19980809 Brigada Today

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News and Notes about Brigada, Your Gateway to Missions Networking!
On the WorldWide Web, browse https://brigada.org or http://www.eGroups.com/list/brigada-today
Brigada Today is “the missionary helper newsletter!”
Compiled by Doug Lucas <DLucas@teamexpansion.org>, Louisville, KY
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In this issue….

HOW LONG SINCE YOU PLAYED BWANDA FUSA?

Probably too long, right? Now you can relive those childhood days when you used to play Bwanda Fusa all the time. [Not!]

Actually Bwanda Fusa is a new computer simulation available at Wycliffe Associates’ UK website http://www.globalnet.co.uk/~wa_uk/interactive/index.html featuring what a missionary with Wycliffe would have to go through in starting a ministry in Africa. What a great idea. Why didn’t I think of this. Best of all, it’s free! (Thanks Cam!)

WEB-WATCH: TAKE A VIRTUAL VACATION

Now you can. Check out http://www.corbis.com and get a close-up look at the world through the eyes of incredibly talented pro photographers. Some 1.3 million digitized images from Corbis’ 23 million choices! You can even order posters in sizes of your choice, or click to Microsoft Expedia to book the REAL version vacation. But traveling there on your laptop is all free, a brainchild of Bill Gates. This is what the future of e-commerce will look like!

THE RUMORS OF YOUR SECURITY BREACH…

Perhaps we spoke a little prematurely in last week’s item, “DO YOU USE OUTLOOK OR NETSCAPE FOR EMAIL?” One Microsoft tech explained to Brigada Today this past week that the security breach only affected those who were permanently attached to the Internet (not those using dial-up lines, presumably the majority of Brigada participants). In addition, this particular tech insisted that the user would HAVE to try to access the downloaded file (rather than simply be downloading it, as reported last week). Regardless of the exact nature of the problem, we still believe that if the patch is free (and it is), it makes sense to grab it, if for no other reason than the fact that you’ll be erring on the side of caution. (And thanks to Dan and Arlene for the forward!)

GET AN NIV FOR YOUR WINDOWS C/E PALM-SIZED PC

I just got mine this past weekend (for my Philips Nino). It’s GREAT. Although the “CEBible” is not searchable yet, at least now I don’t have to carry a Bible AND an organizer. Get the info. at http://www.slsoftware.com or write lloyd@slsoftware.com. Cost is something like $40. Very fast. Well worth it if you want to always “be prepared.”

BIBLE TRAINING CENTER

Bible Training Center for Pastors is a new, practical approach to the challenge of training and equipping pastors for the work of the ministry. Upon satisfactory completion of all course requirements, the student will receive a “Certificate of Completion”. BTCP accepts students from independent churches and from a wide range of denominations. Contact a BTCP program in your local area for further information and application forms or call, write, or FAX
Denton Bible Church Missions Office
1910 E. University
Denton TX. 76201
817-382-1823
e-mail: dbcmissions@compuserve.com.

GLOBAL GLIMPSE OF PROGRESS

There are more than 10 times as many Christians in Africa, Asia, and Latin America than there were at the turn of the century. The number of Christians there could top the one billion mark by the year 2000. In 1900 there were only 62,000 missionaries, while there are more than 400,000 working there now.
(Source: African theologian Roland Warner, August 11, 1998 Mission Network News: http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn).
(Global Glimpse is compiled each week by John Hanna, Caleb Project, Littleton, CO)

GET MISSION FRONTIERS FOR A SONG

Professors of Missions or Missions Chairmen, for a limited time, Rick and the gang at the US Center are offering bulk mailings of Mission Frontiers (the US Center’s theme missions publication) to your missions students and/or missions committee members. Just send a number to mission.frontiers@uscwm.org, along with your name, address, and role. The catch? None, . . . except that the magazines must be handed out personally (rather than simply laid out in a stack). You can even help students or members sign up for follow-on mailings of the publication after they leave campus. For more info, write Rick at mission.frontiers@uscwm.org. Thanks Rick!!!

WANTED: TOP NOTCH MISSION TRAINING CENTERS

Dale FISHVILLE@aol.com is desperately seeking mission training agencies or centers who have in-country training programs and centers for native missionary workers which are located in 10/40 WINDOW AREA. Know anybody? Write Dale and he’ll report back at a later date to Brigada.

CHINA ACTION SEMINAR FOR THOSE WANTING ACTION IN CHINA

The China Action Seminar will link you to some of the top in-China Ministry people in Phoenix on Thursday, August 27. Come for the day only, or stay for the Antioch Network Gathering of Churches, which starts that evening and goes through Sunday. Says organizer James Nickel, “We are extending the early registration discount to all registrations received by Friday, August 21.” Yahoo! For more details contact the Institute of Chinese Studies at 719-531-6489, jnickel@compuserve.com, or go to the Antioch Network web site http://www.antiochnetwork.org, click on 1998 Gathering and then China Seminar.

LYRIS INTERFACE TO ROLL OUT LATER THIS WEEK

MAFxc has announced a hold-up on the implementation of the new “Lyris” web-centered email face. There are still a few steps left to get it ready to go so it won’t be rolled out on the 17th as previously planned. (Later that week instead)

FROM THE RUSSIAN BIBLE SOFTWARE DEPT.

Are you STILL searching for a computerized Russian language Bible for your laptop? Search no more. Write sergej@mova.donetsk.ua and you might be able to put together a plan whereby you can distribute the “Russian Electronic Bible” for a royalty of $2.50 each to your organization or constituency. (Thanks for reminding us of this one, Grace!)

FARSI SUPERBOOK EXPANDED

The Persian (Farsi) Superbook series has just been expanded with 7 more tapes (13 additional Bible stories). Now the series includes Creation through The Life of Paul with a total of 13 tapes and 25 stories. Update your set or order them all. For further information and ordering, please contact
Persian World Outreach
PO Box 371161
Reseda CA 91337 Phone 818-349-3132 or
email 102367.1315@compuserve.com.

1998 MEDICAL MISSION CONFERENCE PROMISES BEST SLATE EVER

On November 6 – 7, 1998, the 3rd Annual Medical Mission Conference will be held in the main sanctuary of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. You will learn about the incredible opportunities that await you and exciting ways that you can apply your faith and medical skills to touch lives for eternity. For detailed information about the conference, contact the event Web Page at http://www.medicalmissions.com. The Friday evening Worship Service will feature David Thompson, a surgeon who is a career missionary in Gabon, West Africa, recently featured in the movie, Generation. “Regions of the World,” an exhibit hall where many different mission agencies present displays showing the countries of the World they serve and giving participants a chance to learn about their short-term mission trips, will be open Friday afternoon and evening as well as well as Saturday morning.

Saturday morning Plenary Session will include the following speakers: Dr. Duane Elmer, Professor at Wheaton College, will lecture on the purpose and goals of Short Term Mission (STM) trips. Dr. Muriel Elmer, International Health and Education Consultant, will lecture on public health issues involving STM trips. Dr. Christine Sine, author and lecturer from Seattle, Washington will lecture on the goals and obstacles of medical STM trips. Dr. & Mrs. David Thompson, career missionaries as a general surgeon and nurse in Gabon, West Africa, will end the morning Plenary Session discussing the goals and obstacles of being career missionaries. Lunch will be provided for attendees.

A total of 9 Breakout Sessions will be held in the afternoon with each of the morning speakers presenting an in-depth session on their individual specialty topics in the afternoon. Dr. Charles Kelley, Professor at Indiana School of Medicine, will present a typical day on a medicine ward in Kenya, East Africa. Dr. David Topazian, President of Project Med-Send, will discuss borrowing money for education yet staying ready for the mission field. Barbara Mascher, R.N. from San Francisco, California, will discuss cultural diversity and health care. Karen Hunt, R.N. and Tina Bruner will discuss how to raise finances for STM trips.

CME credits for physicians and CEU credits for nurses up to 5.5 hours will be available for taking this course. There is no registration fee for this course, but a love offering will be taken. All sessions will be professionally audiotaped at a cost of only $5.00 per audiocassette.

For more information or for a brochure concerning the conference, call Stephanie Garling, 502-451-5317, extension 4725. Out-of-towners who plan to book hotels are urged to do so as soon as possible because of another event scheduled in Louisville the same weekend.

ANOTHER SOURCE FOR THE HARD-TO-FIND NEW JOHNSTONE BOOK

Apparently WEC-USA just received a big shipment of the new Johnstone book, The Church is Bigger than you Think! However, they are not set up to process credit card orders. Therefore, for U.S. customers the procedure is as follows.

Send a check for $15.00 made out to “WEC.” This price includes postage within the US. Send the check with order to:
WEC Literature
P.O. Box 1707
Fort Washington, PA 19034-8707

For orders from Canada contact Dan Cover at Dan.cover@hwcn.org.

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BRIGADA TODAY IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FOLLOWING TEAM OF REGULAR VOLUNTEERS:

Global Glimpses: John Hanna, Caleb Project, jhanna@cproject.com
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