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THE MAGAZINE THAT EDIFIES YOUR LIFE

February 2017 / Edition 757

evangelistic

LIFE STORIES

A Miracle Named Jeftzybah

EVENTS

50 conventions in Colombia

HEROES OF FAITH

Tireless Messenger

PEDOPHILIA

ON THE OFFENSIVE New movements that seek to legalize it

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT

THE EXCELLENCE OF KNOWLEDGE IS TO KNOW CHRIST

FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY 15H/PERU/NY/COL.

Bethel Television, the Worldwide Missionary Movement channel, broadcasts the Word of God’s message through cultural and educational programs from Lima - Peru to the world by 7 satellites and the Internet.

MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 2 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

editorial

DO NOT FEAR Rev. Gustavo Martínez International President of the WMM

“It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord…” 2 Chronicles 20:1-4

J

ehoshaphat, King of Judah, descendant

fast throughout all Judah” (v. 3). Although

of David, who during his kingdom faced

the problem may seem big, we must stay fo-

a great menace: the invasion of a large army,

cus. Problems are an opportunity to discover

which was made up of Moabites, Ammonites

what is inside us, who can we trust, who do

and Edomites. They were old enemies of Israel

we ask for help in difficult times; they give us

(2 Chronicles 20:1-13).

the chance to turn to the Lord. Jehoshaphat

There was peace in the government of Je-

feared, but he still trusted God.

hoshaphat until the menace of war came. This

And Judah gathered themselves to-

means that problems will always find a way to

gether, to ask help of the Lord; even out

happen. We can receive bad news even though

of all the cities of Judah they came to seek

everything seems to be doing fine.

the Lord” (v. 4). They came and humiliated

“It came to pass after this” (v. 1), in other

themselves asking for the divine help, because

words, after some blessings “the children of

the war meant a menace to children, women,

Moab, and the children of Ammon, and

their goods and everybody’s lives. They came

with them other beside the Ammonites,

voluntarily to worship Him and ask Him to

came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then

save them. And so He did. The Lord gave

there came some that told Jehoshaphat, sa-

them victory.

ying, There cometh a great multitude aga-

Dear brother, do not worry for menaces,

inst thee from beyond the sea on this side

do not worry about your enemy’s threats, be-

Syria…And Jehoshaphat feared…” (vv. 2-3).

cause our merciful God will protect you. He

“And Jehoshaphat feared, and set him-

will put a fence and a shield around you. God

self to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a

will give you victory. Amen.

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

3

www.impactoevangelistico.net

evangelistic Founder Director: Rev. Luis M. Ortiz FEBRUARY 2017 / EDITION N° 757 (USPS 012-850) OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT The World-Wide Missionary Movement, Inc. is a non-profit church with a vision to plant new churches in the United States of America and its territories, and also with a missionary vision to plant new churches wherever God opens new doors all over the World.

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POSTMASTER: send address changes to Impacto Evangelístico P.O. BOX 363644 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-3644 Phone (787) 761-8806; 761-8805; 761-8903

INTERNATIONAL BOARD MEMBERS OF WMM INC. Rev. Gustavo Martínez President Rev. José Soto Vice President Rev. Rubén Concepción Secretary Rev. Rodolfo González Treasurer Rev. Álvaro Garavito Director Rev. Margaro Figueroa Director Rev. Rómulo Vergara Director Rev. Humberto Henao Director Rev. Luis Meza Director CHURCHES ESTABLISHED IN: Germany Argentina Aruba Australia Austria Belgium Belize Bolivia Bonaire Brasil Cameroon Canadá Chile Colombia Congo Ivory Coast Costa Rica Curacao Dinamarca Ecuador El Salvador Spain United States The Philippines Finland

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The Worldwide Missionary Movement is a religious nonprofit organization duly registered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in the federal capital, Washington DC, with headquarters in both cities and in every state of the United States and other countries where we have established missionary Works.

Important The offerings and donations in cash, equipment, real estate and bequests by will, in the benefit of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, Inc.’s Work, are deductible from the income tax, and receipts issued by the WMM are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the Federal Government of the United States of America and of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico. n

Visit our website Obtain uplifting information about God’s Work and keep up with the latest news. A customized access from anywhere in the world: www. impactoevangelistico.net n

If you wish Write to us at our postal address: Worldwide Missionary Movement, Inc. PO Box 363644 San Juan, P. R. 00936-3644 n

Copyright © 2009 Impacto Evangelistic Movimiento Misionero Mundial, Inc. (World-Wide Missionary Movement, Inc.) All content of this magazine and each subsequent edition are duly registered at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC USA. All rights reserved.

Total or partial reproduction in any form and translation into other languages without prior permission of the Director are prohibited. Under international copyright agreements, they are crimes punishable by law. n

Doctrinal Statement The Worldwide Missionary Movement adheres to the fundamental doctrines of Scripture, such as: n

Legal deposit made on the National Library of Peru Nº 2011-02530 Christian Pentecostal Church-Worldwide Missionary Movement: Av. 28 de Julio 1781 - Lima 13 - Peru Printout: Quad/Graphics Perú S.A. Av. Los Frutales 344 - Lima 03 - Peru MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 4 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

• The inspiration of the Holy Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21.

• The Adorable Godhead in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Matthew 3:16-17, 17: 1-5; 28:19, John 17: 5, 24, 26, 16:32, 14:16, 23, 18:5, 6, 2 Peter 1:17,18; Revelation 5.

• Salvation by Faith in Christ: Luke 24:47, John 3:16, Romans 10:13, Titus 2:11, 3:5-7.

• The New Birth: John 3:3, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 3:9.

• Justification by Faith: Romans 5:1, Titus 3:7.

• Water Baptism by Inmersion, as commanded by Christ: Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39.

• The Baptism in the Holy Spirit subsequent to salvation, speaking in tongues according to: Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, 8, 2:4.

• Divine Healing: Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:16, 17, Mark 16:18, James 5:14, 15.

• The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

• The Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22-26.

• Sanctification: 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15, 16, 1 John 2:6.

• Ministry and Evangelization: Mark 16:15-20, Romans 10:15.

• Tithing and Maintenance of the Work: Genesis 14:20, 28:22, Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21-26, Malachi 3:7-10, Matthew 10:10; 23:23.

• The Rapture of the Church: Romans 8:23, 1 Corinthians 15:5152, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

• The Second Coming of Christ: Zechariah 14:1-9, Matthew 24:30, 31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Titus 2:13, Jude 14, 15.

• The Millennial Kingdom: Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:5-10, Zechariah 9:10, Revelation 19:20, 20:3-10.

• New Heavens and New Earth: Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1.

SUMMARY Search us in

www.facebook.com/impactoevangelistico

30 / HEROES OF FAITH. Tireless messenger DEVOTIONALS 40 / BIG CRISIS, BIG CONQUESTS. Rev. Luis M. Ortiz

42 / IT WAS DRIED BUT IT BLOOMED. Rev. Clemente Vergara

Pedophilia: A new threat

6

The brain likes to read on paper

Interview

28 / MUSIC. Crying in the chapel

Current issues

24 / LITERATURE. Raising godly children in an ungodly world

Cover note

20 / HEALTH. Malnutrition

The Church must return to the source

22 18

Life stories

16 / INTERNATIONAL. Trump cuts funding for abortion

A miracle named Jeftzybah

34

44 - 64 / INTERNATIONAL EVENTS. India receives god with conviction 65 / OTHER EVENTS.

52 / Event.

66 / LETTERS-AGENDA.

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

5

PEDOPHILIA A NEW THREAT

H

ad you ever imagined that pedophilia could be considered a sexual orientation? What seemed distant and impossible is gradually emerging in different ways around the world. A new threat in the making.

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) left open the possibility of pedophilia no longer being a disorder, but a sexual orientation or preference. In its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM5), APA defines pedophilia as “a sexual orientation or profession of sexual preference devoid of consummation, whereas pedophilic disorder is defined as a compulsion and is used in reference to individuals who act on their sexuality” (p. 698).

This is an open door for pedophilia to be seen as something “normal” and even generate movements for the “fundamental rights” of people with pedophile tendencies.

According to the publication, if someone reports an absence of feelings of guilt, shame or anxiety about these impulses and is not functionally limited by his paraphilic impulses and has never acted on them, then this individual has a pedophilic sexual orientation but not pedophilic disorder.

With certain evident differences, this is the same path that the classification referred to homosexuality went through in previous years until becoming nowadays part of the gender ideology that wants to impose homosexual marriage.

This new classification of pedophilia as “sexual orientation” raises concerns about pedophile groups promoting legal initiatives that might allow them to openly act on their impulses against children.

IN CANADA But not only is the DSM going through this path. James Cantor, of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, spends most of his time exploring the brains of pedophiles with MRI scans. And he has come to a controversial conclusion.

“Pedophilia is a sexual orientation,” he says. It is “something that we are essentially born with, essentially, does MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 6 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

PHOTO: AFP

cover note

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

7

not appear to change over time and is as core to our being as any other sexual orientation is.”

Cantor argues that he found that the brains of the pedophiles he studied were wired differently to non-pedophiles, something he describes as “crossed wiring” of the brain. “It’s as if, in these people, when they perceive a child, it’s triggering the sexual instincts instead of triggering the nurturing instincts,” he says.

There is more. In a parliamentary session in Canada on a bill relating to sexual offenses against children, experts in psychology claimed that pedophilia is a “sexual orientation” comparable to homosexuality or heterosexuality. Bill C-54, an Act to amend the Criminal Code, sought to increase or impose mandatory minimum penalties or punishments on sexual offenders of children for particular crimes.

--The parliamentary discussion focused on the mandatory minimum imprisonment and how offenders respond to treatment. Dr. Vernon Quinsey and Dr. Hubert Van Gijseghem, experts on the issue, were called to witness.

“When we speak of therapy or when individuals get therapy and we feel as though everything is pacified, the good

This is an open door for pedophilia to be seen as something “normal” and even generate movements for the “fundamental rights” of people with pedophile tendencies.

news is often illusory,” said Van Gijseghem, psychologist and retired professor of the University of Montreal.

“Pedophiles are not simply people who commit a mall offense from time to time, but rather are grappling with what is equivalent to a sexual orientation, just like another individual may be grappling with heterosexuality or even homosexuality,” said Van Gijseghem. “True pedophiles have an exclusive preference for children, which is the same as having a sexual orientation. You cannot change a person’s sexual orientation.”

THE ACTIVISTS The decision of the American Psychiatric Association has resulted in numerous pedophilia advocacy groups extending “the outreach of their organizations.”

Groups openly defending pedophiles have emerged in several countries around the world, some of which even have MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 8 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

PHOTO: AFP

portada

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

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MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 10 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

FOTO: AFP

Groups openly defending pedophiles have emerged in several countries around the world, some of which even have websites. One of them is the Childlove pedophile activist movement, which camouflages its tendency with an alleged “love for children.”

PHOTO: AFP

FOTO: AFP

cover note

websites. One of them is the Childlove pedophile activist movement, which camouflages its tendency with an alleged “love for children.”

In the Netherlands, there is the Dutch Party of Charity, Freedom and Diversity, whose members seek to repeal the age-of-consent laws to remove from legislation the use of age as a valid criterion for identifying child sexual abuse and the elimination of classification of pedophilia.

In early 2013, a Dutch Federal Court approved the existence of the Association of Martijn, defender of consensual sexual relations between adults and children. The official verdict recognizes that the “work of the association is contrary

to public order”, but that it means no “threat of disintegrating society.”

It is clear that pedophiles have begun to seek similar status, using the same tactics employed by “gay-rights” activists. For example, one news item outraged hundreds of child rights advocates worldwide. It was the “Pedophile Pride Day,” a digital exchange event called by various Internet platforms from Chile. “We cannot pretend to even think of commemorating a day for people who are clearly criminals and should be serving sentences,” said Senator Juan Pablo Letelier of the Socialist Party.

In Iraq, the situation is worse. The government presented

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

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to Parliament a bill that would allow marriage at any age, thus following the strictest precepts of Islamic law, Sharia. The bill reduces the legal marriage age for women to 9 years old and for men to 15. In addition, it allows unrestricted polygamy and gives the husband the right to have sex even without the consent of his wife.

As you can see, when society gives in to pressures such as MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 12 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

the gender ideology, others try to favor themselves by indicating that they are also moved by “truth” and “dignity.”

PEDOPHILIA AND PEDERASTY Between pedophilia and pederasty, there is an important nuance. Pederasts are pedophiles, but a pedophile is not always a pederast. According to most dictionaries, pedophi-

cover note

It is clear, then, that the effort of the gender ideology to redefine and create special “rights” is giving way to the demands of other sexual deviants, such as pedophiles and pederasts, for their own establishment in society.

les (or paedophiles) are attracted erotically or sexually by boys or girls or both, but when they act on this attraction and abuse a child, they are called pederasts.

According to the APA, pedophilia is a paraphilia in which the person experiences “recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children.” According to Wiki-

pedia, a paraphilia is defines as “the experience of intense sexual arousal to atypical objects, fetishes, situations, fantasies, behaviors or individuals; in this case, individuals with great disparity of age.

Apart from pedophilia, there is hebephilia and ephebophilia. The first implies a preference for minors in the first years of their adolescence (generally between 11 and 14 years old, although it varies according to sex and races), and the second one, for people in full adolescence (15 to 19 years old).

It is clear, then, that the effort of the gender ideology to redefine and create special “rights” is giving way to the demands of other sexual deviants, such as pedophiles and pederasts, for their own establishment in society.

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

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PEDOPHILIA A threat to our children It is no news that pedophilia has proliferated in the world, and although it is an issue discussed in the news and very little at home -probably due to fear- it is urgent to deal with it openly to avoid situations of risk that jeopardize the integrity of our children.

Prevention of Child Abuse Tell your children that some adults might try to hurt them or make them do annoying, undesired things, but that they may appear to be gentle and sweet to lure and convince them and gain their trust.

Tell them that these adults might say something like: “What happens between us is a secret and you must not tell anyone.”

Explain to your children that their bodies belong only to them and that they have the right to set limits and say NO to anyone who might try to touch them or make them touch the body of others.

UNICEF demanded the systematic persecution of all those internet servers and portals that tolerate child pornography, regardless of the country in which the crime is committed.

MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 14 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

Children victims of sexual abuse in the world

223

million

73

million boys

UNICEF estimates that approximately

1.8 million children

are sexually exploited worldwide, although both this organization and the main network fighting this scourge, Ecpat International, recognize that they work on the basis of estimates and extrapolations.

150

Sources: bbc.com, lanacion.com, unicef.org

million girls

Communicate with your children and take the time to listen to them and observe them. Learn the details of their activities and feelings. Encourage them to share their concerns, doubts, and problems with you.

Tell your children that you want to know if someone does something strange to them, such as touching them, taking a photo of them naked or offering them gifts. Reassure them and explain to them that they are not guilty of what these adults might do.

Explain to your children that these adults may threaten them and tell them that they will hurt or kill their parents if they tell what happened. Make it clear to them that these adults are doing something wrong.

Warn them that these adults may be acquaintances, loved ones or apparently trustworthy people, or possibly someone with authority. For example: the babysitter, a teacher, a religious, a coach.

Child pornography on the web Circulating contents per year: Photos uploaded daily:

20

million

40

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

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TRUMP

CUTS FUNDING FOR ABORTION H

On Monday 23 January, US President Donald Trump signed a decree that prohibits the funding of organizations that support abortion with federal funds. This measure, called Mexico City Policy, is adopted since 1985, with Ronald Reagan in the White House, by all the new Republican presidents in their first days in office a rule that is later revoked by Democrats.

Trump, who in the past spoke in favor of the right to abortion, is thus sending a signal to the most conservative sectors of his party. When he was a candidate, the president expressed his position against abortion, which he only supports when the life of the mother is in danger.

The signing of this decree and two others takes place after the mass demonstration against Trump on January 21 in Washington, where the defense of abortion rights was one of the central issues. Trump adopted the measure the day after the 44th anniversary of “Roe vs. Wade,” the emblematic ruling of the Supreme Court that legalized abortion in 1973 in the United States, and two days after the demonstrations of American groups.

Despite his ambivalent opinion on abortion in the past, Trump received the support of religious voters from the Republican Party during his campaign.

As a candidate, the real estate magnate offered to nominate a pro-life judge to the Supreme Court. He said that if the sentence allowing abortion is repealed, he will give each State the decision to maintain or restrict that right. He also suggested that those involved in an abortion should be punished.

“The president, it is no secret, has made it very clear that he is a pro-life president,” White House press secretary Sean Spicer said to reporters at his first daily briefing. “He wants MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 16 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

PHOTO: AFP

e did not take long to fulfill one of his campaign promises. On his fourth day as President of the United States, Donald Trump banned NGOs from using US government funds in favor of abortion.

to stand up for all Americans, including the unborn, and I think the reinstatement of this policy is not just something that echoes that value, but respects taxpayer funding as well,” he added.

The policy, initially launched by the Reagan administration, was rescinded by Obama in 2009.

Now, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that offer or promote abortion as part of their family planning services will not receive any assistance from the United States Agency for International Development, one of their largest contri-

internacional

butors. One of the most affected by this measure is Planned Parenthood, the organization that promotes abortion in the United States.

ANOTHER BILL On his part, Congressman Steve King has presented to the US House of Representatives a proposal to ban abortions in cases where the fetal heartbeat is detected.

The bill says that the heartbeat of the unborn baby must be checked before performing an abortion, and if it is detec-

ted, it will not be possible to end the life of the fetus.

This bill proposes that those who perform an abortion after detecting the heartbeat of the fetus or end the life of an unborn baby without checking if the heart beats or without informing the mother of the results of the analysis will face a fine or even imprisonment. “My legislation will require all physicians, before conducting an abortion, to detect the heartbeat of the unborn child.

If a heartbeat is detected, the baby is protected,� King said.

Source: internet news

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

17

THE BRAIN LIKES TO READ ON

PAPER

U

The study “Why the brain prefers paper,” published on Scientific American, explains that there is “physicality” in reading. Ferris Jabr, the author of the study, includes much research that indicates that reading digital texts is “tiring.”

Before a digital text, people “spend more time browsing, scanning and hunting for keywords,” says Jabr. “The implicit feel of where you are in a physical book turns out to be more important than we realized,” says the article on Scientific American.

The research reveals that there are other studies that explain that screen-based reading is more physically tiring and mentally taxing than reading on paper. This is because e-ink reflects ambient light like the ink on a paper book, but the difference is that screens shine light directly on people’s faces, which may cause eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision.

Screen-based reading at an early age can be a problem. A 2012 study at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center in New York recruited 32 pairs of parents and 3-to-6-year-old children. The results showed that kids remembered more details from stories they read on paper than ones they read in e-books enhanced with interactive animations, videos and games.

Furthermore, in a follow-up survey of 1226 parents, the majority reported that they and their children preferred print books over e-books. It was found that children could tell the story to their parents. With e-books, children were more tempted to other features offered by the tablet.

STUDENTS People consistently say that when they really want to dive MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 18 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

FOTO: AFP

sers increasingly choose to read newspapers, academic articles and even books on digital displays, but how much quality is there in e-reading? A scientific study found that the brain prefers to read on paper than on screens.

current issues

KEY POINTS

1. PHYSICALITY. The study “Why the brain prefers paper” vindicates the “physicality” of printed books unlike e-books. “The implicit feel of where you are in a physical book turns out to be more important than we realized.”

2. VISUAL MEMORY. Some studies claim that texts on paper lead to a better memory of what is read thanks to visual memory. This methodology allows to generate certain mental routes which, in general, are not possible when reading a text on a computer.

3. CHILDREN. At very early age, children remember more details from the stories they read on paper than the ones they read in e-books. Studies have shown that tablets and other devices generate distractions when reading.

into a text, they read it on paper. In a 2011 survey of graduate students at National Taiwan University, the majority reported browsing a few paragraphs online before printing the whole text for a more in-depth reading. In 2003, when the internet grew strongly in this region, a survey at the National Autonomous University of Mexico reported that 80% of 687 students preferred to read text on paper.

Maryanne Wolf, of the University of Tufts (United States) has investigated this matter. She decoded some paper advantages. For example, in her view, a digital text would lack references such as the extension, corners or margins and lack of illustrations. In this sense, it vindicates visual memory as a tool to remember the text.

NUANCES However, some scientific studies state that there are not too many differences among university students. A 2012study by the British Journal of Educational Technology, cited by the ABC newspaper of Spain, notes that there was no difference between those who read a 600-word text in digital or printed format. Understanding and detecting errors, the newspaper adds, was the same in both cases, but those who read it on the screen shortened the assignment.

Recent research has shown that a slight increase in letter spacing [with respect to standard spacing] leads to faster reading times in children with dyslexia, according to a research

by Manuel Perea, an expert in psycholinguistics at the University of Valencia and the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language of San Sebastian.

Taken from Newspaper El Pais (Uruguay)

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

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MALNUTRITION M alnutrition is an expression of food insecurity that occurs when people do not receive food in a regular, sufficient, healthy and balanced way.

Walter Menchola Vásquez

The origin of malnutrition is eminently social and poses considerable risks to human health. There are three forms of malnutrition: A. Acute malnutrition (low weight-for-height): It is associated with recent and accelerated weight loss or other inability to gain weight, in most cases due to a low food intake or the presence of infectious diseases.

B. Chronic malnutrition (growth failure): It is associated with prolonged, persistent, long-lasting problems that negatively affect child growth.

C. Micronutrient deficiency: It occurs when people do not have access to basic food such as fruits, vegetables and meats, and to fortified foods, usually due to their high cost or unavailability. Micronutrient deficiencies increase the risk of infectious diseases and death by diarrhea, measles, malaria, and pneumonia diseases that are among the ten main causes of morbidity worldwide (World Health Organization, World Food Programme, UNICEF, 2007).

Malnutrition contributes to the premature death of mothers, infants and young children, and to poor physical and cerebral development in young people. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 115 million underweight children worldwide and that malnutrition contributes to about one third of child mortality, as well as to growth failure.

We must take into consideration that malnutrition is a consequence of the social realities in which families are immersed and whose causes may be insufficient or poor-quality education, poverty, emotional deprivation, armed violence, family violence, problems at home, among others.

Malnutrition mainly affects children and has an important impact on their biological and psycho-emotional development, in many cases irreversibly. Malnourished children are more likely to die in the first years of life; if they survive, their educational and economic achievements are generally lower.

Let us see some examples. Children with iodine and essential micronutrients deficiency are, on average, 13 points lower in IQ than children without this deficiency. Similarly, children suffering from stunted growth (chronic malnutrition) are more likely to be late students, perform poorly on cognitive function tests and to drop out of school early. ReMISSIONARY MOVEMENT 20 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

search shows that adults who suffered from stunted growth as children earn 20% less than other comparable adults who did not and are 30% more likely to live in poverty and less likely to have qualified jobs.

As a result, the economic costs of malnutrition in terms of loss of national productivity and economic growth are considerable, estimated between 2% and 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in some countries and up to 11% of GDP in Africa and Asia each year.

Globally, malnutrition is more common when household income is low, but it is also associated with food shortages, low-content diets, high rates of infectious diseases, social and

FOTO: AFP

Health

cultural practices that sustain poor nutrition, and inadequate care of newborns. Food and financial crises, as well as natural disasters, have aggravated malnutrition in many regions of the world, as it is being experienced with climate change (according to World Bank reports).

In order to address this scourge, countries design and implement Public Food Security Policies for affected people, especially children, to receive in a timely manner adequate food to prevent the lack of them from affecting their development and to help them fully reach their adulthood.

Nutrition in the Americas has some paradoxes, as the region is capable of generating 2900 calories per person a day,

an amount that exceeds by 16% the average daily requirement of an individual, which is 2500 calories. That is, the region produces more than enough food to meet its needs. The problem of hunger in these societies has other connotations, social and political. In other words, ours is not a problem of availability but of access to food, which is why we can state categorically that overcoming hunger and malnutrition is inextricably linked to overcoming poverty and inequity. (*) Internist, Master in Management and Public Policies Source: World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund).

February 2017 / Impacto evangelistic

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Photo: Roberto Guerrero MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 22 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

Interview

THE CHURCH MUST RETURN

TO THE SOURCE

R

ev. Rubén Concepción, International Secretary of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, states that Christians must have a personal relationship with God to face the evil one. He also emphasizes that spiritual weapons must be recovered.

Defender of the elements of faith that some consider outdated, Rev. Rubén Concepción, International Secretary of the WMM, analyzes the present of the Church, which attentively observes the presence of devastating meteorological phenomena and the advancement of technology and globalization.

How is the Work of God in the Dominican Republic that you led until October 2016 for eight years?

The Worldwide Missionary Movement in the Dominican Republic is growing and developing in number to have an impact on a country with 11 million inhabitants. We have great cultural diversity, with a very striking experience of faith. The Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean countries where speaking of God attracts the population, and that has given the WMM the possibility of establishing itself as a Work and as an organization.

Devastating meteorological phenomena have hit several Caribbean countries lately, including Hurricane Matthew. What do you think about it?

The Bible tells us that there were times when nature showed a behavior influenced by the power of darkness and that the Lord rebuked the winds. Nature can be an instrument to destroy; God uses it as judgment. The world is under the

god of this century, so we cannot deny the power it has in the earthly realm. Today, some Christians believe that the Gospel is something to take lightly, they leave everything to the circumstances and forget that the power of darkness is real and that Satan will always seek to destroy what God has designed.

Do you mean that the Church is asleep to these events?

I would not say it is asleep. I think that the Church is entertained because this century is very advanced in critical thinking, in the society’s capacity to reason, in globalization and in technology. The world is filled with knowledge, political and religious, of good things and bad things, but knowledge is not going to transform people. The Church can be filled with the knowledge of God and His doctrine, but, what if there is no life?

Do you think that the advancement of technology contributes to the advent of the antichrist as the Bible states?

Science cannot be stopped. It is quite difficult to stop the benefits of technology, just as we had to accept credit cards instead of cash, which has already been relegated because the technology is advancing. I always like to keep a balance, so I do not think technology is a means of Satan to destroy us. We must be clear. It is impossible for a mark of Satan to arise if the Church still exits. The Rapture of the Church would have to occur first.

What can the Church do before the evil one?

The Church of the postmodern generation must return to the source, to those elements that some consider outdated. It must return to a relationship with God in the first place, because no one can speak of the Lord without a personal relationship with Him. The Church, which is formed by us, must analyze and recover those spiritual weapons we possess, such as the search for God and above all the intimacy with the Lord.

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RAISING GODLY CHILDREN IN AN UNGODLY

WORLD

B

ook written by brothers Ken and Steve Ham, leaders of the ministry Answers in Genesis. In their work, they talk about the fundamental value of the first book of the Bible in the education of evangelical children.

The easy way appears to be for us to turn away from the simple instruction of God’s Word, gathered through personal study, and place our trust in a cosmic blend of biblical and psychological ideals and teaching—teachings that more often than not are contrary to the Word of God alone. It is so important that we all realize that there is no substitute for God’s Word in any family. The apostle Peter challenges us to “as new born babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you might grow in respect to salvation.” No radio or television program, counseling materials, or parenting course can possibly be a substitute for the revelation of our almighty, all-knowing God. Created to leave a long-lasting legacy and enhance Christian values, the book “Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World” was written in 2014 by brothers Ken and Steve Ham, leaders of the international ministry Answers in Genesis.

Built on the Scriptures, the work of the Ham talks about the importance of the first book of the Bible in the way of raising children committed to the Word of God and about the authority of the message of the Lord in matters of spiritual instruction.

In order to have the Bible as your axiom, it is important to understand that there are two fundamentally ways to interpret and approach your Bible: exegesis and eisegesis. In simplistic terms, exegesis is the process of bringing forth the truth from the words of the Scripture. This entails reading and understanding the context of the passage, who it was written to, and what it was saying to them according to the type of language and literature used at the time. Eisegesis involves “reading into” a passage by taking God’s Word and interpreting it base on human experience, values and so on. Eisegesis uses extra-biblical data to interpret the meaning of the words of the Scripture.

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CHRISTIAN LEGACY The three parts that make up “Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World� emphasize the transcendence of Genesis.

Steve and Ken Ham, who drive creationism from Answers in Genesis, share their own testimonies of how they were raised with the Christian principles included in the first chapter of the Scriptures. From their experience, both believe that applying the principles of the Word is a legacy that will influence the next Christian generations.

Every essential biblical principle has relational truth, from Genesis to Revelation. It is truly necessary to help our children see that the authoritative biblical instruction they receive has important relational ramifications for them. For example, in relation to the incarnation of Jesus, the truth about the incarnation has massive consequences to our relationship with God. Not only is the virgin birth and incarnation of Christ real, but so it the reason for it; and the reason is a relational reason one that causes us to contemplate where we stand in our personal relationship with Jesus as our Savior.

In their book, published by Master Books, the Ham brothers strive to answer the question: What does the Word of God teach us about parenting and raising children? They also try to answer other questions, such as: Why are families falling apart? How to interpret and apply the Bible to parenting with integrity? How to create a family environment for spiritual growth?

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Is Christian formal education an option? How to implement godly discipline and teach our children discernment?

One of the greatest travesties in our society today is that many fathers are not transmitting to the next generation the knowledge of God and His commands from the Word. What is even sadder is that most fathers do not seem know how to do this. They do not know what it means to be the spiritual head of the house. It appears that the fathers of the past did not transmit this knowledge to the present generation and now we have a generation of fathers that has very little, if any, understanding of what the family is all about, and no one has trained them or modeled their spiritual leadership or how to be a Christian father.

TIMES OF DARKNESS Author of several evangelical books, Ken Ham, founder of the Museum of Creation, states that “Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World” is a book quite different from any of his other ones. He says that it is an expression of passion, conviction and commitment to the Word of God. Furthermore, he considers that, in one way, it is a diary, but also a tribute, a devotional, a book on how to educate Christian children amid times of darkness.

Faith substantiated by the Word is essential. Every time our children walk out the front door of our home, the world is waiting to attack their faith. Even inside our homes, television sets are constantly telling them that biblical truth does not match modern science. Even many Christian schools and Christian resources teach our children humanistic principles that point to the Bible as an untrustworthy source of information.

Faith substantiated by the Word is essential. Every time our children walk out the front door of our home, the world is waiting to attack their faith. Even inside our homes, television sets are constantly telling them that biblical truth does not match modern science. Even many Christian schools and Christian resources teach our children humanistic principles that point to the Bible as an untrustworthy source of information. From Paul’s teaching, we have clearly seen that the content and authority of the Scripture are inseparably linked to the themes of love and faith.

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with his brother Ken is to share with people how Jesus Christ can help train the believers of tomorrow. In this regard, Steve points out that the most important thing is to leave an eternal and valuable spiritual legacy: love for the Creator and Savior and His infallible Word.

Contamination comes in many forms, but perhaps the saddest aspect is that much of institutional Christianity has compromised the Word of God, particularly concerning the doctrine of creation. Genesis (especially the first 11 chapters) is foundational to all Christian doctrine. I repeat: If generations are trained to disbelieve the Book of Genesis as literal history, and to embrace man’s fallible ideas concerning evolution and an earth that is millions of years old, they are put on a slippery slide of unbelief through the rest of the Bible.

In his book “Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World,” Ken and Steve Ham address issues such as: If All We Had Was the Word, The Theologian in Each of Us, Godly Generations, God Has No Grandchildren, Diligent Dads, Creating the Environment of Sanctification, Welcome to the War, Submission, Discipline and Nutrition, The Family Fortress, and The Revelation of a Legacy. Based on Genesis, Steve and Ken develop a practical biblical message for everyday life that leads

One of the greatest travesties in our society today is that many fathers are not transmitting to the next generation the knowledge of God and His commands from the Word. What is even sadder is that most fathers do not seem know how to do this.

They do not know what it means to be the spiritual head of the house. It appears that the fathers of the past did not transmit this knowledge to the present generation and now we have a generation of fathers that has very little, if any, understanding of what the family is all about.

to the Lord.

We have an unquestioned responsibility to stand up and condemn error that is contrary to God’s Word. This is very important in a world that has adopted a mindset that goes against truth and interferes with three additional aspects of building a legacy and raising godly children: submission, discipline, and nutrition. The biblical model for submission, discipline, and nutrition is our fundamental defense against the culture of this world. That is important, because the Christian family is also under attack by a crafty and powerful philosophy that has permeated the very fabric of our society.

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CRYING IN THE

CHAPEL W

ritten by singer-songwriter Artie Glenn, it was the most important gospel song in the United States in 1953. Moved by its lyrics, popular and secular singers performed it.

Faith in God, happiness, relief, tears, problems, the way to salvation and the love of the Lord are the themes intertwined in the gospel hymn “Crying in the Chapel.” Written by Artie Glenn, renowned singer-songwriter of the twentieth century, for the musical debut of his son Darrell, it became the most important gospel song in the United States in 1953.

Rejected in the first place by the Hill & Range Songs and Acuff-Rose Music, two of the most important music publishers of the 50’s in North America, Artie Glenn’s composition was part of his son Darrell’s first album. “Crying in the Chapel,” finally accepted by Valley Publishers, was a poem of intense verses with a particular meaning for the Glenn family: in the chapel referred to in the song, Darrell would often give classes at Sunday School and Artie used to preach the Word.

Following the release of “Crying in the Chapel,” published in May 1953, Artie and Darrell Glenn, members of a dynasty of faithful believers of the Lord, took the banner of Christianity to the top of the American musical scene. Darrell, who had not yet finished high school, visited twenty of the fifty American states and Canada as soon as his father’s creation became a musical event that sold fifteen thousand copies in two months.

God-fearing, popular singer Elvis Presley further enhanced the impact achieved by the ode sung originally by Darrell Glenn. On October 30, 1960, Presley, who covered more than fifty Christian hymns, recorded “Crying in the Chapel” during the sessions of his album His Hand in Mine. However, the recording was not released until April 1965 as an Easter

Artie and Darrell Glenn, members of a dynasty of faithful believers of the Lord, took the banner of Christianity to the top of the American musical scene.

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CRYING IN THE CHAPEL You saw me crying in the chapel.

The tears I shed were tears of joy I know the meaning of contentment Now I am happy with the Lord Just a plain and simple chapel Where humble people go to pray I pray the Lord that I'll grow stronger As I live from day to day I've searched and I've searched But I couldn't find No way on earth To gain peace of mind Now I'm happy in the chapel Where people are of one accord We gather in the chapel Just to sing and praise the Lord Ev'ry sinner looks for something That will put his heart at ease There is only one true answer He must get down on his knees Meet your neighbor in the chapel Join with him in tears of joy You'll know the meaning of contentment Then you'll be happy with the Lord You'll search and you'll search But you'll never find No way on earth To gain peace of mind Take your troubles to the chapel Get down on your knees and pray Your burdens will be lighter And you'll surely find the way

special single and immediately became a hit selling more than one million copies.

“Crying in the Chapel” has been recorded by more than fifty artists throughout its more than 63 years of history. Recorded in Spanish, Swedish, Czech and English, Artie Glenn’ hymn has been performed by band such as The Orioles, The Platters, Allies, Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge and Los 5 Latinos, duets such as Santo & Johnny and Raya Avellan & Yngve Stoors Hawaiiorkester, and soloists such as Ken Griffin, Lee Lawrence, Ella Fitzgerald, Little Richard, Carol Fran, Don McLean y Karel Gott, among others.

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TIRELESS

MESSENGER M

ary Slessor, who loved God above all else, is known as the main missionary who spread the Word of the Lord in Calabar, a region located in presentday Nigeria, on the west coast of Africa.

Eugene Harrison

“Run, Ma! Run!” Whenever Ma, the white woman, heard these words, she knew that serious trouble was brewing, so she hurried out of the house and down the path into the forest. Presently she found Etim, the oldest son and heir apparent of chief Edem, lying unconscious under a tree which had fallen on him. For a fortnight, she nursed him in his mother’s house, but her efforts were in vain.

Early one Sunday morning, while she was resting in her own hut, the boy’s life began to ebb. This news sent a spasm of terror throughout the district, for every violent death was attributed to witchcraft and it was certain that a number of persons would be put to death on the charge of having caused the tree to fall on the boy. Hurrying to the chief’s house, Ma found the natives blowing smoke into the dying lad’s nostrils, shouting into his ears and rubbing ground pepper into his eyes. As soon as life had fled, the chief shouted: “Sorcerers have killed my son and they must die! Bring the witch-doctor!”

At these words, everybody fled. When the witch doctor arrived, he tried out his divinations and placed the responsibility for the boy’s death on a certain village. Forthwith armed warriors marched to that village, seized a dozen men and women, brought them back loaded with chains and fastened them to posts in the yard.

The chief endeavored to persuade Ma to let the prisoners submit to the poison ordeal, for, said he, “If they are not guilty, they will not die.” Ma knew that the poison would kill them, irrespective of their innocence, and refused to agree.

Finally, eleven of the prisoners were released and the death of the one remaining, a woman, was demanded. When Ma stubbornly refused, the chief stormed, threatened to burn down the house, and in blazing passion declared, “She caused my son’s death and she must die!” Bowing her head, the white Ma prayed for strength and patience and love. And, after several days of terrific strain she eventually won out. The last of the prisoners was released and the chief contented himself with the sacrifice of a cow.

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Who was this woman who could triumph over such conditions?

She was Mary Slessor, born in Aberdeen, Scotland, December 2, 1848, and known as the White Queen of Calabar, a region on the west coast of Africa. Concerning this intrepid woman, J. H. Morrison pays this tribute: “She is entitled to a place in the front ranks of the heroines of history…”

One day in 1898, the newsboys and porters in Waverley Sta-

heroes of faith

tion, Edinburgh, were astonished to see a woman of slight build, with a face like yellow parchment in hue and with short straight hair, get off the train accompanied by four wide-eyed African girls. The spectators’ amazement would have been vastly intensified had they known that they were gazing at a queen and her retinue; that, in early life she was the mainstay of the family after her father’s death at Dundee and had been a Scottish factory girl,

Mary rescued hundreds of twin babies thrown out into the forest, prevented many wars, stopped the practice of trying to determine guilt by the poison ordeal, healed the sick, and unweariedly told the people about the great God of love whose Son came to earth to die on the cross that poor sinful human beings might have eternal life. The Master she loved and served so ardently crowned her labors by permitting her to establish a number of churches and to see hundreds of erstwhile savages partake of the sacred emblems of their Savior's death.

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toiling at her weaving machine from six in the morning till six at night amid the flash of the shuttles, the rattle of the looms and the roar of the machines; and, like David Livingstone, had educated herself by reading good books, a few sentences at a time, while tending her machine.

Wherever Mary Slessor went on her triumphal tour among the churches, the people were enthralled as they heard her tell, in a simple and humble manner, how she had endured hunger and thirst under the flaming sun of Africa, had been smitten down by tropical fevers, had controlled drunken cannibals brandishing loaded muskets, had mastered hundreds of frenzied natives lusting for blood and had faced death a thousand times in her endeavor to bring redemption’s story to Africa’s perishing peoples.

They were moved to tears as she told of the slave markets, of human sacrifice, of cannibalism, and told specifically how, upon a certain chief’s death, twenty-five heads were cut off and, at the death of another chief, sixty people were killed and eaten. But the stories the Scotch Christians liked best of all were those telling how she had rescued from death hundreds of baby twins and other deserted babies thrown out in the forest to perish of hunger or to be eaten by ants or leopards.

As a young girl, Mary had given her heart and life to Jesus and, due to the influence of stories told her by her mother, had formed a secret desire to be a missionary to Calabar. She became not only an active member of her own church but also a zealous worker in several missions.

WORK IN CALABAR Early in 1874, the news of the death of David Livingstone stirred the land and created a great wave of missionary enthusiasm. The call for workers for Africa thrilled many a heart into action. One of these was Mary Slessor. She offered her services to the Foreign Mission Board, was accepted and brought to Edinburgh for special training. August 5, 1876, she sailed from Liverpool on the steamer Ethiopia.

Soon after landing in Calabar, she began to realize the difficulty and seeming impossibility of the work to which she had committed herself. One day her canoe was attacked by a hippopotamus and she saved her life, and the lives of the children with her, by throwing a cooking pot into the gaping jaws. She found herself in a land where terrified prisoners dipped their hands in boiling oil to test their guilt under some accusation, where wives were strangled or buried alive to go with their dead chief into the spirit-world, where heartless chiefs could order a score of men and women to be beheaded for a cannibal orgy and sell a hundred more into the horrors of slavery.

What could one frail, timid woman do, confronted by such an appalling situation? Overwhelmed and depressed, she knelt and prayed, “Lord, the task is impossible for me but not for Thee. Lead the way and I will follow.” She commenced the study of Efik, the language of the Calabar people, and in time mastered it.

In a land of death, she brought a message of life. To souls in deepest sorrow, she brought a message of comfort and hope. To

people dwelling in the habitations of cruelty, she spoke of love and kindness. To lives steeped in barbarism and sin, she pointed to the redeeming Lord.

REMARKABLE BELIEVER Though stricken with fever, diarrhea, and other diseases scores of times, she toiled on in Calabar for nearly forty years. Repeatedly she moved deeper into the interior to take redemption’s sweet story to new tribes and new areas. Her house was filled with orphans, upon whom she lavished the love of her motherly heart.

During an epidemic of smallpox, the people fled in terror of the dread disease. Ma nursed and fed the forsaken victims, tenderly pointed them to Jesus, and, without assistance, buried the many who died. In a letter describing her experiences she wrote: “It is not easy. But Christ is here and I am always satisfied and happy in His love.”

Miss Slessor worked from cock-crow till star-shine. And what

They were moved to tears as she told of the slave markets, of human sacrifice, of cannibalism, and told specifically how, upon a certain chief's death, twenty-five heads were cut off and, at the death of another chief, sixty people were killed and eaten. But the stories the Scotch Christians liked best of all were those telling how she had rescued from death hundreds of baby twins and other deserted babies thrown out in the forest to perish of hunger or to be eaten by ants or leopards.

was the grand object of all her striving and ordeals? One who knew her well stated, “It was for souls she was always hungering.”

Mary rescued hundreds of twin babies thrown out into the forest, prevented many wars, stopped the practice of trying to determine guilt by the poison ordeal, healed the sick, and unweariedly told the people about the great God of love whose Son came to earth to die on the cross that poor sinful human beings might have eternal life. The Master she loved and served so ardently crowned her labors by permitting her to establish a number of churches and to see hundreds of erstwhile savages partake of the sacred emblems of their Savior’s death.

Shortly before her death, January 13, 1915, she said to her twins, now grown to young manhood and womanhood: “Never talk about the cold hand of death. It is the hand of Christ. For I am persuaded, with the apostle Paul, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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A MIRACLE NAMED

JEFTZYBAH J

orge Bossa and Nubi Carreño are the parents who entrusted the fruit of their love to the Lord. Doctors detected a congenital disease in their baby during pregnancy and recommended abortion, but they protected her daughter’s life. They now have a beautiful babygirl.

Marlo Pérez Photo: Archivo familiar

In the beginning of 2016, Jorge Bossa and Nubi Carreño, like many other recently married, were preparing to fulfill one of their biggest goals: to become parents. Nevertheless, their blessing almost became a tragedy when the couple of Christians from the WMM in Colombia learned that their baby had hydrocephalus, a congenital disease that was about to destroy the fruit of their love. But the miraculous intervention of the Almighty was beyond science.

In the fifth month of pregnancy, Nubi sensed that the babygirl in her belly was not moving. When Jorge came back home from work, he massaged her wife’s belly to make the baby react. When she was taken to the Military Hospital of Bogotá, specialists used the same resuscitation technique, but they could not detect any beat or signal showing the stability of the baby. After additional exams, they finally heard her small heart beating slowly and gently. Everything was well again. Both parents returned home to enjoy Christmas without any clue about the true Calvary that they were about to endure.

Some days later, Jorge took Nubi to her routine monthly pregnancy check-up; they could not imagine that they would receive the most disheartening news: their little Jeftzybah had a dangerous abnormality in her head. They were quickly referred to a specialized clinic of the city, and the specialists concluded that the baby had a congenital disease named hydrocephalus, which causes an abnormal brain enlargement due to the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. The news shook them.

On their way home, on the bus, neither of them said a word. They remained silent looking through the Windows, asking themselves why. Suddenly, incapable of repressing their huge sadness any longer, a tear showed on Nubi’s face

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During the first days of January 2016, after the diagnosis of their baby, Jorge and Nubi turned to every specialist in the city for tests, check-ups and analyses. It became a routine. Meanwhile, little Jeftzybah struggled between life and death. “Despite our pain, we knew and trusted that God, just like He had allowed the pregnancy, would bring things to a good and happy conclusion,” says Jorge.

and Jorge burst into tears. Passengers on the bus did not understood the situation of the young couple or the reason of their embrace, but the scene broke all of them. The pain was more than evident.

LOVE STORY Jorge Mario Bossa Panqueva was born in July 1985 in the city of Soata, in the Colombian department of Boyacá. Since his childhood, his parents taught him the knowledge of the Word of God, but he got away from Him as a teenager. When he turned 17, he had his first son, Hammer, from a first relationship. Three years after the end of his studies, he served in his country’s army.

Nubi Aliz Carreño Bravo was born in March 1987 in the city of Gachalá, in the Colombian department of Cundimarca. She was the daughter of a known couple of pastors who served the Lord in a Church of the WMM in Colombia. Her childhood was marked by constant missionary trips to the inland, preaching the Gospel of Jesus-Christ.

In 2010, Jorge and Nubi met and built a beautiful friendship that, after some months, became a romantic relationship.

Two years later, they got married in the municipality of Melgar, in the department of Cundimarca, and became a solid marriage, but they waited some time to reach their personal

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goals before starting a family.

CONCEIVING THE PAIN In 2015, Jorge and Nubi decided to have a child and become the family they always dreamed of. They got ready and asked for the Lord’s support. “We were so happy when we learned that we would become parents. We had prayed God for that, and He surely answered,” they recall.

Some months later, Nubi felt the symptoms of pregnancy and, on August 18, the news was confirmed during a checkup. The results proved the miracle of life. “She was pregnant because the Lord allowed it,” says Jorge.

When they announced their happiness to the family and some people of the Church, Jorge and Nubi never imagined the acid test that God had prepared for them five months after the results. It was a true test of faith. Jorge states: “Our baby would be named Jeftzybah, which means ‘my delight is in her’, as said in Isaiah 62: 4.”

deaf or blind or, in the worst-case scenario, she would be in vegetative state and die after a few minutes. This news shook the hearts of Jorge and Nubi, but they both regained strength and refused again, because their faith was stronger than human reasoning. “We trusted that if He (God) had allowed it, He would give us a solution… Abortion was never an option,” says Jorge.

TRUE AGONY During the first days of January 2016, after the diagnosis of

THE MIRACLE OF LIFE Despite the discouraging prognosis, the 40th week arrived and the time of birth was close. Doctors ordered an emergency Cesarean, since the head of the girl would not be able to pass through the uterine tract. In the operating room, six specialists, a resuscitator, an oxygen chamber and other medical devices awaited Nubi and her baby.

Jorge waited patiently and sheltered in the promises of the Lord until the door of the operating room opened and he saw the fragile body of her little child, who was taken immediately to an incubator. This miracle happened on April 13, 2016.

Some minutes later, one of the obstetricians who performed the surgery told Jorge that there had not been major

Some minutes later, one of the obstetricians who performed the surgery told Jorge that there had not been major complications during the C-section and that his first-born needed no further surgical intervention; she was out of danger and likely to have a healthy life. For the first time in many months of anguish, a smile appeared on Jorge’s face. God had answered his and her wife’s prayers.

Some days later, Jorge took Nubi to her routine monthly pregnancy check-up; they could not imagine that they would receive the most disheartening news: their little Jeftzybah had a dangerous abnormality in her head. They were quickly referred to a specialized clinic of the city, and the specialists concluded that the baby had a congenital disease named hydrocephalus.

their baby, Jorge and Nubi turned to every specialist in the city for tests, check-ups and analyses. It became a routine.

Meanwhile, little Jeftzybah struggled between life and death.

“Despite our pain, we knew and trusted that God, just like He had allowed the pregnancy, would bring things to a good and happy conclusion,” says Jorge.

While waiting for a miracle, they prayed as in Jeremiah 33: 3 (“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not”). In the 7th month (28th week), one of the gynecologists recommended them to interrupt the pregnancy to end the agony. Both of them refused categorically due to their conviction and faith in life.

As time passed by, specialists recommended abortion again, as the prognosis stated that the baby would be born

complications during the C-section and that his first-born needed no further surgical intervention; she was out of danger and likely to have a healthy life. For the first time in many months of anguish, a smile appeared on Jorge’s face. God had answered his and her wife’s prayers.

Nowadays, little Jeftzybah is more than 9 months old and has a very healthy prognosis something difficult to understand for the physicians who practically declared her terminally ill. Jorge and Nubi, who prefer to place their trust in the promises of the Creator rather in than those of science, say, “Our baby must have physical and language therapy until 2017, but it is just a routine treatment.”

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BIG CRISIS, BIG

CONQUESTS “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” Luke 21: 31.

Rev. Luis M. Ortiz

Thanks to the Holy Scriptures, we know that God always opened a way to absolute and categorical victory every time His people had to confront a big crisis.

When the Great Flood was sent on humanity and its execution was imminent, God considered Noah’s obedience and protected him and his family (Hebrews 11: 7; 2 Peter 2: 5). The drastic element of crisis highlighted the victory.

When the total destruction of the corrupt cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was about to happen, God delivered Lot, who was vexed with the filth of the wicked (2 Peter 2: 7). The violent element of crisis underlined the victory.

When the capture and maybe total destruction of the people of Israel seemed forthcoming with the impassable Red Sea ahead and the cruel and bloodthirsty Pharaoh and his mighty army behind Moses prayed and God made the sea go back; the children of Israel passed the sea as by dry land, and the waters were a wall on both sides (Exodus 14: 21; Hebrews 11: 29). The imminent element of crisis enhanced the glorious liberation.

When the fearsome Goliath defied the people of Israel and it seemed that nobody would confront him, young David, totally relying on God, said to the giant, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel…”

(1 Samuel 17: 45, 47). David defeated the Philistine. The disconcerting element of crisis pointed out to a surprising triumph.

When the evil Jezebel and the coward Ahab almost destroyed the true worship, God sent Elijah for the great challenge at Mount Carmel; he prayed and called God, and after the supernatural manifestation of God’s power, the people cried, “The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God” (1 Kings 18: 20-40). The repugnant element of crisis emphasized the transcendent victory.

When Satan reigned as emperor of death, “the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3: 8) and “through death he might destroy him that had the power of death” (Hebrews 2: 14, 15). The overwhelming element of crisis stressed the great liberation.

When the lives of the Apostles were threatened so that they would stop spreading the name of Jesus, they prayed and “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4: 29-31). The dangerous element of MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 40 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

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crisis intensified the beautiful triumph.

When the Church in the Middle Ages diverted from the sound doctrine and was fully corrupted, God raised Martin Luther, who after lots of prayers broke free from that Church and nailed his 95 theses to the door of his temple, and spread the evangelical truth that “the righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1: 17). The hideous element of crisis deepened the glorious victory.

When England gave in to inexorable anarchy, ruin and destruction in the 19th century, among a small group of Christians praying and bowing before the Lord, God raised John Wesley, who caused a powerful revival with his fervent and sincere preaching that saved the nation from disaster. The decadence element of crisis enhanced the precious visitation.

When the Christian world seemed indifferent and spiritually numb, there was always a group in all the churches that prayed and looked for the face of the Lord. God shook the world in the beginning of the 20th century with a powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit that started the Pentecostal movement. The disgraceful element of crisis spotlighted the memorable blessing.

When and wherever that Pentecostal church has afflicted the Holy Spirit, extinguished its fire, despised its miracles, replaced the spiritual and supernatural for the intellectual and mundane, and become just another denomination, God has always shaped another movement to keep up the true Pentecostal testimony. The deplorable element of crisis emphasized the admirable new movements.

When inquisitorial, atheist and materialist regimes have oppressed, jailed, tortured, killed by hunger or brutally murdered God’s people and forced it to work in concentration camps in order to wipe up from Earth the glorious faith in our Lord, He has strengthened His children; and negative results have fallen on the enemies of the Gospel, as murderers so rushed their ruin and moral, spiritual and everlasting misery. This is why Christians increase despite horrible massacres or inhuman tortures.

Beloved ones, if one day God allowed current powers and media to fall into the hands of the declared and sworn enemies of the Gospel, and a terrible persecution occurred, the true Church of Jesus-Christ would end up winning, as the impious would leave the Church and it would be spiritually invigorated, and it would experience that the help comes from God and not by might or power.

“My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth…

And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Psalm 121: 2; Matthew 16: 18).

Beloved ones, everybody knows that nowadays the world undergoes the most severe and terrifying crisis in history. The world has never experienced such dangerous and distressing days; science had never emerged so prideful; moral had never been influenced this way by the world. A prophetic declaration states that this world “shall wax worse and worse” (2 Timothy 3: 13).

But beloved ones, there is nothing to fear, it is good if things go bad, since “when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21: 28). The sinister and stifling element of crisis results in the glorious and imminent rise of the Church.

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IT WAS DRIED BUT

IT BLOOMED “And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness. And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.” Numbers 17:7-8 Rev. Clemente Vergara

Israel abandoned the captivity in Egypt and began its journey through the desert. In that inhospitable place, there was neither vegetation nor shadow; there was only drought, sand and sun. These conditions created, in many opportunities, the rebellion of people against Moses. Nevertheless, God allowed those revolts to happen in order to show that He was supporting his servant and it was Him who stood for Moses’ authority.

1. The bloom, proof of authority The Holy writ narrate the events related to the rebellion of Korah, Datham and Abiram against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16 and 17). These three men, with the help of other two hundred fifty Israelites, gathered themselves against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:1-3). When noticing this attitude and hearing accusations, Moses warned them that their murmur was not against men, but against God himself (Numbers 16:11).

God allowed the earth to open and swallow Korah, Datham and Abriam, along with their families. The two hundred and fifty men who had dared to burn incense—a task that only the priests who were descents of Aaron could perform—were consumed by a fire that came out from the Lord (Numbers 16:28-33,35).

However, even after those events took place, people kept murmuring and complaining. To cease the murmuring, the Lord ask every prince of Israel to give a rod with their name on it and the rod of the house of Levi to be marked with the name of Aaron. Only the rod whose owner truly complied with God’s will would bloom. The next day, “the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds” (Numbers 17:8).

According to the human logic and the laws of nature, it is impossible for a rod to bloom again or create bark or living fibers. All of a sudden during that night, sap began to flow inside the rod. It was not only alive, but also passed through the three stages of production: buds, flowers and fruits. The rod MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 42 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

was dry but it bloomed again and it was undeniable that God stood for Aaron.

2. Sacrifice and dangers of blooming The name Jabez means “he who causes pain” or “the dried up”.

Usually, when a mother receives her baby on her arms, she forgets the pain she suffered during labor. However, when Jabez’ mother chose that name, she perpetuated the pain.

Once during his life, Jabez thought he had not blossomed spiritually as he aspired.

Jabez was a man of prayer and the holy writ states that powerful prayer he dedicated to God: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested” (1 Chronicles 4:10) God granted Jabez what he asked for, and from being a spiritual desert he turned into an oasis filled with blessings.

The Word of God says Jabez became “more honourable than his brethren” (1 Chronicles 4:9). He was already wise, but he asked God to

devotional

expand his territory and his humbleness, thus preventing to become arrogant.

God abominates arrogance (Psalms 138:6). To protect us from arrogance, we have another weapon for protection: gratitude. The closer we are to spiritual summits, the more shall we be on our knees thanking God. 3. Blooming in the ministry The Church informed Paul that Timothy was too young to perform the pastoral function and that he was somewhat listless and cold. The apostle wrote Timothy immediately. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:12-13).

The Paul‘s recommendations indicate that Timothy did not poke the flame of his ministry and did not make it constantly

El ministerio también debe pasar por un proceso constante de reverdecimiento; sin él, cae en la rutina y se anquilosa. El ministerio estancado es aquel que no conoce una renovación incesante, sino que se apoya en posiciones y logros de los cuales se enorgullece; es aquel que ya no siente amor por las almas perdidas y deja de evangelizarlas; es aquel que ya no es modélico en palabra, conducta, espíritu, fe y pureza...

bloom. Dear brothers, it is necessary to renew us spiritually all the time and to acquire new dimensions in God. Blooming is an unavoidable condition to be Christians supported by God’s authority. The ministry must also undergo a constant process of blooming, because if it doesn’t, it would become boring and inactive. The inactive ministry is the one that does not know the incessant renovation, the one that stands for certain positions and feels proud of achievements; it is the one who does not love the lost souls and stops evangelizing; it is the one who is not longer an example in word, in behavior, spirit, faith and purity; it is the one that changes the message because times change; it is the one that becomes frightened when it’s time to tell the truth, because it is scared of losing people.

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A quick report of the work that Worldwide Missionary Movement is making in America and throughout the world. The Holy Bible states: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple... And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”. (Acts 2:46,47).

MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 44 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

photos: Roberto Guerrero, Samuel Martínez, Andrés Arredondo, Valentina Roja, Sara Hoyos.

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“WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER

T

GOD”

he international officers attended the 50th National Convention of the WMM in Colombia, a joyful celebration of faith that gathered more than thirty thousand people from different parts of the country.

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Rev. Gustavo Martínez Garavito, President of the WMM, highlighted the evangelizing work and diffusion of the Word carried out by the Work over the last five decades and said that thousands of souls have been saved in more than 60 countries from the five continents.

Nevertheless, he also stated that some people have not understood well what God has done during these 50 years with the Work and that “it is normal for them to just celebrate.” “We must remember the days when, with lots of difficulties, the Lord was always there to help us,” he said.

“Looking back into the past, it is important for both Christian men and women to recall the difficult moments they had to endure. These lessons are important, because humans tend to repeat the same things as they fall back into routine. When believers fall into ‘spiritual routine,’ they go to the temple and make things out of habit or for religious tradition,” he added.

The 50th National Convention of the WMM in Colombia took place in La Macarena Convention Center, nearby the historic center of Medellin. This

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Colombian city with pleasant weather, located in the Aburrá Valley, over 1500 m.a.s.l., hosted during eight days thousands of people from the 84 Zones that make up the mission in this South-American country.

The Convention started on January 9 with the welcome speech by Rev. Martínez and gathered all the congregations of northern Colombia. From Friday 13 to Monday 16, the event brought together the members from the churches of southern Colombia.

During eight days, the sun shone brightly despite some light downpour that cooled the city, which suffered a wave of violence two decades ago that is fortunately now gone. The President of the Work declared, “We have come to celebrate, we are glad to have with us the National and International Board, as well as presbyters from different zones.

To God be the glory!”

The 50th WMM National Convention was attended by nine international officers, who shared the message of the Word to the more than thirty thousand attendees. There were also national supervisors from different countries and

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foreign delegations.

During his preaching, Rev. José Soto, International Vice President of the WMM, talked about the strategy of God to reach, through the Gospel’s message, all the souls that await salvation. “The rule is to follow the example of Christ. The WMM is part of the Lord’s strategy, since we are people willing to say as Isaiah, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” he stated. “We have a powerful Word that transforms, that must reach the whole world, and our biggest responsibility is to announce it throughout the world,” he added

GENDER IDEOLOGY Rev. Rodolfo González, International Treasurer of the WMM, talked about gender ideology and questioned energetically those politicians and academicians who encourage homosexuality throughout the world. He emphasized, “The people suffers for the sins and the policies of its governors; therefore, it is important to appeal to God for the freedom of nations from the satanic powers of darkness.”

Likewise, Rev. Rubén Concepción, International Secretary of the WMM, urged the people to preach the Gospel to stop the policies from the government that “aim to harm the new generations and the configuration of the traditional family. The Word of God is enough to stop the attack of those ideas.”

Rev. Humberto Henao, International Director of the WMM, also questioned the bills currently debated in Parliaments from different countries aiming to legalize gay marriage, which affects the principles and values of society and family. For that reason, he exhorted the people to preach continuously, since God listens to prayers and transforms those who oppose the commandments of the Word of God. “God gave the WMM a responsibility and we cannot fail,” he said.

RESPONSIBITY Rev. Márgaro Figueroa, International Director of the WMM, questioned tho-

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MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 50 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

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se “Christians” that use absurd excuses to avoid any work in the Church. He stated, “When they are asked a favor, they make up excuses and lie if necessary.”

He declared that obeying and complying with the orders of the Law of God is the basis of triumph. We achieve this by being close to reliable people. “When we get closer to responsible people, we learn from them and we can make good decisions,” he said.

Rev. Luis Meza Bocanegra, Interna-

tional Director of the WMM, said that it is usual to blame God for the sufferings of mankind and quoted writer David Yallop, who wrote a very polemic book where he uncovered the scandals of the Vatican. On the morning preaching of Sunday 15, he said, “Many atrocities were performed in the name of God by the Roman religion and others. This is a strategy of the devil to dishonor the name of God and harden the heart of skeptic people.”

During this Convention, many workers and pastors were promoted according to their devotion and work to spread the Word and support the growth of the WMM in their respective zones.

In the two stages of the Convention, there was meaningful and substantial preaching addressed to the attending Christians, but also happy moments during the parade of all the delegations that marched down at the stadium with their folk costumes.

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SHARING THE

VISION

T

he WMM in Puerto Rico held its 50th National Convention.

The event was attended by brothers from French Guiana, Ecuador, the United States, Peru and the Dominican Republic.

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The first event of 2017 of the Work of God, the National Convention of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Puerto Rico was held from January 2 to January 5 at the Convention Center of the WMM on the Island of the Lamb.

The event served to commemorate the fiftieth edition of this important spiri-

tual celebration.

The 50th National Convention of the WMM in Puerto Rico took place under the theme “Sharing the Vision,” in the city of Caguas. It was attended by a large part of the international officers of the Work of God, led by Rev. Gustavo Martínez. The event was also attended brothers from French Guiana, Ecuador, the United States, Peru and the Dominican Republic.

The spiritual celebration began on the night of January 2 with a review of the fifty editions by Sister Jaqueline Rovira. Then, Pastor Gustavo Martí-

events

Photos: Joel Villegas

nez, President of the Officers Board of the WMM, preached the Word of God through the message “Responsibility.”

Based on Romans 14:12, Rev. Martínez said that we will all give account to God and that the word responsibility is very challenging.

At the beginning of the second day, Rev. Álvaro Garavito, Director of the Officers Board of the Work of God, gave the message of the Lord. Based on Genesis 1:28 and 3: 9-10, Pastor Garavito shared the preaching “The Place Where God Has Placed Me and the Place Where He Wants to Find Me.” In his message, he spoke to the hearts and minds of the attendees.

Hours later, a video dedicated to the 50th National Convention of the WMM in Puerto Rico was showed. Then, Rev. Rubén Concepción, International Secretary of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, evangelized the people of God through his speech “Responsible for the Heavenly Vision.” Bases on Acts 26: 19-23, the Pastor advised the faithful to keep their faith in the Lord.

On the third day of the spiritual holiday, Rev. Arturo Hernández, National Supervisor of the WMM in the United States, presented a special preaching addressed to the youth. In his speech, entitled “Responsibility, a Gift Necessary to Serve,” Rev. Hernández pointed out that regardless of our age, God is wants us to serve Him. Parallel to the worship for youth, the

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main figures of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, led by Rev. Martínez, gathered to praise God. At this meeting, Pastor Martínez spoke about the responsibility of the ministers of the Lord. Then, at night, Rev. Rodolfo González, International Treasurer of the WMM, delivered the message “Let Us Be Responsible.”

On the last day, a Worker Promotion was held, and Rev. Luis Meza Bocanegra, International Director of the Work of God, preached the Gospel in a message based on 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27. The speech of Rev. Meza, “The Responsibility of the Herald of Faith,” focused on exhorting believers to be responsible with their spiritual lives in order to not go astray.

The 50th National Convention of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Puerto Rico ended with the participation of Rev. José Soto, International Vice President of the WMM, who delivered a speech based on Leviticus 6: 8-13. In his sermon, “The Fire Shall Ever Be Burning,” Rev. Soto pointed out that the light of our lives is our testimony. In addition, he said that there is no fire without firewood.

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DAY OF

BAPTISMS IN MANAUS N

ew brothers joined the Work.

On the beach of Punta Negra, in the city of Manaus, they received the sacrament of baptism. Pastor Henry Ramos led the ceremony.

To fulfill what is established in the Holy Scriptures, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Brazil held a day of baptisms on December 17, 2016. More than twenty followers of God received this important sacrament on the beach of Punta Negra, in the city of Manaus, located on the banks of the Negro River.

Rev. Henry Ramos, National SuperviMISSIONARY MOVEMENT 56 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

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sor of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Brazil, led the ceremony among songs, praises and the preaching of the Word of God. In his baptismal mission, Pastor Ramos, a man of faith, was supported by a group of pastors from the Lord’s Work in Brazil.

Wearing white suits, the group of bap-

tized brothers gathered in the western area of the beach of Punta Negra. One by one, and with great excitement, they received baptism before the attentive eyes of their relatives and many believers who came to this important tourist area of Manaus, which stands out for its natural beauty and modern infrastructure.

After the ministry of baptisms, Rev. Ramos, leader of the Work of God in Brazil, thanked the Lord for this victory granted to His Church. He also encouraged the new members of the WMM in Brazil to embrace the banner of sound doctrine that drives the congregation founded by Pastor Luis M. Ortiz in Puerto Rico.

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EQUATORIAL GUINEA IS WITH THE LORD

B

aptism ceremony held by the Seaside Promenade, in the city of Bata. The brothers who joined the WMM received the blessing from a group of pastors that consolidates the Work in Africa.

The Work of God continues to grow in Africa, where no less than one billion people live. Evidence of this was the ceremony held on December 31, 2016, when 22 faithful of the Lord were baptized on MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 58 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

the shores of the Atlantic Ocean by the Seaside Promenade, in the city of Bata, the economic capital of Equatorial Guinea.

One by one, the believers who decided to join the WMM in Equatorial Guinea came to the Seaside Promenade, a modern infrastructure in the coastal area of Bata where they gathered to receive the sacrament of baptism. It should be noted that, before the ceremony, the 22 baptized brothers went through a period of biblical instruction that served to strengthen their faith in God. The ceremony was attended by rela-

tives and members of the Lord’s Work in Equatorial Guinea, as well as pastors Benjamín Engono, leader of the Church of Bata, Antonio Yombo, Lorenzo Ndong and Felipe Aseko, and Sister Teresa Bindang. The servants of the Lord had the mission to baptize the new Christians who decided to surrender to Jesus Christ.

At the end of the baptism ceremony, Rev. Engono, promoter of the Work of God in Africa, stressed that the Worldwide Missionary Movement shows a sustainable development that is reflected in the increase of worshipers and established temples.

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HE THAT BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED

SHALL BE SAVED A

mong Christian music and praises, a group of new believers was baptized in Guayaquil –evidence that the Work is becoming stronger in Ecuador.

January 7 became a very special day for the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Ecuador, as 22 brothers descended into the baptismal waters of a pool in the city of Guayaquil, where the event was held.

MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 60 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

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Minutes before the baptism of the new members, more than a hundred believers gathered in the main temple of the Work of God in Guayaquil. The ceremony was led by Rev. Eugenio Masías, National Supervisor of the Work in Ecuador, who thanked the Lord for this group of new people in Christ.

Then, the faithful, accompanied by a band of Christian musicians, went on foot to the pool located near the main temple of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Guayaquil. Along the way, they sang evangelical hymns, praised the Lord and shared His Word.

Once there, Rev. Masías, along with other ministers of Christ, made those men and women who decided to fulfill God’s command to descend into the waters. Likewise, the Lord’s servant emphasized that, “he that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that does not believe shall be damned.”

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NEW CREATURES FOR

THE WORK

T

he WMM in Uruguay baptized its new members in the waters of the Uruguay River. Reborn, the brothers committed to work for the Gospel.

The waters of the Uruguay River, which is part of the Río de la Plata Basin, were used for four believers to be baptized on December 12, 2016 and seal their union with God and the Worldwide Missionary Movement.

Pastor Leonardo Cuello, an active

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servant of Jesus Christ, guided the ceremony in which the new members of the Lord’s Work who attend the temple of the WMM in the department of Paysandú surrendered to the Creator.

Among songs and praises to God, the followers of Christ descended into the waters of the Uruguay River and fulfilled the sacrament established by Jesus.

In addition, Pastor Cuello preached the Word of the Lord and emphasized the importance of Christian baptism.

Renewed by the sacrament of baptism, the new members of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Uruguay committed to work for the Gospel and the Work of God.

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INDIA RECEIVES GOD WITH CONVICTION

W

ith the patience of Job, the Work grows in one of the biggest countries in the world. New members have just received baptism.

On January 1, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in India held a ceremony in which four believers, members of a family who professed the Catholic faith before they knew the Gospel, were baptized and surrendered to the Lord.

The event, which brought together a large number of brothers, was guided by Rev. Samuel Jebaraj.

During the baptism, in which three men and one woman descended into the waters of a pool provided by a believer, Rev. Jebaraj spoke about this sacrament established by Jesus Christ in his earthly life. The servant of God also commented on the reasons why this order by the Son of the Lord must be fulfilled.

Likewise, Pastor Jebaraj stated that MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 64 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

the new members of the WMM should contribute to spreading the word of the Creator among the inhabitants of the second most populous nation in the

world. In addition, the preacher stressed that the work done by the WMM in India for the expansion of the Work of God is evident and very fruitful.

Other Events

ENGLAND Women’s Retreat in London

On September 16 and 17, 2016, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in England held a Women’s Retreat in the city of London, capital of the United Kingdom, which was attended by Sister Marbelis de Medina, wife of Rev. Carlos Medina, WMM Supervisor of Europe’s Block A. In the event, Sister Marbelis shared the Word of God with the ladies who are part of the Work in this country.

Along with the Lord’s servant, a group of sisters from the church of Barcelona arrived in London, who joined the London believers and praised the Creator.

PHILIPPINES Work in growth

Under the protection of God, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in the Philippines begins to reap the fruits of its work in favor of spreading the Gospel.

The WMM in this country, which has its own premises in Quezon City, one of the areas that make up Metro Manila, began last November 2016 to preach the Word of God house by house in the place known as Lagro, where the Work has its temple.

Following the evangelizing work, the Church has now a new member: Brother Ricardo Limbaga, who was touched by the Lord and surrendered to Jesus Christ after knowing the Word.

The WMM in the Philippines not only works in Lagro, but also in the province of Bulacán and in the city of Antipolo, capital of the province of Rizal.

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SWITZERLAND De homosexual a predicador

The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Switzerland received the visit of Brother Luis Huamaní, a Peruvian preacher who shared the testimony of his life before the Gospel, when he was homosexual and idolatrous. The event was held from September 28 to October 2, 2016.

Brother Huamaní, who was diagnosed with AIDS and later healed by God, testified in the temples of the cities of Geneva, Basel, Zurich and Bern. He also talked about how God rescued him from the clutches of evil using the media of the WMM in Switzerland as an instrument.

Pastor Jimmy Ramírez, who leads the Work of God in Switzerland, emphasized that Brother Huamaní’s present is a sign of the Lord’s power.

INDIA Children Camp

Under the theme “Blessed Generation,” the Worldwide Missionary Movement in India held on October 2, 2016, a Children’s camp in the temple of the town of Panagudi, in the state of Tamil Nadu.

In this event, which was attended by 250 children, the Word of God was given by Pastor Samuel, from the church of Thisayan Vilai. Excited, the Lord’s servant shared the Gospel with the group of little believers, who did not hesitate to glorify the Creator.

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LETTERS TO US... cartas@impactoevangelistico.net

JANUARY 2-5 National Convention in Puerto Rico 9-16 National Convention in Colombia 26-29 National Convention in Bolivia (Cochabamba)

SANTIAGO ALMANZA RAMÍREZ Hello! I write to thank you for the support you have given me, month after month, with your beautiful Christian magazine, Impacto Evangelistic. It leads to a good spiritual and personal edification and teaches how to walk hand in hand with God. I thank the Lord for putting your magazine on my way, as it has helped me greatly to adopt a different mindset and has made me understand things in a more consistent and personal way with God. From Texas, USA.

FEBRUARY 3-5 Convention Paraguay (Asunción) 9-12 Convention Argentina (Rosario) 25-28 Convention Panamá MARCH 2-5 Convention Honduras (San Pedro de Sula) 9-12 Convention in Australia (Sidney) APRIL 13-16 Convention Guatemala (Ciudad de Guatemala) 13-16 Convention in Guyanas, Trinidad y Martinica (Suriname)

MAURICIO PALMA I’m grateful to God, because while searching the Internet I found your magazine. I was filled with His Word and spiritual knowledge. Blessed and praised be God forever and ever. Be blessed, brothers, for making this great magazine.

From Panama City, Panama.

MAY 4-7 Convention Japón (Hamamatsu, Shizuoka) 17-20 Convention India 26-28 Convention Holanda JUNE 21-24 Convention Brasil (Manaos)

MARÍA CARRANZA I’ve been reading the magazine for a few months now and the experience has been rewarding and full of blessings. It’s great spiritual nourishment, I’ve read and learned interesting things about the missionary work. Glory be to God! From Villavicencio, Department of Meta, Colombia.

BENERADO MERCADO RIVERA Beloved brothers in the Lord, a cellmate lent me his magazine and I can tell you that this is much more than just a magazine. I’ve read and learned very interesting things from this wonderful work, so Christian, so informative and so full of blessings and beautiful messages of salvation. Thank you very much!

From Florida, USA.

RAMÓN SANTIAGO Dear WMM brothers, God bless you! I wanted to thank you for sending me the magazines this past year. I’ve read all of them, and they have helped and edified me. The Impacto Evangelistic magazine is part of my life, since I’ve been reading and studying it for 30 years now. The magazine keeps its essential purpose, which is the missionary work, to reach the

GLOBAL AGENDA 2016

JULY 4-8

ANÍBAL MUÑOZ Dear brothers, God bless you all greatly. We really enjoy the Impacto Evangelistic magazine.

We hope you continue to win souls for Christ.

The Lord bless you and help you keep winning souls for Christ. We love you very much.

From New York, USA.

world with the message of salvation. Every month I look forward to reading the magazine. Keep moving forward. China is waiting for us!

From New York, USA.

ISABEL SÁNCHEZ God bless you. I’m filled with joy to see how the Work grows thanks to the Lord’s blessing. In Christ, we are more than conquerors!

From Maracaibo, Venezuela

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MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 66 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

Founder Director: Rev. Luis M. Ortiz Editorial board: Rev. Luis Meza Bocanegra, Jacqueline Rovira, Samuel Martínez, Rev. Andrés Espejo Editorial coordinator: Rev. Julián Morón General editor: Víctor Tipe Sánchez Editor: Jaime Tipe Sánchez Graphic editor: Roberto Guerrero Graphic design: Adolfo Zubietta Writers: Johan Pérez Landeo, Marlo Pérez. Designers: Lesly Sánchez, Jorge Cisneros.

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Distribution: Javier Arotinco.

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Bethel Television, the Worldwide Missionary Movement channel, broadcasts the Word of God’s message through cultural and educational programs from Lima - Peru to the world by 7 satellites and the Internet.

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Bethel Television, the Worldwide Missionary Movement channel, broadcasts the Word of God’s message through cultural and educational programs from Lima - Peru to the world by 7 satellites and the Internet.

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