20011125 Brigada Today

In this issue….

IN MEMORY OF BOB & PATTI MAYHEW, OUR WEB VOLUNTEERS

This past week saw the passing of a great couple for Christ, Bob & Patti Mayhew, both 52 years old. Bob had previously served as a professor at the University of California’s Riverside campus, where he was responsible for PC support for Academic Computing in the Computing & Communications department. Over the years, Bob had developed some *great* tools in Perl that gradually helped him transfer hundreds and hundreds of pages of Brigada issues into HTML language for the web. Patti was quite an artist in her own right. (The logo used for Brigada Today at brigada.org was her creation.) Their tragic deaths this past week, within minutes of one another, signals a great loss for the entire Brigada family. Here was a duo who worked without pay since August 18, 1995 (ever since Brigada participant Paul Lay had recommended them to the job — Thanks Paul)! Here was a married couple totally sold out to missions. Bob had entertained long-term visions of serving some Islamic community in a future era of his life. On behalf of the entire Brigada family, we’ve sent flowers to the memorial service taking place on this very day, Nov. 30th, at a church in Riverside, CA. On an enclosed card, we wrote a message thanking Bob & Patti’s 2 surviving (adult) children for their parents’ incredible and selfless service record, signed by the “Nearly 10,000 members of the Brigada online family.”

IN HONOR OF BOB & PATTI, THE MAYHEW MEMORIAL FUND

In honor of Bob & Patti, Team Expansion has set up a special trust — the Mayhew Memorial Fund — with the proceeds to be used to specifically underwrite the expenses of the Brigada website and email network. (Team Expansion is a non-profit, 501(c)3 incorporation, so for those in the USA, contributions are tax-deductible.) At Bob’s request, we had always kept it a secret that Bob had funded most of Brigada’s expenses since about 1998. He never wanted any attention. In fact, in most cases, he refused to even publicize or even mention his own name on the website. So it seems somehow fitting that a gift in his name would continue the legacy for which he invested so much of himself, his time, and his treasure. Contributions in Bob & Patti’s name can be sent to: Mayhew Memorial Fund, 3700 Hopewell Rd., Louisville, KY 40299. Please make the check payable to Team Expansion and write “Mayhew Memorial Fund” in the memo line. A tax-deductible receipt will be sent to USA donors and all others will be sent a thank-you note via email (please don’t forget to provide yours). Those wishing to use the web can go to
https://brigada.org/sponsor.html and click on the “Donate” link at the bottom of the page to make a donation using a credit card or from a PayPal account. (If for some reason the Brigada site drops out during this transitional period, you could also use the “Donate” link at:
http://www.teamexpansion.org , on the righthand side of the page.)
Please be sure to mention in the “Special Instructions” box that the gift is for the Mayhew Memorial Fund. In addition, please make a note regarding how you’d like your name to be shown on the sponsors page. If you’d like the gift to be anonymous, just mark it as such. Note that it might take us a while to figure out Bob’s system to update everything. Thanks for your patience as we get it going again. Thanks in advance to any who feel led to contribute.

BRIGADA WEBSITE RUNNING SILENTLY, WITHOUT ITS HELMSMAN

So, if I can speak candidly for a moment, it’s kind of strange today for me to visit www.brigada.org . Really, truth be known, that’s Bob’s site, not Brigada’s. It’s hard for me to put into words what I feel as I click there… the way the web pages still obediently pop up, one after another, running silently, just as if Bob is somehow in the background, serving them personally. To me, it’s almost haunting. It probably sounds corny, but I can’t help but think of some kind of old mystery movie, where the wheel of an old ship has been tied, with the sails set so the bow heads into the wind. The helmsman is missing, having deserted his post for the time being. But the ship sails on into the dark. Those hundreds and hundreds of files, representing hundreds and hundreds of late nights, stand today as his legacy. May God bless his grown daughter, son-in-law, and son. May He raise up others like Bob & Patti for the challenges of tomorrow… and may Bob’s name ever be remembered as synonymous with selfless servanthood and extreme endurance.

Our tribute today isn’t just to Bob & Patti, it’s to all those like the Mayhews, who serve daily in silent ministry for the good of the Kingdom, in hopes that unreached peoples everywhere can one day know Christ as King! To all those servants, we offer thanks . . . and hopes for God’s richest blessings. …

SOME ARE RECEIVING 10 INFECTED EMAILS PER DAY

And I’m one of them. Believe it or not, there are some who are receiving literally 10 infected emails per day these days (i.e., over the past week). Most are due to incredibly virulent forms of w32.badtrans.b@mm.html . Read the full security alert on this one at:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/ (click on the “Security Alert” for the badtrans virus). How does one avoid getting badtrans? You guessed it: Don’t click on the file attachment, make sure your virus definitions are up to date, and finally, make sure you’ve disabled Outlook’s tendency to automatically execute macros and visual basic scripts. The trojan worm attachment will typically have file names that look like:
CARD.Doc.pif or NEWS_DOC.mp3.scr. But the virus (or more properly, the worm) randomly chooses these file names from a list including names like “PICS, IMAGES, README, New_Napster_Site, NEWS_DOC, HAMSTER, YOU_ARE_FAT!, SEARCHURL, SETUP, CARD, ME_NUDE, Sorry_about_yesterday, S3MSONG, DOCS, HUMOR, and FUN.” The trick is… the final extension for the entire file name will *always* end in “pif” or “scr”. For the benefit of all your friends on the Net, *please* make sure your virus definitions are up to date and don’t click on any attachments ending in those extensions. Thanks!

LET’S START TALKING

Have you heard of the ministry “Let’s Start Talking”? It’s a very specific form of TESL… Check it out at:
http://www.lst.org or call +1-817-684-7LST or write <lst@lst.org>

IF YOU UPGRADE TO XP, TRY POWERTOYS

Over the years, many of us have come to appreciate “Powertoys”, a collection of helpful (but officially unsupported) programs from the hands of Microsoft employees to wring the most out of the Windows operating system. Now, if you’ve upgraded to Windows XP, there’s a new set of powertoys to help. Check ’em out at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/downloads/powertoys.asp

GOT CREATIVE FINANCIAL STRATEGY EXAMPLES?

Don in Colorado Springs is doing some research for a project dealing with creative strategic use of finances for kingdom work. If you know of any great examples of how people are defying the cultural norm of spending their resources on themselves and freeing up those finances for missions, please pass them along! Of particular interest would be people who have learned to live off 50% or less of their income, channeling the other 50% or more towards unreached peoples, OR people who have strategically invested for the express purpose of using the extra income for missions. In one example, two families decided to live together in a large house, sharing expenses, and freeing up thousands per year which they channeled towards the kingdom. If you know of other examples, please pass them to Don at <niemyer@aol.com>. Once his report is completed he’ll send it in and we’ll make it available for all of us via an autoresponder.

LIFE DIRECTION WEEKENDS

Operation Mobilization is offering US residents a Life Direction Weekend where participants look at their gifts and talents and how they can use them. The weekends help give clarity and vision about how individuals fit into the bigger picture of God’s plan. Plus, through a personality profile and gifts study, participants will better understand who God made them to be.

OUT OF MORMONISM: A WOMAN’S TRUE STORY

Honest and eye-opening, OUT OF MORMONISM takes readers where few will ever see–behind the doors of the Mormon church and into the lives of a family seeking to leave. Part apologetic and part autobiography, the book begins with an explanation of how author Judy Robertson and her family were drawn into Mormonism, how they were constantly lived a life that never quite measured up even though they were “temple-worthy Mormons,” and how they finally found their freedom. OUT OF MORMONISM also compares Mormon beliefs with biblical truths. A great resource for those participating in the Salt Lake City Olympic Outreach in February 2002. Plus you can now get special rates for ministries! For orders: 1-800-328-6109 (int’l: 1-952-829-2500) or email <cs@bethanyhouse.com> More information at http://www.BethanyHouse.com .

NEW BOOK ON ISLAM

Don McCurry has recently completed a new book on ministry to Muslims, _Healing the Broken Family of Abraham: New Life for Muslims_. It explores the roots of Islam through the family of Abraham, historical and cultural aspects of Islam, and effective ministry help. The book is available by contacting +1-800-447-4147 or +1-719-597-0609 or look for it at http://www.isionline.org . The retail price is $15.00 plus shipping.

GOOD PRICES ON BOOKS FOR/ABOUT MISSIONARIES

This online bookstore has a niche for missions books, mission biographies, Webster’s 1828 Dictionary (best price on web), Patch the Pirate story/song adventures for children, and many other books and gifts. (They accept credit cards and PayPal and ship anywhere in the world.) (Now through Dec 4th, use coupon code “4SALE” and save $4 on shipping.) The site is
http://www.baptist-books.com or email .bookheaven@lvbaptist.org>

LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL TRAINING FOR MISSIONARIES

MissionPrep (Toronto, Canada) has a course coming on February 10,2002. For a detailed overview of this and other seminars email Robert <micanada@interlog.com> or call him in Canada at 416-284-5645.</micanada@interlog.com>

LOOKING FOR GOOD CHRISTIAN VIDEOS?

Try GospelDirect.com . They’ve got tons.

SEND YOUR KIDS TO THIS BIBLE STUDY WEBSITE

Here’s a site that makes the web worth it for kids. Check out
http://www.childrensbiblestudy.com . See the animations galore and the dozens of free games and puzzles.

ANNOUNCING PERSPECTIVES ON THE WORLD OF ISLAM

A semester-long course patterned after Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, is now being offered in seven cities: Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Columbia, SC; Houston, TX; Philadelphia, PA; Raleigh, NC; Washington DC. Classes begin in January (Registration deadline for January classes are in mid-January.) or March 2002, depending on location. The course seeks to give a working knowledge of the Islamic faith and an understanding of how to reach Muslims with the Christian message. To find out specifics on class times, locations and more please visit our website at http://www.PerspectivesOnIslam.org or email <info@perspectivesonislam.org> .</info@perspectivesonislam.org>

MINI-PERSPECTIVES COURSE AVAILABLE ON-LINE

The 2nd edition of the Path to God’s Glory “mini-Perspectives” Bible-study is now available on-line! You can check it out at http://www.pathtogodsglory.org . This study highlights the main points of the Perspectives material and has been used in over 40 countries to mobilize Christians to join God in His plan to bless all nations. This study can be used as either a 4 or 8-week study with individuals, small groups, Sunday school classes, short term and missions training teams. For more information contact the study’s author, Joe, at <info@pathtogodsglory.org>.</info@pathtogodsglory.org>

NORTH KOREA INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

The World Center for North Korea Missions is releasing their long-awaited Investigative Report. This 10-part series features written testimonies as well as audio and video of North Korean refugees and mission workers. Receive the report by email by visiting http://www.nkmissions.com/world_network/ or for more info email .wnetwork@nkmissions.com>