20071021 Brigada Today

In this issue…

TRAINING ON MICROFINANCE AND MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT — The next class of the Chalmers Center’s “Principles and Practices of Christian Microfinance and Microenterprise Development” email-based distance learning course is scheduled for Jan. 7 – Feb. 22, 2008. This course gives you an overview to microenterprise development and microfinance and orients you to the selection and design of a holistic intervention appropriate for your ministry context. Cost of this seven-week course is $199 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material. (The course will be offered again in Sept. 2008.)
The course is available to those who have taken the prerequisite course, “Foundations and Principles of Holistic Ministry.” The “Foundations” course helps you understand appropriate goals and strategies for conducting Christian development in poor communities within the Two- Thirds World. (It will actually benefit anyone preparing for Christian outreach and ministry among the poor, whether they plan to implement an economic development strategy or not.) This class will be offered on Feb. 4 – 29, 2008 and on April 28 – May 23, 2008, and either class offering can be taken as the prerequisite for the Sept. 2008 “Principles” class. Cost of this four-week course is $75 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material.

Because these courses are email-based, slow dial-up speed will not limit participation. Also note that you may spend 8-10 hours per week on course work.

To learn more, including information about a discount for Two-Thirds World participants, or to register, visit

http://www.chalmers.org

or call 1-706-419-1805. When registering, use Reference Identifier BRN- 10/07.

GET YOUR OWN MISSIONARY WEBSITE — 411 Ministries is offering a new, upgraded service that allows any missionary to bring up their own website within 15-30 minutes without knowing any web programming. Get a free Basic website plus a donation-based Premium website. You can include your personal and family information as well as information about your sending organization. In addition, you can post pictures, prayer requests, news updates, your current support status and needs, and you or your family’s biography. Their management interface includes an easy-to-use button-driven toolbar to add formatting to all your information. Some 180 missionaries have already found a home there. For more information, go to:
http://www.411ministries.com

or, contact noel(at)

411ministries(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address elements on one line.]
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS WITHOUT LONG-TERM HARM — In addition to its distance learning courses on economic development, the Chalmers Center also offers an email-based distance learning course on the issues surrounding short-term missions (less than one month) in the context of the socio-economic poor. This course presents frameworks for considering the issues so that the benefits of missions projects are maximized and potential harm is minimized. It is designed for those involved in short-term missions to locations throughout the world as well as to locations in the U.S./Canada. The training is appropriate for: 1) sending churches and denominations, 2) host churches and missionaries, 3) missions project leaders, and 4) missions team members.
The next class is scheduled for March 10 – March 28, 2008. Cost of this three-week course is $55 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material.

Because the course is email-based, slow dial-up speed will not limit participation. Also note that you may spend 6-8 hours per week on course work.

To learn more, including information about a discount for Two-Thirds World participants, or to register, visit

http://www.chalmers.org

or call 1-706-419-1805. When registering, use Reference Identifier BRN- 10/07.

AQUAPONICS WORKSHOP — If you want to develop skills in the emerging technology of fish and vegetable production in a naturally balanced system, attend an upcoming Aquaponics Workshop. Learn the techniques of inexpensively constructing and managing these highly productive systems which are adaptable to all types of environments and proving to be an effective outreach ministry. Full-time missionaries can register at the student rate. For more information or to register, visit:
http://www.aquacultureinternational.org

GREAT CHRISTMAS/END OF YEAR GIFT FOR YOUR MUSLIM FRIENDS — Here’s a new book, One God One Message, written for Muslims, skeptics and seekers. A newly printed, thinner, attractive edition seeks to clear up the confusion that prevents Muslims from taking the Bible seriously using real-life illustrations and more than a thousand verses from Scripture. Available for $10 a copy from GoodSeed International:
http://www.goodseed.com/store/us/products/resources/ogom.aspx

Translations are underway in French, Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Swahili and German.

LOOKING FOR AN ITEM IN A PAST BRIGADA? — Just use our on-site search capability, powered by Google. Just click on “Search” in the menu at the top of this page. Enter a word or two from the item that you remember and watch it flash before your eyes.

GAIN NEW INSIGHT: TAKE THIS ONLINE PROFILER — Just browse to
http:// www.cflex.org

It’s a free online test that helps you analyze your ministry in a whole new objective light. Check it out. (Thanks Rick!)

E-TICKETING THROUGH GLOBAL TRAVEL TRENDS (GTTRENDS) — Organizers of GT Trends invite you to book global travel through their site, claiming cheaper fares and easy access. You can also become a business partner with GTTrends by investing US$ 299.00 to become an Associate Travel Agent, creating the potential for a stream of income from the customers you attract. For more information, email streams7(at)
juno (dot) com or benjo_lee(at)

juno (dot) com. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the email addresses onto one line.]
UNREACHED AND LEAST EVANGELIZED PEOPLES FORUM — Don’t forget, it happens this week, Nov. 27-29, 2007, at the Irving Bible Church, Irving TX. The goal? To increase and multiply the focus and engagement with Unreached Peoples. In this forum key ministries, churches, agencies, and others from or within North America will meet to interactively: a) Explore the big picture & current realities b) Cross-pollinate c) Engage in strategic conversations around the challenges and issues that emerge. d) Connect to a growing group of partners, models, resources and new ideas e) Intercede and hear from God f) Both give input and receive. Get more info at
http://www.snipr.com/naupn2

or email johnq(at)

missionamerica(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address on one line.]
GRAND CENTRAL: YOUR FREE PHONE NUMBER FROM GOOGLE — Have you ever wanted to have one number that followed you wherever you went? Have you needed an US number when you lived overseas? Dou you need a number in a different area code? Google has launched a new service called GrandCentral. Check it out at
http://www.grandcentral.com

It allows you to sign up for a local phone number that forwards to several other phone numbers. It works with landlines, mobile phones, voicemail, and other systems. It is in beta and is free. But for now, users primarily can just *reserve* a number… unless you can find a current Grandcentral user to “invite” you. (Thanks Jonathan!)

FREE DOWNLOADABLE MULTI-LINGUAL TRACTS — Order soon in time for the Holy-days! In 1954 a pastor preached a sermon entitled, “Steps Leading to Salvation” and distributed his notes. Little did he know that this would give birth to the _Step Up To Life_(tm) evangelistic booklet. Since that time the tract has been translated into 17 different languages and is used worldwide by many different denominations, organizations and everyday “Joe Christians.” More information, teaching materials, free downloads (multiple languages available), and interactive versions are all available at
http://www.stepuptolife.com

INVITE A SPECIAL SPEAKER: ROCCO BADENHORST — Looking for a speaker for an upcoming missions conference? Rocco Badenthorst is reputed to be such a speaker, having been invited to Brazil for the past three years by invitation at one their key conferences. Many listeners have experienced transformed as a result of his talks. Read more at:
http://www.integrityministries.org/christianspeaker.htm

Call him at (309)828-5057 in the USA or rtb4him(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 . and reassemble it onto one line.]

READ BILL DILLON’S FUND-RAISING BLOG — Now you can get even more practical advice from Bill Dillon, President of People Raising. Learn from his more than 35 years of fund raising experience. Whether raising individual support or organizational support, this resource could be invaluable. Also take a look at the award-winning 6-hour fund raising training program available in DVD/CD/Video/MP3.For more information go to
http://www.peopleraising.com/blog/

or email 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 . and reassemble the address on one line.]

SINCE WE LAST REPORTED… — Our good friends at Dial-Abroad sent $60.95 in thanks for those who learned about their services via Brigada. Thanks! To try Dial-Abroad’s revolutionary phone services (at a great price), just click to:
http://www.dial-abroad.org/brigada.htm

In addition, an Oregonian sent $20, joined by a resident of Kentucky who sent $25. And a new friend from the great state of Pennsylvania sent $300!

This brings to $6,222.87 the total gifts for 2007. We publish our budget needs in the first month of the year. The 2007 budget is $17,150 for *everything*. So… sorry to say… we have quite a bit of ground to cover in the next 6 weeks. Is there *any* way you, your church, or organization could pitch in? Match the giver from Oregon, Kentucky, or Pennsylvania? We would be so grateful. When giving reaches $17,150, we’ll stop receiving money for 2007 and stop mentioning finances in Brigada Today. You have our word on it.

UNDERGIRD BRIGADA, GIVE FOR A GLOBAL CITIZEN WHO CAN’T — Notice, you received this edition of Brigada for no charge. We’re a step-out-on- faith initiative. Would you consider giving an offering so that our 2007 needs are met *before* the end of the year? If so, just click “Donate“. You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major credit card. Or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) 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. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACKPAGE: THE NIGHT BEFORE A BIG TRIP — What do you do on the eve of a big trip overseas? (It’s such an evening for me tonight.)
Do your kids ask you to help them list an item on eBay? :-) My suggestion is — do it. The gesture will take you 30′ and possibly force you to stay up a half-hour longer at the end of the day, but the price will be worth it. Besides… maybe it’ll make you sleep better on the overnight flight. So in general… invest in a high quality time activity for any family member that will receive it. You’ll be glad you did.

Do you clean out your inbox? I try to, if at all possible. My outbound flight might take me out of commission for as long as 18-24 hours. So if possible, I like to be caught up so things don’t look any worse than they already are! :-)

Do you look ahead not only at the time you’ll be gone but also at the 7 days immediately after your return? Check out any deadlines or due dates for that next week so you can be working on things during your trip, if need be.

Do you make arrangements for communicating with your loved ones at crucial junctures? (e.g., arrival at an int’l port of destination, or connecting in a sensitive land) It’s extra work to arrange for cell phones, faxes, or email hook-ups. But it just seems the extra work pays off not only for the ones you love, but also for the ones making your trip possible (donors).

Finally, do you gather up all your research and notes about your trip? Get your eTicket numbers, reservation numbers, confirmation numbers, etc., and put them all in a file folder in your *carry-on*. If they’re checked, you might never see them again.

Think ahead before your trip. The time you invest on the front end can pay mongo dividends on the other side.

Doug