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News and Notes about Brigada, Your Gateway to Missions Networking!
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In this issue….

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DOWN UNDER PRAYER FOR THE 100 GATEWAY CITIES

They’re at work in New Zealand, praying through the Window! Bob Hall wrote, “Thousands of the prayer pamphlets have been distributed (adult as well as children’s version), about 160 Light The Window videos have been sold and another 120 or so given away and about six boxes of the Gateway Cities books have been sold. … We have a national Christian radio station here in New Zealand, Radio Rhema. Each weekday morning I get to pray live for that day’s Gateway Cities… Later in the morning they also provide detailed information on each city for that day. There are lots of prayer groups, churches and Christian schools involved in this prayer programme here. … In faxing in for a copy of the CBN video one woman wrote: “Our church has really caught the vision after showing the Light The Window video. People are spontaneously praying and weeping for the cities after watching the video. People who never normally pray aloud are interceding with tears and earnest prayers. Praise the Lord!” Very encouraging. I shared that on air yesterday morning and then this morning was able to follow it up with the Singapore testimony from the most recent “Brigada Tonight” [ :-) ]. By the way, there are also some eight prayer teams or so from New Zealand going into Gateway Cities this month, including a team of 40 to Calcutta. Not bad for a nation of only 3.4 million!” (Thanks to Bob Hall b.hall@soci.canterbury.nz for that update!)
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AND THEY’RE PRAYING IN SCHOOLS!

“Great news regarding the response! I have distributed the 10/40 calendar to my 7th grade homeroom and to all the teachers in my school. We have 650+ students and 50 on our faculty. Our church is also participating in the prayer calendar. Praise God for the opportunity.” Thanks to Martha DiPalma at the Out-of-Door Academy Martha_DiPalma@ODA.edu.
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EATING THROUGH THE 100 GATEWAY CITIES

Thanks to John Hanna for this delicious idea: “Another possibility for your church to participate in the Praying Through the Window project: Eating the Food of the 100 Gateway Cities. (If you’re already planning Prayer-And-Fasting for the 100 Gateway Cities, I’m not sure you can use this strategy…)

Organize a small committee to divide up the restaurant listings in the phone book and call each ethnic food restaurant to see if they serve food like that of one of the 100 Gateway Cities. Many larger cities will have food specialties from a number of Chinese, East Asian (Thai, Cambodian…), Middle Eastern, and even African cities. (Believe it or not, Somali food is quite good and available in most major US cities.)

Then schedule a time to go out to eat, (lunch or dinner) at each of these restaurants, hopefully close to the day the city is scheduled in October. Post the schedule and a sign-up sheet in your church, and have the opportunity announced and listed in the church bulletin.

After eating, schedule a prayer time for the Gateway cities for that day.

Innovative restaurateurs will ask their host or waiter / waitress for cultural clues from the Gateway city!”
Thanks John!

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FROM THE “I WISH I COULD REMEMBER HOW TO SPELL PEOPLE’S NAMES” DEPT

Last week, we inadvertently (what does that mean… inadvertently… the truth is we blew it! :-) ) misspelled Midge Crossan’s name as Midge Crossman. Sorry Midge!!! Please gorfive us… I mean forgive us! :-)
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WEB PAGES AND OTHER STUFF YA GOTTA’ HAVE

Want news from Turkey? You can get it in Turkish or English by emailing trh@netcom.com and asking for it. It’s free.

Or for Asmara, send email to listserver@relay.doit.wisc.edu with only the line
subscribe eritrea-l your_name
in the body of your message (thanks to Greg Slade camsoc@xc.org).

Maybe you’ve got a hankering for Azerbaijani info? Try http://www.tcp.co.uk/~partners

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“JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS COOL TAPE” DEPT.

Here’s a tape that should be available starting Monday, called, “Make a Difference: Mobilizing Your Church to New Mission Vision.” Sounds great and judging from the stuff Proclamedia has put out before, it should be great. We’ve already ordered ours by calling 719-380-0505. Also you can call 800-426-1342 to be put in “The Loop” from Intercristo, Berry Publications, World Christian, and others. Apparently this is some kind of communication loop for missions mobilization announcements and resources, especially as they relate to placement and vision. We saw it in a brochure from Bill and Amy Stearns regarding their “What’s After October?” Seminar mentioned below.
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WANNA COME TO CINCINNATI?

Now’s the time! Bill and Amy Stearns are doing a “What’s After October?” Seminar that they’ve been cooking up for quite some time. It’s finally here! … in Cincinnati, Oct. 21. Save your pennies because the cost is a whoppin’ (are you ready for this?) $10! I love it! These “wanna-get-rich” seminar leaders host these one-day deals for $95 or more… and along come Bill and Amy and Faith Bible Church and say, … “Well…., is $10 too much?” I love it. Folks, this is a great model for the rest of us. Let’s keep our stuff affordable where possible. For information, call the host: Faith Bible Church. 513-489-1114.
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TAX TIPS FOR MISSIONARIES

This past week, we were referred to the “Weber Case” from this past summer, still being ruled upon, but apparently already affecting certain Christian missions. I called with fear and trembling to the EFMA headquarters and asked for someone who might be able to help me figure out its impact for our own mission, Team Expansion. They referred me to Capin Crouse (Indianapolis, IN, Tel: 317-882-1514, email: rebourne@aol.com) and sure enough, those guys were on the ball. They’re specialists in helping non-profits like mission organizations with tax and accounting problems and opportunities. Bottom line? John Butler there said, “Generally, it [(The Weber Case)] should not affect most mission organizations, since in our experience most ordained missionaries are reported on Form W-2. Their reporting obligation will not be affected. Mission organizations which report compensation to ordained missionaries on Form 1099, however, should be concerned. The reasoning in the court’s decision will make it harder to use Form 1099 for most missionaries, and ministers of churches.” So there you have it folks. If your mission agency or organization is using 1099s at the end of the tax year, better run… not walk… to Capin Crouse for advice. By the way, those guys feed their families from the money they get from people in our situations who ask them questions and depend on them for answers. Expect to pay just a tad for tax help. :-)
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FUNNY STORIES YA GOTTA READ

(And I promise… no references to anyone of color here! :-) ) Thanks to David Nesmith dmis@gmi.org for forwarding the hilarious story about the last person on earth without Windows 95. You’re going to roll in the floor. I just read it this morning and I sat here in my upstairs trying to keep from waking up the whole family with my belly laughs! Send email to hub@xc.org with only the following line:
get brigada last-without-windows95
Warning:” all=”” kinds=”” endorphins=”” (or=”” whatever=”” those=”” babies=”” are=”” called)=”” will=”” produced=”” when=”” laugh!=”” you=”” ll=”” be=”” lots=”” more=”” fun=”” rest=”” of=”” the=”” day.=”” align=”bottom”>
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THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL GLIMPSE

Algerian ethnic Berbers are coming to Christ through dreams, visions, and God’s Word. “One of my friends died in a traffic accident. The next night, I dreamed that we drove to a bright gleaming city. Later, on guard duty in the desert, a white bird flew by and hovered over me, watching me. I had never seen anything like it. Later, in Switzerland, I saw a picture of that bird in a Christian bookshop – it was the Holy Spirit. Then when I saw a video about the heavenly Jerusalem, I was amazed to recognize the city which I saw in my dream about my dead friend!”
Source: DAWN Europa FRIDAYFax, October 13th, 1995, quoting Ahmed Ait Ben Youcef, in: Basileia Zeitung (Basileia Magazine), Oct. 1995.)
John Hanna,
Caleb Project, Littleton, CO
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SIL CONFERENCE IN PUERTO RICO OPENS TODAY!

Thanks to representatives from the Summer Institute of Linguistics, we’ll see hispanics more involved in Bible translation. They start a two-week conference today in Puerto Rico to determine interest in missions and, more specifically, Bible translation. In fact, they’re hoping to establish “an actual organization and training program for future Hispanic Bible translators/missionaries.” Got a Spanish-speaking person interested… or maybe you are one? Write Adelmo Ruiz adelmo.ruiz@sil.org or George Huttar george.huttar@sil-org for more info. Thanks guys.
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WANT TO BUY A SMALL COUNTRY?

Apparently the Muslim world does. Read all about it in the The Malawi Times, 6/9/93, p.1. Apparently, the Kuwaiti government has pledged to grant $640 million to basically buy Malawi! Christian Resource Ministries, headquartered in Malawi, is sending out copies of the article, asking people to pray. There are reportedly two conditions: A. The Malawi government should declare itself a Muslim state, and B. Arabs should be allowed to open and run most businesses in the country, and enable free (immigration). [Note from Doug: Hey, I don’t make this stuff up; I just report it! :-) And after all, ever hear the word, “Crusades”? It was everything you’re reading about here without the money, except I guess we were the guys taking over.] According to the article, apparently, “…the controversial point arises on how the government will be Islamicized. Cabinet ministers and democratically-elected members of Parliament are the ones shouldering the (burden) of how to convince the entire nation, comprised of different denominations, to surrender the country to Muslim domination.” Would someone write these people and find out if this is legit’? Where can we find this Malawi newspaper on the INTERNET? First one there gets a share in a downtown restaurant, . . . as long as you’re Muslim. (Thanks to Chris Hart 102365.735@compuserve.com for the forward.)
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FROM “THE HONEYMOON’S OVER” DEPT., UZBEKISTAN

Open Doors reports that a law has been passed to block the distribution of Christian literature. Elements of the law:
  1. all literature must be checked by the KGB before it can be imported;
  2. religious material printed in Uzbekistan must have the permission of the Uzbek Muslim Council;
  3. foreigners carrying anti-Islamic literature can be expelled.

Open Doors associates are advising them not to import any more Christian literature, since all containers are being thoroughly checked by customs. Evangelism is now forbidden; Christians may not rent public buildings. Congregations may not register officially. The church is free to hold services inside a church building, but all other activities are forbidden. Local Christians believe all foreigners will be gone within a few years; Open Doors work will have to go underground. (Thanks to Justin Long at JDavidLong@AOL.COM for this note in his MissionWatch Report.)

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“ADVANCE” RETREAT

If you downloaded and archived the October “Advance“, you might want to get it one more time… since Mark has done a correction in the blip about Mongolia. Once again, that’s email to hub@xc.org with only this line:
get brigada advance.9510

Also, sorry that we had added in an extra “e” in Mark Kelly’s name! :-)

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KNOW ANY VENEZUELAN BELIEVERS?

If so, Rafael would like to meet them: KRZI14@CPVOP3.pdv.com. He’s eager to start a Brigada conference among Venezuelans.
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ONE MORE FOLLOW-UP ON “SEEKING SIKHS”

Thanks to Michael Fast from the great nation of Canada, who wrote, “Sorry about that but I think it is only Americans who pronounce Sikh like “sick.” The rest of the world, including us up here in Vancouver, which is the second largest Sikh city in the World, pronounce it as you first thought-“seek.” Just to let you know your joke did work out after all!!” Thanks Michael! :-)
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GOT AN OPPORTUNITY? WANT AN OPPORTUNITY?

Join Brigada-job-shop. And by the way, they don’t all have to be “salaried” jobs! The conference is featuring volunteer and mission opportunities too.

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Have a great week!

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subscribe brigada

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