Edition for EUROPE
THE MAGAZINE THAT EDIFIES YOUR LIFE
April 2019 / Edition 783
evangelistic www.impactoevangelistico.net
DEVOTIONAL
MAKING THE CROSS OF CHRIST OF NONE EFFECT
INTERNATIONAL
STOP GENDER IDEOLOGY
LIFE STORY
IN THE CLUTCHES OF A WITCHDOCTOR
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT
The truth about Jesus’ body
THE MYSTERY OF THE
TOMB
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EDITORIAL
TRIUMPHANT IN CHRIST Rev. José Arturo Soto B. International President of the WMM
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14.
Tand makes us believe in sin and judgment. With-
heaven, to the hope of glory, with the certainty that
out it, we could never reach the feet of Christ. Once
We are worth much in the eyes of God. That is why
we take this first leap of faith, the Holy Spirit raises us
the apostle Paul prayed, “that Christ may dwell in your
up and makes us aware of God’s truths and mysteries.
hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in
Through it, we lead a triumphant life of faith and we
love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what
complete our course with joy (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and
he Holy Spirit reveals Jesus Christ as Savior
our Redeemer lives.
Dear readers, the Holy Spirit is more than just
to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
speaking in tongues and performing miracles. The
that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God”
Third Person of the Trinity wants to train us according
(Ephesians 3:17-19).
to the high fullness of Christ and put in us the same mind that was in Jesus. The Spirit of God constantly instils and renews in us the hope of resurrection. Without this hope,
God rejoices when He sees us resisting the traps of the enemy. He is not impressed by our worldly accomplishments, but by our capacity to stop the poison darts of Satan with our shield of faith.
our faith is futile. Believers feel attracted to the world
The power invested in us by the Holy Spirit is the
when they look away from their heavenly inheritance
same that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11).
and focus on achieving worldly success. What good is
The victory of our Redeemer was complete, and so
it for us to be great or influential on this earth if we are
must be ours. This power guarantees the victory over
only pilgrims?
our enemies and makes us coheirs with Christ.
The devil cannot deceive those who know who
God bless you and may He take you from victory
they believe in. We can lose everything and suffer all
to victory, from triumph to triumph, and from power
kinds of hardship, but we have to always look up to
to power. Amen.
April 2019 / Impacto evangelistic
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evangelistic Founder Director: Rev. Luis M. Ortiz APRIL 2019 / EDITION N° 783 (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. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Movimiento Misionero Mundial, Inc World-Wide Missionary Movement, Inc San Juan, Puerto Rico Washington, D.C. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936
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BOARD OFFICERS OF WMM INC. Rev. José Soto President Rev. Humberto Henao Vice president Rev. Rubén Concepción Secretary Rev. Gustavo Martínez Treasurer Rev. Rómulo Vergara Director Rev. Luis Meza Director Rev. Clemente Vergara Director Rev. Carlos Guerra 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
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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
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• 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.
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HERO OF FAITH
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6.- Cover WAS JESUS’ BODY STOLEN FROM HIS
TOMB? Learn how doubters of Christ's resurrection have responded. Some skeptics have claimed that someone must have stolen Jesus' body from the tomb, and that this led to the stories of miraculous resurrection. Is this possible? 14.- Infographics JESUS’ TOMB OVER TIME Details about the alleged tomb of Jesus, the most revered site in the Christian world. 16.- International IN DEFENSE OF LIFE AND FAMILY The 3rd Ibero-American Congress for Life and Family ratified its fight against gender ideology. 18.- Current news CHRISTIANITY AGAINST INFANTICIDE An article from the ABC newspaper highlights the role of Christians in the eradication of infanticide in the fourth century. 20.- Youth CAN MEN AND WOMEN BE FRIENDS? Being friends with the opposite sex is possible. 22.- Woman GOD’S SILENCE Sometimes, the silence of the Lord is a sign of displeasure. We have to meet certain conditions if we want Him to keep talking to us. 24.- Music JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE The song describes the joy of those faithful to God for His creation. 26.- Literature TWENTY EXTRAORDINARY MEN WHO SET THE WORLD ON FIRE
Book about the life of twenty of the most outstanding figures in the history of modern Christianity. 30.- Hero of faith THE ENGLISH MISSIONARY Dixon Edward Hoste showed that it is possible to entice men to faith with tolerance and prayer. 34.- Life story TRAPPED IN THE CLAWS OF A WITCHDOCTOR A disease made him turn to the devil, but it turned out to be a fraud. He was healed only when he embraced the Gospel. 40.- Interview “THE DOCTRINE PRESERVES THE WORK” Rev. Gustavo Martínez, International Treasurer of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, made a summary of the 56 years of the Work. 42.- Apologetics IS MORMONISM A SECT? Mormons have embraced a false religion that distorts the nature of God, Jesus Christ and the meaning of salvation. 44.- Devotional MAKING THE CROSS OF CHRIST OF NONE EFFECT 46.- Devotional NOTHING TO FEAR 48.- Devotional THE CHURCH OF PERGAMOS 50.- Events THE EVANGELIZING WORK THAT THE WMM CARRIES OUT IN THE WORLD 66.- Letters OUR READERS WRITE TO US
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COVER NOTE
WAS JESUS’ BODY STOLEN FROM HIS TOMB?
How have doubters of Christ's resurrection responded? Some skeptics have claimed that someone must have stolen Jesus' body from the tomb, and that this led to the stories of miraculous resurrection. Is this possible? Rev. Gary W. Jensen (*)
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COVER NOTE There is no question that Jesus Christ’s tomb was mysteriously empty. As Paul Althaus has said, the resurrection message “could not have been maintained in Jerusalem for a single day, for a single hour, if the emptiness of the tomb had not been established as a fact…”[1] Dr. Craig observed that, “conflicting traditions [to the empty tomb story] nowhere appear, even in Jewish polemic.”[2] At least one skeptic (Dr. John Dominic Crossan) has wrongly asserted that Roman law automatically forbade Jesus’ burial, and that he must therefore have been thrown anonymously into a common pit. This is not sustainable. Raymond Brown has shown that Roman burial policy varied with circumstances and did allow the possibility of personal burial of some of the crucified.[3] This scenario would also contradict the consistent Jewish protests that the body had been removed.[4] Furthermore, the Gospels could not have successfully invented as owner of the tomb one so specific as a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin named Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43). Had the Gospels been false on this matter they would not have been able to withstand the swift correction and ridicule from the Jews. How have doubters of Christ’s resurrection responded? Some skeptics have claimed that someone must have stolen Jesus’ body from the tomb, and that this led to the stories of miraculous resurrection. Is this possible? THE JEWS AND THE ROMANS
Neither the Jewish nor the Roman leaders who guarded the tomb (Matthew 27:62f) would have taken the body. Rather, both had every motive to produce the body publicly in order to humiliate the disciples and nip their movement in the bud. And since the scene in question was right at Jerusalem, it was completely within their power to locate the corpse should it still have existed. Yet to their dismay, no such body was ever produced. If the Jews had the body, they would have wheeled it in at the day of Pentecost when all Jerusalem was in an uproar because of Peter’s sermon on the Resurrection of Christ. CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS
Likewise, is highly unlikely that Jesus’ followers could have removed the body with a Roman guard protecting the tomb, plus a large stone door. And it won’t work to charge them with inventing the account of the sleeping guards in Matthew. 28:11f. That story would only have served as apologetic propaganda had the guards stayed awake. Why would the disciples (or anyone else) want to risk their lives to steal Christ’s body? The biblical record shows the disciples were scared, discouraged and disheartened. Their only motive could have been to deceive. But everything we read about these men indicates they were good and honest. How could they have gone out the rest of their lives and
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COVER NOTE
It would have been foolish to hide the corpse and fake a resurrection. The consequences of their loyalty to Jesus included beatings, imprisonments, and even death. No sane person chooses these for what they know is false. Under such pressures, liars confess their deceptions and betray their cohorts.
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daily preached that Christ had risen from the dead when they knew all along it was a lie? Would they have sacrificed and suffered so greatly for something that they know was an outright deception? It would have been foolish to hide the corpse and fake a resurrection. The consequences of their loyalty to Jesus included beatings, imprisonments, and even death. No sane person chooses these for what they know is false. Under such pressures, liars confess their deceptions and betray their cohorts. The explosive growth of the Church is strong evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. Significantly, it wasn’t the powerful, but commoners, burdened with every cultural strike against them (1 Corinthians 1:26f), whose Resurrection message peaceably transformed the Roman Empire. Who would ever have predicted such an “impossible” feat? Yet it actually did happen![5] That Christianity originated in Judaism[6] is further evidence for his resurrection. Renowned archaeologist William F. Albright observed, “In my opinion, every book of the New Testament was written by a baptized Jew between the forties and the eighties of the first century A.D.”[7] Jewish bias against the Jesus of the New Testament was massive. What else would have led Jews to accept a shamefully hung (Galatians 3:13) “criminal”, as their promised Messiah when they had longed for a military deliverer? And what else would have moved Jews to break their monotheistic convictions[8] to worship Jesus as God the Son (John 1:18), or change their
The explosive growth of the Church is strong evidence for Jesus' resurrection. Significantly, it wasn't the powerful, but commoners, burdened with every cultural strike against them (1 Corinthians 1:26f), whose Resurrection message peaceably transformed the Roman Empire.
SIX SKEPTICAL OBJECTIONS These objections are most frequently leveled by critics of Christ’s resurrection: • Christ’s resurrection is a myth, not history. • The Resurrection stories are full of contradictions. • Miracles are not possible. • The body was stolen. • Jesus only fainted and then recovered from his wounds. • The witnesses were just “seeing things.”
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worship day from Saturday to Sunday (Acts 20:7)? A mere invented myth would have been powerless to overthrow such hopes and traditions. “Jesus was so unlike what all Jews expected the Son of David to be that His own disciples found it almost impossible to connect the idea of the Messiah with Him.”[9] Millar Burrows It is, as the New Testament states, Jesus’ resurrection that singly overcame that “impossibility” (Acts 2:24).
(Acts 8:3; 9:1, Galatians 1:13), he was utterly turned around into becoming Jesus’ servant. Choosing suffering for Christ’s sake (2 Corinthians 11:23f), Paul gave up all he had, endured persecution, and preached the Gospel in city after city all the way to Rome, where he died a martyr’s death. He is credited with having had greater influence over the course of the Roman Empire than any other figure of the First Century apart from Christ.[10] Nothing short of Christ’s resurrection has remotely explained his major transformation.
CONVERSION OF SAUL
THE OTHER APOSTLES
In addition, the conversion of Saul of Tarsus points to a momentous miracle. Beginning as a violent enemy of the Church
The other Apostles too overcame fear to brave suffering, imprisonment, and even death, as they proclaimed the good
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COVER NOTE fensive and peaceful manner, [early Christians received] contempt, opposition… and cruel deaths. Yet this faith they zealously did propagate, and all these miseries they endured undismayed, nay rejoicing. As one after another was put to a miserable death, the survivors only [continued] their work with increased vigor and resolution… The annals of military warfare afford scarcely an example of like heroic constancy, patience, and unblenching courage… If it were morally possible for them to have been deceived in this matter, every human motive operated to lead them to discover and avow their error. From these [considerations] there is no escape but in the perfect conviction and admission that they were good men, testifying to that which they had carefully observed…and well knew to be true.” [12] Dr. Greenleaf is considered by many to have been one of the greatest legal minds we have had in the U.S. He was formerly an outspoken skeptic of Christianity and who set out to disprove the deity of Christ. In the end he concluded that the Resurrection was true “beyond any reasonable doubt.” Greenleaf became a Christian after studying the evidence for himself. Many top legal minds agree with Greenleaf that if the case for Christ’s death and resurrection were taken to a court of law, it would undoubtedly win. The claims are very well established and verified by independent and converging proofs. Source: https://christiananswers.net/
news of the risen Christ across their world. Is it thinkable that these people would die so willingly for a mere myth? “Each of the disciples, except John, died a martyr’s death… because they tenaciously clung to their beliefs and statements,” observes researcher Josh McDowell.[11] In contrast to others who have died for an unverifiable hope beyond the grave (e.g., mystics seeking reincarnation or Moslem militants expecting reward from Allah), Jesus’ disciples lived and died for the historically verifiable claim that the grave was empty and that he was seen alive again. Legal scholar Dr. Simon Greenleaf, founder of the Harvard Law School, notes: “Propagating this new faith, even in the most inof-
References and footnotes [1] Paul Althaus in Wolfhart Pannenberg, Jesus-God and Man (SCM Press, 1968), p. 100. [2] Dr. Craig in M. Wilkins and J.P. Moreland, editors, Jesus Under Fire (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1995), p. 149. [3] Raymond Brown, The Death of the Messiah, Vol. II (New York: Doubleday, 1994), p. 1205f. [4] See the Jewish Justin Martyr, “Dialogue with Trypho,” and the “Toledoth Yeshu,” a Jewish tale that the owner of the grave sold the body of Jesus which was then dragged through the city streets. Both are discussed by Gary Habermas in Gary R. Habermas and Anthony G.N. Flew, Did Jesus Rise From the Dead?—the entire transcript, Terry L. Miethe, editor (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987), p. 99f. [5] “That the Christian movement could have succeeded, so that the humble men who fished on the shores of the Sea of Galilee are today better known than the very Caesars who ruled the world…is so amazing that it would be incredible if we did not know it to be the case.” [Elton Trueblood, Philosophy of Religion (Harper and Brothers, 1957), p. 140.] [6] Acts 2:5-43, 6:7. [7] William F. Albright in an interview in Christianity Today (January 18, 1963), p. 3. [8] “Monotheism,” drawing on Deuteronomy 6:4 (“The Lord our God is one Lord”), set Israel's belief in contrast with the polytheism of its neighbors. It appeared to exclude, even in principle, Jesus' claim to be deity. In reality, however, the same Hebrew word “one” (echad-__) is used in Genesis 2:24 (“two become one flesh”), Joshua 9:2, and Judges 20:1, and implies a composite unity. Thus, while Jewish bias strongly opposed Jesus' claim to be God's Son, the word in question actually allows and even implies such a possibility. [9] Millar Burrows, More Light on the Dead Sea Scrolls (Viking Press, 1958), p. 68. [10] Sir William Ramsey, as cited in Wilbur Smith, Therefore Stand (Wilde, 1945), p. 246f. [11] Josh McDowell, editor, Evidence that Demands a Verdict (San Bernardino, California: Campus Crusade for Christ, 1972), p. 255. [12] Simon Greenleaf, The Testimony of the Evangelists (Kregel, 1995-reprint from 1847 edition), pp. 31-32.
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JESUS’ TOMB OVER TIME
34 – 135 AD
325 – 327 AD
The Jesus’ empty tomb was revered by Christians.
Constantine and Helena looked for the tomb of Jesus and the temple to Venus was demolished.
336 AD 135 - 325 AD In 135 AD, Hadrian ordered to bury the site and build a temple to Venus.
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Constantine’s architects isolated thetomb and encased it in an edicule, which was enclosed by a circular domed structure called rotunda.
SOURCE: Custody of the Holy Land and National Geographic
The alleged tomb of Jesus Christ is the most revered site in the Christian world. It is a burial bed made of limestone hewed from the wall of a cave. At least since 1555 –maybe even many centuries before that– the burial bed has been protected with a marble slab, supposedly to prevent pilgrims from snatching fragments of the original rock as relics.
1114 – 1167 AD
1810 AD
2016 – 2017 AD
In the times of the Crusader States, the restoration that the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomachus had promoted in the 11th century was extended.
The edicule that had been damaged by a fire was rebuilt.
The temple was completely restored.
1974 AD 1555 AD The edicule was restored in gothic style.
During the British protectorate, steel beams were placed because the edicule was about to collapse
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INTERNATIONAL
IN DEFENSE OF LIFE AND FAMILY The Ibero-American Congress for Life and Family was held for the third consecutive year. The attendees signed a written statement to ratify their fight against gender ideology and to demand that international organizations promote dialog instead of imposing ideas against the family.
More than two hundred representatives from 17 countries gathered in Panama to denounce the “neo-
colonialist initiatives” of international organizations that offer financial support in exchange for legal actions promoting gender ideology. In addition, they reaffirmed their commitment to life, family, justice, development and freedom, as well as the defense of the civil liberties that are once again threatened. “At a time when gender ideology is infiltrating minds, structures and corridors of power, we stand up, not only in defense of our ethics, but also in defense of the iden-
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tity and freedoms of all, especially the next generation’s,” says the document signed by pastors, writers, senators, parliamentarians and presidential candidates. Participants also demanded respect for the autonomy of the family in the education in values of their children, calling for an educational model that excludes indoctrination and ideological teachings. “We are aware that science denies the lies of gender ideology, so our concern is that in the development of laws and educational programs the information offered by science may be excluded and deceitful ideas may be imposed,” they pointed out. Likewise, they stated to be open to a frank, constructive dialog with government bodies to solve controversy and establish fair laws that protect inalienable rights such as the right to life and fundamental institutions such as marriage. Those attending the Congress demanded to observe and strengthen the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the American Declaration on Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, as well as other international instruments. The event was attended by representatives of 17 coun-
tries in Latin America, Europe and South Africa. “It is such a rewarding experience to be able to share with colleagues, friends and people who also care about the fate of family and the right to life. This movement is
not only gaining notoriety, but is also generating a huge continental influence and a commitment to the defense of life and family. No entity could propose what the Christian Church does, because the Church is the light of the world and salt of the earth,” said Aarón Lara, Director of the Ibero-American Congress for Life and the Family. Reverend José Arturo Soto, International President of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, stressed that, “we must defend our rights, we must make our contribution as citizens of the world, with a march or prayer, or by raising our voice as a Church, without adopting selfish motivations.” The event was attended, among others, by lawyer, journalist and writer César Vidal; journalist and excandidate for President of Costa Rica Fabricio Alvarado; and Christian Rosas, Con Mis Hijos No Te Metas Collective’s spokesperson and member. In their speeches, they motivated the attendees to fight against the attacks to family and the unborn child, as well as for the respect to the ethical, moral and spiritual convictions in order to build a development model for Latin America that restores the image of God. Finally, the attendees were invited to the 4th Congress to be held next year in Lima, Peru.
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HISTORY
CHRISTIANITY AGAINST INFANTICIDE An article in the Spanish newspaper ABC highlights the role of Christianity in the eradication of infanticide and abuse against children in the fourth century.
On November 16, 318, Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, decreed that the killing of a child constituted the crime of parricide (Codex Theodosianus 9, 15, 1). The paternal power (patria potestas) of the head of the family (pater familias), who until then had absolute rule over his household and children, was thus limited. On February 7, 374, another Christian emperor, Valentinian I, assimilated infanticide to other forms of murder and made it a capital offense (Codex Theodosianus 9, 14, 1). Two pioneers in the dark history of infanticide, American researchers John T. Noonan and Lloyd DeMause, recognize that it was in the fourth century, when Rome converted to Christianity, that the West began to fight against this atrocity. FRUIT OF CENTURIES
Just as it happened with slavery, legal torture, child prostitution, execution by crucifixion or gladiatorial combat, the change of worldview that led to the victory of Christianity in the Roman Empire set a precedent in the protection of the rights of children. The stark cruelty of the ancient world’s social structures began to be gradually tempered by Christian humanism. Thus, the end of violence against the most vulnerable became one of the main achievements of the Christianization of society –an achievement forgotten by the selective historical memory of our secularized age
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that seems to be unaware of the decisive contribution of Christianity to the history of human rights. The two laws mentioned above were the fruit of centuries of Christian ethical tradition regarding the protection of the most precious, innocent and weakest human beings: the newborn and the unborn. Two early Christian writings as old as the Didache (~100 AD) and the Epistle of Barnabas (~30 AD) paved the way: the first denounced that the “way of death” is followed by the heathen who kill their offspring (Didache 5, 2); the latter explicitly condemned infanticide and abortion (Epistle of Barnabas 19, 5). Christian philosopher Saint Justin Martyr, one of the first fathers of the Church, said, based on the Hebrew biblical tradition (Exodus 21, 22-23) that abortion and infanticide (tradition renewed by Philo of Alexandria) were to be condemned, that “exposing newly-born children is the part of wicked men” and “murderers” (Apology I, 27 and 29). Tertullian, in his apologetic To the Nations (Ad nationes I, 15), stated that the practice of exposing children to the mercy of dogs or drowning newborns was “common among the heathen.” A century later, around year 300, Lactantius denounced that the heathen strangled unwanted newborns (Divinae institutions, V, 9, 15). Suetonius, in his Twelve Caesars (Life of Caligula, 5), wrote that the life of newborns was completely dependent on the will of their parents. “FOOD FOR WILD BEASTS”
Like slavery, infanticide in Classical Antiquity has been disregarded by many historians despite the hundreds of clear references by ancient authors to the idea that it was an everyday, accepted fact. Newborn children were thrown into the rivers, left to die of hunger, or abandoned on hills and roads, “prey for birds, food for wild beasts,” as Euripides noted in his play Ion. The sad reality is that in the Greco-Roman world,
The end of violence against the most vulnerable became one of the main achievements of the Christianization of society –an achievement forgotten by the selective historical memory of our secularized age that seems to be unaware of the decisive contribution of Christianity to the history of human rights.
children who were not perfect in form, size or health according to treatises for midwives such as How to Recognize the Newborn That Is Worth Rearing –true guidelines to commit large-scale infanticide– were mercilessly killed. 1500 years ago, Christianity fought to put an end to this aberration that in the nineteenth century was still common in some places. We as Christians should remember this.
(*) Taken from www.abc.es
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YOUTH
CAN MEN AND WOMEN BE FRIENDS? People like having and making friends, and male-female friendships are possible as long as they are based on truly honest intentions.
One day, a young woman approached preacher Charles H. Spurgeon and told him about a young man who was a friend of hers. Her desire was to convert him to Christ and then get engaged to him. She asked the preacher for advice, so he told her to stand on a table. When she did, he asked her to take him
by the hand and lift him up on the table with her. She tried, but failed. Spurgeon said, “Now, look what happens when I try to throw you away.” With a single, gentle pull, he pulled her off the table. “It’s easy to be pulled down, but very difficult to pull someone up.” The young woman realized what would happen in her relationship with the young man. Friendship is caring, sharing, and helping each other without expecting anything in return. In some denominations, friendships between men and women are stigmatized. According to them, the Bible does not approve of friendships between people of the opposite sex, and male-female friendships usually end in romantic relationships because there is always
WHAT IS FRIENDSHIP? Friendship as a value is the relationship between people who share, grow and know each other based on the acceptance of their similarities and differences, virtues and flaws.
ETYMOLOGY
About the origin of the word “friend”:
Support
From Proto-Germanic
“Prēy” = to like, to love
Friendship is based on:
From Indo-European “Frijōndz” = friend, loved one
Trust
Friendship is born from the effort we put to make friends, but maintaining it requires more investment.
Friendship is defined as: A relationship of mutual love, trust and support that strengthens in time.
Santa Biblia
According to the Bible, friendship is considered: - A priceless good - A precious treasure Source: http//quees.la/laamistad/
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one with hidden intentions. As a result, boys and girls stop being friends to stop rumors or nasty regards, without realizing that they are making a big mistake. Rev. David Echalar, Supervisor of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Italy, points out that, “friendship in the body of Christ is like having a big family composed of brothers and sisters in faith. Jesus had friends, such as Lazaro, Martha and Mary, who always welcomed him with joy. That beautiful friendship should be a role model for us.” HOW TO KEEP FRIENDSHIP
Honesty: We have to be honest with friends and encourage them to be honest as well. To strengthen friendship, it is important to be open and to point out the other’s mistakes with love. Transparency can help people to be better. Time and communication: True friendship requires effort to develop. That is why it is essential to share our feelings and thoughts and to ask questions that
stimulate our friends to talk about what is in their mind and heart. Thankfulness: Young people want to feel appreciated. Friends have to be thankful for each other and show love when one needs it most. HOW TO MAKE GOOD FRIENDS
• Base your friendship on Christ’s love. Friendship has to be sought with the intention of pleasing our Lord. • Motivate your friends to serve God by carrying out outdoor activities, sharing the Word or visiting the sick at the hospital. • Keep searching for God to motivate other young people to be friends with Him. • Be loyal, trustworthy and be there in your friend’s good and bad times. Being a good friend is a way to serve God. He created men to connect to each other, and that is why we have to give our best to the friends that He has placed in our lives.
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WOMAN
GOD’S SILENCE Hna. Carmen Valencia de Martínez
The God who speaks can also be silent, and sometimes God’s silence is a sign of displeasure. For God to keep talking to us, we must meet the conditions that bring us closer to Him.
God stopped talking to those to whom He had revealed Himself but chose to ignore Him. 1 Samuel 28:6 reads as follows: “And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.” God speaks in different ways according to His wisdom, and does so it such a way that we can understand Him. He makes His will known and rejoices in having a relationship with men. God calls faithful servants that obey His commands friends (Exodus 33:11; John 15:14-15). The God who speaks can also be silent, and sometimes God’s silence is a sign of displeasure. CONDITIONS TO MEET
For God to keep talking to us, we must meet the conditions that bring us closer to Him: • Listen to what He says, and obey. God stopped speaking to those who, having received His message, ignored His command. • Enter an intimate communion with the Lord. To achieve this, we must be full of the fear of God, which not fear per se, but respect, admiration and obedience. As a result, He will show us His covenant (Psalm 25:14). • Renounce wickedness and embrace righteousness. When there is sin and wickedness in a man’s heart,
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the communion and communication with God breaks (Proverbs 3:32). Isaiah 64:7 reads: “And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.”
mands. And when they asked for God’s help, God did not answer nor listen to their prayers. • The people of Israel decided to fight an enemy. The made arrangements and met conditions: they confessed their sins and so they were apparently ready to fight. • The people of Israel did not have God’s consent. Even though God had told them He would not be among them, they still launched the attack. We must be very careful not to take one step without God’s consent or instruction. Our actions may seem well meaning, but if they are not done right, we will definitely fail. • The people of Israel insisted in their purpose. They had been warned and yet they went to war and suffered a humiliating defeat. Ashamed, they came to God crying, but He did not answer them. • The people of Israel did not listen. God spoke unto them, but they refused to listen and chose to rebel against God’s command. Proverbs 5:11-14 says: “And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, and say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.” What can we learn from this event? When God does not agree, we need to stop and be willing to listen to His voice. THE CASE OF SAUL
THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
The first time God fell silent was when the people of Israel disobeyed His commands and became arrogant in their hearts (Deuteronomy 1:41-45). Moses reminded the people of Israel that they had suffered a crushing defeat for disobeying God’s com-
In the war of Saul against the Philistines, the king had to wait seven days for the prophet Samuel to arrive and present God with burnt offerings and sacrifice. But Samuel was taking too long to arrive, and king Saul and the people went impatient (1 Samuel 13:9-13). How many mistakes we make for not being patient! • Saul tried to justify his wrongdoing. When the prophet arrived, king Saul tried to excuse himself by giving three reasons: 1) the people was deserting; 2) the prophet Samuel was taking too long to arrive; and 3) the Philistines were all gathered and ready to fight. He was maybe right, but it did not justify what the king had done. • King Saul sought advice from God, but it was too late. God did not answer, even though he tried to reach Him through prophets and Urim. Do not cause God’s voice to become silent in your life, because the void and loneliness will be unbearable. The silence will be deafening. Hebrews 1:1 says: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets…” And Job 33:14 reads: “ For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.”
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MUSIC
JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE The hymn describes the joy that fills Christians before the Lord’s creation. It is a symbol of love, reverence and worship to God written in 1907 by Henry an Dyke.
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” written in 1907 by American Henry van Dyke, conveys faith, happiness and hope. Its four stanzas describe the happiness that fills believers before God’s creation and have become a symbol of love, reverence and worship to the Almighty. Van Dyke’s biographers state that the song was made as the author was preaching the Gospel at Williams College, Massachusetts. Impressed by the stunning mountains that surround the place, the preacher wrote a song to worship the Lord, who in His infinite power gives His followers abundant blessings. The hymn first appeared in 1911 as part of a poem book. About its essence, the servant of God described the feelings that made him compose the song, which also refers to the redemptive work of Jesus. In full modesty, he pointed out: “These verses are simple expressions of common Christians feelings and desires (…) Therefore these are hymns of trust and hope.” OUTSTANDING WORKER
Henry van Dyke, born on November 10, 1852 in Germantown, was an outstanding pastor that energetically spread the good news throughout his life. He graduated from Poly Prep Country Day School in 1869, and then attended Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary. From 1883 to 1899, he led a temple in Manhattan. This faithful follower of God was a prolific writer of texts, essays and verses that shared God’s message with mankind. In addition, he was a professor of English literature at Princeton University for more than two decades, and the US am-
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JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE 1 Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee, Opening to the Sun above, Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!
3 Always giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest, Well-spring of the joy of living, Ocean-depth of happy rest! Loving Father, Christ our Brother, Let Your light upon us shine; Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine.
2 All Thy works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays, Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise: Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea, Chanting bird and flowing fountain, Call us to rejoice in Thee.
4 Mortals, join the mighty chorus, Which the morning stars began; God's own love is reigning o’er us, Joining people hand in hand. Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife; Joyful music leads us sunward In the triumph song of life.
bassador in the Netherlands and Luxemburg between 1913 and 1916 by direct appointment of Woodrow Wilson. Passionate about the music of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, he arranged for “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”, his most celebrated poem, to be set to the choral finale of the pianist’s Ninth Symphony: “Ode to Joy.” His determination and bravery made it possible for his poem to fuse together with the harmony of the German musician, thus producing a beautiful song. Henry van Dyke, who officiated at the funeral of Mark Twain, died on April 10, 1933 after serving God with all his strength. His work to spread the doctrine of Christ lives on today in his poems, especially in his “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” The writer proved to be a perfect tool to worship our Lord.
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LITERATURE
HEROES OF FAITH “Heroes of Faith” by Orlando Spencer Boyer is compilation of biographies of twenty of the most important figures of modern Christianity. The book was written to inspire believers and was well received by the public. The Italian people flocked to Florence in growing numbers. The vast crowds did not fit into the famous Dome. The preacher Girolamo Savonarola embraced the fire of the Holy Ghost and, feeling the upcoming God’s judgement, he ranted against the wind, crime and rampant corruption in the church. The people abandoned the daily and vain readings and started reading the message of the passionate preacher; they stopped singing street songs and chanted the hymns of God. In Florence, children led processions to collect the carnival masks, the obscene books and every vain object that served vanity. Written by American pastor Orlando Spencer Boyer, “Heroes of Faith” gathers the biographies of twenty of the most important figures of modern Christianity. First published in 1983 in Portuguese, this work reveals which was the true mystery behind the greatness of these men of God who preached the Gospel: prayer. More than one hundred thousand men and women surrounded the preacher two hundred years ago in Cambuslang, Scotland. The words of his message invigorated by the Holy Spirit were clearly heard in every place this sea of people went. It is difficult to grasp the idea of having ten thousand penitents who responded the call to accept the Lord. These events serve us as one of the few examples of obedience to the word of Jesus: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). There was like “blazing fire shut up in the bones” of this preacher, who was George Whitefield. SPECIAL BOOK
Well received by the public since its publication, “Heroes of Faith” was written to in-
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spire believers and show them that the victory of faith mostly depends on prayer. It is also aimed to highlight the bravery of faithful servants that stood out for their submission to the Almighty. It was said that William Carey, founder of modern missions, did not have a superior intelligence or a gift that dazzled other men. Nonetheless, his characteristic persistence,
untamable and unyielding spirit, which made him complete every task started, were the marvelous secret behind his successful life. When God called him to start a task, he remained firm day after day, month after month, year after year until completing it. He left God to use his life, not only to spread the Gospel for forty-one years abroad, but also to accomplish the incredible feat of translating the Holy Scrip-
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LITERATURE
tures into more than thirty languages. Orlando Boyer was an Evangelical missionary, translator and writer. He compiled in his book the stories of Girolamo Savonarola, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, George Whitefield, David Brainerd, William Carey, Christmas Evans, Henry Martyn, Adoniram Judson, Charles Finney, George Müller, David Livingstone, John Paton, Hudson Taylor, Charles Spurgeon, Pastor Hsi, Dwight Lyman Moody, and Jonathan Goforth. His parents decided to name him Christmas because he was born on Christmas Day, 1766. People called him “the one-eyed preacher” because he was blind in one eye. Someone said of him that Evans was “the tallest, stoutest, greatest man he ever saw; that he had but one eye, if it could be called an eye; it was more properly a brilliant star; it shined like Venus!” He was also called the John Bunyan of Wales, since he was the preacher that had enjoyed more the power of the Holy Spirit in the history of the country. In every place he preached, there was a large number of conversions.
It was said that after this preacher, Charley Finney, preached in Govemeur, New York, there were no balls or plays in the city theater for six years. It is calculated that from 1857 to 1858, more than one hundred thousand people were converted in the name of Jesus Christ thanks to the direct and indirect doing of Finney.
REAL STORIES
“Heroes of Faith” contains three chapters dedicated to the author’s personal testimony. In this section, the reverend describes in a direct prose his thoughts about the secret of the success reached by the book’s characters. Additionally, he explains what the Savior waits from us and addresses the sorrow of thousands of millions of souls that live surrounded by darkness, misery and despair. Knelt at an Indian beach, Henry Martyn poured his soul to the Master and prayed: “Precious Lord, I was once in the far country, burning up my life in the service of sin. But… Thou didst desire that I should be, not a brand of fire spreading destruction, but a torch of illumination shedding abroad Thy light (Zechariah 3:2). Here I am in the midst of heathen midnight, dark, savage, and oppressive. Now, my Lord, let me burn out for Thee!” That day’s intense fire always motivated the life of this young follower. It was said that his name was “the most heroic name that embellished the history of the English Church from the time of Queen Elizabeth.” Boyer was born on March 5, 1893 in Bedford. His book’s goal is to pay homage and reveal the path that leads to the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such goal, which he accomplished by publishing “Heroes of Faith,” guided his life and granted him the necessary ability to spread the good news in the United States and Brazil, where he fulfilled missionary duties and sowed the Word. It was said that after this preacher, Charley Finney, preached in Govemeur, New York, there were no balls or plays in the city theater for six years. It is calculated that from 1857 to 1858, more than one hundred thousand
people were converted in the name of Jesus Christ thanks to the direct and indirect doing of Finney. His autobiography is one the most marvelous stories about manifestations of the Holy Spirit, outside the Acts of the Apostles; some consider Finney’s book “Systematic Theology” one of the most important theological treatises, outside, of course, the Holy Scriptures. Orlando Spencer Boyer died in Brazil on April 21, 1978 at the age of 85. During his life, he emulated the brave and faithful advocates of the Almighty whose lives are part of “Heroes of Faith.” As a committed follower of Jesus Christ, he always sought to transform the lives of believers and non-believers with true stories of those who paved the way of Christianity. This missionary recognized that God’s hand protected him marvelously and constantly throughout the Boxer Uprising, where hundreds of believers were killed. Jonathan Goforth and his family survived the numerous distressing situations they had to live in the uprising, until arriving after twenty days to the coast. Rosalind and Jonathan Goforth lived their lives hidden with Christ, in God. This is how they described their lives: “If you or I take glory to ourselves which belongs only to Almighty God, we are not only foolish (…), but we commit a very grievous sin for the Lord hath said, My glory will I not give to another.” When Jonathan Goforth was younger, he adopted the teachings of Zechariah 4:6 as his life’s motto: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
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HERO OF FAITH
THE ENGLISH MISSIONARY Phyllis Thompson
Dixon Edward Hoste served Christ for more than six decades. He became general director of the China Inland Mission from 1900 to 1935. This servant of deep Christian convictions proved that with tolerance and prayer it is possible to attract people towards the faith in God. Dixon Edward Hoste was born on July 23, 1861, in Brighton, England, just four years before the foundation of the China Inland Mission. His parents were both Godfearing Christians, who brought him up in a home filled with discipline, love, and saturation in the Scriptures. His mother’s knowledge of the Bible was deep and wide, her gift of teaching it outstanding. She emphasized God’s love for mankind as demonstrated in Christ, the need for repentance and faith, and commitment to whatever task God has called us to complete. They also inculcated in their children a warm interest in foreign missions, and a love for the Church Missionary Society. He went to school at Clifton College, where he excelled in his studies, including Greek, which he could
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read by the age of nine. At seventeen he entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, where he learned obedience, erect posture, precision and tidiness, and later, how to understand and lead men. Commissioned at eighteen as a lieutenant in his father’s regiment in the Royal Artillery, he lived an irreligious life, though sometimes slightly moved by his mother’s urgings to attend to spiritual things. All that changed when, virtually commanded by his recently converted brother, he went to an evangelistic meeting held by Dwight L. Moody in Brighton. The American evangelist’s preaching convicted him of sin and reminded him that eternal wrath awaited the impenitent and unbelieving. He shrank back from committing all to Christ, however, until the last day, when he knelt
Together with the five university students and a friend from his regiment, Dixon became member of the group later known as the “Cambridge Seven.” He longed to become a missionary, but feared that he was unworthy for such a high calling. in submission to Jesus as Lord. Immediately, a powerful sense of God’s forgiveness and love overwhelmed him, and he was filled with profound joy. FAITHFUL BELIEVER
After his conversion, he began to read the Bible voraciously, as if it were the only book in the world. A conviction also came over him that to share the Good News of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ was more important than any other activity. At first he wanted to resign his commission in the army, but his father wisely counseled him to wait and to pray for God’s leading, which he did. His yearning to learn from the Gospel prompted him to join other followers of Jesus Christ with similar inclinations. Furthermore, he preached the Word in different places and used his free time to strengthen his faith. Soon he came into contact with other Christian friends. One of them was Montagu Beauchamp, a student at Cambridge, who introduced him to the literature of the China Inland Mission (CIM). He was struck by their simple faith in God to supply all needs, close identification with the Chinese people, commitment to the gospel while tolerating differences of opinion on secondary matters, and total dedication to the cause of bringing the gospel to the Chinese. When he met Hudson Taylor,
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HERO OF FAITH
For the next thirty-five years, he led the CIM through huge transitions and challenges. His evangelistic efforts based on the Messiah’s teachings were supported by the members of the organization.
he heard of the trials and troubles which a missionary to China must endure, but he was not dismayed. Together with the five university students and a friend from his regiment, Dixon became member of the group later known as the “Cambridge Seven.” He longed to become a missionary, but feared that he was unworthy for such a high calling. Finally, he overcome his doubts and applied to the CIM in February 1884. Immediately Hudson Taylor advised him to gain experience in Christian work by helping with inquirers at the evangelistic meetings held by Dwight L. Moody. He also prepared himself by deliberately engaging in acts of self-denial and discipline, as well as continued Bible study and prayer. After visiting different universities of England and Scotland where they preached the Gospel to thousands of young people, the “Cambridge Seven” finally departed to Asia on February 5, 1885. They arrived to their destination on March 18 and Dixon travelled to Shanxi province to start his missionary life. Then he was sent to Kuwu, where he learned the local language. In the evenings, he would sit in his courtyard, where crowds of curious citizens gathered, while the evangelist preached to them. In the afternoons, he walked about distributing Christian tracts. DETERMINED PREACHER
Hudson Taylor visited the south of Shanxi in 1886 and witnessed the fruitful evangelical work done in Hongtong by pastor Hsi, a merciful man who was one of the missionaries in charge of spreading Christianity in China. Dixon joined him as his personal assistant. Both were passionate about prayer and visited many places where groups were converted thanks to God’s blessing. By the side of pastor Hsi, Dixon underwent a training period that prepared him for the challenges of the China Inland Mission. Pastor Hsi and Hoste knew that they must rely on God alone to change the hearts of men, so they spent much time in prayer when conflicts and difficulties arose. Furthermore, they realized that the believers needed to exercise faith when persecution came. They learned also not to thrust new converts too quickly into evangelism, but to wait for God to mature them in their faith, hope, and love. During almost a decade, the preacher contributed to
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the increase of believers in Hongtong. Firm supporter of the idea that local collaborators, workers and pastors had to become the core of the Chinese Church, Dixon decidedly assisted minister Hsi’s discreet labor, which led thousands of people towards Jesus Christ. Both of them attained countless spiritual victories that strengthened the institution founded by Taylor, at least until the death of missionary Hsi on February 19, 1896. EXEMPLARY LEADER
Hoste was in Shanghai when the storm of the Boxer Rebellion broke out in the summer of 1900, for Hudson Taylor, recuperating in Switzerland, had asked him to remain there to assist the Deputy Director, J.W. Stevenson. As the news of attacks upon Christians and missionaries poured in, Taylor realized that he needed to appoint someone to succeed himself as General Director, and sent a message to Hoste and Stevenson that the former was Taylor’s choice. Feeling unworthy, Hoste at first refused, but then bowed to what he came to believe was the will of God for him. For the next thirty-five years, he led the CIM through huge transitions and challenges. His evangelistic efforts based on the Messiah’s teachings were supported by the members of the organization. Dixon’s leadership, blessed by the Creator and based on the Bible, brought stability to the still existing missionary institution. His direction turned it into the most important evangelical organization in China. Dixon prayed many hours a day to ask for Jesus’ guidance to manage the China Inland Mission. Though reserved and sometimes appearing to be aloof, he loved children, and this easy affection was discerned and returned. Committed with Christ’s path, he exerted his leadership with patience and humbleness. Similarly, his decisions were always backed by faithful principles and careful analyses. Constantly he reminded the missionaries that they were to serve the Chinese, not rule over them. Opposition from others should be met by gentleness, self-examination, prayer, and dependence upon God to work. He also appointed native believers as important authorities to build strong, local congregations. Until his retirement in June 1935, Dixon always encouraged the expansion of Christianity in Asia. He survived WWI and WWII with the Scriptures by his side. On May 19, 1946, missionary Dixon Edward Hoste died in London after six decades of service to the Almighty. This humble British servant with deep Christian convictions proved that with tolerance and prayer it is possible to attract people to God’s path. Patient and perseverant, he played a key role in the development of the China Inland Mission and China’s evangelization.
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LIFE STORY
IN THE CLUTCHES OF A WITCHDOCTOR A disorder led him to turn to the devil himself, but it was all a fraud for which he paid dearly. His true healing came only when he repented his sins and followed the Gospel. STEVEN LÓPEZ PHOTO: FAMILY FILES
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Oswaldo Huillcas Huincho sat at the table waiting for dinner. Dejected and worried, he was thinking about the money he had been spending in his attempts to heal from the strange disorder he had had since he hit his head as a child. He had exhausted all his options to stop the faints and seizures. He had gone to different doctors but no one could help him. One day he decided to resort to sorcery and spiritism, but far from finding a cure, he just wasted a lot of money. Absorbed in his thoughts, he ate the soup that his wife Griselda had made by command of the witchdoctor. Oswaldo did not even ask what the ingredients were. The witchdoctor had told him to meet at dawn at an abandoned mine. They were going to hold a satanic ritual where he would make a blood pact with the devil that would finally cure him after more than three decades. He had his doubts, because making a deal with Satan was not child’s play. Oswaldo’s disorder started in his childhood, when he had an accident in his hometown Tucsipampa, located in the province of Angaraes, in the department of Huancavelica, in the Peruvian highlands. He was only two, in 1977, when he tripped while playing on the street and his head hit the rocky ground. He lost consciousness for some minutes and his poor parents, Juan Huillcas and Juliana Huincho, were desperate. The child experienced constant faints and seizures during the following days. He was taken to different doctors, but none could heal him. Some relatives started to suggest that “the child was possessed and he will never be well again.” Soon after, Oswaldo’s parents started to attend an evangelical church. The healing of their child was their main plea every day, but the faints and seizures did not stop. Juan Huillcas became a pastor and a well-respected and admired representative of the Christian community. However, his life at home was quite different from what he showed off. He would constantly beat his wife and children, and he forced the little ones to attend church to show that he had a perfect family. Nothing could be further from the truth. Oswaldo grew resentful of his father. He no longer believed in happy families, and faith became meaningless to him. Despite his disorder, he spent his adolescence going to parties and nightclubs and drinking alcohol. He also stopped attending his father’s services and only cared about his nightlife. Oswaldo was 19 when he met Griselda Huaura Zevallos just a few months after finishing school. They started a relationship that ended up in marriage. Their wedding took place in a catholic church of Lircay. Happiness seemed to have finally come for him, and even his symptoms disappeared for some time. Oswaldo started to work in a mine of Casapalca, a town located in the highlands of Lima, in the province of Huarochirí. One day, he passed out while working and he was taken by his coworkers to the infirmary. When he regained
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LIFE STORY consciousness, he was advised to visit a hospital, but he did not listen and resumed work. Some relatives told him to visit the town’s witchdoctor when they knew about the event. The man they referred to was known as “Brother Pablo” and he was said to be able to heal both physical and spiritual ailments. He seemed to be a humble farmer, but he carried a bag with a skull inside, as well as different potions that he used in his rituals. Because he did not want his coworkers to feel sorry for him, Oswaldo quit his job at the mine and got a new one at an even further mine. However, his disorder worsened and he was urgently taken to a hospital to undergo a full checkup. After many tests, the doctors diagnosed him with severe epilepsy and prescribed anticonvulsants. ENCOUNTER WITH EVIL
The treatment was supposed to be the solution for his condition, but it did not work. His relatives then insisted that he should go to the witchdoctor. As physicians failed to find a cure, it seemed that his only hope was to hire the services of “Brother Pablo.” Oswaldo had completely forgotten about God. Once in the witchdoctor’s house, Oswaldo looked around and took a seat at the table prepared for him. “Our father will come and tell us how to heal you. You have to believe,” said Brother Pablo. The candles around the table went out and a ghostly voice filled the darkness: “My son, what do you need? I have come because you have called me,” it said.
The child experienced constant faints and seizures during the following days. He was taken to different doctors, but none could heal him. Some relatives started to suggest that “the child was possessed and he will never be well again.”
FALSE PROMISES
The satanic ritual ended one hour later, but Oswaldo was still ill. However, the witchdoctor managed to convince the family to pay for more séances, as the disorder was, in his words, “resistant.” Each ritual cost between 1500 and 2000 Peruvian soles (450 to 600 USD, approximately). In the second séance, the witchdoctor performed the “spiritual cleansing” of the house and sprayed potions all over to dispel evil. The result was the same; Oswaldo showed no improvement. As the family was going through economic hardship due to the witchdoctor’s high fees, Oswaldo asked him if he
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could reduce his prices. “I will ask our father if I can lower the price,” answered the trickster. Of course, “Satan’s” advice was to keep the same price. Oswaldo agreed to pay for one more séance. The witchdoctor told him that the next would take place at Uchucchacua, an abandoned mine in the province of Oyón, in the Department of Lima. There, he would make a deal with the devil. Griselda, his wife, had been secretly convinced by the witchdoctor to kill a black dog and prepare a soup. “Serve it to him without telling him anything. It will help him,” he said. The woman agreed to make the meal on the eve of the séance at the abandoned mine. While eating the dog soup that night, Oswaldo’s mind was disturbed. He was not willing to submit himself to the devil under no circumstances. He remembered that God could heal him and he recalled the testimony of a coworker who had been a witchdoctor but had become a preacher of
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LIFE STORY
God’s Word. He had told him about the devil’s tricks to fool people. That is when he decided not to go to the mine or the witchdoctor ever again. He would rather die than being tricked again with false healings. LOOKING FOR GOD
Oswaldo went to Oyón and looked for a church. He visited many places and finally found a temple from the same community to which his father belonged. He entered the church and kneeled to ask for forgiveness. “My Lord, forgive me for everything bad I have done,” he begged. Repented, he continued his life with the hope that God would grant him a miracle. After some time, Oswaldo became a communal authority that, according to the Andean tradition, is in charge of the town’s management as a service to the community. During his visits to Lircay, he made the acquaintance of an evangelical brother, and they agreed to meet to listen to God’s Word. When the day came, a group of pastors arrived at his home. After their visit, Oswaldo’s face changed and peace filled his heart. After listening to God’s good news, the family kneeled before Christ, and Oswaldo felt as if an evil spirit left him. His disorder disappeared. The following year, he and his wife were baptized. Ten years after the event, his faints and seizures are still gone. Oswaldo and Griselda, together with their four children, serve the Lord now.
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INTERVIEW
“THE DOCTRINE SUSTAINS THE WORK” Eliseo Aquino Curi
During his participation in the Retreat of Pastors held in Peru, Reverend Gustavo Martínez, international treasurer of the Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM), has taken stock of the last 56 years of the Work. He is certain that the Work will continue to grow thanks to the experience obtained throughout the years and the faithful observance of the Sound Doctrine. He has highlighted that the Work has had many victories despite the attacks aimed to weaken its strong foundations. The Worldwide Missionary Movement was founded 56 years go. What would you highlight about these years? I think this is a great victory granted by God despite all the attacks. The enemy has tried to stop our work, but the Lord is still guiding the WMM. It has been 56 years because God has been by our side. That is our biggest success. What are the strengths of the Work that have made its progress possible? First, we place our trust in the Lord, using prayer and fasting as God’s tools for the Work. Second, we act by God’s Word, because His Word is life and spirit, it gives us courage, it is like a double-edged sword that pierces soul and spirit, and it sheds light to our intentions and objectives. Two of the things sustaining the Work is the doctrine and our zeal to remain uncorrupted. The unity of pastors in every country, as well as the direction of the international leadership have also vastly benefitted the Work. In the book of Revelation, the Lord tells the seven churches about their virtues and weaknesses. Which are our weaknesses? All churches, like people, have both virtues and flaws.
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We must prioritize spirituality and follow God’s Word until the day the Lord, in His mercy, comes to take us. We must also strengthen our weak points. Some within the Work went stray precisely because of spiritual negligence. They were so self-confident that they overlooked their flaws, instead of working on them, which ultimately led to ruin. I think that if we resort to God, rely on Him and trust His grace and might, we will always be victorious. We know of denominations with more than 40 years that have decayed and disappeared. What can we learn from their experience? There are many factors to keep in mind. They neglected and later rejected God’s presence within the church. Such was the case of the church of Laodicea: the Lord was at the door but not inside. For this and any other church to prevail, the Lord must be inside! Whether by pride or negligence, they left God outside, and that caused their failure.
This is also caused by the succession of leadership. Decay ensues when power is transferred to new generations that were not there from the beginning and never absorbed the vision of their predecessors. As a result, they rely on other’s past achievements and victories, neglect God’s presence, and allow the world to infiltrate the church. What must be the role of the Church in these modern times? The Church has to be alert. Our Lord Jesus Christ made us the promise that the doors of hell will not prevail against the Church. But this does not mean that we are to stand still o stay passive awaiting the enemy’s attack. The Church has to act first. We must preach the Gospel no matter the circumstances. God will give us the unction, the power, the eloquence and the wisdom to fight back. Only those who surrender to God are willing to devote their life to Him.
The Church cannot submit to human ideologies. The prince of this world is using wicked men and women who only love themselves, who hate good and praise evil. The Church cannot accept that. We have to fight and keep preaching the Gospel, even among attacks or persecution, even if we put our lives on the line. It is better to obey God than men. What is your message to the readers of Impacto Evangelistic? I encourage you to rely on God, to keep the Word, to embrace faith with all your heart, and to make God the center of your life. Resist trial and hardship, as Apostle Paul said: “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” Today, we fight and resist; tomorrow, others will do the same elsewhere in the world, so do not feel alone. Christ will not disappoint you. He always honors His Word.
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APOLOGETICS
IS MORMONISM A SECT? Mormons are part of a false religion that distorts the nature of God, the Person of Jesus Christ and the means of salvation. It was founded by a man named Joseph Smith, who claimed to have had an encounter with God.
Joseph Smith was 17 when he claimed that an angel named Moroni had appeared before him. Moroni told Joseph that he had been chosen to translate some writings by ancient native American prophets which had been compiled by Mormon, Moroni’s father, more than a thousand years before. The Mormon religion, whose followers are known as Mormons and Latter-day Saints, was founded less than two-hundred years ago by Joseph Smith. He claimed to have received a personal visit from God the Father and Jesus-Christ, who told him that all churches and their creeds were an abomination. Joseph Smith then set out to “restore true Christianity” and claimed his church to be the “only true church on earth.” The problem with Mormonism is that it contradicts, modifies, and expands on the Bible. Christians do not have a reason to believe that the Bible is untrue or inadequate. To truly believe in and trust God means to believe in His Word, and all Scripture is inspired by God, which means it comes from Him (2 Timothy 3:16). THEIR BELIEFS
Mormons believe that there are in fact four sources of divinely inspired words, not just one: 1) The Bible “as far as it is translated correctly.” Which verses are considered incorrectly translated is not always made clear. 2) The Book of Mormon, which was “translated” by Smith and published in 1830. Smith claimed it is the “most
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correct book” on earth and that a person can get closer to God by following its precepts “than by any other book.” 3) Doctrine and Covenants, containing a collection of modern revelations regarding the “Church of Jesus Christ as it has been restored.” 4) The Pearl of Great Price, which is considered by
Mormons to “clarify” doctrines and teachings that were lost from the Bible and adds its own information about the earth’s creation. Mormons believe that God has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort. They believe God the Father has a “body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.” Brigham Young taught that Adam actually was God and the father of Jesus Christ—although this teaching has been abandoned by modern Mormon leaders. In contrast, Christians know that there is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6–8). He always has existed and always will exist (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17). He was not created but is the Creator (Genesis 1; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 37:16). He is perfect, and no one else is equal to Him (Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 40:25). God the Father is not a man, nor was He ever (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29). He is Spirit (John 4:24), and Spirit is not made of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39). Mormons believe that there are different levels or kingdoms in the afterlife: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer. Where
mankind will end up depends on what they believe and do in this life. In contrast, the Bible tells us that after death we go to heaven or hell based on whether or not we had faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. To be absent from our bodies means, as believers, we are with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Unbelievers are sent to hell or the place of the dead (Luke 16:22–23). When Jesus comes the second time, we will receive resurrected, glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50–54). There will be a new heaven and new earth for believers (Revelation 21:1), and unbelievers will be thrown into an everlasting lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). There is no second chance for redemption after death (Hebrews 9:27). Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus’ incarnation was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary. Mormons believe Jesus is a god, but that any human can also become a god. Mormonism teaches that salvation can be earned by a combination of faith and good works. Christians historically have taught that no one can achieve the status of God—only He is holy (1 Samuel 2:2). We can only be made holy in God’s sight through faith in Him (1 Corinthians 1:2). Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), is the only one ever to have lived a sinless life, and now has the highest place of honor in heaven (Hebrews 7:26). Jesus and God are one in essence, Jesus being the only man who existed before physical birth (John 1:1-8; 8:56). Jesus gave Himself to us as a sacrifice, God raised Him from the dead, and one day everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6–11). Jesus tells us it is impossible to get to heaven by our own works and that only by faith in Him is it possible (Matthew 19:26). We all deserve eternal punishment for our sins, but God’s infinite love and grace have allowed us a way out. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Clearly, there is only one way to receive salvation and that is to know God and His Son, Jesus (John 17:3). Receiving salvation is not done by works but by faith (Romans 1:17; 3:28). We can receive this gift no matter who we are or what we have done (Romans 3:22). “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Although Mormons are usually friendly, loving, and kind people, they are deceived by a false religion that distorts the nature of God, the Person of Jesus Christ, and the means of salvation. Source: https://www.gotquestions.org
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DEVOTIONAL “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” 1 Corinthians 1:17. Rev. Luis M. Ortiz
MAKING THE CROSS OF CHRIST OF NONE EFFECT Paul did not want Christ’s sacrifice on the cross to be made useless, of none effect. That is why he never preached the Gospel “with wisdom of words,” or in other words, human wisdom, confused wisdom, foolish wisdom, hostile wisdom, mundane wisdom, temporary wisdom. The apostle stated that preaching the Gospel “with wisdom of words” made the sacrifice of Christ of none effect, rendering his sacrifice meaningless. In times of the great apostle, there were preachers “with wisdom of words,” and because the preaching of Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23), false preachers avoided the clear, honest and direct preaching of the cross and replaced it with verbosity, shallow philosophies and vain deceit. For this reason, the Apostle warns: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit… But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (Colossians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 11:3). False preachers deny the impact of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the sin-cleansing power of his blood. They hide the message of the cross and preach a social, comfortable, and lazy gospel to attract people to their church. They offer all kinds of superficial entertainments, such as parties, lotteries, shows, etc. Others wrongly quote Christ, “… That they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:22), promoting a unity, an ecumenism and a Christianity without Christ, admitting those
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who deny Christ’s divinity, his blood’s holy properties, the rebirth of believers, holiness, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and many other fundamental doctrines of God’s Word. This gives a place for people who believe in all kinds of mistaken doctrines and demons. They also take in the mundane, the fornicator, the adulterer, for they only care about gathering as many as possible, regardless of their lifestyle or beliefs. There is place for everyone but Christ. Nevertheless, true Christians –those purified by Christ’s blood and whose names are written in Heaven– are united in the Spirit. The true Church of Jesus Christ, scattered as it is all over the world in many congregations and denominations, is united in the Spirit despite the physical separation. We love each other regardless of race, position or confession, because “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). This is the true unity of true Christians: the biblical unity, the unity in the Spirit (Ephesians 4:2-6). Instead of preaching the true Word of God and the great revelation of the love and power of God that was manifested on the cross of the Calvary –the true sustenance for our souls and spirits, the one and only solid foundation of our faith– some preach their own visions, revelations and so-called manifestations of Christ. Those who build their spiritual home based on their own or other’s false visions and revelations will see it collapse before their eyes in times of trial. In contrast, those who build their spiritual home based on the solid foundation of God’s Word will see it prevail. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts… ” (2 Peter 1:19). Peter, just like Paul, taught that no vision, no revelation and no manifestation can replace the written Word, because it is “sure word.” Paul did not want anything to do with the false prophets of his time. And he would certainly do not want anything to do with the vain deceit, vanity and frauds of our times that make the cross of Christ vain. He would say now as he said before: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:1-4). We preach Christ crucified so that nobody glories himself before Him. “May God forbid that I glory myself but in the cross of our Lord Jesus-Christ.” Dear reader, the only way for your sins to be forgiven and your soul to be saved is through repentance and the acceptance of Christ. You can experience his glorious presence right now. Ask for help and pray to God. Amen.
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DEVOTIONAL “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Rev. Gustavo Martínez
NOTHING TO FEAR The disciples were in an inconceivable state of sadness and despondency before knowing about Jesus’ resurrection. They were so consumed by their grief that when Mary Magdalene came to announce them the good news, they did not believe her (Mark 16:11). Despite Jesus’ previous constant announcements that He would die and resurrect on the third day, the disciples never truly internalized what He had said. To them, the crucifixion marked the end of their discipleship, so they went back home to their former jobs. Nonetheless, Christ appeared before them to give them back their joy. He showed them his wounds and his side –the ultimate evidence of his identity– and they rejoiced. There is the misconception that Christians live in a bed of roses and sadness never reaches them because God is by their side. This contradicts Jesus Christ’s words that we would not be exempted from tribulations. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” ( John 16:33). He promised, though, to grant us his divine peace. Therefore, our victory comes from proclaiming that we have overcome the world by faith along with Christ. Christ did not only defeat sadness, but ignorance as well. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared before two disciples that were on their way to some village. They did not recognize Him and even called Him “stranger” (Luke 24:18). He reprehended their ignorance by saying: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25). Christ resorted to
the Word to give them back the joy that comes from faith. They went to the other Apostles, but none believed them (Mark 16:12), and so Christ appeared before all of them and reprehended yet again their stubbornness and lack of faith. God always resorts to the Scriptures when He wants to reveal Himself to someone. The Scriptures produce faith, and faith leads to Christ, putting an end to lack of faith in our hearts (Romans 10:17). True faith does not allow anyone or anything to lead us astray from the sublime love of God, not even death. This is because our life is based on the rock that is Christ. Remember that, “there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love… For God is love” (1 John 4:18; 1 John 4:8). Who will make us doubt Jesus Christ’s existence if we know that He lives in our hearts, that He is real, and that his forgiveness is available for those who approach the throne of grace? Dear reader, you may have never experienced the joy of salvation, or if you have, hardship may have led you astray from God. Right now, He is calling you, He is giving you the chance to accept Him. If you do so, He will welcome you and make you heir of the Kingdom of Heaven. If you are already by His side, rejoice in your salvation at all times. Death has been vanquished by Christ at Calvary. We have nothing to fear. May God bless you now and forever!
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DEVOTIONAL “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.” Revelation 2:14-15. Rev. Rodolfo González Cruz
THE CHURCH OF PERGAMOS The ancient city of Pergamos, from which the word “parchment” derives, was an important cultural venue. It used to have a library with more than two hundred thousand books, and people were so religious that there were many temples dedicated to different god. For instance, the temple of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, was located there. “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth” (Revelation 2:12-13). The church of Pergamos had flourished within an idolatrous environment where people had the obligation to worship Caesar, who held the title of “Lord.” However, the brethren of Pergamos never denied their Christian faith. Antipas, a faithful disciple of Christ, became a martyr when he was roasted to death in the bronze bull. Just like Antipas who died in such a cruel manner, other Christians were sent to the Roman Colosseum to be eaten by lions, panthers, and other wild animals. Such was the level of wickedness, devilry, ignorance and savagery of those who used to witness horrible massacres as entertainment. “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” (Revelation 2:14). The church of Pergamos had been infiltrated by followers of Balaam, the prophet who corrupted God’s people due to his love for money. The doctrine of Balaam consists in leading people into sin, sexual depravity, unequal yoke, and idolatry, therefore losing God’s protection and falling into damnation (Numbers 31:1516; Jude 1:11). Balaam destroyed his heart for the rewards of
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evil. As this provoked God’s anger (2 Peter 2:15), Balaam met his end by the sword due to his insolence, depravity and corruption (Numbers 31:8). “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate” (Revelation 2:15). The church of Pergamos also had Nicolaitanes among its members. These people would use others and take advantage of their leadership positions for their own or their group’s benefit, while excluding love, justice and unity. This is not authority, but authoritarianism. “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3; 1 Colossians 12:1-31; 3 John 1:9-10).
“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16). As the church of Pergamos was tainted by earthly doctrines, such as those of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes, Jesus called them to repentance; otherwise, He would have confronted, reprehended and fought it with the sword of His mouth (Revelation 19:15). “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it” (Revelation 2:17). Manna was the bread
provided by God that sustained His people in the desert (Exodus 16). The “hidden manna,” however, refers to the victor; it is a bread of communion with Christ that provides spiritual blessing. The “white stone” is a reward containing the new identity of faithful believers. The Lord will grant it in Heaven, not on Earth. He may probably say: “Take this white stone… This is your new name.” Or He may say what He did to Jacob: “… Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel…” (Genesis 32:28). Or He may use the same words as with Abram: “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham…” (Genesis 17:5).
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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).
WAITING AND RECEIVING THE POWER FROM ON HIGH Event: 30th National Convention Date: March 2 - March 5 Place: Panama City, Panama
Under the theme “Shekhinah 2019,” the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Panama held its 30th National Convention at Arena Roberto Duran, in the capital of Panama. The event was attended by Reverend José Arturo Soto, international president of the Work of God, as well as a large
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group of local faithful and delegations from Costa Rica, Peru, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. At the opening service, Reverend Rubén Concepción, international secretary of the WMM, shared the message “Waiting to Receive the Power from on High,” based on Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4 and 2:1. In his speech, the servant of God spoke about the promises of the Lord, which are only for those who trust in Him. In the morning service of the second day, Reverend Luis Meza Bocanegra, international director of the WMM,
EVENT
announced the good news. The message of the servant was “The Sins of Sodom,” based on Ezekiel 16:49-50. The pastor said that the last attack of the devil will be against the Word of God. VISITATION TIME
In the evening service, Reverend Aris Solís, national supervisor of the WMM in Colombia, held the sermon “Visitation Time,” based on Luke 19:41-44. In his analysis of the Scriptures, he emphasized that in the last days the Lord will
pour out his Spirit on all flesh. He also said that the Lord always keeps His promises and that He blesses and provides prosperity. At the beginning of the third day, a youth worship took place. Reverend Juan Casiano, director of the Elim Biblical Institute in in Puerto Rico, shared the message “Waiting for the Promise,” based on Acts 1:4-8. In his speech, he noted that the blessing of the Lord is available to those who live by faith. At the fifth service, Reverend Carlos Guerra, interna-
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tional director of the WMM, preached the Word with the message “You Have Thrust Sore at Us,” based on Psalm 118:13. In his speech, he pointed out that believers are not alone, and that we have to remind the devil that the Almighty is stronger than him. He also said that the hammer blows of the Lord are not for destruction, but for restoration. TRANSFORMING VISION
On the last day, a missionary worship was held. Reverend Juan Castillo, member of the WMM in Puerto Rico, announced the good news with the message “Transforming Vision,” based on Isaiah 6:1-8. He pointed out that it neces-
sary for God to work in our life, and that only His Spirit can make people change. In the last service, Pastor Soto preached the Word based on Numbers 9:15-16. He said, “God wants to be with us all the time. His constant presence means that He guides His people. When the Lord works in us, He brings out the darkness, the hindrance, the filth, the uselessness.” In the last part of the meeting of faith, the promotion of workers took place, and 28 brothers were recognized for their evangelizing work. The 30th National Convention of the WMM in panama was broadcast live in HD in all five continents by Bethel Television and other media of the Work.
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EVENT
JESUS JOINS US TOGETHER Event: 19th National Convention Date: February 21 - February 24 Place: Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Argentina held its 19th National Convention at the Ro-
berto Pando sports center, located in southern Buenos Aires. The event, whose theme was “Jesus Joins Us Together,” was attended by around three thousand people from Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela and Chile.
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In the opening service, Reverend Humberto Henao, international vice president of the WMM, announced the good news with the message “When the Shekhinah of the Lord Falls,” based on Daniel 7:9-10. He focused on the radical change produced by the fire of God in people. In the morning service of the second day, Reverend Luis Rivera, national supervisor of the WMM in Paraguay, preached the Gospel with the message “Living in the Fire of God,” based on 2 Kings 2:1-13. He spoke about the Holy Spirit.
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PRESENCE OF GOD
Hours later, in the evening service, Reverend Rómulo Vergara, international director of the Work and missionary in Africa, shared the message of the Lord, “The Truth Will Set You Free,” based on John 8:31-32. He spoke about the power of the Word. At the beginning of the third day, Reverend Fabio Mosquera, missionary of the WMM in Uruguay, was the instrument chosen to teach the sound doctrine. In his speech entitled “Under the Process of God,” based on Philippians 1:6, the pastor motivated the attendees to let themselves be shaped by God.
Later, in the evening service, Reverend Gustavo Martínez, national supervisor of the WMM in Chile and missionary supervisor of the Southern Cone, analyzed the Scriptures through the message “Living in the Presence of God,” based on 1 Kings 17:1-2. On the last day, in the missionary worship, Reverend Vergara was Jesus Christ’s messenger with “Unto the Uttermost Part of the Earth,” based on Acts 1:6-8. The Venezuelan missionary spoke about the beginnings of the Work in Africa. At the end of the 19th National Convention, Pastor Henao delivered the message “From Here on,” based on 2 Kings 5:14-17.
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EVENT
REMAINING FIRM IN TIME Event: Special Worship Date: February 12 Place: Barcelona, Spain
On the occasion of the visit of Reverend Samuel Mejía, missionary supervisor in Asia, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Spain held a special worship in the main temple of the Work in La Sagrera, Barcelona. The service, led by Reverend Carlos Medina, national supervisor of the WMM in Spain, was attended by be-
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lievers from the churches of Hospitalet, San Juan Despí and Ripollet. The flock of the Lord took the opportunity to praise and worship Him. Pastor Mejía shared the Gospel with the message “Remaining Firm in Time and Despite Circumstances,” based on 2 Timothy 1:6. He developed the most important points of the second epistle of the apostle Paul to Timothy. SPECIAL PREACHING
Based on the Holy Scriptures, the preacher said, “We must not waste the gift that God given us. Let’s stir up the fire of the Lord that is in us. Do not stop praying. Let’s not lose our intimacy with Jesus Christ.” “It is very important to be brave and to talk about the
Lord to those around us, even outside the church. Do not be ashamed to preach. Keep your principles when you are alone. He will not disappoint us,” the pastor added. Likewise, Pastor Mejía, in his biblical analysis of 2 Timothy 2:1-7, spoke about what it means to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. In this regard, he said, “We must work hard before thinking about rest. Do not skip work to reach the goal. In life, important permanent things are worth the effort. So do your best in the Work of God.” Reverend Samuel Mejía also spoke about what the Almighty thinks about an approved worker. Based on 2 Timothy 2:14-26, he said that Christians have to focus on the truth, and we have to avoid keeping up the appearances.
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EVENT
PREACH THE WORD
Event: Reopening of the Bible House Date: February 18 Place: Genoa, Italy
The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Italy reopened its Bible House of Genoa, capital of Liguria. The meeting of faith showed the outstanding efforts done by the Work of God to spread the Gospel. It was attended by brothers from the churches of Imperia, Busto Arsizio, Mi-
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lano, Torino and other Christian denominations. Before the reopening ceremony, Reverend David Echalar, national supervisor of the WMM in Italy and supervisor of Block B of Europe, expressed his happiness for the victory achieved by the Work in Italy. He said, “We are very happy to reopen. To us, it is a great honor to have a place where we can spread the Word of the Lord.” SAFE HAVEN
Pastor Echalar talked about the reopening of the Bible
House of Genoa and revealed that Impacto Evangelistic, the magazine that edifies your life, will be part of it. In this regard, he stressed, “There will be a reading area where we can reflect, meditate and read past Impacto Evangelistic issues. It will be a safe haven for those who don’t know where to go.” During the prayer for the this initiative to bring the sound doctrine to the Italian people, Pastor Echalar shared the short message “Preach the Word,” which was based on Timothy 4:1-2. In his speech, he said, How are
major problems solved? How are false doctrines corrected? Only by preaching the Word of the Lord. And that’s our goal.” Finally, Reverend Echalar observed, “Many brothers from other denominations have studied and written biblical studies to give us precious books that will help us grow in the faith and resist the Devil’s tricks. And even though we are from different denominations, we have something in common: Christ and His precious blood, which has forgiven us all.”
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EVENT
I WAS BORN TO WORSHIP YOU Event: Youth Week Date: February 5 - February10 Place: Berlin, Germany
The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Germany celebrated the Youth Week In Berlin, with the theme “I Was Born to Worship You.” The event was attended by Reverend Edwar Flores and Sister Senaida Espinoza. In the first worship, Pastor Flores, leader of the church of Berlin, preached the Word. Based on 2 Corinthians 7:10, he shared a message in which he analyzed those moments
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that lead us to repent and seek salvation. In the second service, Sister Espinoza, from the WMM in Italy, offered the sermon “I Was Born to Worship You,” based on 1 Samuel 1:20, and she explained the reasons why the Lord must be worshiped. In the third worship, Senaida Espinoza was the instrument of Christ once again. Based on 1 Samuel 2:26, she developed the topic “I’m Growing Up to Worship You” and spoke about temptations. In the fourth worship, once again sSister Senaida announced the good news. Based on 1 Samuel 8:1, she shared the message “Worship One and Inspire All” and revealed how we can inspire those who do not know Jesus. The Youth Week ended with a worship in which Sister Espinoza was the messenger of the Lord. Based on Psalm 95, she shared the Word through the message “What Leads Us to Worship God.”
DIFFICULT PLACES FOR FAITH Event: 12th anniversary of the church of London Date: February 22 - February 24 Place: London, England
The
Worldwide
Missionary
Movement in
England celebrated the 12th anniversary of the church of London. The event was attended by reverend Stanley Martis, from the WMM in the Netherlands, and a large group of brothers from Leeds, Reading, Croydon and Luton. At the opening service, Reverend Roberto Riojas, head of the church of London, shared the Word through the message “Growth, an Objective to Be Achieved by
Every Believer,” based on Ezekiel 47:1-2. In the morning service, Minister Martis, who leads the church of Lelystad, spread the sound doctrine by delivering the message of God “Growth,” based on 1 Corinthians 3:6. In the evening worship, Pastor Martis was chosen again to preach the Gospel. In his second biblical preaching, “Difficult Places for Faith,” based on Zechariah 4:6-14, he encouraged attendees to pray and trust in God. The 12th anniversary of the church of London ended with a service led by Reverend Stanley Martis, who announced the good news for the third time. In his preaching, based on Song of Solomon 4:1-5 and 12, he exhorted the believers to be united.
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OTHER EVENTS
COLOMBIA
HONDURAS
10th Anniversary of the Church of La Ronda
National Retreat of Pastors
35th Regional Fellowship
The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Honduras held its National Retreat of Pastors on January 4 and January 5 in the church of Danlí, in the eastern part of the country. At the opening service, Pastor Daniel Ávila, member of the WMM in Honduras, preached the Gospel with the message “Eight Characteristics of Upright Leaders,” based on Exodus 18:19-20, He highlighted the virtues of those who want to do the work of Christ. At the beginning of the second day, a fasting service was held. Afterwards, Reverend Heriberto Chacón, national supervisor of the WMM in Honduras, shared the message “I Have No Common Bread, Only Hallowed Bread.” At the last service, Pastor Donato Sierra, member of the congregation shared the message entitled “The Characteristics of the Four,” based on Mark 2:2-3.
The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Panama held its 35th Regional Fellowship from February 1 to February 3, in the district of Barú, located in the province of Chiriquí. The event took place under the theme “It Is Time to Do” and was attended by more than one thousand five hundred followers of Jesus Christ. Reverend Andrés Jean François, presbyter of Zone 5 of the WMM in Panama, shared the first message of the event, “The Shekhinah of the Lord,” based on Exodus 25:8. Reverend Julio Klinger, national director of the Youth of the WMM in Panama, preached the Gospel with the message “Why Is God’s Fire Extinguished?”, based on Leviticus 6:10-13. Reverend Agustín Batista, presbyter of Zone 1 of the WMM in Panama, preached the Word in the third service. Based on 1 Kings 16:29 and 17:1, he developed the message “It Is Time to Do.” In the last service, Reverend Epifanio Asprilla, national supervisor of the WMM in Panama, offered the message “The Times,” based on Ephesians 5:13-15, and said that man needs a Savior.
BOLIVIA Baptism in Oruro On January 12, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Bolivia held a baptism ceremony in the city of Oruro. After learning the sound doctrine taught by the Work, 30 believers of the Almighty descended into the baptismal waters and thus joined Christianity. Reverend Enrique Valenzuela, presbyter of Zone 6 of the WMM in Bolivia, announced the good news. Based on Exodus 14, he shared a message about how the Lord brought the people of Israel out of Egypt and made them cross the Red Sea.
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With a significant attendance of faithful from the department of Santander, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Colombia celebrated the 10th anniversary of the church of La Ronda, located in the municipality of Floridablanca, from January 25 to January 27. The spiritual event was led by Reverend William Cañas. Pastor Erson Moya, head of the church of El Palmar, located in the municipality of Barrancabermeja, preach the Gospel based on the Word of the Lord. During the event, whose theme was “Ten Lit Lamps,” preacher Moya delivered the following sermons: “Things to Renew in Our Marriage,” based on Malachi 2:13-16; “Lot’s Home,” based on Genesis 13:1-13; and “Nehemiah, an Unstoppable Man,” based on Nehemiah 6:1-14. Reverend Moya was also in charge of a vow renewal ceremony.
WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
PANAMA
UNITED STATES
SPAIN
Regional Fellowship of Zone 13
Graduation of the Missionary School of Barcelona
7th Anniversary of the Church of Malmö
Under the theme “Moving Forward with Power,” the Worldwide Missionary Movement in the United States held the Regional Fellowship of Zone 13 (North Carolina and South Carolina) from February 7 to February 9, in Hilton Head Island. The event was attended by Reverend Arturo Hernández, national supervisor of the WMM in the U.S., as well as a significant number of brothers from the churches and temples of Zone 13. At the opening service, Reverend Mario Pascual, presbyter of Zone 10, announced the good news. Based on Genesis 4:22-24, he developed the topic “Walking with God” and spoke about the benefits of having the presence of God in our lives. In the second service, Reverend Hernández was the chosen instrument to share God’s message. Based on Numbers 14:10, he delivered the sermon “Not Believing God Leads to Ruin.” Then, in the closing service, Reverend Manuel Santiago, national officer of the WMM in the U.S., announced the good news of Jesus Christ. Based on Psalm 42:5, he shared the message “Reasons for Discouragement.”
On February 3, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Spain held the graduation ceremony of its missionary school in the central temple of Barcelona, capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia. 40 brothers celebrated that they have successfully completed their studies of the Word of God. Reverend Carlos Medina, national supervisor of the WMM in Spain, preached the Word based on Amos 8:11-13. In his message, he spoke about the apostasy that will cover Earth in the last days. The missionary school of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Spain has been operating since 2002, when reverend Carlos Guerra held a course aimed at leaders and pastors of the Work in this country. Nowadays, it plays an essential role in the theological training of the believers.
From February 22 to February 23, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Sweden celebrated the 7th anniversary of the church of Malmö under the theme “The Great Commission.” The event was attended by pastors Morten Christensen, head of the church of Denmark, and Edwin Mamani, head of the church in Finland. The spiritual event was led by Pastor Edwin Alvarado, and Reverend Carlos Contreras, presbyter of Scandinavia, shared the Gospel during the two days of celebration. In the first service, Pastor Contreras shared the message “The Authority of the Lord Jesus,” based on Matthew 28:18-20. In his speech, the servant stated that the Word must be preached to touch souls, and warned that as disciples of Christ, we have to be careful of ill motivations. In the second worship, the servant presented the message entitled “The Authority of the Envoys,” based on John 13:1-20. In the last service, he talked about “The Duty of Those Who Listen to the Great Commission,” based on Mark 16:15-18. He stressed that the Gospel should be permanently announced to humanity.
SWEDEN
PORTUGAL Special Services Faithful to the purposes of the Lord, Reverend Carlos Medina, supervisor of Block A of Europe, and Pastor Carlos Daniel Medina, member of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Spain, visited the temples of the Work of God in Sao Joao de Madeira and Lisbon, capital of Portugal. The visits, which took place on February 23 and February 24, aimed to check the progress of the sound doctrine. In Lisbon, the ministers of Jesus Christ held two special services as part of their missionary journey. Based on Proverbs 4:5-6, Reverend Carlos Medina shared a message to analyze the objective of the Word of the Lord and said, “God loves us as a father, gives us wise words of advice, and loves us. Let Him guide your life.” Subsequently, Pastor Carlos Daniel Medina preached the Gospel with a message based on Psalm 147:1-6. In his preaching, he said, “We have deep wounds in our heart. God wants to heal those wounds that makes us unhappy. God wants us to give Him our pain so that He can heal those hidden wounds. When you are healed, you will be used as an instrument to heal others.”
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LETTERS FROM OUR READERS CARTAS@IMPACTOEVANGELISTICO.NET
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BENERADO MERCADO Dear brothers, a cellmate let me borrow his magazine. I tell you, this is much more than just a magazine. I’ve read it and learned very interesting things about this wonderful Christian Work full of information, blessings and beautiful messages of salvation. Thank you! From Florida, USA.
FEBRUARY 7-10 CONVENTION BELIZE (ORANGE WALK). 21-24 CONVENTION ARGENTINA (BUENOS AIRES). MARCH 2-5 CONVENTION PANAMA 14-17 CONVENTION HONDURAS (SAN PEDRO SULA). 14-17 CONVENTION AUSTRALIA (MELBOURNE).
OCNIEL MONTERO Blessings, brothers. I’m writing because I’m forever grateful for the magazine, which has become a weapon in my hands. I always carry a copy with me to share its rich teachings with brothers that may be interested. I’ve also used in the worships as study material. Once, at Sunday school, the Holy Spirit showed me a passionate article about the life of Polycarp. Many of us cried and we still remember what we learned about this martyred Christian; we had never heard about him before. What a blessing! It gave us all strength to move forward. From Holguín, Cuba.
APRIL 11-13 17-21 18-20 25-27 25-28
CONVENTION NEPAL. CONVENTION GUATEMALA (GUATEMALA CITY). CONVENTION SRI LANKA. CONVENTION DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. CONVENTION GUYANA, SURINAME AND MARTINIQUE, (SURINAME). 26-28 FELLOWSHIP EAST AFRICA PRESBYTERY, CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE).
LENNY SÁNCHEZ I thank God for your tireless work of spreading the seed of the Gospel of peace around this lost world. Even in prison, God works wonders in our souls through this magazine. It’s such an unspeakable joy to read it each month. I pray for you; I feel it’s my duty and need. May the peace of God be with you. Your brother, Lenny. From Osborn Correctional Institution, Somers, Connecticut, USA.
LYDIA ANTOSANTI I thank God for the magazine and for its team. It’s full of blessings for the believers and nonbelievers. I always pray for Lord to bring the Work to Amsterdam and Saratoya Springs. I have faith that God will listen to me, we need men and women devoted to the Lord and His Work. Greeting and hugs in the name of the Lord. From Amsterdam, NY, United States.
ANA LUISA MARTÍNEZ God bless the Impacto Evangelistic Magazine. Thank you for sending me this edition, which is as much as a blessing for my life as following the path of my Heavenly Father. When my siblings and I received the magazine, we all want to read it at the same time. Greetings to all the members of Impacto Evangelistic. From Holguín, Cuba.
GLOBAL AGENDA 2019
BLANCA DELGADO Dear brothers, thank you for sending me Impacto Evangelistic. It is a great blessing and contains important topics and testimonies. I ask the Lord to bless you and to allow you to continue to spread the Word of the Lord, which is essential, especially in these times. May the Lord continue to bless you. From Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.
ANTONIO SÁNCHEZ Beloved brothers, I want to thank you all for the great work you do to win souls for our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord continue to bless you greatly. I send you all my love and gratitude for your great work. Your brother in Christ, Antonio. From Gardner, MA, USA.
EVA N. RIVERA Hello! I love your magazine. It’s a blessing to me. Well written and relevant. God bless you. From Camuy, Puerto Rico.
MARIANA MATOS Beloved brothers in Christ, may the Lord bless you. I thank you for this magazine. It truly is inspired by the Holy Spirit because it shared the exact same message of His Word. I feel so happy every time I receive it; it brings blessings to my life. I can’t put it down until I’m finished. Then, I give it to people who don’t know God. I love you in the love of Christ. From Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
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MAY 3-5 CONVENTION JAPAN (TOKYO NARITA). 16-19 CONVENTION SWITZERLAND (GENEVA). 16-19 CONVENTION GERMANY AND BLOCK C (HAMBURG). JULY 2-6 4-7 9-12 12-14 17-20 25-28
CONVENTION COSTA RICA. CONVENTION BRAZIL (MANAOS). CONVENTION USA, MICHIGAN (GRANDVILLE). FELLOWSHIP NEW ZEALAND (WELLINGTON). CONVENTION PUERTO RICO. CONVENTION MEXICO.
AUGUST 8-11 CONVENTION SPAIN AND BLOCK A EUROPE (MADRID). 8-11 CONVENTION HAITI (PORT-AU-PRINCE). 9-11 FELLOWSHIP BRAZIL (SAO PAULO). 13-18 GENERAL AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONVENTION AFRICA, EQUATORIAL GUINEA (BATA). 15-18 CONVENTION ITALY & BLOCK B (MONZA). 22-25 FELLOWSHIP WEST AFRICA PRESBYTERY, GHANA (ACCRA). 22-25 CONVENTION ECUADOR, GUAYAQUIL. SEPTEMBER 4-6 CONVENTION VENEZUELA. 13-15 CONVENTION PERU (AREQUIPA). 16-18 CONVENTION PERU (CHICLAYO). 20-22 CONVENTION PERU (LIMA). 25-28 CONVENTION INDIA. 28 WORLD MISSION DAY, SIMULTANEOUS ACTIVITY IN ALL THE COUNTRIES OCTOBER 4-6 FELLOWSHIP CANADA. 18-20 FELLOWSHIP MADAGASCAR. 25-27 CONVENTION MAURITIUS. 31-3 (NOV.) CONVENTION CHILE (SANTIAGO). NOVEMBER 14-17 CONVENTION EL SALVADOR. 21-24 CONVENTION URUGUAY (MONTEVIDEO) 26-29 CONVENTION MYANMAR.
n Past events n Future events
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WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
2ND NATIONAL YOUTH CAMP REUS - TARRAGONA 2019
April 18 April 21
April 2019 / Impacto evangelistic
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all over Europe We inform the viewers of Bethel Television in Europe (tuned in through a 60cm DTH dish antenna or the Hotbird satellite) that our SD signal stopped operating on February 28 this year. However, you can watch Bethel Television in HD through the Hotbird satellite. You only have to change your satellite receiver with a DVB-S2/MPEG4 one and set the following parameters:
Frequency: 11642 Symbol Rate: 27500 Polarity: Horizontal
For further information, you can contact us at:
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brings us together