In this issue…
1. GOOGLE RELEASES “TALK” PRODUCT
2. CONSULTATION ON TURKEY
3. TRANSITION RESOURCE FOR MISSIONARIES
4. WAY-COOL WITNESSING TOOL FOR KIDS
5. MAYBE GOOGLE’S GMAIL IS KIND OF SECURE?
6. SHARE YOUR PAIN
7. PEOPLE RAISING CONFERENCE
8. IS EVANGELISM A FORM OF RELIGIOUS BIAS?
9. SHORT TERM OPPORTUNITY IN SRI LANKA
10. TESOL COURSE IN SE ASIA
11. MUSICAL CONCERT TEAM TO MAINLAND CHINA
12. ENCOURAGERS, PARTNERS, ENABLERS, FRIENDS
13. THE BACKPAGE: HOW TO COMBAT HURRICANE KATRINA
14. CLOSING STUFF
1. GOOGLE RELEASES “TALK” PRODUCT — Well the ‘talk of the town’ this past week was Google’s new product, “Google Talk”. It seems like everything Google touches turns to gold and Google Talk will likely follow suit. This free product allows you to email, IM, or “talk” via the microphone attached to your PC. You can use it with the neighbor across the street, or your missionary across the globe. To Google, it’s all the same. Try it today at: http://www.google.com/talk/ (Thanks for the first heads-up on this, Nick! :-) ) Note: You’ll need a Gmail account. Here’s another user offering free invites (Thanks Tina!) urbainti(at)msu(dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]
2. CONSULTATION ON TURKEY — It’s happening November 8-12, 2005 in Turkey, an every two- to three-year gathering of national leaders, ex- patriot workers and non-resident partners to consider critical and strategic partnership issues related to the work in Turkey. For more information or an Application to Attend (English, Turkish, Korean, Spanish versions available) write: GlobalConsult(at)intet(dot)org . Registration August 1-September 26.
3. TRANSITION RESOURCE FOR MISSIONARIES — “Leave Right/Enter Right” is a CD for those just starting their international assignment, or experienced sojourners relocating or repatriating back to their passport culture. Hosted by the late Dr. David Pollock, viewers are guided through one of the essential steps to successfully prepare for transition to their new destination. Here’s the best part of this new product: The CD is self-guided for individual, family or small team use. Complete with a 25-minute video, ideas for use and printable worksheets, anyone around world can have personal access to this very valuable resource! Order your copy ($25 US plus shipping) by calling 719-531-6181 or emailing office(at)interactionintl(dot)org Or visit http://www.interactionintl.org
4. WAY-COOL WITNESSING TOOL FOR KIDS — If you want a way-cool witnessing tool for your kids, or your church’s Harvest Festival as an alternative to Halloween’s ghoulish paint this October, check out the free wordless book-type temporary tattoos here. Mine lasted for nearly 2 weeks and I got to explain it to lots of people:
http://www.kidzplace.org/site/c.chJKJXOAJlH/b.475797/k.BE1A/Special_Pro motions.htm If you have trouble copying and pasting this long URL, just use this shorter “tinyurl” we produced at www.tinurl.com
http://tinyurl.com/amnq9 (Thanks Dorothea!)
5. MAYBE GOOGLE’S GMAIL IS KIND OF SECURE? — Because it uses POP3 with SSL security, maybe Google’s Gmail would do for semi-secure email. That was the thought this past week from Garry, a Brigada participant from Australia. Do you agree? He wrote, “Their web-based access is not secure, but it seems that POP3 access (for programs such as Outlook) uses this security. Some purists may not like the idea google automatically searches your email content for key words so that they may tailor sidebar advertisements to you, but nevertheless the magic word is “free”. To try it out, you may like to take up the previous offer from a subscriber for a free referral to get started. In summary: Google Gmail = Free SSL POP3 access, Free non-SSL Web-based access.”
6. SHARE YOUR PAIN — Okay, maybe it was just an “obstacle.” But how did God pull you through a very difficult problem as you pursued a ministry in missions? Nelson at The Finishers Project is working on a new book. The working subtitle is “Passages That Don’t Preach” since the book emphasizes those embarrassing verses about surrendering all, about the total Lordship of Christ, about not taking the easy way, about suffering. Your difficult experience might benefit thousands of others seeking a role in missions. Submit your story ideas at
http://www.Finishers.org/book
7. PEOPLE RAISING CONFERENCE — Attend the People Raising conference October 14-15. Move beyond the fear factor and raise more funds in half the time. Implement ten key habits for success. Network with other Christian leaders. Arm yourself with tools needed for effective fund raising. You can’t afford to miss this breakthrough 2-day conference. Ask for the $100 spouse discount. Tap into the more then 35 years of experience Bill Dillon brings to fund raising. Register by September 14th and receive the early bird special pricing. For more information or to register on-line go to http://www.peopleraising.com/conf_bas_oct2005.cfm or e-mail Bill(AT)PeopleRaising(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. IS EVANGELISM A FORM OF RELIGIOUS BIAS? — Some would answer yes. Jay Gary, who bills himself as a Christian “futurist”, wrote to us this past week, “As a futurist I’ve been tracking the future of evangelism in American public life, whether in the workplace, school or government. Three years ago most of my scan hits related evangelism with religious freedom. Now they frame evangelism as religious bias.” Read more from Jay on this topic at:
http://www.christianfutures.com/religious_bias.shtml
9. SHORT TERM OPPORTUNITY IN SRI LANKA — COMMIT Ministries is currently recruiting another short term ministry team to serve the needs of the Sri Lanka church in the aftermath of last year’s killer tsunami. They are looking for caring people of various skills and even unskilled folk to help construct an orphan home, medical clinic, church, and a large number of private homes in a very needy area just south of Batticaloa. The cost is $2885.00 per person and includes RT airfare from a US hub city, most meals, ground transportation, hotel and camp style lodging, materials related to the project, and debriefing in Bangkok. Trip dates are February 23 to March 9, 2006. For more information and to register for the team, please contact COMMIT Ministries at commit(at)pixi(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or consult their web site at http://www.commitministries.com If your church or mission organization would care to form their own team at some other time, please contact COMMIT about this right away. This project truly needs your help!
10. TESOL COURSE IN SE ASIA — YWAM and SEA English Academy are offering a TESOL course in Chiang Rai Thailand from October 3 through October 28. This is a four-week intensive course which includes a built-in practicum. Those who successfully complete the course will be equipped to go into the nations as an EFL/ESL instructor which opens doors in many otherwise closed nations. For information and/or an application, email chiangraitesol(at)gmail(dot)com. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Come and join an exciting team of pioneer-minded people and get ready to have opportunities to teach all over the world. Visit the following websites: http://www.ywamthai.org or: http://www.seaenglishacademy.com
11. MUSICAL CONCERT TEAM TO MAINLAND CHINA — COMMIT Ministries is currently recruiting another short term ministry team to present concerts to public schools and churches in Mainland China. This is an invitation for praise bands, folk artists, professional recording artists, non professional types, soloists, dancers, puppeteers, celebrity impersonators, etc, to offer their collective gift of the arts as part of a cultural exchange. The Chinese government has provided this invitation to COMMIT Ministries yet again because of the successful concert tour earlier this year. The cost is $2685.00 per person and includes RT airfare from a US hub city, most meals, ground and air transportation in China, hotel lodging, and debriefing costs in Guangzhou. Trip dates are October 10-24 2005 and another trip is planned for March 29 to April 11, 2006. For more information and to register for the team, please contact COMMIT Ministries at commit(at)pixi(dot)com or consult their web site at http://www.commitministries.com
12. ENCOURAGERS, PARTNERS, ENABLERS, FRIENDS — That’s what our sponsors and supporters mean to Brigada! Since we last reported, we’ve rec’d $115 from Wilcannia River of Life church in New South Wales, Australia. http://www.wilcanniariveroflife.com Wilcannia is Advancing Aboriginal Australia through the Gospel of Christ. In addition, an anonymous missionary with GEM, who does TEFL outreach throughout Europe, sent $100! A worker in Switzerland sent $50, with this note: “I and countless others are blessed by your meticulous research and networking. Continue your excellent work.” Whoa. [blush] Again, thanks for the encouragement. We also rec’d $25 with a “Thank you from an anonymous Wycliffe member who especially likes any news about children and missions!” Another worker sent $100, saying, “I’ve been reading Brigada for a while and thought I finally ought to send you something as a small expression of my appreciation. Thanks for your work!” Whoa. One additional Brigada participant wrote, “My only daughter is a Missionary to South Africa. I cannot tell you how many times, Brigada came through with just the right information just at the right time. The LORD truly uses your ministry. Thank you. God bless you.” She enclosed a gift of $50, as did another anonymous giver whose gift meant so much. That brings our 2005 total giving to $7,464.18, still quite a bit short of our goal of $16,576 for the year. These funds encourage Brigada by undergirding costs like webspace, secretarial help, and a small amount of advertising and promotion to help get the message out about Brigada’s resources. How many other ministries do you know of with an annual budget of under $20,000? Do they involve 10,000+ people like Brigada? Want to turbo-charge Brigada this week? To chip in or make a substantial donation, just click “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or just send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous.
13. THE BACKPAGE: HOW TO COMBAT HURRICANE KATRINA — What goes through your mind when a portion of the world experiences pain? As I write this Brigada Today, I’m watching news coverage of Hurricane Katrina as it strikes the Gulf of Mexico shoreline here in the USA. I can almost *feel* the devastation in my bones. My heart goes out to those who are hurting — as well as those who are about to hurt. I’m thankful for the advance notice that allowed 1 million to flee the coast, but my heart goes out to the 1/3 million that couldn’t, for one reason or another.
But what a powerful force we have in the form of prayer. Wherever you live, whatever your situation, you can lift up an area like the Gulf and, for example, pray for those who didn’t have a chance to leave because they didn’t have anywhere to go… nor the funds to pay for hotels or travel. Give thanks for that advance notice given to residents and pray for those still reeling from events like the tsunami in the Indian Ocean where little communication was possible in advance. Ask the Lord to prepare the disaster relief organizations and personnel. Gather your church or small group and go to the throne room of Heaven for strategic intersession on behalf of those who otherwise might lose businesses, homes, precious belongings, and maybe even their very lives. Read more about prayer and its effects, prerequisites, and possibilities at pages like… http://en.bibleinfo.com/topics/topic.html?id=223 [Note: Next issue’s “BackPage” will be focused on helping you plan a personal spiritual retreat. Our goal is to provide something very tangible, practical, and specific for those who would like to get away for a one- or two-day personal retreat. (Even Jesus went to a mountain, alone, to pray.) If you have ideas or specific resources that might help others, please jot a note to this email address: brigada-feedback(at)googlegroups(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] By default, we won’t publish your address. If you’d like folks to see it, however, please mention that in the item and we’ll do our best. Thanks!]
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