20010204 Brigada Today

In this issue….

NEW VIDEO FEATURES JOSHUA PROJECT 2000 “AFFINITY BLOCKS”

According to the Joshua Project 2000 all peoples on the unreached peoples list are represented within a dozen or so affinity blocs. This new video covers 12 affinity blocs and pictures the state of world evangelization at the end of the year 2000. A joint effort of the following agencies, AD 2000 and Beyond, Caleb Project, China Source, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, International Mission Board-SBC, IRRTV-Finland, Jan Karnis, Productions, Operation Mobilization, Presbyterian Church-USA and Procla-Media Productions this new resource covers the 12 affinity blocs in 5-6 minute segments. The peoples covered are: Arab World, Cushitic Peoples, Eurasian Peoples, Indo-Iranians of SW Asia, Indo-Iranians of South Asia, Jewish Peoples, Malay Peoples, Sinitic Peoples, Sub-Saharan Africa, Thai/Dai Peoples, Tibetan Peoples and Turkic Peoples. The cost is $19.95 plus shipping and tax if applicable. (20 % discount to any ministry). NTSC copies can be ordered from OM Literature at 800-733- 5907 or 770-554-5827. PAL copies can be ordered from OM USA at 800- 899-0432 or e-mail randy@usa.om.org.

NEW “HIS” DATABASE NEARLY READY FOR “PRIMETIME”

Have you heard about the new “Harvest Information System” (HIS) being birthed as a follow-up to AD2000 & Beyond’s data on unreached peoples? As it turns out, the HIS “Registry of Peoples” (ROP) list may well be one of the most complete lists of the world’s peoples publicly available. The People/Country table presently contains 16,391 records. By contrast, the new edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia contains 12,582 entries. As the HIS Peoples list has been built, the attempt has been made to err on the side of inclusiveness, not wanting any peoples to be inadvertently omitted. Stay tuned to future editions of Brigada Today for further developments on this project.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS NEED SHARPENING?

“Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills” will be offered April 22 – 27, 2001, for missionaries and church personnel in Idyllwild, CA. This interactive workshop is designed to increase your knowledge, attitudes and skills as you relate to family, co-workers, and those in other cultures. Topics covered include: Biblical Foundations, Loving Listening, Managing Conflicts Well, Building Trust, Managing Stress, Managing Grief, Being an Encourager. Tahquitz Pines Conference Center is the location. Register by March 22 for early fees – total in single room is $422 or shared room $352. If flying, Ontario airport is closest. Map and other details will be given after registration. Visit Mission Training International’s web site for details http://www.mti.org (see under “Workshops”) or contact them at Mintern@aol.com or tel. toll-free in the USA or via Net2Phone 800-896-3710 or 719-594-0687.

COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY EXTENSION IN BUDAPEST

Beginning this fall/winter, CIU is opening a Budapest Extension Center (BEC) as an extension of their graduate school in cooperation with Pioneers for those seeking to work on an accredited MA or MDiv with:

intensive one/two week modular courses up to 3 times each school year
up to 50% of non-residential course work in Budapest
a minimum of 50% of residential courses to be completed at CBS in Korntal, Germany or CIU in Columbia, South Carolina
significant tuition savings

This will be graduate level education taught by visiting professors from CIU for nationals and expats in Europe and the former Soviet Union. For more information, write ciu-bud@pioneers.org.

LEARN TO TEACH ENGLISH IN CHINA

Teach in China! A TESOL training school will be held at SIAS University in XinZheng City of Henan Province, China from June 1-July 14, 2001. The school is geared to train English teachers for placement at SIAS University or other Chinese Universities or for service almost anywhere in the world. The students will learn to live in China, love the people, eat their food, and speak some of their language. For more information, visit the corresponding site on the web at: http://www.tesoltraining.com or email tesol2001@hotmail.com.

ENGLISH TEACHERS FOR TAJIKISTAN, CENTRAL ASIA

Would you be interested in teaching English for 3-4 months in this needy post-Soviet country which is trying to rebuild its economy? You can also study Persian, Tajik or Russian language, and this short-term work will be set up by an ex-pat who’s been through the experience and understands the needs of a newcomer. Semesters run Feb-May and Sept-Dec (it’s not too late for this semester!). Accommodation and food provided. Salary $25-50 per month, depending on the number of hours taught. No qualifications required (only some patience and cultural flexibility), but experience of teaching English preferable, since you will have to design your own teaching program. Write to dhj-gen@iname.com or phone +992 372 336715.

TENTMAKERS CONFERENCE

The theme of the 4th TIE Congress has evolved to the TIE Asian Regional Conference. The congress starts March 18th thru the 22nd. The various staff of TIE will be facilitating the workshops. The registration fee of $240 includes transportation from the airport, meals and lodging at the Lumban Caliraya Re-Creation Center. For more information contact Ken tie@gati.wa.com or Joy pmamd@pacific.nst.ph.

TIE ASIAN CONGRESS IN MANILA

This year’s “TIE” congress is to take place in Manila, March 18 to 22 at the Caliraya Re-Creation Center south of the city. This is for practicing tentmakers and will concentrate on Asian operations, of training, the Information Technology Center at the Asia Center for World Missions and Business operations. There is a $25 non-refundable registration fee and a full board conference cost of $240. For more information contact Joy at pmamd@pacific.net.ph or tie@gati.wa.com.

CHURCH PLANTER’S SURVEY

Would you be willing to share your experiences so that other church planters can learn from you? According to its authors, this twenty-minute survey will help to identify the common characteristics of a successful church plant. If you’re interested, just send an email to leston@xsinet.co.za and he will gladly forward the survey to you. Thank you for your assistance!

Note: Brigada does not endorse this survey; we haven’t seen it.

SURFING WITH A MISSION

A “Surfers For Mission” team in Noosa Australia are committed to using surfing as a strategy for reaching the unreached. Targeting 10/40 window nations like Indonesia where the ‘mega unreached’ coincide with a prolific surfing industry this team hopes to harness the adventurous spirit of surfers for the unfinished task. Their next training school starts March 18th in Noosa. For more info contact Merv ywamnoosa@bigfoot.com or visit http://www.sfmi.net.

CYBER-EVANGELISM – IS IT EFFECTIVE?

A survey studying the effectiveness of Cyber Evangelism as part of a bible college course is being undertaken by Mick in the UK. If anyone is involved with cyber- evangelism, of whatever kind (web based, chat room, e-mail etc), then it would be a great help if you could complete a web-based questionnaire on the topic. The URL is: http://www.mleggett.uklinux.net/weq (the last letter is a lower case Q for questionnaire). The deadline for completions is 28th February, and the results will be posted back to the web in June/July 2001. Any participants will be emailed when the results are available. Further information is available from ieqhelp@mission-it.org.

THE BACKPAGE: MORE ON HOW GOOD TEAMS BECOME GREAT TEAMS

So far, in our series on how to good teams become great teams, we’ve covered these four key components:

A clear sense of purpose
Motivated team members
Determination
Gifted team members

Last week, after presenting the “gifted team members” item, we received an email from a prospective missionary who wrote:

“Sure, I know that I should wait until next week and see what you are going to offer as the ‘other issues’, but I can’t wait. I found what you wrote this week to be a little discouraging. I mean, I’m not all that gifted. I have my strengths, and I think God can use them somewhere, but I don’t come close to the kind of giftedness you describe. So, I don’t think I would qualify as a member of a great team… Maybe I should just stay home? Just for argument’s sake, of course. I love what you write, and getting Brigada each week! Keep it up!”

I replied… “I hear you, brother. Just remember… Suppose our “game” was basketball. The greatness of Michael Jordan would make us all want to stay home. I’m not suggesting that we hold out only for the ideal. But what I am saying is that as we not be satisfied with slouchy performance on something like, say, a skill issue… take language for instance. One of our workers is currently leaving for a field saying, “I can get by with the language level I already have.” I’m saying he should go to language school for six months first. Because I want him to shine. So… whatever it is you’re called to do, I’m saying become as skilled in it as you can. Work as hard at it as you can possibly work. Make sense? Did you know that, as a freshman, Michael Jordan didn’t make the cut on his high school basketball team? Needless to say, he practiced that entire year — probably harder than any senior did in the entire high school. By the way, as a sophomore, he made it. ”

More on “great teams” next week.
Doug

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