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April
Is your Life Insurance valid?
Around half of the UK population have Life Insurance. Do you know what happens to this when you go overseas, whether for a few weeks or a few years? Are you still covered? Many expats fail to realise that a life assurance policy taken out in the UK can become invalid when they move abroad either temporarily or permanently.Go to www.oscar.org.uk/oscaractive/articles/campbell.htm
Rwanda Biography
Revisiting our recent theme of modern missionary biographies, we have a short review of another newly published book 'Rwanda Rising From The Ashes' by John Miles. It's the story of Ken Barham and his involvement in Rwanda before, during and after the genocide in 1994. Reviewed by Debbie Fitch.Go to www.oscar.org.uk/oscaractive/reviews/rwandarisingfromtheashes.htm
People Raising Re-launch
April 1st sees the launch of a new and expanded edition of People Raising, the practical fundraising guide book by Bill Dillon. The book is already available in the UK through various outlets . Bill also provides tips and advice through his website, blog and via Twitter, Facebook and OSCARactive!Go to http://peopleraising.com
Hesperian Health Guides
Hesperian, publisher of 'Where there is no Doctor', supports individuals and communities in their struggles to realize the right to health. They have developed other easy to read materials that are produced in many languages. These include 20 titles, spanning women’s health, children, disabilities, dentistry, health education, HIV, and environmental health, and distribute many others. You can buy, download, or read from their website, or view resources by language to explore materials in Spanish and over 80 other languages.Go to http://hesperian.org/books-and-resources
Gift Aid Declarations
The required wording for Gift Aid Declarations is changing. If you have already made Gift Aid Declarations to the charities or churches you support, you don't need to do them again, but all new declarations should follow the new guidelines. Charities and churches will be changing their forms over the coming months, but in the meantime old forms can still be used up until 31/12/12.Go to www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/gift_aid/declarations.htm
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March
Welcome Back
If you support someone who works overseas, what do you talk about when they visit you on home leave? That's the question Ceri Longville asks in this month's article. Helpful answers are provided by several people who have been on both sides of such a meeting.Go to www.oscar.org.uk/oscaractive/articles/longville2.htm
Raising Support
Stewardship have launched a new series of online papers under the title 'Finance for Living' to help and guide anyone in full time Christian ministry and, specifically, those raising their own financial support. The first three papers written by Myles Wilson tackle the subjects of 'Key Issues', 'How much is enough?' and 'To ask or not to ask?'Go to www.stewardship.org.uk/resources/finance-for-living
Colour Bible
We like to feature resources that can be used by missionaries in cross-cultural situations. One such resource used by a number of missionaries working with children, is the Colour Bible. It's a simple printed resource which consists of 10 stories from the Old Testament and 10 from the New Testament, each with text in basic English and a picture to colour in. The Messianic promise develops as you progress through the stories. It's the gospel in a nutshell, simple but effective. There is no copyright on the Colour Bible, so you can print as many copies as you like or use it as part of your own outreach material. A Spanish version is also available and a version in the Swahili language is in preparation.Download your copy at www.oscar.org.uk/colourbible.pdf
Human Trafficking & Fairtrade
With the release of the song '27 Million' by LZ7 and Matt Redman, along with Fairtrade fortnight, justice issues are in the spotlight again. Such issues are very much a part of mission, so we've created a new group in OSCARactive to focus on Justice related discussions, links and resources.Go to oscaractive.ning.com/group/justice-issues
40acts Prayer
For our part in Stewardship's 40acts lent campaign, OSCAR is committing to pray for at least one mission worker every day. Would you like to be one of those? Just post your requests on our Public or Private Prayer Wall and we'll make sure they're covered! Alternatively you can send them direct to us.
For more info on praying for mission, go to www.oscar.org.uk/supporter/roles/pray.htm
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February
Know Where You Stand
What would you do if you got arrested whilst in a foreign country? Who would you contact for help or legal advice? This month's guest article is written by Graham Wallis, a solicitor, who helps us think through the implications of working in a different culture when we're unfamiliar with the law of the land.Go to www.oscar.org.uk/oscaractive/articles/wallis.htm
The Future of the Global Church
'You don't know where you're going until you know where you've been'. This new, wonderfully illustrated book by Patrick Johnstone charts the course of Christianity over the last 20 centuries and predicts where we might be heading. We've reviewed it and reveal why every coffee table in every mission-minded home or church should have one.Go to www.oscar.org.uk/oscaractive/reviews/futureglobalchurch.htm
Video Soundbites
How is your support structure? What supporters' actions have meant the most to you? What are your biggest needs, support-wise? How has OSCAR helped you with any of these? We are putting together some video material to use online and offline and would love you to be in it! Just film your answers on your camera or mobile phone and send them in.Go to http://oscaractive.ning.com/forum/topics/video-soundbites
Online Language Courses for Aid Workers
Need to learn some French or Spanish for overseas work but have limited time? CEDEM have recently launched online language courses for aid workers lasting just 8 weeks and costing just 100 Euros. Next course starts in March.Go to www.cedemformacion.com
Serving as Senders - Poole & Gloucester
We're running 'Serving as Senders' days, equipping local churches to care for mission workers, in Poole (25th Feb) and Gloucester (10th Mar). Why not send someone from your church ... or even come yourself? We'd love to see you.Go to www.oscar.org.uk/training
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January
Plan a Sabbatical
Have you ever had a sabbatical? If not, why not? Who and what are sabbaticals for anyway? Just before last summer, Mike Frith, OSCAR's Director, had his first real sabbatical. Here are some of his tips and advice for anyone thinking about taking one, trying to avoid taking one or never having the time or opportunity to take one.Go to www.oscar.org.uk/oscaractive/articles/frithm.htm
Get Inspired
Why not read a good mission biography to enthuse your interest in mission? You can pick a classic, or you can choose one that's bang up to date. 'Changed Agents' is a new autobiography from Nick & Ros Henwood who spent nine years in Nepal. Zoe Burden reviews the book and tells us what makes this autobiography stand out.Go to www.oscar.org.uk/oscaractive/reviews/changedagents.htm
Change Jobs
Did you know that OSCAR has more listings in most categories than any other UK based advertiser of Christian opportunities on the Web? We have around 800 listings from a large range of Christian organisations at any one time, for the UK and around the world. Changing jobs doesn't always have to be so 'permanent'. Many companies and organisations allow you to take a career break to do something different for a period of time, or to do voluntary or charity work. Why not browse through our opportunities ... God may have something special planned just for you.Go to www.oscar.org.uk/vacancies
Book a Holiday
Many people book holidays for the coming year in January. Are you hoping for a holiday but don't know what to do or where to go? Did you know that OSCAR has an extensive holidays page? It includes many options in the UK, from holiday homes for Christian workers, to TCK camps, to Christian festivals. If you're not coming back to the UK, try our page on mission guest houses and other accomodation around the world.For the UK, go to www.oscar.org.uk/service/logistics/comingtouk/holidays.htm
For outside the UK, go to www.oscar.org.uk/opportunity/locations/logistics.htm
Join a Community of Faith
Would you like to meet others who understand your mission passion and interest? That's exactly what OSCARactive is all about. We have an online community of nearly 400 individuals engaged or interested in mission, along with a presence in other social networks like Facebook & LinkedIn. Do come and join us, and add your knowledge and input to our growing mission-focused network.Go to www.oscaractive.net