In this issue…

  1. OSCAR LAUNCHES FORUM FOR MISSION MOBILISERS
  2. YET ANOTHER WAY TO CONNECT WHEN YOUR MODEM WON’T DIAL
  3. FREE BIBLE TRAINING RESOURCES ONLINE
  4. TEFL COURSE IN THE SOUTHEAST
  5. SCI BUILDS SOUND SYSTEMS DESIGNED FOR EVANGELISTS/MISSIONARIES
  6. IS HUMILITY THE KEY TO THE ARAB WORLD?
  7. TRANSFOMRING NATIONS . . . COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY
  8. STRATEGY COORDINATOR TRAINING COURSE
  9. SINGAPORE SCHOOL OF FRONTIER MISSION
  10. THE BACK PAGE: SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE ADAPTING
  11. CLOSING STUFF

  1. OSCAR LAUNCHES FORUM FOR MISSION MOBILISERS — OSCAR, the UK Information Service for World Mission, this month launches a new online forum specifically for local church mission mobilisers, secretaries and representatives in the UK, aimed at helping these individuals discuss their helps and hindrances and generally have a place where they can share their experience. Overseeing the group, in partnership with OSCAR, is Joy Piper, author of the book “Bringing the World to Your Church”. To access the forum, log on to http://www.oscar.org.uk , click on ‘Forum’ and then ‘Mission Mobilisers’.

  2. YET ANOTHER WAY TO CONNECT WHEN YOUR MODEM WON’T DIAL — In our ongoing saga of fixes for my wayward [Sony] modem that wouldn’t dial out in Ukraine, “Mr. O” in SE Asia suggested this (using Windows ME): Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Dial-Up Networking. Click the icon for the connection you want to change. On the File menu, click Properties. Click Configure. Click the Options tab, and then select the Operator assisted or manual dial check box. Connect to a shared resource that uses this connection, or click the icon for this connection. When prompted, lift the receiver of your phone and dial the number. When you hear the tone from the computer, click Connect, and then hang up the phone. (You’ll have to translate it to your own operating system.) Thanks Mr. O!

  3. FREE BIBLE TRAINING RESOURCES ONLINE — AIBI Resources http://www.aibi.org provides Bible training resources including detailed Bible book outlines, Bible survey manuals, training diagrams and much more. Some of the current material is also available on the website in Spanish. One resource that has been kept somewhat secret is a CD version of the resources. To learn more about the CD version, take a look at: http://www.aibi.org/cdrequest.html . Volunteer translations teams are currently being developed to help make these valuable resources available in other languages as well. For more information on being a part of the translation teams, please see http://www.aibi.org/translation.html .

  4. TEFL COURSE IN THE SOUTHEAST — From July 22nd to August 2nd, Columbia International University will be offering an introductory course on the Techniques of Teaching English as a Foreign Language: Speaking, Listening, and Reading. This three semester hour graduate level course introduces students to communicative language teaching, lesson planning, and practical techniques for the classroom. The course may be taken as part of Columbia’s MA in TEFL or as a stand- alone introduction to English language teaching. For more information, please see Columbia’s Summer Studies website http://www.ciu.edu/summerstudies/ , or contact Dr. Kay Herbert at <kherbert@ciu.edu>. You can also call: 1-803-754-4100, ext. 3316, or toll-free in the U.S. or via Net2Phone from elsewhere at 1-800-777- 2227. </kherbert@ciu.edu>

  5. SCI BUILDS SOUND SYSTEMS DESIGNED FOR EVANGELISTS/MISSIONARIES -– Sound Communications Inc. of Louisiana has been bringing new ideas to portable sound systems for several years. The Communicator is the latest model that brings a unique “All Weather” capability to a very versatile, durable, self-contained, over the shoulder type system that offers mobility as well as quality sound. These are systems born out of missions for missions. Also check out the Power T12V which is also the number one system in schools and recreation departments in our home state of Louisiana. Contact them on line at http://www.scipower.net or via email . You can call toll-free from the USA or via Net2Phone from elsewhere 1-866-846-4036. Their office phone in the USA is 1-318-396-7221. </scipower@bayou.com>

  6. IS HUMILITY THE KEY TO THE ARAB WORLD? — Could simple acts of humble repentance open the heart of the Arab world to the gospel? For actual case studies explore the site http://www.reconciliationwalk.org which recounts the 3 year journey of Christians retracing the route of the First Crusade. The Crusades were the last time that the Church of Jesus Christ sent representatives to the Middle East in any large numbers. The atrocities committed in the name of Christ by the Crusaders hardened the hearts of the Arab world to the gospel for over 900 years. See how humility expressed in brokenness is softening hearts to the love of God.

  7. TRANSFOMRING NATIONS . . . COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY — Are you interested in establishing a Community-Based Health Care Program which integrates the physical and the spiritual? Medical Ambassadors International’s Training of Trainers (TOT) introduces people to Community Health Evangelism (CHE). This strategy teaches concepts, gives vision and practical How To’s for implementing and managing CHE in your ministry. Training dates for USA: September 17-22, 2002. Additional information can be found at http://www.med-amb.org/What_We%20_Do_TOT.htm OR <helen@med-amb.org>. </helen@med-amb.org>

  8. STRATEGY COORDINATOR TRAINING COURSE — Catch this course for hands- on practitioners reaching UPGs : 13 August to 6 September, 2002 (4 weeks) in Singapore, and the side-by-side Go4th National Missions Conference 7- 10 August, 2002. There’s a special package available for both programs US$1000.00 (airfare, board and lodge not inclusive). Closing date: 31 July,2002.Registration or enquiries to Frank at <scanet@writeme.com>. </scanet@writeme.com>

  9. SINGAPORE SCHOOL OF FRONTIER MISSION — YWAM’s SoFM starts 19 September. Read more at http://ywam.antioch.com.sg . It’s a three-month lecture phase plus nine-month field internship. The entire program helping you develop skills in 1) language acquisition, 2) cross-cultural, 3) frontier survive, 4) teamwork and also 5) find a place of long-term service. The Singapore SoFM offers its internship at 6 entry cities and among 5 unreached peoples. You can see cost and schedule information at http://ywam.antioch.com.sg/schedule/#10 This is a secondary school with YWAM. A Discipleship Training School (DTS) http://ywam.antioch.com.sg/dts/ is required before taking this course. For more info, write <apocal59@pacific.net.sg>. </apocal59@pacific.net.sg>

  10. THE BACK PAGE: SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE ADAPTING — My 12-year- old and I were talking recently and he came up with these ways that a missionary can know if they’re truly adapting to missionary life: 1. You can’t answer the question, “Where are you from?” 2. You read National Geographic and recognize someone. 3. You have a time zone map next to your telephone. 4. You consider a city 500 km away to be “very close”. 5. You watch nature documentaries, and think about how good that animal would taste if it were fried. 6. You can cut grass with a machete, but can’t start a lawnmower. 7. You speak with authority on the subject of airline travel. 8. You read the international section before the comics. 9. You have friends from or in 29 different countries. 10. You sort your friends by continent. 11. Fitting 15 or more people into a car seems normal to you. 12. You refer to gravel roads as highways. 13. You haggle with the checkout clerk for a lower price. 14. You don’t think that two hours is a long sermon. 15. You marvel at the cleanliness of gas station bathrooms. 16. You think you’ve died and gone to heaven when you go into a foreign grocery store. 17. You think a “foreign school” conducts classes in English.