In this issue…

  1. WORLDCONNEX CAN HOOK YOU UP WITH UNREACHED PEOPLES
  2. MICROFINANCE AND MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
  3. GET STRATEGIC COORDINATOR TRAINING DOWN UNDER
  4. LEARN DENTAL CARE AT HOME
  5. IN SEARCH OF A LATINO ETHNOMUSICOLOGIST
  6. IN SEARCH OF RUGGED LAPTOPS
  7. UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF NAMIBIA
  8. FUND RAISING BLOG / SALE ON VIDEO TRAINING
  9. ESL/EFL TEACHER TRAINER WORKSHOP, JAN 3-5, 2008
  10. IN SEARCH OF MATRIARCHAL PEOPLE GROUPS
  11. PERSPECTIVES COURSES POPPING UP EVERYWHERE, LIKE JAX!
  12. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
  13. MAKING PROGRESS; CAN YOU PUT US OVER THE TOP?
  14. THE BACKPAGE: WHAT’S YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON BORROWING?

WORLDCONNEX CAN HOOK YOU UP WITH UNREACHED PEOPLES — WorldconneX works across denominations, agencies and networks. Their only agenda is to help your church connect with its calling, providing as much or as little assistance as you need. They do this in three ways: (1) Activation – Host an Inside Out Weekend event and discover the resources that God has placed inside your church members. WorldconneX will help you discover the uniqueness of your vision, people and resources — then create a plan that leverages those distinctives. They can also assign a certified coach to walk alongside you for a few months up to a year as you implement your strategy. (2) Front Line Services – Whether your church is sending its own or would like to support other church’s missionaries, WorldconneX can help you access resources to successfully plan and execute long term missions. (3) International Connections – WorldconneX is networked with leading missions practitioners throughout the world. They connect you with individuals and resources you might never find on your own. Join one of their Affinity Groups or take a Pastor PLUS vision trip with WorldconneX. Learn more at

http://www.worldconnex.org

or email info(at)worldconnex(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address back onto one line.]

MICROFINANCE AND MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT — For those ministering to the poor in the Two-Thirds World, the Chalmers Center offers a series of three distance courses on conducting Christian microfinance and microenterprise. The initial course is called “Foundations and Principles of Holistic Ministry” (Two-Thirds World section). The “Foundations” course helps you understand appropriate goals and strategies for conducting Christian economic development in poor communities within the Two-Thirds World. The course will actually benefit anyone preparing for Christian outreach and ministry among the poor, whether they plan to implement an economic development strategy or not. This course will be offered on Feb. 4 – 29, 2008 and again on April 28 – May 23, 2008. Cost of this four-week course is $75 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material. Additional courses are available as follow-ups.

To register or to learn more about the distance learning courses, including information about group discounts and a Two-Thirds World discount, visit

http://www.chalmers.org

When registering, we’d love it if you’d let them know you heard about it on Brigada. For questions, email

chalmers(at)covenant (dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address onto one line.]

or call 1-706-419-1805.

GET STRATEGIC COORDINATOR TRAINING DOWN UNDER — It’s slated for 17th February to 7th March 2008 in Perth, Western Australia. Strategic Coordinator Training is about planning and implementing evangelism and church planting among your favorite segment of society. It’s an intense 3-week seminar led by veteran missionaries experienced at implementing people- and city-transforming strategies. Create a working plan for the evangelization of your focus population; be it gothic youth in London, indigenous peoples of Australia, an unreached people group in Africa or a mega-city in Asia. Learn more at:

http://www.ywamperth.org.au/life/?events-44

(We’re also grateful for the $20 gift that this training program sent to Brigada as a thank-you note! Yay! :-) )

LEARN DENTAL CARE AT HOME — Take our multi-media home study course! Basic dental care can help win hearts wherever you go. No drills, injections, electricity, or sophisticated equipment needed. Do you have a compassionate heart and are not afraid to step out of your comfort zone? If yes, then this is for you! see their video on youtube.com -type “Simplified Dental Care.”

http://www.dentaltrainingformissions.com

or email: dentaltrainingformissions(at) yahoo(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the email address on one line.]

IN SEARCH OF A LATINO ETHNOMUSICOLOGIST — Brigada sometimes helps search for those “needle-in-a-haystack” personnel needs. Here’s one: A Christian worker is search for a Latino ethnomusicologist. (If you don’t know what that is, no need to reply. :-) ) If you *do* know… or that is, if you have a lead, please ask the cross-cultural musical teacher to drop an email to: danieljohnson(at) iibet(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the email address on one line.] Dan thanks you in advance!

IN SEARCH OF RUGGED LAPTOPS — (Thanks to Tony, who saw this note by Greg Slade on CamSOC.) Apparently, for some years now, Greg has had an interest in “ruggedized” notebooks for use on the mission field. His interest was sparked even more by two recent camera failures, presumably due to too much bouncing around on bad roads in the developing world. Now, “ruggedized” notebooks cost significantly more than more common ones, and run more slowly, because they use milspec parts, which are never “bleeding edge”. But, the tradeoff is that “ruggedized” systems have better components, and are much less prone to fail. Brands and models he mentioned included:

Rugged Brands:

UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF NAMIBIA — The Herero, the Namibian Coloureds, the Nama/Damara, and the Mbalantu are all precious people in God’s sight. Pray for those who have heard but do not understand or have not accepted Him as their Personal Savior. Pray for people to come and share the Love of Jesus with them. With no evangelical witness, no workers, no volunteer groups, no one to tell them, many will perish. Please join us as we pray for the Lord to continue to build up prayer support for these unengaged peoples. Pray that all barriers to the Gospel will be removed. To adopt one of these people groups for prayer for to find out more information please contact

http://www.forgottenpeoples.info

or email forgottenpeoples(at)telkomsa (dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address onto one line.]

FUND RAISING BLOG / SALE ON VIDEO TRAINING — Now you can get even more practical advice from Bill Dillon, President of People Raising. Learn from his more than 35 years of fund raising experience. Whether raising individual support or organizational support this resource could be invaluable. Pass this important resource on to team members and friends. Also take a look at the award winning 6-hour fund raising training program available in DVD/CD/Video/MP3. Normally priced at $299.99 it is on sale at the low price of $69.99 through Dec. 31st. For more information go to

http://www.peopleraising.com/blog/

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

ESL/EFL TEACHER TRAINER WORKSHOP, JAN 3-5, 2008 — Get professional training for English language teaching as ministry in any country. This workshop, slated for Colorado Springs, demonstrates foundational principles, interactive methodologies and practical applications to improve your own teaching skills or so you can train your staff to teach English with quality and build program credibility. A new ESL/EFL Training DVD will be premiered and it’s ASCI accredited. Local transportation and host homes are available in some situations. Further details can be found at:

http://gemtefl-3.blogspot.com

or send an inquiry to gemtefl(at)gemtefl (dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address onto one line.]

IN SEARCH OF MATRIARCHAL PEOPLE GROUPS — One Brigada participant is looking for good mission resources that talk about how to reach matriarchal people groups? Got any leads? If so, log on to

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=47

Dave will appreciate it. And thanks for using Brigada!

PERSPECTIVES COURSES POPPING UP EVERYWHERE, LIKE JAX! — They’re about to start, all over the country. Like… suppose you live in Jacksonville, Florida. Youth With A Mission is hosting the course there. Recall that Perspectives is an internationally-respected 15-week study program developed by the U.S. Center for World Mission. Featuring an experienced speaker each week, you will cover topics such as the Biblical perspective on mission, the spread of Christianity in history, mission strategies, and the mission task remaining. Classes start on January 6, 2008. You can register online at

http://www.perspectives.org

Or in the case of JAX, just call 904-384-8400 or e-mail perspectivesjax(at)yahoo (dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address onto one line.]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! — We’re so grateful for those who keep the lights burning here! We’ve recently received these gifts:

  • $45 from Bridge Builder Ministries Int’l ! Thanks Doug!
  • $20 from a Brigada participant who started back in 1995!!!
  • $20 from a Brigada participant “down under”
  • $100 from a participant in Ukraine! Thank you!
  • $300 from WorldconneX Mission Network, www.worldconnex.org . Whoa.
  • $25 from Raleigh Personal Injury Lawyers, http://www.lawyernc.com
  • $25 from New York Mesothelioma Lawyer, http://www.mesotheliomahelp.net (And thanks to Mike at www.consultwebs.com for relaying their gifts!!!)
  • $25 from Mission Travel
  • $25 from Cayucos, CA
  • $50 from from a grateful mission leader in UK
  • $25 from a full-time missionary in Thailand who wrote, “I am blessed to be able to contribute to Brigada. I love Brigada and all the resources available through it. I pray that God will meet your needs above and beyond what you could ask or think.”
  • $100 from a participant in Worthing, West Sussex, UK
  • $25 from a friend in Blacksburg, VA
  • $25 from an encourager nearby in Jeffersonville, IN
  • $100 from a friend laboring in Thailand
  • $200 from a saint focusing on an unreached people group in Iran. (Please pray for Iran on their behalf.)
  • $30 from Magazine Training Int’l — http://www.magazinetraining.com/
  • $9.90 from ISA because Sidney & Eric bought insurance for their trip through them at http://www.missionaryhealth.net/brigada.htm
  • $200 from Westwood Baptist Church in Olympia, WA http://www.westwoodbaptist.com (Please give thanks for them today!)
  • $350 from Hebron Missionary Advocacy Fellowship http://road2hebron.jesusanswerscom Please visit their site. Thank you so much for your ministry!

    We’re sooooooooooooooooooooooo grateful to these partners! May God bless them in ways beyond belief!

MAKING PROGRESS; CAN YOU PUT US OVER THE TOP? — Whoa. In the last Brigada Today, we reported that we were hovering at $6,752.87 toward our 2007 budget needs of $17,150. Suddenly, we’re within reach! We now have $8,452.77. Just think… if your church or group, or if you as an individual were to have *any* contingency tithe money left… Would you consider investing in something that is mobilizing and resourcing for the unreached… since 1995? If you have ever found something in Brigada to by helpful… or if you’d like to underwrite Brigada for someone who lives in a faraway land who cannot send funds on his or her own, please just click on the “Donate” page.
We’ve made progress, but still need the following gifts to meet our needs…

  • 1 of 1 1000 1000 (1 gift of $1000)
  • 3 of 5 500 2500 (3 more gifts of $500)
  • 10 of 250 2500 (10 more gifts of $250)
  • 11 of 13 100 1300 (11 more gifts of $100)
  • 26 of 27 50 1350 (26 more gifts of $50)
  • 60 of 70 25 1750 (60 more gifts of $25)

You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major 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. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) 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. And thank you in advance for helping.

    • THE BACKPAGE: WHAT’S YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON BORROWING? — Our organization is about to commit to building a new Prayer Center & Atrium at our new campus called Emerald Hills. (You can read more, by the way, at

    http://www.emeraldhills.info

    So we’re about to commit to a construction loan. What’s your strategy & philosophy on all that? This is a roughly $700,000 project. We have cash and/or commitments in hand for about $350,000 of that amount. As for *our* board of directors, they like for us to have the “stream identified” before borrowing… and, in general, they advise us to only borrow up to the amount equal to what the stream could repay. Is your philosophy similar … or different? What scriptures play into your decision, when you’re tackling something big like this? (This is big to us at least. :-) ) Please stop by and drop a comment at…

    http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=48

    Thanks for sharing your approach.

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