Hi fellow SEND-ers,

In my last “Training Tracks” newsletter, I encouraged you to fill out a simple survey about what roles you think SEND U should fill in our mission organization. A number of you have responded, and the results are interesting and helpful. By the way, the survey is still open, so if you have not yet responded, please do so, and add your voice to that of your colleagues. Here is the URL address to the survey. Many of those who have responded believe that one of the roles that SEND U should fill is that of a “library”, a place where you could go to find information and resources. We have been seeking to provide that library of resources on the SEND U wiki, and through this newsletter, and so it is encouraging but not surprising that our missionaries see that as a valid role.

Wiki: So let's talk about some of those resources. During the recently completed online module for SEND team leaders, the class participants suggested a number of books in the area of leadership , and these have been added to the SEND U wiki. A couple of resources were also mentioned in the area of discipleship, but this area is still pretty skimpy. What resources (not just books) have you found helpful in discipling believers and becoming a better disciple-maker? Send me an email, and I will add them to the wiki.

Many of those who have looked at the wikihave been surprised at all the resources that are listed, and how much has been added since the last time they looked. And more are being added almost every week. If you want to be notified by email if additional resources are added to a particular section of the wiki, just click the “Notify me” tab at the top of each page. You have to become a member of Wikispaces though, for this to work. Membership is free and relatively painless.

Webinars: Another resource that is available to SEND members are webinars offered by MissioNexus. Those of us from the USA or Canada can watch the live webinars (with opportunity for questions) for free. If you have created a profile with MissioNexus you should be getting emails from the ME about upcoming webinars. If you miss the live webinar, every member of SEND International can obtain at no cost any of the recorded webinars that were formerly offered. Update (April 2016) - If in the past you have had access to the Missio Nexus website (and all of its resources), you MUST request a new password to login. (Go to the login tab at missionexus.org; there will be a request for a new password). If you have NOT benefited from the Missio Nexus site in the past, please let Ann Baur (mailto:abaur@send.org) know and she will add your name to the SEND organizational directory at Missio Nexus.

Philip Jackson told me about a free webinar on facilitating group discussions and focus groups. It is being held on November 30 and the registration information can be found at http:www.leadstrat.com training-webinars.html.

Free E-books: Talking about free, did you know that many books for the Amazon Kindle (electronic book reader) are available for free? Check the iReaderReview blog for the latest free books being released on Kindle. Publishers, including a number of Christian publishing houses, frequently allow e-books to be “purchased” at no cost for a very limited time (a few days), so as to boost their rankings in the Amazon store. FYI, I downloaded 43 free Kindle books since October 1, 2010! Nineteen of those were non-fiction books by Christian authors, including ones by John MacArthur, Max Lucado, Mark Buchanan, and Bill Hybels. And sorry, I cannot send you these books, because they are limited to Kindle apps registered to me. The good news is you do not need to buy a Kindle to read these books. Amazon has created several different apps allowing you to read their Kindle books on your computer or smartphone or iPad (yes, we have a few of those in the mission now).

Future training: Many have asked me when I will be offering the team leader online module again. I do not have the exact dates yet, but I am aiming for the middle of January as a starting date. As soon as I get confirmation on the dates and a registration link, I will let SEND team leaders know. I also hope to have some information about church planter training in the next few weeks, and we will talk about that in next month's “Training Tracks”.

Keep growing,
Ken