Now with 5151 participants!!!
News and Notes about Brigada, Your Gateway to Missions Networking! Visit Brigada’s new domain on the WorldWide Web: https://brigada.org
[Pass this issue to a friend! To subscribe, see instructions at end.]
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In this issue….
* PICK A FIELD FOR A “BRIGADA MISSION COUPLE”
* PIT-STOP DENVER TO FEATURE 3 PROJECTS YOU’LL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT
* SO WHERE DID WE GET THE NAME, “BRIGADA”???
* PRAY FOR ONE UNJUSTLY JAILED
* WHAT ABOUT THIS “PrayUSA!” THING?
* MRS WINTER’S SITUATION COULD BE IMPROVING
* WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GATEWAY PEOPLE CONSULTATION.. OR HELP??
* IF YOU CAN SEE THE SKY, YOU CAN CALL THE WORLD WITH “PLANET 1”
* PATRICK JOHNSTONE LANDS AN ASSISTANT VIA BRIGADA
* CHINA ’97 – IT’S NOT TOO LATE
* ON-LINE SEMINARY PROGRAMS, LEND US YOUR EAR… OR EMAIL
* BRIGADA-CITIES INVOLVED IN COOL CITIES PRAYER REQUESTS
* WHERE TO GET INFO. ON YOUR FAVORITE “UNVIRUS”
* WANT A GREAT DEAL ON MISSIONARY PRAYER CARDS?
* GREAT RESPONSE ON REGISTERING PRAYING CHURCHES/PEOPLE
* MEANWHILE THIS REPORT FROM AD2000 & BEYOND
* WE GET MAIL
* GLOBAL GLIMPSE OF HOPE
* TO SUBSCRIBE TO BRIGADA TODAY
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PICK A FIELD FOR A “BRIGADA MISSION COUPLE”
Here’s the deal. We’ve got this missionary couple willing to basically go anywhere – where no man has gone before. If you were to pick the most desperately needy people group in the world . . . and a whoppin’ giant one… to which group would you send them??? Don’t worry about money, don’t worry about visas, and don’t worry about on-site expertise. Instead, just focus on pure need. Make sure the group is big enough to be strategic… and has no church movement in its midst . . . and send your proposals into DLucas@TeamExpansion.org with the subject line “final frontier” (please do put that in the subject line). These proposals could be as simple as, “Send ’em to the ____ people group of Indonesia; there are 5 million in that group and not a single fellowship of believers” . . . or they could be a 3-page summary of your two years of research on the group. If it’s possible to provide a contact person that you’d recommend, please supply that – but don’t list names and addresses of people living in sensitive areas of the world. We’ll study the proposals with the couple, then report their conclusions. And yes, I’m not kidding, they’re really going to try to go to the most desperate situation they can find. We’ll try to follow their progress over the coming years to see what God does among the group…. as much as security allows. So – – – let’s get those cards and letters coming! :-)
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PIT-STOP DENVER TO FEATURE 3 PROJECTS YOU’LL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT
You’ve heard about the “Amdo video,” one of the sharpest prayer tools to break out of the editing rooms lately?? Meet the guy who wrote the script and hear about how to put together a prayer journey straight from his own words. And have you heard about the Evergreen project in China, where local government officials have invited Evergreen representatives to even help train city police officials??? Listen to the principles and approaches they’re using, hear the answered prayer, then lift up the needs of that giant nation side by side with others who share your passion for the unreached. Oh – and did I mention you’ll be able to learn about how God is raising up an entire network to reach the Pashtun? Hear straight from the guy who helped launch a movement within his local church (and he’s not even the Sr. Pastor!) that is now engulfing many others with a passion to reach the Pashtun. And on top of these three successful studies, hear mini-reports from dozens of other projects, each shared with a view toward what you can transfer back to your church, agency, or mission field. Find out how to introduce concerts of prayer for your adopted people. Brainstorm through a “pert chart” that shows your deadlines, goal-owners, and mileposts for the next 18 months as related to over 100 important measuring sticks. Delve into a whole notebook full of guidelines and pick up a diskette crammed full of the latest information. And join Caleb Project’s CEO as he leads us to the throne room of God to pray this stuff into reality! It’s all available at Pit-Stop Denver, Apr. 25-26, at Littleton Christian Church (suburban Denver) – jointly sponsored by Caleb Project, Kingdom Building Ministries, Team Expansion, PACE, “Pit-Stops,” and Brigada. For more information, see https://brigada.org/pace. Entire weekend, including the notebook, materials, program, diskette, most meals, and the fellowship – just $45. For more information, write Robert or Noelle today – rpeterson@ccu.edu or call (303) 761-6187 or send a note to hub@xc.org with only the words,
get brigada pit-stop-denver
in the text of the message.
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SO WHERE DID WE GET THE NAME, “BRIGADA”???
“bree-GAH-dah” is both Russian and Spanish for a “brigade.” You know – the kind that used to pass buckets of water person to person, so that a whole house fire could be doused. While helping with a refugee resettlement project in the former Soviet Union among Muslim Crimean Tatars, we watched first hand over a period of months the way they would get together to build a house in a resettlement project, sometimes all in one day. Neighbors would pitch in, relatives, even friends from across the village – because time was short and conditions were desperate. The whole thing (in Russian) was called a “bree-GAH-dah” – a house brigade. Well today, conditions are no less desperate. In fact, we believe the situation calls for us all to stand shoulder to shoulder to “pass the bucket” from one project to another – the bucket of encouragement, case studies of experience, prayers and petitions for the saints in needy situations. That’s what Brigada is all about. Under the Brigada umbrella are some 70 email activated “conferences,” all of which are trying in one way or another to mobilize an army of nations to show concern and love for the lost. That’s the dream of Brigada!
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PRAY FOR ONE UNJUSTLY JAILED
Have you heard the story of the missionary in Guatemala, unjustly jailed for trying to help settle a town kidnapping? Grab the whole story by sending email to hub@xc.org with only the words,
get brigada jailed
in the text of the message. This note keeps coming into my inbox. For some reason, it’s really making the rounds as people try to lift up the destiny of this falsely accused interloper who apparently was only trying to help but could now face imprisonment for “murder” or worse. Find out the details and lift up this need in prayer, please. And by the way… this is no hoax. These notes come from people we know . . . who know this guy. So it’s for real!
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WHAT ABOUT THIS “PrayUSA!” THING?
This is one successful prayer mobilization strategy! If you’re from the USA, it could really give balance to your prayer thrust – and help those in your church to realize that you’re not only concerned about prayer for the nations. PrayUSA! is 30-days of prayer and fasting April 1-30, 1997, sponsored by Mission America (the USA national initiative of AD2000 & Beyond). It now involves dozens of denominations, hundreds of prayer ministries, thousands of churches, and millions of intercessors! Its purpose is to mobilize people to fast and pray for revival in the United States (our “Jerusalem”) using a 30-day reproducible prayer calendar, a 20-piece kit, a 14-minute video, and lots of mobilizers. It could serve as a pattern for prayer throughout other lands… and part of the thrust in PrayUSA! is to pray for the nations anyway! :-) As part of the thrust George Otis (Sentinel) has identified 30 “trouble spots,” so that one-a-day, prayer-warriors can walk the world. For info, call toll-free from the USA 1-800-569-4825. Join 22 denominations, Participants in all 50 states, hundreds of prayer ministries in partnership, and commitments to mobilize 14,482,780 people worldwide including… 200,000 in Dominican Republic, 55,000 in Solomon Islands, and 3,000 in India! These guys are serious. I just got the packet yesterday and it is well put together, very clear, and very well-funded. Write prayusa@juno.com or fax 281-855-6540 or see http://www.usprayertrack.org. We can all learn from this one. Only thing is… I wish we had more time to prepare for it! :-)
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MRS WINTER’S SITUATION COULD BE IMPROVING
The latest news is both good and bad, but the bottom line is that there are a lot of positive signs indicating that Dr. Ralph Winter’s wife is improving from the cancer for which she has been receiving treatment for months. Please pray that she would be totally healed so that this saintly couple could continue to mobilize at the US Center for World Mission and throughout the globe.
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WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GATEWAY PEOPLE CONSULTATION.. OR HELP??
You can, without even leaving you home. Consultation organizers have created three conferences for these last three weeks’ preparation. You can join and jump into the discussion today. “gpcc-delineation” is a technical discussion for those who want to discuss which upgs should be in which clusters. “gpcc-discuss” is a general discussion relating to the goals of the GPCC: linking the resource base (and adoptive churches) with the field. “gpcc-announce” is for those who plan to attend or who would attend if they could. You know how to join… send email to hub@xc.org with only the words,
subscribe gpcc-announce
or whichever conferences you want to join.
Three weeks to go before this landmark event draws attention and planning for clusters of the least reached people groups and the networks forming to reach them. The world’s researchers, mobilizers, and missionaries are coming together at the US Center to figure out answers… and now you can join them even if you can’t travel to Pasadena! Take part in discussions with Patrick Johnstone, John Hanna, Luis Bush, and many others. Finish the task!
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IF YOU CAN SEE THE SKY, YOU CAN CALL THE WORLD WITH “PLANET 1”
This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Are you tired and frustrated with your current communications systems? Consider Planet 1 as solution to this need. Planet 1, the world’s first portable, global, personal satellite communications system, will allow you to go beyond today’s cellular/wireless boundaries with seamless digital voice, fax, data and the portability you need.
Planet 1 satellite phone provides:
* Digital Voice
* FAX – Plug in your fax machine to the Planet 1
* Data – Send Email (2400 Baud but soon to be 4800 Baud)
Benefits:
* Size – Size of a laptop computer, weighs less than 6 lbs.(2.4 Kg)
* Portability – Operates on rechargeable battery (12v)
* Easy to use – Point the lid at the satellite, dial your number
* Global coverage – Call from anywhere on the Globe
* “Mission critical” communications is assured
* Tool for “people care” – Isolated staff can “talk” to family, children in college can stay in touch with mom and dad in the field
You’ll recall that these babies used to cost $40,000 (say in ’91) and cost $8/minute . . . .but times have changed and MAF is passing along the savings! Cost:
* Phone – $2,975
* SIM (Smart Card) – $50
* Service – $50 Initial activation, $25 per month + $3.00 per minute.
MAF is an authorized agent for the Planet 1 satellite phone and has stock available for immediate delivery. For further information contact:
Paul Lay
Email: Planet1@maf.org
Phone: (909)794-1151
Fax: (909)794-3016
Cool! Who would have thought that we missionary-types could take part in so many activities and gizmos that would allow our latent “James Bond” inner selves to be so well expressed!!!! :-) Course, . . . now we just need three grand to buy one of the things! :-) I wonder if anyone rents these little guys! :-) I have a hunch the insurance wouldn’t be cheap. The drug runners must love them! :-)
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PATRICK JOHNSTONE LANDS AN ASSISTANT VIA BRIGADA
Remember our appeal for staffing for Patrick Johnstone, hard at work preparing the next Operation World? Well, it appears that he’s found someone via the Brigada responses [see “OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME”, from 21 of Feb., ’97 issue]. Thanks for working together, Brigada family! You’re making a world of difference . . . at least it seems likely that you did for Patrick Johnstone!
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CHINA ’97 – IT’S NOT TOO LATE
ISI is continuing to receive registrations for its “China ’97…at the Crossroads” conference, scheduled for June 20-27, 1997 in San Diego, California. Conference information is now available on-line. Check out ISI’s web site at http://www.isionline.org and click on the China ’97 link to learn.
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ON-LINE SEMINARY PROGRAMS, LEND US YOUR EAR… OR EMAIL
Here’s a guy asking where he can get on-line seminary education. Okay colleges and seminaries… let’s send our responses to RonLawler@aol.com. He’ll compile them and send in a report in two weeks. We’ll post it here for all the world’s missionaries to see. . . and study! Please mention in particular any missions or cross-cultural studies program that might appeal to a broad audience of workers from around the world.
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BRIGADA-CITIES INVOLVED IN COOL CITIES PRAYER REQUESTS
I like what Aubrey is doing on Brigada-cities these days. She’s kicking off each week with an intro. to a particular key city (like this week it’s Tirana, Albania), then inviting members of brigada-cities (currently well over 200) to respond with specific prayer requests and case studies on that city. If you’re into the urban scene… or you have a moment to pray… send email to hub@xc.org with only the words,
subscribe brigada-cities
in the text of the message. You’ll be glad you did. And Aubrey, Viv, and all the rest, great ministry you’ve got going there! For a look at just one of the projects that Viv, Matthew, Jonathan, and the rest of the ‘-cities’ crew has launched, see http://www.xc.org/brigada/adcities. Quite an accomplishment for a bunch of volunteers! :-)
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WHERE TO GET INFO. ON YOUR FAVORITE “UNVIRUS”
Want to find out whether the “Jessica Mydek cancer patient” email is actually a hoax? Look at http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html and you’ll be able to read all about “Good Times”, “Irina”, and many others. Email viruses consist of the bandwidth they needlessly use up – and it’s up to all of us to stay on top of them… or they’ll be on top of us! So what about the mystery of “Jessica Mydek?” :-) It’s a hoax too. See http://www.cancer.org/chain.html to read the whole story. As far as the American Cancer Society can determine, it was a big hoax from the very beginning. :-( Sad… but true. But ACS has a great closing paragraph that helps people really focus on the needs of cancer victims and the good intentions of those who are participating in furthering the “jessica” hoax (by relaying the email to 10 zillion of their friends). Worth a read. So, Jason from Brazil . . . your suspicions were correct!
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WANT A GREAT DEAL ON MISSIONARY PRAYER CARDS?
“Les” says to head for The Howard Print Shop, hpsprint@netusa1.net, Fax: (765)453-0054, Phone: (765)453-6161. Apparently they came in at 1/3 the price of Les’ last prayer cards – from another vendor – and the quality was excellent. Make sure you tell “Howard” you heard about it on Brigada! Hey – they’re full color! :-)
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GREAT RESPONSE ON REGISTERING PRAYING CHURCHES/PEOPLE
Remember the church out east that is registering those who have agreed to pray for specific people groups on the Joshua Project list? They report a great response . . . “from all over, and it really blesses us to hear about what many others are doing.” They’ll keep us informed about the number of congregations/individuals who have signed up to pray for specific groups. Keep in mind that praying for a group is the first step, but it’s only a step. To really get involved in planting a church there, someone will probably have to go there. For that, why not come to Pit-Stop Denver or some other kind of mobilization/planning event. Also, one Brigada participant wrote in to ask us why a local church would be registering these numbers. Why wouldn’t AD2000 & Beyond be doing it, for instance? Well – this church is precisely the registering arm of the Prayer Track of AD2000 & Beyond. Also, someone else asked why Adopt-a-people Clearing House wouldn’t be doing it. Keep in mind that the Adopt-a-people Clearinghouse tells us that it has never considered this mission to be its purpose. Rather, it has tried to gather research (profiles) and distribute them . . . but has not majored in tracking adoptions. The truth is, until AD2000 & Beyond came along, nobody was trying to. So I say, . . . if these folks are willing to tackle it, let’s use their services! They’re in touch with AD2000 & Beyond’s office in Colorado and will be sharing/receiving all cross-registrations. Again, to register your interest, write to Dick Gaffney at Manna Church of Fayetteville, NC RGaff13817@aol.com. Also, Dick clarifies that we probably shouldn’t be using the term “adoption” for this purpose… but rather, networking, mobilizing, . . . or maybe registering your interest to pray.
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MEANWHILE THIS REPORT FROM AD2000 & BEYOND
The International Office of the AD2000 & Beyond Movement issued a press release this past week citing the results of their 10-month survey on what’s happening among the 1739 Joshua Project 2000 list of Unreached Peoples. Pretty encouraging data. By their definitions, AD2000 & Beyond calculates that there is now a church-planting movement among at least 897 of those people groups. By AD2000 definitions, then, I guess that means we’re halfway to our goal of “a church for every people”??? At least 757 groups have been targeted for prayer, while 1157 have agencies already on-site, intending to plant churches. The full report is available by sending email to hub@xc.org with only the following line in the text of the message:
get brigada jp2000-progress
This is very recent data. The report is dated March 26th, ’97. Thanks to Dan Scribner, Lauri Dennis, and Luis Bush, along with all those who participated in the entire survey!
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WE GET MAIL
Thanks for the very encouraging notes and “birthday cards” for Brigada. We’re in your debt for the encouragement! Only one snippet of an example, since space is fleeting… This note came from David in Fort Worth, TX: “Praise God for Brigada Today. My only regret is that I missed two years before I learned of your existence. Your “Global Glimpse …” is awesome – in the best spiritual sense of the word! … For the last two months we have been putting together a small net of missionaries and rope holding prayer warriors who are/have been associated with the University Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas. … Your work is blessing us. Please keep it up. And remember, God can do a lot with garlic! Much of your garlic, it seems to me, is work-in-process! In our Lord Christ, David Gray.” Thanks David and all!
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GLOBAL GLIMPSE OF HOPE
As a young man, Silas grew up learning witchcraft. After he was kicked out of school he joined a gang, rising quickly due to his power to ruin people’s lives. Running from the law, he visited an old friend and found a change. “I found out that he had been born again,” he said. “He shared the Gospel with me and encouraged me to give up my evil ways.” Silas joyfully received Christ as his Lord and Savior that night. He began attending church with his friend and was publicly baptized. But Silas’ family didn’t share his joy. His father, a well-reputed witch doctor, kicked his son out of the home. Silas returned to his friend’s house and continued to study the Bible. Finally he heard God calling him to full-time ministry. After a year of intensive training at one of Gospel for Asia’s native missionary training centers, Silas now shares the Gospel among the unreached villages. Instead of destroying lives, he now leads people to new birth in Christ.
(Source: (Read the full story and many others!) Gospel for Asia, Report for March 21, ’97, http://www.gfa.org/reports/973/9732101.htm)
Global Glimpse is compiled each week by my buddy and pal, John Hanna, Caleb Project, Littleton, CO.
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TO SUBSCRIBE TO BRIGADA TODAY, send email to hub@xc.org with only the following message:
subscribe brigada
(Sure you can quote from Brigada Today! But please tell your readers where you learned about the item, and if it’s not asking too much, include the 3 lines on how to subscribe – see above.)
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send email to hub@xc.org with this line in the text:
unsubscribe brigada
If you’re changing email services soon, please don’t forget to
“unsubscribe” first from your ‘old’ service then
“subscribe” again once you’re on-board your ‘new’ service.
Maintaining 5000+ subscribers manually isn’t easy for our volunteer “Customer Relations Coordinator,” Revis Ann Massey!
And visit Brigada on WorldWide Web at our new domain (please re-set bookmarks): https://brigada.org. Thanks to Bob Mayhew who made the conversion!
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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!
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