20040201 Brigada Today

WHAT DO THESE THREE PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON? — What does a Lakota/Sioux rodeo cowgirl, a doctoral student in Poland, and a ship director in Fiji have in common? All three are part of the 130 leaders, from 13 nations enrolled in the International School of Reconciliation Studies, a web-based, self-paced nine month school for leaders, associated with John Dawson’s International Reconciliation Coalition. Comprised of a world class faculty of scholars and storytellers, this school is designed to multiply creative, Biblically anchored, multi- cultural reconcilers throughout the world. Live in a nation without reliable internet access? The school is now available on compact disc. Applications are being accepted now for the next class which begins April 15. Check it out at ..\..\brigada.html or write schools@gracebridge.org Hats off to the folks at GraceBridge (Joey and Fawn) for their $45 sponsorship of Brigada, to help us pay a Brigada secretary! Would you consider sponsoring too? If so, click to: https://brigada.org/donate.html

THANKS TO THOSE TRYING IKOBO — Thanks, too, to the two volunteers trying out iKobo, the Western Union-like cash transfer organization. It will hopefully help them transfer cash sums across time zones and national barriers.

CLICK TO LEARN ABOUT CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE STORYING — Admit it. It’s the craze now. If you don’t learn it, you won’t be able to “keep up” with the latest talks at big gatherings. Learn more at: http://newwway.org/articles/10steps.htm (And … thanks for access to the info., Mark!)

ENVIRONMENTAL COURSES DESIGNED FOR MISSIONARIES — Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies under Cal DeWitt started the Christian Environmental Stewardship movement and now has a network of 59 participating Christian colleges throughout North America. They are offering courses for agricultural and development workers such as ‘Tropical Agriculture and Missions’, ‘Ecological Agriculture’ and ‘Global Development and Sustainability’. Courses are offered in May (5/14-6/3); and in two summer terms(6/5-7/9 & 7/17-8/16). You can take them at three North American sites (Michigan, Washington, Florida) and two overseas locations (India & Kenya), and you can get credit through any of the 59 participating colleges. See http:www.ausable.org or call 1-800-315-2836 (North America) or +1-231-587-8686 or write to missioncourses@ausable.org

YOUR VIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS IN YOUR AREA — There are a lot of hints that environmental problems (degradation of agricultural land, changes in rainfall patterns) are much more severe than, say, 15 years ago. Is this your experience? Ed Brown, COO at Au Sable Institute, would like to get a feel for this problem from the ‘front lines’. If you have been working or have lived in a developing country long enough to observe such changes (or the lack thereof!), would you drop Ed a line at ebrown53717@aol.com Responses will be useful in helping Au Sable create appropriate courses and training materials for missionaries and development workers in environmentally degraded areas. (In a couple of weeks, we’ll look forward to a summary from Ed.)

CHRISTIANS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CONFERENCE — On March 30, 2004, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, in Long Beach, CA, USA plan to attend the first conference to bring together Christians who teach ESL/EFL from many agencies, training institutions, and schools. Sponsored by Christian Educators in TESOL (see http://www.cetesol.org ) and held the day before the national TESOL convention ( see http://www.tesol.org ), this conference will have plenaries, concurrent sessions, poster sessions on best classroom practices, discussion groups, and exhibits. Topics include English camps, materials, ESL in seminaries, church- based ESL, teaching internationally, culture & Christianity, non-native speakers, mentoring volunteers, curriculum design, agency standards, and much more. The cost is $15 before 2/27, $20 before 3/20, and $25 on site. For a registration packet, please e-mail kitty.purgason@biola.edu.

LEARN TO TEACH ENGLISH: TESOL TRAINING — Teaching English is a wonderful “tentmaking” tool. This four week training course will enhance your teaching skills, which will enhance your ministry. Your TESOL certificate will open many doors of opportunity. Next class begins March 7, 2004. See website at http://www.ywampa.org for details, or contact YWAM Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA at ywampa@comcast.net.

LEARN ABOUT THE HERERO PEOPLE — A missionary and translator approached an 80 year old man in a village. During the introductions they discovered that the man is an uncle to the translator. The man shared that as he grew older and learned more about God he could clearly see his need for Jesus. He was overjoyed that they were there to tell him about Jesus. Pray for the Lord to use born again Hereros to reach their extensive families. Pray for the Lord to build prayer support for the Herero, an unengaged people group. To adopt the Herero people for prayer or for more information, visit http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email swacsc@iafrica.com.

UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF NAMIBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA — There are several people groups, like the Herero, Nama/Damara and Mbalantu, who have little to no evangelical witness. As they face the struggles of life and the ravages of AIDS, who will tell them about Jesus? Who will pray for them? Who will care? Pray for the Lord to build prayer support for these unengaged peoples. To adopt a people group for prayer or for more information, visit http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email swacsc@iafrica.com.

LEARN CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH — Do you know someone who wants to improve in English? Youth With A Mission in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA is offering a 12 week class, from April 4 to June 25, 2004. Full time classroom work in practical English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Live in community with national English speakers as well as others from around the world. Tuition is $2250 USD, which includes food and housing costs. See website at http://www.ywampa.org or contact YWAM Lebanon PA USA at ywampa@comcast.net .

SUMMER MINISTRY WITH MUSLIMS — Take in a two or four week ministry to Muslim students and business people in Istanbul, Turkey the last two weeks of June and the first two weeks of July. This is an opportunity join an experienced/ ministry team making friendships with English speaking Turkish students and business people, doing evangelism, showing the Jesus Film, working with local churches and visiting businessmen’s clubs and historical sites in Turkey. For more information contact Dr. Jim Romaine, Zwemer Institute, Tel/Fax (662) 843-2191 or email jimromaine@cableone.net.

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