In this issue…

  1. NEW MAP IS REALLY COOL
  2. TWO NEW RESOURCES CELEBRATING GLOBAL WORSHIP
  3. SENIOR DIRECTOR POSITION OPEN AT THE CHALMERS CENTER
  4. HELP SUPPORT BRIGADA, PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FINANCIAL LOSS!
  5. HOW SHOULD AN “MK MEMBER CARE” PERSON BEGIN?
  6. TRAINING COORD. POSITION OPEN AT THE CHALMERS CENTER
  7. THE ZHUANG OF SOUTHERN CHINA
  8. MISSIONARIES: FREE HELP FINDING NEW FINANCIAL SUPPORT
  9. SUPPORT-RAISING CONFERENCE
  10. NEED TO DIAL ABROAD? CHECK OUT DIALABROAD
  11. FREE CROSS BOOKMARKS TO MISSIONARIES
  12. CHECK OUT THE LATEST ON NONPROFIT LAW
  13. SPEED BRIGADA ON ITS WAY
  14. THE BACKPAGE: HOW DO YOU HANDLE LOSS?
  15. CLOSING STUFF

  1. NEW MAP IS REALLY COOL — Our office is getting tons of positive feedback on a new map we have on display in our auditorium. It’s “The Global Status of Evangelical Christianity Map” and it’s now available online at:

    http://www.campuscrusade.com/Jesus_Film/global_status_map.htm

    When it comes to communicating unreached peoples and providing a global perspective on the current status of world evangelization, it rivals some of the best maps you’ve ever seen. It has a kind of satellite-at- night look to it . . . very high on the “cool factor”. The greatest part is — they’re even going to make a gift to Brigada, if you tell them you learned about it here. What’s more, they’re selling them very close to cost. If you order 10 or more you receive even a greater discount. Feel free to relay this Brigada to them.


  2. TWO NEW RESOURCES CELEBRATING GLOBAL WORSHIP — “All the World is Singing: Glorifying God through the music of the nations” traces the amazing use of culturally-appropriate music in evangelism, church- planting, discipleship and worship. This Reader of 45 stories comes bundled with a CD-ROM illustrating the stories with audio, video, pictures, music scores and other media. For information see

    http://www.worldofworship.org/alltheworld/

    Also available is “Sounds of Global Worship II,” an audio CD of 22 songs from 16 regions from around the world. A colorful 28-page booklet serves as a listener’s guide to this tour of the global church at worship. Songs come from Asia, Africa, Middle East, Central Europe, Central America and South America. For more information, visit

    http://www.heart-sounds.org

    For more information on either one, write

    ffort2(at)aol(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] (Thanks to these folks for pitching in $50 toward the costs of operating Brigada! We appreciate you!)


  3. SENIOR DIRECTOR POSITION OPEN AT THE CHALMERS CENTER — The Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Development

    http://www.chalmers.org/

    a research and educational initiative of Covenant College, seeks to equip churches, missionaries, Christian ministries, and college students to declare the Kingdom of God in word and in deed by bringing economic development and spiritual transformation in the context of poor communities around the globe. The Senior Director reports to the Director and is the primary person responsible for managing the Chalmers Center’s human and financial resources in order to maximize the Chalmers Center’s impact.

    [Web-only excerpt: Responsibilities Include: overseeing the design and implementation of a strategic operations plan to achieve the Center’s short- and long-range objectives; hiring and managing all international and domestic personnel; designing and implementing the budget; directly managing approximately six staff members. Qualifications: master’s degree in management, international development, or related field; minimum two years experience in international relief and development work; three years experience with supervision and financial management; outstanding organizational skills and ability to attend to details; ability to listen well and to work in a team-oriented fashion; ability to travel to Third World for several weeks at a time; excellent written and oral communication skills; demonstrated vision, initiative and ability to work independently with minimal supervision; discretion, judgment, and ability to deal with confidential matters. Committed to Jesus Christ and the missions of the Chalmers Center and Covenant College and to growing increasingly familiar with their distinctives. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.]

    Send resume and a testimony of Christian faith and experience to Director of Human Resources, Covenant College, 14049 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, Georgia 30750; 706-820-1560 or email employment(at)covenant(dot)edu – [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] (postal address available in the web edition).


  4. HELP SUPPORT BRIGADA, PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FINANCIAL LOSS! -– Did you know that a medical evacuation from a foreign country can cost over $100,000 to get a sick or injured person back to the US? What if you could get insurance for a couple dollars a day (or less) that would protect you from having to pay that type of expense yourself? And what if you could help Brigada at the same time? Well, through a partnership between Brigada and Insurance Services of America it is now possible to do so! When you purchase insurance from Insurance Services of America on Brigada’s website your purchase will help to support Brigada’s work with the missionary community! Coverage is available for any international need – short-term trips, career missionaries, trip cancellation, short-term teams and term life insurance. For coverage details, rates and the online applications of the Brigada sponsored plans, go to

    http://www.missionaryhealth.net/brigada.htm

    Insurance Services of America has agreed to help support Brigada from sales that are made on this link, so when you purchase on this site you will be helping to support Brigada and you will be protecting yourself and your ministry from catastrophic financial loss!(Thanks to ISA for the great help already given through this program thus far.)


  5. HOW SHOULD AN “MK MEMBER CARE” PERSON BEGIN? — Suppose you were asked to advise a new MK Member Care Rep. at your favorite missionary sending organization. How would you suggest getting started? Which books or websites would you recommend? What conferences would be essential? Which organizations or services would you cite? Well — consider yourself asked! Heather, charged with starting such a ministry at Team Expansion, will receive info then assemble it for us to reprint here as a feature in a couple of weeks. Do you have info for her? By sharing it, you’ll be helping the whole evangelical missions world. Just email Heather at…

    TCK-MK-ministry(at)TeamExpansion(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

    She’ll report back in a couple of weeks.


  6. TRAINING COORD. POSITION OPEN AT THE CHALMERS CENTER – The Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Development

    http://www.chalmers.org/

    is seeking a Training Coordinator, who reports to the Senior Director and is the primary person responsible for the development and effective dissemination of the Center’s training products and services.

    [Web-only excerpt: Responsibilities include: developing, managing, and staffing a multi-track, global training program with multiple delivery mechanisms on four continents; overseeing the writing and contextualization of training materials incorporating biblical worldview messages into technical curricula; designing and implementing a strategy for recruiting, developing, and supporting a global fraternity of volunteer trainers. Requirements include: minimum of a master’s degree in adult education or related field; three years experience in adult education in the Two-Thirds World; outstanding skills and demonstrated competency as a trainer; ability to think, train, and write from a biblical worldview perspective; excellent organizational skills and ability to attend to details; ability to listen well and to work in a team-oriented fashion; ability to travel to the Two-Thirds World for two to three weeks at a time; superior written and oral communication skills; demonstrated vision, initiative and ability to work independently with minimal supervision; committed to Jesus Christ and the missions of the Chalmers Center and Covenant College and to growing increasingly familiar with their distinctives. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.]

    Send resume and a testimony of Christian faith and experience to Director of Human Resources, Covenant College, 14049 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, Georgia 30750; tel. 706-820-1560 or email employment(at)covenant(dot)edu to check it out [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .].


  7. THE ZHUANG OF SOUTHERN CHINA — October 1st will begin a month long prayer emphasis for the over 17 million unreached Zhuang of Southern China. They are the largest people group in the world without a Bible in their own language. Each month on the first is a time of prayer and fasting on behalf of Zhuang, but in the month of October each year there is a special emphasis. There is a full color prayer guide, “31 Days for the Zhuang” available in several languages. The price is US $1 per book for one to fifty copies, after 50 copies it is sixty cents a copy and the postage charge to mail them. Please join the world on October 1st for the October 1st 2006 Day Of Prayer for the Zhuang. To be added to the list of those who will take part, or to receive the prayer guide, please write:

    zhuang(at)pobox(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]


  8. MISSIONARIES: FREE HELP FINDING NEW FINANCIAL SUPPORT — “Mission: World” is a new web site to support an upcoming campaign to engage large numbers of U.S. Christians in “Sending” missionaries (starting with regular financial support and growing from there). In preparation for this campaign, they are recruiting missionaries to be “findable” by potential supporters. (They have special provisions for the security of missionaries working in creative access situations.) The unique approach of this site is to provide potential Senders with a database covering the full range of evangelical missionary activity, searchable by location, ministry focus, organization, sending church and denomination. Each registered missionary must have a U.S. based contact (advocate) who is willing to take and screen inquiries about the missionary. This site is privately funded, and there is no cost for this service. There is presently no provision for registration by email. But those of you with web access should register at

    http://mission-world.com

    so you can be found by interested supporters. For a one-page overview visit

    http://mission-world.com/regsamplepdfs/mission-world_one_page_faqs.pdf


  9. SUPPORT-RAISING CONFERENCE — Tap into more then 35 years of experience by learning from Bill Dillon as he shares fund raising ideas. The People Raising conference is designed to Double your effectiveness in raising individual or organizational funds. Attend the People Raising basic conference September 15-16. Move beyond the fear factor and raise more funds in half the time. Implement 10 key habits for success. Network with other Christian leaders. Arm yourself with tools needed for effective fund raising. You can’t afford to miss this breakthrough 2-day conference. Ask for the $100 spouse discount. This conference is essential for those raising personal support, coaching others or raising organizational funds. For more information or to register on-line go to

    http://www.peopleraising.com/conferences.cfm

    or e-mail Bill@PeopleRaising.com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]


  10. NEED TO DIAL ABROAD? CHECK OUT DIALABROAD — Thanks to the folks at Dialabroad.com for the $143.27 they sent this past week to say thanks for the phone calls you made in May and June. If you need phone service anyway, and if it’s all the same for you, try using …

    http://www.dial-abroad.org/brigada.htm

    You’ll get a great rate and help Brigada at the same time.


  11. FREE CROSS BOOKMARKS TO MISSIONARIES — Crosses for Christ is a new mission project which is a network of crocheters around the world making beautiful white cross bookmarks. These bookmarks are given free to any mission project regardless of denomination. Currently, Crosses for Christ is working on sending 200 crosses to an orphanage in Liberia, 200 crosses to a Leprosy Hospital in Havana, Cuba and another 300 to a mission in the Philippines. Missionaries from any country are welcome to go to the blog at

    http://blog.myspace.com/99002175

    to get an update on the mission and submit information to request crosses for their mission. Email

    aprilajune(at)yahoo(dot)com for inquiries and requests. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]


  12. CHECK OUT THE LATEST ON NONPROFIT LAW — The latest issue of the Nonprofit and Church Legal Trends Memorandum is now online. Click the link or go to

    http://www.npchurchlaw.com

    for the issue.


  13. SPEED BRIGADA ON ITS WAY — Want to help make Brigada possible for those in other lands? Now you can pitch in on their behalf by clicking on “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, 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 be anonymous. In any case, thanks for considering Brigada in your estate giving, your monthly church missions fund, and/or your own personal giving for this calendar year.

  14. THE BACKPAGE: HOW DO YOU HANDLE LOSS? — I moonlight as a soccer coach for a local Christian high school, the Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL). (See our soccer website at:

    http://www.calsoccer.net

    This past week, we participated in a tournament in Bloomington, Indiana. It was a great experience. 44 teams, big buses, vendors, the works. For our tournament opener, we were paired with a team that has a real dynasty for soccer in Indiana. They went all the way to the “final four” in the state last year, losing to the championship team by 1 goal. Shew… their speed of play was outlandish. It didn’t matter what they attempted to do, they did it “like killin’ snakes!” Everything was so fast — the thinking, the passing, and … yes… the shooting. :-) So when the final whistle blew, and the score was 12-0 (our loss), maybe you’ll think our team was bummed out. But the funny thing was — just the opposite was true. Several players came off the field saying, “Coach that was the best game we’ve ever played.” “Coach, I loved that. Can we learn to play like that?!” “Coach Lucas, that was a blast!” Why were most of our players able to view that game as an education, rather than a thrashing? I think maybe part of it was due to the position I had taken with them before, during and immediately after the game. Yes I had told them we’d like to win that game, but I had also told them how much I was looking forward to us experiencing a very high level of play. I had prepared them in advance (as much as I could) for the differences they’d see. During the game, I consistently praised them for the good things they were doing right, but I also tried to point out the great things the opponents were doing. I tried to help them *admire* the opponents instead of resent them.

    In missions, my hunch is, we’re all going to experience failure now and then. In fact, sometimes the failure could seem devastating. I’m wondering how we can learn to appreciate the lessons we can learn in the midst of failure… to treat failure like a rubix cube… to twist it and turn it and look at it objectively. How can we learn to treat failure as a *process* rather than an event. We can wallow in it… or we can see it from different perspectives and interrupt it at any time with new behaviors. Sometimes those behaviors will actually be modeled directly after the lessons we learn from mistakes and let-downs.

    Your mission, if you should decide to accept it, is to be mentally ready to learn from failure, then apply those lessons learned to the next game in life.

    Tuesday night is our next game. When is yours?

    Doug