In this issue…

  1. LEARN A PRACTICAL SKILL FOR MISSIONS
  2. NEED FREE STUFF? TRY FREECYCLE
  3. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MK’S NEEDED
  4. PERSPECTIVES IS LOOKING FOR COMPUTER AND WEB DEVELOPMENT STAFF
  5. TRAINING PROGRAM FOR LITERACY EVANGELISM
  6. CHINA RESOURCE PACK AVAILABLE FROM OMF
  7. REACHING CENTRAL MEXICO TRIBES
  8. HOSPITALITY HOMES
  9. MISSIONARY SURVEY FOR MEMBER/MISSIONARY CARE
  10. OF CHURCHES AND FLU PANDEMICS
  11. AIMS CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY
  12. THE BACKPAGE: “GOD’S SPIRIT IS BLOWING A WIND OF UNITY”
  13. CLOSING STUFF
  1. LEARN A PRACTICAL SKILL FOR MISSIONS — Simplified dental care can open many doors to evangelism and relationship building among the unreached. No drills, injections, electricity, or sophisticated equipment are involved – only simple hand instruments, a compassionate heart, and two weeks of your time. Now you can bring greatly needed dental care to your community. Courses offered monthly in Texas.

    http://www.dentaltrainingformissions.com or email dentaltrainingformissions(at)yahoo(dot)com

  2. NEED FREE STUFF? TRY FREECYCLE — First it was a highly energetic gal in our office. :-) Now a Brigada reader from Virginia has written about it… Guess it’s time we mention it:

    http://www.freecycle.com

    I guess you’ll see announcements from the people who have stuff to give away… and if you need it for free, you simply ask for it. That’s it. Free stuff. Try it. Emily says you’ll like it. :-) Jim agrees. (Thanks, you too! :-) )

  3. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MK’S NEEDED — ServantCARE Ministry has recently been contacted by missionaries seeking help locating US college scholarships for their children. ServantCARE needs your help in compiling a list to make available on their website,

    http://www.servantcare.com/

    for missionaries to easily access via the web. Would you help them meet this need? Do you know of colleges? Please send the names, websites, and all pertinent related information to icare(at)servantcare(dot)com

  4. PERSPECTIVES IS LOOKING FOR COMPUTER AND WEB DEVELOPMENT STAFF — The National Offices for the Perspectives Study Program recently relocated from Pasadena, CA to Fayetteville, AR. They are looking for a few folks with IT (MAC and PC) and web development experience to join their team as they prepare for the future of the Perspectives course both throughout the country and around the world. This would require putting together a personal support team, and at this point, they say that only US citizens need inquire. If you would like more information, call 479-587-1919 Ext. 102, or email David.Flynn(at)uscwm(dot)org
  5. TRAINING PROGRAM FOR LITERACY EVANGELISM — Literacy & Evangelism International is holding a five-week training institute on literacy evangelism. Topics include: Basic Literacy, Developing Bible-content literacy materials in local languages, Literacy Evangelism and Discipleship, Teaching English as a Second Language , How to Conduct Tutor Training Workshops, How to run church-based literacy programs and other topics. If you are interested in this training and want to learn more about Literacy Evangelism, which is a blind spot in Christian missions, visit their website at

    http://www.literacyevangelism.org or e-mail general@literacyevangelism.org The dates of their International Literacy Training Institute are June 4 – July 8, 2006, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

  6. CHINA RESOURCE PACK AVAILABLE FROM OMF — OMF International has recently published a resource that covers “all things China.” The China Resource Pack includes a book, four videos, a 30-day prayer guide written by China expert Tony Lambert (author of China’s Christian Millions), brochures, PowerPoint presentations and a web site:

    http://www.chinasmillions.org

    The book and web site are each broken down into five main sections: History, Religion, Culture, People and Current Events. This could be a valuable resource for individuals, Sunday school classes, churches or missions organizations with an interest in China. Cost of the complete pack is $30 and is available at

    http://www.omfbooks.com

    For more information, email cberry(at)omf(dot)org. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

  7. REACHING CENTRAL MEXICO TRIBES — Since 1994 E-VAN ministries have lead mission teams and projects in the cities of Fresnillo and Zacatecas. They have also pioneered with MCE (Ministerio a Grupos Etnicos) to minister to the “unreached” Tepehuan and Huichol Indians of the Sierra Madres. Mission trip opportunities are available for church groups to the cities or the mountain tribes. Teams may participate in pubic evangelism in cities or villages, the Tribal Bible school construction, and children’s ministry. Partnership is desired for the drilling of a water well at the Tepehuan Tribal Bible school, and the building of a simple church building among the Huichol Indians. For more info, contact Tim

    http://www.E-van.org or email missions(at)E-van(dot)org or call Mexico Phone 01152-478-985-1054 or U.S.Phone 361-362-1423

  8. HOSPITALITY HOMES — ServantCARE Ministry offers hospitality homes (US and overseas locations) to those in ministry. They will be traveling in April to establish much needed new homes near interstates in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma (Oklahoma City needed badly). They would like your help in connecting them with those who have the gift of hospitality who would like to serve in this manner. All the information needed, and questions answered, is found on their website

    http://www.servantcare.com/

    under “Hospitality Homes” They also have posted on their website 25 pages of “Referral Links”, many supplied by Brigada, to which they would like to add any other ministries across the country that meet needs of those in ministry. Please contact them at icare(at)servantcare(dot)com

  9. MISSIONARY SURVEY FOR MEMBER/MISSIONARY CARE — Brenda is working on her doctoral dissertation entitled “Training of Missionary Care Workers”. Missionaries, please complete the anonymous missionary survey on the Internet at weblink

    http://www.palmarium.co.za/mcsurvey

    It will take approximately 12 minutes of your time to complete this survey by merely clicking on your choices before 15 May 2006. This study is an endeavour to enhance the care of missionaries and to resultantly prevent missionary attrition. A safe survey is available for those in restricted areas in a Word file sent via email at request at purejoy(at)gmx(dot)ch [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors in the preceding email address, replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

  10. OF CHURCHES AND FLU PANDEMICS — Here’s an M.D. that feels strongly that churches and mission agencies would be well advised to consider planning for an eventual flu pandemic, not out of fear but out of obedience to Christ’s command to love our neighbors. Specifically, how can churches and mission agencies operate, minister, and stay in touch with members. Explore issues of ethics and morality, such as the order of triage and the allocation of scarce resources. As church members are encouraged and equipped to dialogue with their neighbors with the purpose of forming small mutual assistance groups in Christ’s name, we might even witness unprecedented church growth. If you or your agency/church would like help — or would share your plan, email Tim:

    church_emergency_preparedness-owner(at)yahoogroups(dot)com or log on at

    http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/church_emergency_preparedness/

  11. AIMS CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY — For 20 years, Accelerating International Mission Strategies (AIMS) has helped churches around the world complete the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. This year, AIMS will celebrate this important anniversary and cast a vision for the next era of ministry at a special celebration banquet. Church leaders, mission agencies, denominations, and individuals interested in learning more about AIMS or partnering with us in international mobilization are invited to join them at the Founders Inn and Conference in Virginia Beach on March 23 at 6:00 pm. Guest speakers include Dr. Howard Foltz, founder and CEO of AIMS, and Pat Robertson, founder and chairman of CBN. Cost is only $35 per person. For more information, call (757) 226-5850 or register online at

    http://www.aims.org/20thanniversary

  12. THE BACKPAGE: “GOD’S SPIRIT IS BLOWING A WIND OF UNITY” — Earlier this evening, I enjoyed the fellowship of some 20 other missionaries, church leaders, and missions committee members. Some were African, others were American, some were non-instrumental church of Christ, others were Christian Church, some were from the South, others from the North, some were sent ones, others were senders. In spite of all these differences, I was in awe at the atmosphere of harmony and unity that wove like a tapestry among us. One field worker summed it up to me in a one-on-one follow-up conversation: “God’s Spirit is blowing a wind of unity to all who will listen. I believe that those who refuse to accept it will be sidelined to a position outside the center of God’s will.” Whoa. Sobering. The cool thing was – this was the noninstrumental church of Christ guy. In former decades, his forefathers would probably have been convinced that I was sliding down the slippery slope to Hell. Now, he was citing statistics like … 70% of all non-instrumental church of Christ seminary students no longer make the instrument a test of fellowship, much less one of salvation.

    This is good news for guys in my position. (Who wants to be cast into Hell? :-) ) There are probably similar things happening in the stream of faith that you identify as your own. Here are some key factors we’ll have to consider: a) What are the absolutes for you and your congregation/agency? In other words, what is the core of the core for you — doctrinally? b) Will you write that down, knowing full well that the moment you do, you’ve “fenced out” certain others? Or will you leave it verbal only, so you have a chance to explain it? c) What projects can you and your “new neighbors” embrace, in order that you can immediately go to work together? You see, some experts in conflict resolution say that newly-united movements profit from immediately getting to work on a project. Think of it this way: In a war, the definition of an ally is “someone shooting at the same enemy at which I’m shooting.” Go to work. You’ll form alliances that solidify relationships . . . and once you’re in a relationship, it’s much easier to be unified. Very intriguing. What’s your project going to be?

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