In this issue…

  1. ENCOURAGEMENT FROM FELLOW-HELPERS
  2. GET REPORTEDLY BEST COUNTRY-TO-COUNTRY RATES (HELP BRIGADA)
  3. SETTING UP A BACKUP DEVICE? GREAT TIPS FROM FELLOW STRUGGLERS
  4. AEGEAN SEA: SCHOONER-BASED CHRISTIAN TRAINING
  5. STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN SHORT-TERM MISSION
  6. MISSIONS VIDEO SERIES LOOKS GREAT!
  7. TRANSFOMRING NATIONS . . . COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY
  8. EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS AT THE USCWM
  9. TRAINING OF TRAINERS II & III (TOT II & III)
  10. MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AVAILABLE
  11. FAITH ACADEMY WISHING FOR FAITHFUL SUPERINTENDENT
  12. CLOSING STUFF

SPECIAL SPONSOR NOTE: PRACTICAL TRAINING TO HELP THE POOR TO HELP THEMSELVES — Time is running out! The Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College, in partnership with Food for the Hungry International and World Relief, is offering training in Bangkok, Thailand on May 24 – June 2, 2004 and at Lookout Mountain, GA USA from August 2 – 11, 2004. This training focuses on innovative, best practice microenterprise development and microfinance strategies and methodologies that can be used in holistic, Christ-centered programs. For information on these events or our email based distance learning visit http//www.chalmers.org or email CEDI@covenant.edu.


  1. ENCOURAGEMENT FROM FELLOW-HELPERS — Thanks to those who stepped up to the plate to say they’d like to help Brigada keep cranking out resources and news! Anonymous donors gave $50 and $25 respectively this past week. The latter wrote, “Thank you for your passion for this ministry.” Thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve, and thanks to these two partners for undergirding our efforts with action. If you’d like to PayPal a sponsorship of any amount, just log on at: https://brigada.org and click “sponsor” in the top menu, or just send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. Thanks! Be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift by anonymous. Thanks!

  2. GET REPORTEDLY BEST COUNTRY-TO-COUNTRY RATES (HELP BRIGADA) — Try an international calling service that reportedly has the cheapest country-to-country phone rates. Learn more at http://www.dial-abroad.org/brigada.htm by clicking on “Dial-Abroad.org”. We’re getting great feedback on folks, and believe it or not, there were enough Brigada participants to try them and use them during March that it produced a Dial-Abroad sponsorship of $128 toward our Brigada-sponsored secretary! So if you’re dialing anyway, please try to use Dial-Abroad!

  3. SETTING UP A BACKUP DEVICE? GREAT TIPS FROM FELLOW STRUGGLERS — Thanks to Scott, who wrote us about backup hard drives we recently mentioned, “One hint, make sure you get a USB hard disk case that does not need an external power adapter. This is one less item you have to plug in. Mine draws the power through the USB so in case of a power failure, it can still run off the notebook’s battery power, an important feature hear in [our restricted access country]…. Great idea! Called today to check… and the one I had on order wasn’t! I’ll try to change it. Thanks also to Ivan, who wrote, “Systems crash frequently too, requiring days of reinstalling new programmes. I suggest you install DriveImage, and regularly backup your whole drive. … The other major tip is to set up user accounts. Enable a guest account for visitors, with only a few basics enabled, and something personal for yourself. … And make sure you set up a password for your personal account. I knew someone who could not load – a child had been in and set a new password.” Yikes – sad scenario! :-) Thanks Scott and Ivan!

  4. AEGEAN SEA: SCHOONER-BASED CHRISTIAN TRAINING — Marine Reach, YWAM’s ship ministry, has announced Bluewater Discipleship Training School, its first ever sailing DTS. Beginning 1 April 2005, eleven students will join staff and crew aboard the 90-foot schooner Genevieve Challenge for the DTS lecture phase. The boat will cover 1300 nautical miles of the Aegean Sea in three months, with planned stops at Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi and other historic places. International speakers will join the boat en route and there will also be free time for the students to explore and relax. Following the return to the boat’s base in eastern Greece, the three-month land-based outreach phase begins in locations yet to be decided. Bluewater DTS finishes on 6 October 2005. You can get full details including the application form at http://www.marinereach.com/dts_bluewater or by email to bluewaterdts at marinereach.com (Please replace the “at” with @ and remove spaces).

  5. STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN SHORT-TERM MISSION — A group of U.S. mission agencies and short-term practitioners have developed nationally-derived Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission (SOE) at http://STMstandards.org The seven standards were developed on the heels of similar codes in the UK and Canada. The need for such standards is growing as each year more than one million U.S. volunteers are sent out as short-term missionaries. Churches, agencies and schools can use these standards as a training and assessment tool and can choose to adopt the standards as a way of demonstrating a commitment to excellence in their outreaches. Membership brings professionally structured guidance for achieving goals and an impressive network of organizations offering opportunities for resource sharing, improved training, minimized risk, and mentoring. Members of the steering committee come from Campus Crusade for Christ, YWAM, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Reign Ministries, Teenmania, STEM Int’l, Adventures in Missions, Perimeter Church (Atlanta), Taylor University, Northwestern College and many other groups.

  6. MISSIONS VIDEO SERIES LOOKS GREAT! — Previously, we mentioned the “Operation WorldView Video Series.” I just got my own copy and … whoa… I can’t remember anything like this in years! It’s like a video curriculum, based in part on the Perspectives Course — to introduce world missions to your church or small group. Designed for eight classes one hour or more in length, this series contains dynamic videos and film clips from around the world, along with beautifully designed digital slides to illustrate the rich teaching. It seems perfect for church-wide studies, Sunday School classes or small groups. If your church would like to introduce a Sunday night elective, a special study for your missions committee, a missions class for a week of church camp, … tons of other options.. visit http://www.mission1.org

  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’ Training of Trainers (TOT) introduces people to Community Health Evangelism (CHE). This strategy teaches concepts, gives vision and practical How Tos for implementing and managing CHE in your ministry. Training dates for USA: September 14-19, 2004. Additional information can be found at http://www.medicalambassadors.org/Training_Dates.htm or by emailing Helen@med-amb.org

  8. EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS AT THE USCWM — If you ever thought of working “behind-the-scenes” in missions mobilization, training, strategy or services, then perhaps EXPLORE is for you. Designed for people who wish to learn more about the U.S. Center for World Mission in Pasadena, CA, this 4-day seminar covers the history, impact and mission of the USCWM, with a focus on how you might use your gifts here to reach unreached people groups out there. The USCWM is the organization behind such ministries like the Perspectives On The World Christian Movement Course, Mission Frontiers Magazine, the Global Prayer Digest, and World Christian Foundations Study Program. The next EXPLORE Seminar is scheduled for June 2 – 5, 2004. Registration deadline is May 14th. Space is limited, so register early. For more information, visit the USCWM website http://www.uscwm.org , or email David.Flynn@uscwm.org .

  9. TRAINING OF TRAINERS II & III (TOT II & III) — Medical Ambassadors International provides a seconded training for those who have completed TOT I. TOT II & III concentrates on how to teach adults to evaluate and manage a project and multiply its impact into other areas/communities in your ministry. Spiritually, it concentrates on follow-up and discipleship. As in TOT I, the emphasis is on the practical How Tos of carrying this out. It builds on and uses the LePSAS approach. Attending TOT I is a prerequisite to this course. Dates for USA: June 15-20, 2004. Additional information can be found at http://www.medicalambassadors.org/Training_Dates.htm or by emailing Helen@med-amb.org

  10. MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AVAILABLE — Mission to Unreached Peoples is looking for several people with business backgrounds for financial, administrative, and human resources positions. Most of the openings are for placement in Asia, one is US based. Minimum BS degree required. Check out http://www.mup.org email Jeff JeffK@gatiwa.com or call (888) 847-6950 or (206) 781-3151.

  11. FAITH ACADEMY WISHING FOR FAITHFUL SUPERINTENDENT — Faith Academy, a school for the kids of Missionary parents in Manila (enrolment 600) is looking for a Superintendent beginning school year 2005-2006. Suitable applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest to the Chairman of the Board at search at faith.edu.ph (please replace the “at” with @ and remove the spaces). Details of the school can be found on their website: http://faith.edu.ph