20010909 Brigada Today

In this issue….

PRAYING FOR VICTIMS OF THE SEPT. 11TH DISASTER

A helpful aid in praying for all involved in the terrorist attack on the USA is the site “A Prayer Experience – Praying for Disasters using Photos” at http://www.ozemail.com.au/~sjhop/pe-intro.htm. To show your colors, check out http://www.christiancrafters.com/prayforAMERICA.html for craft ideas. Note, for Brigada Today‘s “Special Edition” regarding the Sept. 11th attack, you’ll actually need to look at the edition dated Aug. 24th. To see that edition, go to https://brigada.org/today/2001/bt20010824.shtml because we’re, well, … behind. (Apologies!)

SIXTH ANNUAL MEDICAL MISSIONCONFERENCE

On line registration is available now for the sixth annual medical mission conference to be held November 2-3, 2001, in Louisville, Kentucky. Featured at the conference are two full days of lectures with over 80 workshops; 50-75 mission agencies and more than 1200 participants! There is something for everyone! From student to career professional; from short-term worker to career missionary; from domestic to international missionary — a workshop is available for every profession in the health care field. With so much information to disseminate, the best way to receive all of the details is to visit the web page: www.medicalmissions.com The plenary speakers are among the most well-known in medical missions: (including Paul Brand, Robert Foster, David Thompson, and David Stevens). Saturday is STUDENT DAY. Get continuing education credits, along with workshops in nursing, OT/PT, pharmacy, tech, health care for the poor, and community health care. This conference is designed for the individual who has never really participated in any medical mission service as well as for the career professional that has been on the field for thirty years. For more info, visit the conference website or ask a friend to visit then fill you in.

STILL LOOKING FOR OPERATION WORLD IN PRINT?

Look no further: http://www.bethanyhouse.com/index.asp?inc=books&page=detail&book=1325 or call 800-328-6109 or email cs@bethanyhouse.com. If you haven’t already ordered the CD version, better hurry. GMI has told us that “within 12 hours of the Brigada Today hitting the electronic newsstands, we had received orders for hundreds of Operation World CD- ROMs!” They won’t last forever. Check ’em out at: http://www.gmi.org/products/owcd.htm or contact Lorri info@gmi.org or by telephone: 719-531-3599 ext. 599 or by fax: 719-548-7459.

A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR HINDUS?

An amazing turn of events is taking place in India. Anti-caste leaders, tired of living under the oppressive tenets of Hinduism, are persuading lower caste Hindus to renounce Hinduism. Ram Raj, one such leader, is encouraging oppressed Hindus to convert to a religion (such as Buddhism, Islam or Christianity) that will give them social, educational and vocational freedom. Raj is inviting millions of lower caste Hindus to a massive conversion rally that could trigger a religious sea-change in India, launching a tidal wave of Hindus out of Hinduism. For more information click http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.asp?loc=ed&edid=120

WRITING TIPS YOU CAN USE

If you need quick relief from writer’s block, log onto newWWay.org this month. There are tips you can use right now to help you write better for your mission advocacy materials like newsletters, brochures and websites. There’s even a handy tip sheet for taking better pictures. Plus, on newWway you can always find useful helps for missionaries that are surprisingly simple to use. The newWway.org site has many good things you need for communication media planning for evangelism and advocacy. There are even free downloads for your Palm Pilot, Word, etc too! This month download the book Spontaneous Expansion of the Church by Rolland Allen. Available in Palm, Word and Pdf formats. It’s all free and all made for and by missionaries! http://www.newWway.org

‘SHAME BASED CULTURE’

It’s becoming a new missionary buzzword. Discover what it’s all about in the third book of Roland Muller’s trilogy on Muslim Evangelism. ‘Honor and Shame, Unlocking the Door’ is refreshingly original and controversial. But it’s not just for those working with Muslims. Muller’s material applies to most of the cultures in the 10/40 window, plus the cultures of many aboriginal people around the world. Available from: http://www.rmuller.com. If you don’t have web access, ask a friend to check it out there and send you details.

A GREAT TIME FOR RENEWED FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

John reminded us this past week that, with all the aftermath of the Sept. 11th attacks, maybe now’s a great time to take another look at aiding international students. See http://www.isionline.org for ideas.

WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

And what in the world does this have to do with missions? Well I’m not exactly sure, but surely someone can think up a way to use this kind of technology for a good global cause.

Check it out at http://www.kurzweilAI.net.

Hint: Her name is Ramona. Ask her about her parents. Can’t you see her doing a benefit concert to raise money for an international feeding project or something?

MISSIONS GIFT CARDS

Bosacker Design has missions-focused, colorful gift cards presenting 24 unreached peoples from the 10-40 Window. The front of each 5″ x 7″ card has a high-quality pencil illustration of a person from that people-group, created by artist Julie Bosacker. These are some of the many illustrations featured in the YWAM Prayer Diary for the last 15 years. The back of the card presents the people’s name, country map and information about the people. Use these for prayer, education, encouragement, notes, Christmas cards, etc. These are available at http://www.bosackerdesign.com or by mail order. Enquire about brochures, wholesale rates and terms by emailing mailto@bosackerdesign.com.

ORU INVITES YOU TO ESTABLISH YOUR OWN BIBLE INSTITUTE

Oral Roberts Univ. wrote recently, offering to supply the curriculum while you supply the instructors. Several joint diplomas and certificates are available. Contact Dr. Paul King, ORU Bible Institute Coordinator, at 918-495-7097 or e-mail at: pking@oru.edu Check out http://www.oru.edu/university/departments/ALSCweb/htmlpages/bip.htm

SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

PLANTS is a second-language acquisition training course which builds upon the principles developed in MTI’s PILAT Program. This two-week module is available October 14 – 26 2001 in Toronto and November 5-16, 2001, at the Center for Intercultural Training in Union Mills, North Carolina in conjunction with MissionPrep. PLANTS includes a toolbox of 25+ activities and techniques for learning languages and cultures. Participants are equipped to engage in their own learning styles, which PLANTS helps them discover. While student’s ears are trained to distinguish fine differences between sounds, their mouths will be prepared to make new sounds. Gain speech flexibility and a basic understanding of the structure of words, sentences, discourse and meaning, and of the social functions of language. To learn about the October course in Toronto, contact Robert Cousins 416-284-5645 micanada@interlog.com or visit our web site at http://www.timcentre.com/missionPrep. For more information on the Nov. course in NC, contact CIT at citmail@cit-online.org or call 800-887-1786 or visit our website at www.cit-online.org.

AQUAPONICS COURSE

Aquaponics interest is increasing globally in response to more emphasis on resource management and wholesome food production. It involves combining of aquaculture and hydro-ponics. These versatile systems are ideal for food production in almost geographical area. A practical course in Aquaponics will be held in Bryson City, NC,USA, November 6 – 9. For a brochure, contact Aquaculture International at cwjohnson@graham.main.nc.us or 828-479-6294 (phone or fax). Specify if you are a missionary. Aquaculture International is a nonprofit organization that honors Jesus Christ as Lord.

TENTMAKER SEMINARS/COURSES

Global Opportunities is offering it’s “Light to the Nations” tentmaker training course on Oct. 17-21, 2001, AND a free one-day seminar Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001, at the US Center for World Mission in Pasadena, CA. For information and registration go to: http://www.globalopps.org/ltn and http://www.globalopps.org/seminar Alternately you can call 626-398-2393 or email them info@globalopps.org.

(Note: Global Opportunities partners with mission agencies and churches in co-hosting training courses or one-day seminars at your location. For information, please contact Executive Director, David English dave@globalopps.org.)

If you can’t make one, take the other! Northshore Baptist Church in Bothell, WA, will offer a tentmaking seminar October 26th for mission pastors and lay leaders. Speakers include Ari Rocklin of Global Opportunities, Cliff Moon, Steve Richards, and some seventeen mission agencies that will be present to support the seminar. Tentmakers International Exchange and Mission To Unreached Peoples are the other hosts besides Northshore Baptist Church. For further information or for reservations contact tie@gati.wa.com or phone 206-781-3151.

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