Medical (and Life) Insurance Plans available for Expats. living, working or studying just about anywhere in the world. The Plans are underwritten by a Major British Insurance company and are ideal for Missionaries, Students, Business people etc. The policy provides up to 90 days cover in HOME country during any 12 month policy period. Premiums and Benefits payable either in US Dollars or British Pounds. Check it out — and let us know how you like it. Just think. Now when you call your insurance guy, you can save money on your phone bill at the same time!!! Geoff Waterhouse at the address immediately above!
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SECOND THOUGHTS ON CENSORSHIP
Previously, we quoted one Brigada reader who applauded CServe for blocking access to pornography because it was offensive. Well there’s the other side of the coin. Brigada reader Bob Sutterfield wrote to beg to strongly disagree: “I strongly disagree [Ed. Note: didn’t I tell you he wrote to strongly disagree???] with your assessment that CompuServe’s selective newsgroup blockage policy is a good thing for the Christian community. Now that they’ve established the precedent of selecting content, they’ll find it easy to decide to block other content they (or someone else, such as a governmental authority) find offensive. Many people find Christianity offensive because of the claims Jesus makes about them, so I expect our content would be early in the cutoff list.” Yikes Bob. Frankly, I hope your warning turns out to be overly pessimistic, but it sounds to me like it’s a word to the wise!
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TRAVEL THE FRIENDLY WEB, er uh SKIES
Don’t forget to check with our faithful Brigada participant travel agents if you have to walk something besides the web. There’s Tammy Sullivan tammygreg@aol.com 800-513-8293 or fax her at 513-753-8293 in Cincinnati, OH; Debbie Mortell 75113.1476@compuserve.com at 135 Commerce Dr., PO Box 370, Tyrone, GA 30290, Fax 770-487-4089; and now, add David Tinney of Adventure Travel Service ats@galstar.com, 18 East Third Grove OK 74344, 800/488-7901, FAX 918/786-3874. Don’t forget to tell them you’re on Brigada. Who knows! If you buy big, they might pack your tickets in one of those fancy plastic pouches! :-)
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IF YOU FIND A GOOD MISSIONS STORY…
or redemptive analogy, write joanh@sanet.com directly. She (Joan) is compiling a series of missions Sunday School lessons and needs the resources! If your source is appropriate, why not join Brigada-peoples and copy your message there! Just send email to hub@xc.org with only the line
subscribe brigada-peoples
in the text of the message. Then mail your recommended source to brigada-peoples@xc.org and don’t forget to send it to Joan too!
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ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO WEB
Now you can get it all, even Mission Network News! Set your browser to http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn. All the day’s news (updated daily) and past news is also there. You can also get information on stations currently airing Mission Network News. Thanks to Greg Yoder, who by the way, is Director of MNN and a faithful Brigada Today reader.
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PAGES OF THE DAY
Wanna’ read about Tajiks??? Browse http://www.soros.org/tajkstan.html Or maybe you’re interested in Afghanistan and the Asian continent? Try http://www.deltanet.com/users/llambert/pathan.html. Or perhaps you’d like to stroll through the Buddhist Luri temple??? Try http://www.gnn.com/gnn/meta/travel/features/mustang/buddhism/temples.html [Note the “l” (lower case “L”) which wrapped to the next line] Or maybe you’d just like to see a list of the languages into which the Jesus Film has been translated? Check out http://www.mdalink.com/JESUSproject/language.txt Thanks Justin — you’re a gem from GEM! :-)
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FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE MASTER…
… of Arts, that is. Steve Burris at Pacific Christian College (they stole him from Fuller, by the way :-)) wants to know if there’s a need for a field-based Master of Arts in Intercultural studies. Something that would build on the Perspectives model. “What interest is there in such a program should we develop it? Would you or others you know of be interested in enrolling? What opportunities for “strategic partnerships” might there be? Is there a need for this program on a global scale?” Please respond directly to to SteveBurris@xc.org or call him at (714)879-3901. And … you know where to tell him you read about it. :-)
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REMEMBER THE PHOTOGRAPHER?
He was serious! He wrote and called this past week. He’s ready to partner with you on your JP2000 trip or missions outreach. Write Mogulracer@aol.com or call 303-201-0865. He’s Mike Scott and apparently he’s had pictures in Smart Money, Life, and Newsweek! Note: He’ll probably need help with support for the trip.
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PRAYING THROUGH THE WINDOW IN 1997
Thanks to Beverly Pegues 73422.3471@compuserve.com of the Christian Information Network who labors tirelessly for the cause of Christ and the 10/40 Window!!! She wrote this past week to inform us that “the ‘Praying Through the Window III’ committee had its first meeting to begin planning the October 1997, prayer thrust. The focus will be on the unreached people groups of the 10/40 Window. We solicit your prayers and input.’ Also, Beverly is still looking for reports from prayer journeys this past October. If you or someone you know haven’t written her, please do so immediately! They’re assembling data and need your report today.
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INTERESTED IN TRAINING FOR TENTMAKERS?
I recently heard about “GO”. Write Scott Gordon at Global Opportunities 103613.3570@compuserve.com. Tell us what you think!
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DESPERATE TO LEARN ABOUT THE WORLDWIDE WEB?
Got twenty bucks? This might be a good investment. (If you do it, give us a review, please.) Thomas Copley tcopley@arlington.com is running an online tutorial February 5 – March 24, the again March 4 – April 26 and April 1 – May 26. Cost is $20 US. To sign up for the class that begins today, the “Make the Link Workshop”, sessions, just send an e-mail message to the address majordomo@arlington.com and in the body of the message, write
subscribe links5
or if you’d rather wait until March 4, wrote
subscribe links6
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TO THE MANY WHO HAVE WRITTEN BOB WHITNEY
Not long ago, Bob bobw5@ix.netcom.com contributed to Brigada Today readers a free program to handle and prayer for the JP2000 list of least reached peoples. More recently, he was hospitalized in a serious accident. He wrote this past week, “After a week in the hospital and two weeks at a Nursing Home I am home now. I am still in lots of pain and don’t have full use of my left arm. I can spend no more than 5 minutes at the computer before pain drives me away.” Feel free to send Bob a note of encouragement but don’t expect an answer. Continue to lift him in prayer.
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TO SUBSCRIBE TO BRIGADA TODAY, send email to hub@xc.orgwith only the following message:
subscribe brigada
TO UNSUBSCRIBE send email to hub@xc.orgwith this line in the text:
unsubscribe brigada
(Aren’t you afraid you’ll ‘miss’ something???)
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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
Web Wizard: Bob Mayhew, Brigada Volunteer, Mayhew@xc.org
Web Art: Patti Mayhew, pmayhew@discover.net
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!
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