19990523 Brigada Today

Now with 9114 participants!
News and Notes about Brigada, Your Gateway to Missions Networking!
On the WorldWide Web, browse https://brigada.org or http://www.eGroups.com/list/brigada-today
Brigada Today is “the missionary helper newsletter!”
Compiled by Doug Lucas <DLucas@teamexpansion.org>, Louisville, KY
[Pass this issue to a friend! To subscribe, see instructions at end.]

In this issue….

I’M STILL BOTHERED BY OUR LACK OF DIRECTIONAL BEACONS

Frankly, I’m still bothered by our lack of directional beacons for finding out more about various unreached peoples. A (former?) xc.org user wrote me this past week to say, “How do I find all these ‘lost’ conferences? I feel like a lost sailor floating about on a piece of driftwood!” If you’re the moderator of a still active email discussion group about a particular unreached people… or if you maintain a web site about the same, please figure out a public conference or “front door” and put up a note at http://www.egroups.com/folders/brigada-today. Make sure you start your “name” with a forward slash “/” and, if possible, provide a URL link. (The “Add Link” button is at the bottom of the page.) But even if you don’t have a web site, please put up a note about your email conference! Many of our users miss the roster of “conferences.” With this approach, it doesn’t matter if you’re on eGroups, MAFxc, or Topica or whatever.

NEW RESOURCE DIRECTORY FOR UNREACHED PEOPLES

Ken has done a good job. In fact, Ken has done a GREAT job. He’s compiled a directory of resources for a ton of unreached peoples. Some are specific to particular groups, while others are useful for a whole range of peoples. Thanks to his unselfish spirit, you can get the entire work for free via a Brigada auto-responder. Just write to this address: unreached-directory@brigada.worldchurches.org. It’s big — about 150K. If you’d rather, you can also see it on the web at: http://www.egroups.com/docvault/brigada-today/?null=1 Thanks a million Ken!

WHEN YOU REGISTER AT EGROUPS, WATCH YOUR ALIAS

Don learned the hard way. It won’t work if you try to use an alias, unless you first make sure that the alias address is filled in on your email client’s “From:” box when you send messages into your eGroups conference. Bottom line: Settle on one address and use it exclusively, consistently, all the time — at least with eGroups.

MUSIC IN SHARING HOPE WITH MUSLIMS

Now you can pick up Biblical principles and practical guidelines for encouraging the creating and implementing of indigenously-styled hymnody to reach Muslim seekers. Current case studies from around the world will substantiate these techniques. August 2-6, 1999, 6-9:15 pm (registrations due by JUNE 21), available for credit or non-credit. Contact The Summer Institute of Muslim Studies DuaneKruger@kktv.com.

HONE UP ON INTERPERSONAL YOUR SKILLS

Thanks to Grace, you can now hone up on your interpersonal skills by consulting the links she’s compiled for your personal study. Whether you’re a missionary, a mission administrator, or a worker in a local church, you’ll still want your relational skills to be at their very best. For free help, just send an email to: interpersonal-skills@brigada.worldchurches.org Please note that you must address your email exactly as shown.

Note that you don’t have to type anything in the subject line or text (just put some periods or other garbage characters if your email client demands something). The email will be mailed to you by a computer server, so no need to ask or say thanks. It’ll serve you tirelessly, thanks to Bob, our web-minister and his faithful programming! Like all who participate in Brigada, Bob works totally as a volunteer, based in California. Thanks Bob… and thanks Grace!

JOIN WYCLIFFE ASSOCIATES… OR REQUEST THEM!

Wycliffe Associates (UK) are an organization of volunteers who help out Wycliffe Bible Translators in various practical ways: typing documents into electronic form, shopping, lifts to the airport, computer help, and more. There are W.A. branches in the US, Canada and other countries. They are always looking for

volunteers to help them out
missionaries (from any mission, they don’t just help Wycliffe) who need practical help “back home”.

For more details have a look at their website: http://www.globalnet.co.uk/~wauk They welcome volunteers from any country, and they already have a group of keyboarders based in the USA. If you don’t have web access, write Paul at paulmorriss@iname.com for more info.

HAVE A BOATLOAD OF FUN… SERVING ON FRIEND SHIPS

Friend Ships http://www.friendships.org is an all-volunteer mercy ship ministry which works through Christian missions and churches world wide to deliver food, medicine and building and relief supplies. For the past few years they have given an average of 15 million dollars worth of food and goods. Their site invites volunteers long and short term to become part of this hands-on mission work. Ship experience not needed…just a willing heart and hands ready to serve and deliver the Gospel through word and deed. If you don’t have web access, try writing Dorothy damiller@proinet.net for more info.

YOUR BEST MISSIONARY STORY… TO MICHELLE

It all started because she’s been searching for this one particular missionary story she heard years ago. But in the process, she’s now willing to compile your best stories into a file we can load up at the auto-responder so everybody can fill up the old “missionary illustration” grab bag. So… get those illustrations out . . . and take your best shot at Michelle smrenaud@bigfoot.com. She’ll compile them and weave them together into a book!

We’ll let you know if you happen to hit on the one she’s been looking for!

SEND THE URL OF YOUR FAVORITE SITE FOR HINDUS

Grace grace@sasiaccc.org works for the Publications dept. of India Campus Crusade for Christ. She’s on a quest. She’d like to know your favorite web site for allowing Hindus to see Christ’s message and love. If you know of one, send it her way and she’ll knit together a resource file for all of us to download via an autoresponder.

FREE PRAYER CARDS ON THE SOUTHERN SHILHA

“For a limited time small quantities of high quality full color Adopt A People prayer cards for the Southern Shilha Berbers of Morocco will be made available FREE of charge to churches, small groups, and individuals for the purpose of mobilization and intercessory use. The Southern Shilha were recently featured in Doug Lucas’s “Top Twenty” unreached people groups. To request a quantity of these cards contact Clark TF1040@hotmail.com.”

MISSION OPPORTUNITIES IN HONDURAS AND KAZAKSTAN

Where can you learn about mission opportunities? Try Brigada-opportunities. Here are a couple of examples.

IMPACT Teams and YWAM Honduras are partnering in the reconstruction of 50 homes for desperate families in a poor community in the southern part of Honduras. Church teams and YWAM groups can come for two weeks to build two homes shoulder to shoulder with the future occupants. ITI/YWAM still need teams from now until the end of 1999 to complete this project which has strategic significance for the Gospel. Participation for groups (8 – 12 persons) is very easy as the program is streamlined with building materials stockpiled, sites prepared, living quarters set up, ministry opportunities made available and transportation pre-arranged. The two weeks include a beach trip and sightseeing in Tegucigalpa. For more information contact: IMPACT Teams at the University of the Nations, Kona, Hawaii, tel. 808-326-4464, Fax 808-326-4434, or impactteams@compuserve.com.
A Canadian team of certified teachers are meeting with Kazak teachers this summer for two one-week conferences. Professional teachers are needed to lead small groups: elementary/secondary/college/active/retired. Dates: July 19-August 10, 1999. Contact Richard richard@mfest.bc.ca for more information.

Want to learn more? Want to drop some opportunities into the mix? Looking for an opportunity? Just send an email to: brigada-opportunities-subscribe@egroups.com You’ll receive a welcome message. Then write brigada-opportunities@egroups.com with your opportunity.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR USA ORGANIZATION’S 990 FORMS?

Never fear. Brigada is here. If you or your org. is based in the USA and you need help with filing a Form 990 with the IRS, Scott scott@sf.org or http://www.990s.org has volunteered to help any Brigada readers with their 990s, all in compliance with IRS regulations. Thanks Scott!

WANT TO RAISE SOME EXTRA CASH? JOIN THE AMAZON BOOK CLUB

That’s right. Amazon dot com. Here’s the deal. You go to http://www.amazon.com and look for info. on joining their staff, so to speak. You complete a simple form to become a member of the Amazon.com Associates Program. They assign a user id and . . . you’re in! From your web site, you recommend specific books and if people click on them and buy the book, you get 15% of the selling price. Here’s the deal — if the book costs $10, then you pay $10 no matter how you get there. If you ask me, you might as well get the $1.50 as well as the guys at Amazon. It’s pretty easy to do. Check out the recommendation I did for Kohl’s Survival Kit at http://www.teamexpansion.org/resources/Default.htm – it took me all of 5 minutes to register and 1 minute to add the link. They notified me of my user id in 1 hour. For other examples, look at Rich’s site: http://www.oddparts.com/missions/books.htm or Bill’s at: http://www.theoffice.net/eberwein. Interestingly enough, Bill’s is based on the March 19th Brigada list of “must read” missions books. See how you can keep adding to the list? Go for it!

HEAR ABOUT VIDA ABUNDANTE

Check out Baptist Spanish Publishing House on the web at http://www.casabautista.org/vida. It’s an evangelistic music cassette entitled Vida Abundante (Abundant Life) that uses contemporary Hispanic music to share the plan of salvation. It is intended to be the functional equivalent of a gospel tract.

WANT TO LEARN ABOUT UNREACHED PEOPLES?

Send a note to brigada-peoples-subscribe@egroups.com You’ll receive a note of explanation. Go for it!

NEED INSURANCE?

Get it at: https://www.jngrace.com/scgi-bin/travelquote3.html Tim found it. That URL will take you to a place where you purchase travel insurance online with your credit card at different amounts of coverage, depending on what you want. You can get accidental death, sickness health, accident health, baggage coverage, and trip insurance… All kinds of stuff!

TUNE INTO CHRISTIAN MUSIC, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE

Even if you’re in some remote city . . . if they’ve got the Internet, then Christian radio can be close to home. Just tune into the Christian Radio Start Panel (CRiSP) at http://www.terrycom.net/crisp.htm . Thanks Sheridan!

A CASE STUDY IN CREATIVITY IN URGING PRAYER: KOSOVO

If you want a creative experience in praying for the Refugees of Kosovo (and while you’re at it, see the real creative potential in the web), check out “A Prayer Experience – Praying for Kosovo…” at: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~sjhop/pe-intro.htm

CRUISE SHIP CAPTAIN SHOWS MOVIES TO HIS CREW

So, let’s pretend you were the captain of an average cruise ship sailing in and out of Malaysia. How would you motivate a yawning crew to learn and practice their emergency procedures. Well one captain used an imaginative approach… and hundreds of lives (exactly 1093 — 100% of the crew and passenger list) are thankful he did! Before his crew saw the disaster movie about the sinking of the Titanic cruise liner, Hartzell said some didn’t pay much attention during weekly training sessions. “But after they had seen the movie,” he told reporters, “all of them suddenly became very attentive and followed instructions carefully.” (The interview appeared in The Straits Times as reported by InfoBeat, http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559652942-fee.) The moral of the story? If you’re responsible for a team of people charged with doing a job, find a way to motivate your team to get it done right. Use movies, one-on-one evaluations, retreats. . . whatever it takes. If you’re learning language, do it right… use tapes, drama, tape those 3×5 cards (with the foreign language equivalent written thereon) all over your apartment, WHATEVER! Just do it. Second, pay attention to the details. Third, practice. Finally, take leadership seriously. Hartzell was quoted as saying, “I don’t know what the captain of the Titanic was thinking, but as far as I was concerned, everyone had to be saved, whether it was a crew or a passenger. A life is a life.” I’m sure if you were one of the 1093 who were rescued that night, some 27 miles from shore, you’d agree.

So… let’s get out there and do it right!

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PLEASE DON’T SUBSCRIBE US TO YOUR LIST — It’s always better to ask before manually force-adding anyone to your list-serve or mailing list. Recently, tons of well-meaning people have been subscribing Doug to their lists. Since he often travels overseas, he doesn’t join many of those, for obvious reasons (like being charged big-time for overseas access). So as a general rule, please don’t bulk-mail us! See the note above if you’d like to submit items for Brigada Today. Thanks for understanding. Bottom line: We will never create Brigada Today items from bulk mail. Bulk mail gets deleted immediately — sorry. Nothing personal. We suggest you apply the same standard to everyone. Ask first!

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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
Brigada Website: Bob Mayhew, WebServant@brigada.org
Brigada Customer Service Manager: help@brigada.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!