In this issue…
1. TENTMAKING COURSES – WHEN DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY
2. NEED TO POST PICTURES ON THE WEB? TRY THIS NEW SITE
3. TEACH SWEDISH, GERMAN, OR ENGLISH TO THAI TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
4. “STORIES FROM ACTS” IN EASYENGLISH (LEARNING DISABLED)
5. CAT & DOG THEOLOGY SEMINAR NOW ON DVD
6. INTERNET EVANGELISM – IT’S ALL HAPPENING IN APRIL
7. WAITING FOR THE GOOD NEWS: THE NAMA/DAMARA OF NAMIBIA
8. GET SYNERGY NEWSLETTER FREE
9. SCHOOL OF FRONTIERS MISSIONS IN BEAUTIFUL FLORIDA
10. CHURCH BUILDERS AS A VOLUNTEER MINISTRY?
11. NEED AN UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP?? TRY THE AZERBAIJANI
12. URGENT NEED FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
13. THE BACK PAGE: “GET A LIFE!”
14. CLOSING STUFF
Click here to skip to the next Brigada Today (Apr. 15th)
1. TENTMAKING COURSES – WHEN DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY — When people interested in tentmaker training start flying halfway around the world to get this 4.5 day training, the only solution is to add more courses. Easier said than done with limited resources of two small agencies working together called GLOBAL Opportunities and TENT of Norway. With a very short lead time, a new course has just been launched for Victoria BC Canada, and already it is more than half full. The TENTmaking course in Norway (in English) geared toward Europeans, but all are welcome, is taking place 4-8 May, 2005. The course in Victoria takes place 29 Jun – 3 July, 2005. Register soon, space is limited. For more info visit their websites http://www.tent.no/arrangement and http://www.globalopps.org Email Ari at arirocklin(at)globalopps(dot)org if you do not have web access. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
2. NEED TO POST PICTURES ON THE WEB? TRY THIS NEW SITE — Thanks to Scott for tipping us off to http://www.imageevent.com/ Scott writes, ” All you have to do to post the photos is to email them to the site and they will be posted in your ‘inbox’. From there you can create albums and you can directly email them to people or add them to a website. You can make hidden albums or password protected albums for those concerned with security. We’ve been using it for the past couple of weeks and we’ve been pleased. You can start using it for free and then if you want all the bells and whistles you just have to pay about $25 for a year which we did.” (Thanks for the tip, Scott!)
3. TEACH SWEDISH, GERMAN, OR ENGLISH TO THAI TSUNAMI SURVIVORS — Step Ahead Microenterprise Development (YWAM Relief & Development) is opening a Mult-faceted Training Center in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, Thailand as part of the Economic Development initiative of “We Love Thailand”, a united response of the love of God after the Tsunami.
If you’d like to serve by teaching your language to Tsunami survivors in Thailand contact : info(at)stepaheadmed(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
To learn more visit http://www.stepaheadmed.org and http://www.welovethailand.in.th
4. “STORIES FROM ACTS” IN EASYENGLISH (LEARNING DISABLED) — These may be downloaded from http://www.easyenglish.info Just click on AEE. See other Accessible EasyEnglish materials on this site too; together with commentaries and Bible texts for a wide range of readers. More information available from martin(at)easyenglish(dot)info
5. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] CAT & DOG THEOLOGY SEMINAR NOW ON DVD — ACMC/UnveilinGlory speakers have been presenting Cat & Dog Theology seminars around the world with amazing results. Many tell of being set free from self-centeredness to a new or renewed devotion to living for God’s glory and seeing that glory proclaimed among all peoples. Now individuals, families, youth groups, cell groups, Sunday School classes, and entire congregations can experience these same life-changing presentations on DVD! To learn more, read great testimonials, or purchase a set (at 60% discount!), contact Dave Imboden at: dave(at)acmcsouthwest(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
6. INTERNET EVANGELISM – IT’S ALL HAPPENING IN APRIL — This month sees three significant web evangelism initiatives, all of them keys to cross-cultural evangelism. The 21st Century web evangelism conference at Liberty University is being webcast, so you can watch all the sessions in the coming months, for a modest 20 US dollars: http://ie-21stcentury.com On 11 April, the next 12-week session of distance learning Cybermissions training starts. Cover a detailed and highly-praised curriculum from your own home: http://www.cybermissions.org/training And 24 April sees the first Internet Evangelism Day – an awareness day with downloadable resources (PowerPoint, drama, video clips etc) so that any church or mission group can build a customized program or seminar: http://www.InternetEvangelismDay.com (Thanks Tony!)
7. WAITING FOR THE GOOD NEWS: THE NAMA/DAMARA OF NAMIBIA — This small town is made up of a guesthouse, general store and petrol station. It is 100k in any direction to the next settlement and at the intersection of two sand and gravel roads. Turning at this intersection, two believers saw several people sitting under a tree. Six of the seven Nama men and women were here visiting from another farm. The two believers asked if they could talk to them. They were all eager to talk! The believers shared the Gospel and all seven prayed to receive Christ as their personal Saviour! Right here, in the middle of nowhere, God had seven people together waiting for these believers to come and tell them about Jesus! Pray for the Lord to build prayer support and call out missionaries for the Nama/Damara, an unengaged people. To adopt the Nama/Damara people for prayer or for more information, visit http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email swacsc(at)iafrica(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
8. GET SYNERGY NEWSLETTER FREE — Signing up for Synergy Newsletter, the free missions newsletter, supplies you with a toolkit for mobilizing people in your church. Recent tools you can access now, include: “Short Term Team Follow up Kit”; “Mobilizing your church on behalf of the persecuted church”, a “Missionary Assessment and Preparation” tool; a way to “Map your church’s DNA”, and great ideas for “Choosing a Strategic Focus.” Subscribe to the FREE newsletter by visiting the DualReach web site http://wwww.dualreach.org or by writing bruce(at)dualreach(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
9. SCHOOL OF FRONTIERS MISSIONS IN BEAUTIFUL FLORIDA — The SOFM is an intensive Christian training course beginning with a 12-week lecture/teaching phase followed with an overseas internship in the 10/40 window. The purpose of the SOFM is to give students essential principles and tools needed to start long-term effective church planting movements among unreached people groups. Some of the topics: Principles of church planting among unreached peoples groups, The Power of Team Leadership, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries, Chronological Bible Presentation, History of Missions and much more. The next School starts in July 24thth. For more information contact Jose or Elizabeth at ywamjaxsofm(at)yahoo(dot)com or call (904) 221-5990 [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]. You can also check http://www.ywamjax.com
10. CHURCH BUILDERS AS A VOLUNTEER MINISTRY? — Here’s a Brigada participant compiling a list of church-building groups who donate (or partially donate) labor and/or materials for start-up ministries. If you’re one of those, please write Matt mjbenj777(at)netzero(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] He’ll compile the list. We’ll ask him to send us the compilation and will report it later here… but you’re welcome to write him directly and ask him for a copy too. Thanks Matt… and good luck!
11. NEED AN UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP?? TRY THE AZERBAIJANI — The Azerbaijani Partnerships-N.American Forum will be held May 19-21st, 2005, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa OK. This growing network consists of agencies and a wide variety of church denominations. They exist to bring the gospel to Azerbaijanis worldwide, form indigenous churches, and provide a convening place for local and expatriate workers to come together in collaborative partnerships that will further those aims. This meeting will provide vital information for church’s or agency’s entry to ministry among the Azerbaijanis. Strategies, cultural information, reports from the field, and advances in the ministry will be shared at the meeting. Please contact Mary Ann, 918.392.1117 or masmith(at)asburytulsa(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or register online at http:www.cefc.com/missions/azericonsultaton.html .
12. URGENT NEED FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS — Nations Light http:/www.nationslight.org is pulling together a short-term medical care trip for Sri Lanka, May 26-June 10, 2005, for 2 health care teams of 6-8 each to serve the continuing needs of the tsunami victims. Each team will have 2 dentists who will only remove painful teeth. Our teams will also dispense reading glasses. There is need of eye care specialists, pediatricians, dermatologists, internists, ER and family practice MDs. They already have 2 RNs committed and can use P.A.s and paramedics. They’ll be working in the Northeast Tamil areas. Since the disaster, there has been a cease fire in the civil war and these previously closed areas are open. Another team will do follow-up for those with spiritual questions. Team members may stay longer if they desire. For more information, contact Randy drpoe(at)mcsi(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or call 541-673-3233(office)
13. THE BACK PAGE: “GET A LIFE!” — What do you do for a diversion? In our first year in cross-cultural missions, my wife and I took off for downtown each Wednesday afternoon. We visited a special library with English magazines, took in a movie, then went out for supper together. Nowadays, years later, among other things, I like soccer. In fact, in the 14’x27′ mini-arena the boys and I built downstairs (complete with netting, turf, dasherboards and goals!), I probably play 2 or 3 nights per week with the boys, plus I play in an adult “over-30” league as well (in a slightly bigger arena, needless to say).
But I also love trees and the outdoors. I know, … call me a tree- hugger… but it’s true. Last night I went out in the rain and planted 5 new seedlings Penny ordered for me. Something mystical about knowing I’m trying to take care of the earth God created.
Meanwhile, I’m learning to play soprano sax, reading about landscape architecture, wishing I had time to learn the names of all the constellations, learning to do CAD/CAM architectural drawings, selling unused stuff on eBay… and — a dozen other things on any given day.
These diversions give me great “fresh air” in between the day’s phone calls, emails, trips and meetings. I confess that half the time, I only sleep 4 hours or so at night, but that’s as much as anything due to the fact that I’m having too much fun reading the forums at ArborDay.com or reading about restoring natural prairies. (The other half, I catch up with 7 or 8 hours each night.) In summary – I’m having a ball in life… and I just dread having to close my eyes to go to sleep… because I keep thinking about all the fun things I could be doing next!
So what’s your diversion? What do you do for a sport, for exercise, or for a hobby? And can you think of at least a few things that pull you closer to family instead of taking you farther away?
My *hope* is that these types of diversions can keep us from “burning out.” Just talked to a former missionary today about that. After a number of years in a Southeast Asian land, he grew so burdened with his daily grind that he sunk into a kind of depression… and had to come back to the USA in a heap. Five years later, he’s still trying to fully recover. Needless to say, we want to try to avoid these kinds of returns whenever we can.
So… please… “get a life!” Find a hobby. Walk in the park with your kids. Start a weekly movie habit with your spouse or friends. Do *something* that involves a change of pace and fresh air. We’ll all be glad you did. You’ll last longer on the job, work harder while you’re at it, and have more fun every moment. And fun’s important… because it’s a jungle out there — so please take care.. and go have some fun! :-)
Doug
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