Edition for EUROPE
evangelistic
THE MAGAZINE THAT EDIFIES YOUR LIFE
August 2019 / Edition 787
www.impactoevangelistico.net
How to lead a team
THE VALUE OF
LEADERSHIP DEVOTIONAL
WHAT IS THE BEST JOB?
LIFE STORY
ABRAHAM’S LAST FLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL
PEDOPHILIA INCREASES ON THE INTERNET
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT
MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 2 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
EDITORIAL
THE EFFICIENT POWER OF GOD Rev. José Arturo Soto B. International President of the WMM
“Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria […] he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.” 2 Kings 5:1.
of Namaan, com-
wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come
mander of the Syrian army in the days of the proph-
again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was
et Elisha. Naaman was an unconverted foreigner; a
wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He
spiritually blind soul that did not know the Lord’s
will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the
commandments; an idolater and worshipper of
name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over
Rimmon, god of the Syrian people; a man that
the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and
needed God and His message. The Bible said he was
Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters
highly esteemed by everyone, especially by the king
of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he
of Syria, and held an honorable position. He was a
turned and went away in a rage” (2 Kings 5:9-12).
This passage tells the story
brave commander, a bright military strategist, and a beloved national hero.
2 Kings 5:13 tells that Namaan’s servants told him: “And his servants came near, and spake unto
This extremely courageous man proved his mili-
him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do
tary value in the battlefield, but unfortunately he
some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how
got sick with leprosy. One day, a girl who became a
much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be
servant of Namaan’s wife told her mistress: “If only
clean?” “Then went he down, and dipped himself
my master were in the presence of the prophet who
seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the
is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his skin
man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the
disease.” Learning this news, he traveled to Israel to
flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” God healed
be healed.
him.
“So Naaman came with his horses and with his
God heals! God transforms! The power of God’s
chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
Gospel can change us because the Lord’s message is
And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and
efficient for everyone. Amen.
August 2019 / Impacto evangelistic
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evangelistic Founder Director: Rev. Luis M. Ortiz AUGUST 2019 / EDITION N° 787 (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
POSTMASTER: send address changes to Impacto Evangelístico P.O. BOX 363644 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-3644 Phone (787) 761-8806; 761-8805; 761-8903
BOARD OFFICERS OF WMM INC. Rev. José Soto President Rev. Humberto Henao Vice president Rev. Rubén Concepción Secretary 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
France Gabón Ghana Guatemala Equatorial Guinea French Guiana Guyana Inglesa Haití Holland Honduras India England St. Andres Island (Col.) Saint Martin Island Island of Mauritius Rodrigues Island Canaries Islands (Spain) Hawaiian Islands (U.S.A.) Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Kuwait
Madagascar Malaysa México Myanmar Nicaragua Nigeria Oman Panamá Paraguay Peru Portugal Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Romania Sri Lanka Sweden Switzerland South Africa Surinam Trinidad and Tobago Ukranian Uruguay Venezuela
The Worldwide Missionary Movement is a religious nonprofit organization duly registered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in the federal capital, Washington DC, with headquarters in both cities and in every state of the United States and other countries where we have established missionary Works. Important The offerings and donations in cash, equipment, real estate and bequests by will, in the benefit of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, Inc.’s Work, are deductible from the income tax, and receipts issued by the WMM are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the Federal Government of the United States of America and of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico. n
Visit our website Obtain uplifting information about God’s Work and keep up with the latest news. A customized access from anywhere in the world: www. impactoevangelistico.net n
If you wish Write to us at our postal address: Worldwide Missionary Movement, Inc. PO Box 363644 San Juan, P. R. 00936-3644 n
Copyright © 2009 Impacto Evangelistic Movimiento Misionero Mundial, Inc. (World-Wide Missionary Movement, Inc.) All content of this magazine and each subsequent edition are duly registered at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC USA. All rights reserved. Total or partial reproduction in any form and translation into other languages without prior permission of the Director are prohibited. Under international copyright agreements, they are crimes punishable by law. n
Doctrinal Statement The Worldwide Missionary Movement adheres to the fundamental doctrines of Scripture, such as: n
Legal deposit made on the National Library of Peru Nº 2011-02530 Christian Pentecostal Church-Worldwide Missionary Movement: Horacio Cachay 388 - La Victoria - Lima 13 - Perú Printout: Quad/Graphics Perú S.A. Segedinski put 72 / 24000 Subotica / Republic of Serbia WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT office@rotografika.rs / www.rotografika.rs
4 America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
• The inspiration of the Holy Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21. • The Adorable Godhead in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Matthew 3:16-17, 17: 1-5; 28:19, John 17: 5, 24, 26, 16:32, 14:16, 23, 18:5, 6, 2 Peter 1:17,18; Revelation 5. • Salvation by Faith in Christ: Luke 24:47, John 3:16, Romans 10:13, Titus 2:11, 3:5-7. • The New Birth: John 3:3, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 3:9. • Justification by Faith: Romans 5:1, Titus 3:7. • Water Baptism by Inmersion, as commanded by Christ: Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39. • The Baptism in the Holy Spirit subsequent to salvation, speaking in tongues according to: Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, 8, 2:4. • Divine Healing: Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:16, 17, Mark 16:18, James 5:14, 15. • The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. • The Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22-26. • Sanctification: 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15, 16, 1 John 2:6. • Ministry and Evangelization: Mark 16:15-20, Romans 10:15. • Tithing and Maintenance of the Work: Genesis 14:20, 28:22, Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21-26, Malachi 3:7-10, Matthew 10:10; 23:23. • The Rapture of the Church: Romans 8:23, 1 Corinthians 15:5152, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. • The Second Coming of Christ: Zechariah 14:1-9, Matthew 24:30, 31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Titus 2:13, Jude 14, 15. • The Millennial Kingdom: Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:5-10, Zechariah 9:10, Revelation 19:20, 20:3-10. • New Heavens and New Earth: Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1.
46
SUMMARY
DEVOTIONAL
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6.- Cover Note GOD'S CALL FOR US TO LEAD
Is it biblical to lead? Are we not called to be followers, instead of leaders? Are we not called to be servants instead of rulers? Can we honestly believe that leadership is a biblical idea? 14.- Infography LEADERSHIP. What you want and what you get. Many regions of the world wish for effective leaders that are men of God. 16.- International CHRISTIAN PROTEST BEFORE THE OAS. Various Christian representatives showed their rejection to gender ideology, abortion and the decay of natural families. 18.- International PEDOPHILIA INCREASES ON THE INTERNET. Thousands of pedophiles are using the so-called dark net to trade images of sexual abuse, an investigation by a news channel indicates. (*) 20.- Science DNA AND THE BIBLE AGREE ON THE ORIGIN OF THE PHILISTINES A genetic study of the remains of an old cemetery confirms their Mediterranean origin, as the Old Testament says. 22.- Woman GOD’S BEAUTY SALON Some women give so much importance to their looks that they forget that it is only the inner virtues that God gives them that make them truly beautiful. 24.- Music LIVING FOR JESUS This one-hundred-year-old hymn by Thomas Obediah Chisholm sheds light on the connection shared between believers and the Redeemer due to His death at Calvary. 26.- Literature THE OTHER GOSPELS Christian theologian and writer Pablo Hoff describes
the new threats against Christian faith and speaks about the most proselytizing and dangerous sects in South America. 30.- Hero of faith HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING? Reverent Robert Lowry was a talented musician and preacher that spread the Word through his sermons and more than five-hundred hymns. With a unique vision of the Gospel, he is an all-time reference of Christian music. 34.- Life story ABRAHAM’S LAST FLIGHT Abraham loved money and pleasure. To afford his lifestyle he became part of the world of drug trafficking and dealing and began to smuggle drugs. However, one day everything changed for him. 40.- Apologetics PREDESTINATION (II) When God created man, He created no automaton, no robot, no computer; but God created man “in his image,” with a spirit, a privileged mind, a brilliant intelligence, with free will. 42.- Interview “NO ONE CAN CHANGE THE FUNDAMENTALS” The Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM) is gaining ground all over the world. Missionaries can now save more and more souls for God in different countries, but success comes with new challenges that require a better pastoral training. 44.- Devocional WHAT IS THE BEST JOB? 46.- Devotional GOD’S PROTECTION 48.- Devotional GIVE EAR TO JESUS 50.- Events THE EVANGELIZING WORK DONE BY THE WMM IN THE WORLD 66.- Letters LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
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COVER NOTE
6 WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 6 America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
GOD’S CALL FOR US TO LEAD John C. Maxwell (*)
Christians have debated the subject of leadership for centuries. Is it biblical to lead? Are we not called to be followers, instead of leaders? Are we not called to be servants instead of rulers? Can we honestly believe that leadership is a biblical idea?
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COVER NOTE When we study the Bible closely, we see that leadership is, indeed, God’s idea. God is not only the Ultimate Leader, but He has called us to lead as well. The first description of mankind in the Bible involves leadership. God designed us to lead, to have authority and take dominion. According to Genesis 1:2631, you and I were born to lead. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make every man in Our image, and in Our likeness; let them rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” (Genesis 1:26) Being made in God’s image means we were created to lead. According to verse 26, we are made in God’s image. What does this mean? One clue is found in the next phrase: “and let them rule.” Part of what it means to be like God is knowing we were fashioned to lead and rule. God gave humans authority over the whole earth. We should be comfortable with two positions. The first position is being under God’s authority. The second position is being in authority over the world. God has given us this calling. We must discover what it means to lead like God does. If God told us to rule, we must have the ability to do it. God never commands us to do anything without enabling us to do it. You and I have the ability to lead because God created us and commanded us to do so. Based on your gifts and personality, you have the ability to lead in some area.
Being made in God’s image means we were created to lead. One clue is found in the next phrase: “and let them rule.” Part of what it means to be like God is knowing we were fashioned to lead and rule.
BEING SALT AND LIGHT
In the New Testament, God confirms this calling to influence others. Look at Matthew 5:13-16: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? …You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. So, let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Salt influences the food we eat. Light influences the homes in which we live. Jesus is calling us to embrace our calling to influence, and shine wherever we go. The Apostle Paul took this calling seriously when he said: “Therefore, knowing the fear of God, we persuade men…” (2 Corinthians 5:11). DIVINE PERMISSION TO LEAD
Many of us feel like Moses did when he faced God at the burning bush, in Exodus 3-4. He felt inadequate and unprepared to lead. But that’s what God called him MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 8 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
to do. Many potential leaders in the Bible were afraid and ran from their call. God had to give them permission to do it. Most of us can list why we don’t lead effectively, just as Moses did. When God called him, he instantly had five excuses why he couldn’t lead. Excuse One: Who am I? (Exodus 3:11). Moses struggled with his identity. He just didn’t feel qualified. He thought God picked the wrong leader. God’s re-
sponse: It doesn’t matter who you are. I’ve called you. I am with you. Excuse Two: Who are you? (Exodus 3:13). Moses struggled with intimacy. He didn’t know God well enough to describe Him to the people. His relationship with God was weak. God’s response: I am who I am. I’m anything you need. Excuse Three: What if they don’t listen? (Exo-
dus 4:1). Moses struggled with intimidation. He worried about people’s reaction to him. God’s response: When I am finished, they’ll listen. Trust me. Excuse Four: I’ve never been a good speaker (Exodus 4:10). Moses struggled with inadequacy. Who would follow him if he couldn’t speak well? God’s response: Guess who made your mouth? I’m the source of your gifts.
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COVER NOTE
Excuse Five: I know you can find someone else (Exodus 4:13). Moses struggled with inferiority. He compared himself with other more competent people, and he felt inferior. God’s response: Okay, I will let Aaron go with you…but I’m still calling you. THE BASICS OF EFFECTIVE LEADERS
1. They perceive a need. Contrary to what many think about leadership today, during this time leadership always began with a need. In Judges, it didn’t start when someone wanted to fill an empty position. There were no positions to fill. There was no protocol or structure at all. There was no vote for deacons or Sunday school teachers. If you led it was because you saw a need and got others to help you meet it. The judges all got their start when they saw a specific problem they could address. • Othniel: Found Israel surrounded by Mesopotamia. He stepped forward to recruit and lead an army of Hebrews against the king. He prevailed. This led to 40 years of peace. • Ehud: Observed the Moabites dominating his people, and decided he’d had enough. He led Israel to a rousing victory over Moab. This led to 80 years of peace. • Shamgar: Stepped forward when the Philistines had oppressed Israel for years. When he personally struck down 600 soldiers, he inspired his army to victory. When leadership is pure… MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 10 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
a. It always starts with a need. b. That need sparks passion within a person. c. That person acts in response to the need. d. This action moves others to cooperate. 2. They possess a gift. In each case in Judges, the leaders emerged because they had an obvious gift. They possessed some ability that fit the need of the moment perfectly. They were competent in a relevant arena. Their gift solved a problem. In each case, the “gift” was from God, but took on different forms. a. A spiritual gift: Samson had a spiritual gift connected to his Nazarite vow. b. A natural talent: Deborah had a natural talent for strategy and wisdom. c. An acquired skill: Gideon and Jephthath developed their skills to lead over time. God has put something inside each of us something
that is to be delivered to the people around us. In other words, everyone has something we all need. When we find it, we naturally influence others. When leadership is pure… a. A person finds a gift inside of them. b. They groom and develop that gift. c. They eventually match that gift with a place of service. d. The gift provides a platform for influence. e. They eventually flourish because of their gift. 3. They parade a passion. When an outward need and an inward gift match, the leader often follows by becoming consumed with a passion. This passion is compelling to others; the leader can’t help but share it with those who want to get involved. In the book of Judges, several leaders experienced this kind of inward chemistry that sparks passion. Here are the ingredients for passion:
Passion comes when a leader has complementary… a. Burdens: Your interests and concerns b. Convictions: Your values, principles and beliefs c. Gifts: Your God-given abilities d. Needs: Your desperate circumstances e. Opportunities: Your occasion to get involved Passion makes up for a lack of resources. No doubt, resources are nice to have, but many of the Judges were not rich in money, people or talent when they started. Gideon was scared. Samson lacked a moral backbone. Jephthath was impetuous. Abimelech got over-zealous and had to be reprimanded. It appears that Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon might have been elderly. This doesn’t stop people if they have passion. 4. They persuade people. True leaders eventually come to the point where they attract and empower others to their passion. Sometimes they just find others who share the same passion. One thing is sure, genu-
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ine leaders connect with others. This is what separates an entrepreneur and a leader. Leaders don’t act alone. They have followers. They have to, because they have a cause that’s bigger than they are. They need others to pull it off. • Gideon: Gideon was told to gather an army and attack the Midianites. He recruited too many men and God had to trim the size of his army or he might take credit for the win! This leader persuaded too many people to follow! If only we had the same problem. • Deborah: Although she was a woman, Israel was fully persuaded by Deborah. Whatever she determined to do, the people followed. Barak even insisted she MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 12 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
go with him to battle. He understood who had influence. • Samuel: The strongest of all the Judges, Samuel, was the most influential leader, between the time of Moses and David. His leadership spanned two generations. Both old and young listened to him. Even kings looked up to him. He anointed Saul and David as kings. He was a leader of leaders. Proven practices for getting things done… a. W hat gets talked about gets done. b. W hat gets trained for gets done. c. What gets measured gets done. d. W hat gets budgeted gets done.
COVER NOTE
THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES Before Israel adopted a monarchy and Saul was appointed to be their king, they experienced an era of time called the period of the Judges. It was a season when pure leadership was required. Every judge that led was a pioneer. The following verse appears more than once in the book of Judges: “And there was no king in Israel in those days, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25) Here are six reasons why this period was a leadership intensive season: (1) Chaos reigned because there was no precedent for authority or accountability. (2) Since the Jews first occupied Canaan, aggressive enemies surrounded them. (3) There were no government funds for national defense or safety. (4) Other nations influenced Israel with their idols and superstitions. (5) Heroes like Moses and Joshua were dead and there was no expectation of order. (6) Momentum and morale were low, so growth was hard not easy. Fourteen judges led Israel during this period. Each leader started his/her leadership role from scratch. These are the ones we know about: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Abimelech, Jiar, Tola, Jephthath, Ibzan, Alon, Abdon, Samson and Samuel. Certainly, we know more about some of these judges than others. However, from the text we can summarize how effective leaders led during Israel’s most difficult season. During these times, leaders must go back to the basics. The basics are clear during this period in Israel’s history.
of a God-given purpose. Perhaps this is why so many churches fail to bear fruit. There is no clear, defined, agreed upon mission.
e. What gets confronted gets done. f. What gets rewarded gets done. 5. They pursue a purpose. A final observation is that every judge could lead because they followed a distinct purpose laid out before them. They moved in a direction to reach a specific goal. No judge desired only to maintain status quo. Each felt they had a divine assignment to be performed. You might call it their life purpose. It became a consuming accountability partner. It would be difficult to separate leadership from purpose. I cannot imagine leading without a clear sense
In Judges, their purpose was… a. Personal: It fit their gifts and passions. b. Measurable: It involved activity that could be evaluated. c. Memorable: It was specific enough to be remembered and embraced. d. Meaningful: It surrounded national issues that made a difference. e. Mobile: It could travel with them wherever they found themselves. f. Moral: It was right. They felt it not only could be done but should be done. • Deborah: Her sole purpose was to liberate Israel from the Caananites. She laid out a plan, provided the resources, commissioned Barak to lead the army, and when he refused to lead the attack alone, she went with him. (*) American author of over 80 books on leadership
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Percentage of workers unsatisfied with the management department’s leadership style (Top 10 countries) 8 of 10 countries experiencing high levels of dissatisfaction with leadership are in Europe
Italy
South Africa
35%
36%
Germany
Poland
34%
33%
LEADERSHIP:
what you want and what you get J. Oswald Sanders said that leadership is influence nothing more nothing less. It is about influencing others in things that are worth it. It does not depend on titles or positions; it depends on someone who has God’s vision and encourages others to join him in said mission. When this happens, leadership appears in its purest form. It is
Visionary There is a clear view that allows a cohesive progress towards a future goal.
also th is
sa ys But only 43%
style.
4%
hip ers ad le
ee at work. ys all tu
MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 14 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
as e le t f
orite o av
is is what the t th ya a c th
s
the most c om m o
is his st y a
n
ip styles preferred b ersh y8 d a 1% le of ur o f wo e rk ar e e r
Authoritarian Direct approach; directives are expected to be complied.
29% of wo rke rs
Empathic A good environment is created so that workers are committed, oriented to success and feel valued.
. rs
Th e
Empowered Workers are encouraged to have direct responsibilities and take decisions.
It
Democratic Participation/group decision making is encouraged; instructions are provided after consulting the team.
CURRENT LEADERSHIP STYLE
. ne
FAVORITE LEADERSHIP STYLE
eventually necessary in all organizations, especially when there is no system or plan; nowadays, there is no expectation of progress. Many regions of the world wish for effective leaders that are men of God. A leader must earn the right to lead and be followed by others.
Denmark
Hong Kong
48 38 68 32%
31%
Sweden
29%
Hungary
29%
France
28%
Switzerland
28%
Percentage of workers around the world that said their manager inspire them to do their job better.
Percentage of workers around the world that said they did not believe in the mission/purpose of their employer or they did not know it at all.
Percentage of workers around the world that speak very well of their employer. The most positive countries are Norway, Russia, Mexico, Sweden, United States and Italy.
Percentage of workers who feel inspired by their managers to do a better job (per country) Puerto Rico Canada United States Mexico Switzerland South Africa Belgium Norway Luxemburg Hungary France Italy Ireland Sweden United Kingdom Russia Germany Netherlands Portugal Poland Denmark India Indonesia Malaysia New Zealand Singapore Australia Thailand China Hong Kong
35
50
65
August 2019 / Impacto evangelistic
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INTERNATIONAL
CHRISTIAN PROTEST BEFORE THE OAS Various Christian representatives showed their rejection to gender ideology, abortion and the decay of natural families during the 49th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS). Many Latin American Christian organizations stood their ground for the defense of family and life during the 49th Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), which was held in Medellin, Colombia, from June 27 to June 28, 2019. Five coalitions organized by the Ibero-American Congress for Life and Family, as well as other pro-life and pro-family groups, highlighted the importance of respecting every person’s life and showed their rejection of gender ideology. “We must acknowledge that some elements of education are the essential and exclusive responsibility of parents. It is them that have the duty and right to educate their children in values, as stated by various international regulations. This right and duty cannot be assigned to any institution. Schools should stop being a battlefield between family and the State,” said Patricia Cortés, representative of the Coalition for Education and Culture. She suggested to reinforce the provision of Article 26.3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: “Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.” Milagros Jáuregui de Aguayo, representative of the Coalition for the Progress of Society, made an important intervention by denouncing the lack of interest of governments to preserve nuclear families, which are
MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 16 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
“When we protect the family, we promote progress and a good future. There is no progress with broken families or children who doubt their own identity.” formed by a man and a woman. “This is a historical opportunity to give fundamental solutions to the decay of natural families in our continent, which we consider is the main cause of social division in our territory,” asserted the representative. She also added that, “Crime, addictions, poverty, and many other social problems can be prevented thanks to strong, nuclear families. Latin America loves family.” Silvana Vidal, from the Coalition for the Freedom of Conscience and Expression, prompted OAS to pro-
tect children’s identity. “When we protect the family, we promote progress and a good future. There is no progress with broken families or children who doubt their own identity,” stated Vidal. She also demanded OAS to stop perverting the Spanish language by promoting the so-called “inclusive” language to favor one group of interest because it violates the rules of the Royal Spanish Academy and overlooks the principle of fairness that should be observed by the institution. For the third year in a row, on February 23, such delegations gathered in Panama to sign a statement to reinforce their stance in favor of family and against gender ideology. At the end of the event, the main representatives of the Coalitions held a meeting to schedule next year’s Ibero-American Congress for Life and Family, which will take place in Lima, Peru.
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PEDOPHILIA INCREASES ON THE INTERNET Tens of thousands of pedophiles are using the so-called dark net to trade images of sexual abuse, an investigation by BBC News indicates. (*) MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 18 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
Britain’s National Crime Agency warned in its 2014 threat assessment that abusers were turning to anonymous sites and encryption technology. One site receives as many as 500 page views per second, its founder says. ‘Dark Net’ is the term used to refer to parts of the
INTERNATIONAL In 2013, the number of pedophiles on the internet went over 23 million and until May this year, this Center detected 112 million of files containing images of child abuse.
internet that are hidden and can be hard to access without special software. In these parts of the internet, it is possible to engage in illegal activity, from buying heroin to hiring a hit man or downloading child abuse videos. However, the Dark Web represents only a tiny fraction of a wider legal space, the so-called ‘Deep Web’ that is home to pages that cannot be found by crawlers and search spiders, so you cannot find them over Google, Yahoo and other search engines. Some people and organizations use the Deep Web to preserve anonymity online for reasons against Internet regulations. Millions of databases from governments and organizations do not appear on search engine results and can only be found with special software tools. According to a study of the University of California, the deep web is 500 larger than the surface Internet. The problem lies in the Dark Web: the portion of websites where pedophiles are turning to hide themselves. SPECIAL BROWSER
How do pedophiles access the Dark Web? One of the most popular products used to access such areas is called the TorBrowser. This browser can access sites that are not part of the standard official routing system that normally uses suffixes such as “.com”. It can also enter sites ending in other suffixes like “.onion.” There are also many hidden sites on the network ending in the .onion suffix, which cannot be found using Google or other regular search engines. It allows people to use Tor, an “onion-routing” system which makes a PC’s net address untraceable by bouncing the encrypted data it sends through several randomly selected computer servers on a volunteer network - each of which removes a level of encryption - before it reaches its destination. Tor was first created by the US military but is now also used by pro-democracy campaigners, whistleblowers and journalists operating under repressive regimes. It was used by activists during the Arab Spring to avoid detection. But criminals are also taking advantage of its anonymity.
FIGHT AGAINST TOR
The threat posed by these kinds of sites has been recognized by governments around the world. Several countries’ police forces are working together, under the banner of The Virtual Global Taskforce, to tackle online child exploitation worldwide. Some security specialists believe there are innovative ways to unmask the users of pedophile sites. Greg Virgin runs software company Redjack and is helping the human rights group International Justice Mission, which campaigns against child abuse. He uses complex algorithms to mine dark net chat rooms for data. “The typical law enforcement approaches to finding out what computers are being used are no longer available,” he said. But by analyzing the traffic on one particular site, he says he’s able to find out much more about its users. Of more than 10,000 users, he said 2,000 were “producers of content,” meaning child abusers who post pictures of that abuse on the site. Of these, 20% were from the UK, he said. The website DeepDotWeb.com reports on dark net developments. Its founder said that most deep net users were “disgusted” by the pedophile sites. “The Deep Web is still just an open reflection of the real world… The Deep Web is nothing more than a peep hole into this unfortunate reality.” MILLIONS OF IMAGES
It goes without saying that new approaches are necessary to tackle this increasingly serious problem. In 2012, the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children confirmed that around 45,000 obscene images of children were found on the internet. In 2013, the number of pedophiles on the internet went over 23 million and until May this year, this Center detected 112 million of files containing images of child abuse.
Source: BBC
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SCIENCE
DNA AND THE BIBLE AGREE ON THE ORIGIN OF THE PHILISTINES A genetic study of the remains of an old cemetery confirms their Mediterranean origin, as the Old Testament says. (*)
The first DNA study recovered from an ancient Philistine site, has provided unique genetic information about the origins of one of the most famous Old Testament people. The Philistines have a very strong presence in the Bible. They were one of the neighboring nations of Israel during the time of the Judges and Kings of Israel and Judah. Archaeologists agree that the Philistines were different from their neighbors: their arrival on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, at the beginning of the 12th century BC, is marked by a pottery which is so similar to the one of Ancient Greece, the use of an Aegean alphabet - instead of the Semitic -, and the consumption of pork. A study published in the journal Science Advances, prompted by the unprecedented discovery of a cemetery in the ancient Philistine city of Ashkelon on the southern coast of Israel in 2016, provides data on the genetic origins and legacy of the Philistines. The investigation seems to support its foreign origin, as mentioned in the Bible, but it also reveals that they soon married people from local populations. The study analyzed the DNA of ten sets of human remains recovered from Ashkelon, which belong to three different time periods: a Middle/Late Age Bronze cemetery (between 1650 and 1200 BC), prior to the Philistine presence in the area; children’s burials from the late 12th century BC, after the arrival of the Philistines in the early Iron Age; and the people buried in the Philistine cemetery at the end of the Iron Age (10th and 9th centuries BC).
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The Philistines have a very strong presence in the Bible. They were one of the neighboring nations of Israel during the time of the Judges and Kings of Israel and Judah.
The researchers explained that four DNA samples from the early Iron Age, all from children buried under the floors of Philistine houses, proportionally include more “additional European ancestry” in their genetic signatures (almost 14%) than the pre-Philistine samples
of the Age of Bronze (2% to 9%). Although the origins of this additional “European ancestry” are inconclusive, the most plausible models point to Greece, Crete (which is mentioned in the Bible), Sardinia and the Iberian Peninsula. Daniel Master, director of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon, and co-author of the study, considers the results as “direct evidence” that supports the theory that the Philistines were immigrants from the West, who settled in Ashkelon in the 12th century BC. “It fits with the Egyptian texts and others that we have, and it fits with the archaeological material” and the story of the Bible, he said.
Researchers were surprised that this specific “European blip” disappears quickly and is statistically insignificant in the study’s DNA samples retrieved from the Ashkelon cemetery just a few centuries after the children’s graves. The later Philistine tombs have genetic signatures very similar to the local populations that lived in the region before the appearance of the Philistines; “(…) probably because the Philistines intermarried and this kind of genetic signature was diluted within the local population.” For Master, the most interesting aspect is that despite the rapid genetic assimilation that the Philistines went through, they remained a distinct cultural group that was clearly identifiable from their neighbors for more than five centuries, until they were conquered by the Babylonians in 604 BC. In the book of the prophet Amos we read that the Philistines came from Caftor, that is, the island of Crete. This town took control of the coastal region, so that they are identified as a people of the sea. The fact that the “exclusive” marks of their origin disappeared in time, coincides with the story of the book of Judges, where the relation with Israelites varies with the passing of time. In Samson’s time there were clear social ties, since the famous judge of Israel even married a Philistine. Later on, in the time of Samuel, the Philistines became military stronger and the confrontation with Israel went further, to the point that they captured the Ark of the Covenant. Israel had a great victory against the Philistine army led by Goliath, which elevated the figure of the future King David, who throughout his reign won important victories over some Philistine cities.
(*) Taken from the Internet
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WOMAN
GOD’S BEAUTY SALON Eliseo Aquino
Some women give so much importance to their looks that they forget that it is only the inner virtues that God gives them that make them truly beautiful. True beauty cannot be seen with the naked eye. Many people fall in love with a beautiful body or face only to be disappointed later when they get to know the real person. The body is like a nice case guarding a precious content, and only this content matters. The Bible speaks of the values that we only see through behavior and not through the eyes. To have the qualities that make the soul beautiful, we must take into account what the Word of God says in 2 Corinthians 4:18: “The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” At a National Convention of Women in Colombia, Rev. Jorge Humberto Henao, international vice president of the WMM, said that God gives Christian women the qualities that make them look truly beautiful. “Your attire, (…) let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, wearing gold or putting on expensive apparel; let it be an uncorruptible heart, the ornament of a quite and meek spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:3,4)”. Based on this biblical verse, Reverend Henao added, “The apostle Peter is talking about a woman with a beautiful and spirit, a woman valuable in the sight of God and society. “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30)”. DEEP EYES
Psalm 123 says: “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of serMISSIONARY MOVEMENT 22 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
vants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.” It is said that eyes are windows to the soul. The way we see things is a reflection of what we have within. Therefore, if we lift our eyes to God, we will see things spiritually. If we want to have beautiful eyes, we have to look up at heaven. Ephesians 1:18 states that God enlightens the eyes of our understanding. Many use their eyes to see only evil, to covet, to envy; but those who are under the Spirit of God see differently. Spiritual women see the world clearly and they do not need to be told how to act or dress, because the Lord reveals them how to do it. ATTRACTIVE LIPS
Proverbs 31:26 says: “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” We have the example of Abigail, who opened her lips wisely and apologized to David for her husband’s rude behavior. With kind words she appeased over four hundred enraged men, convinced them to lay down their weapons, and thus prevented a bloodshed. Women who use their lips wisely for edification are a blessing. Unfortunately, some women –even welldressed, professional women– use foul language to look stronger. The Bible says that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart, and how nice it is to hear a woman changed by the power of God! SOFT HANDS
Proverbs 31:19,20 states: “She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” Never will our hands be softer than when we stretch them out to the needy, when we share the bread with the hungry, when we lay a hand on someone’s shoulder and tell them everything will be ok, when we caress a child. Hands can give so much help, comfort, love and blessing to others. However, many use their hands to do evil, to commit sin and to cause harm. How beautiful the hands raised to worship and glorify God are! The Bible says: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8). BEAUTIFUL FEET
Isaiah 52:7 says: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that
publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!.” Regardless of how they look, God loves the feet that walk, not to spread gossip, but to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ. Have you ever wondered where your feet are taking you? What do you do on the weekends? Is your weekend of debauchery? Do you do evil and commit sin? How inspiring it is to see women who go out to the streets with their Bibles and preach, and who go to church and praise our Lord without neglecting their personal relationships.
CLEAN EARS
Isaiah 33:15 says: “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.” Women cannot use their ears to store gossip, but they have to have a spiritual filter to not allow that filth to get inside the soul. You have to cleanse your mind and open up your ears to listen to the Word of God. Then the Lord will bless you.
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MUSIC
LIVING FOR JESUS This one-hundred-year-old hymn by Thomas Obediah Chisholm sheds light on the connection shared between believers and the Redeemer due to His death at Calvary.
Written in 1917 in the United States by poet Thomas Obediah Chisholm, “Living for Jesus” gives insight into the duties of Christian believers and the bond they share with the Son of God due to His sacrifice on the Cross. It is included in hymnbooks of different denominations from all over the world and has been translated into many languages throughout its more than one hundred years. The poem has a particular history. In 1915, composer Carl Harold Lowden wrote a nice song for children’s services; however, after listening to other opinions, the songwriter decided that his work should have more general lyrics. After much prayer, Lowden sent a letter to Chisholm, asking him to write them and suggesting the type of refrain to be used. The writer replied that he did not have the slightest idea as to the method used in writing words to music. Lowden wrote back and told him to let God write the hymn. In a couple of weeks, he completed the writing of the song. GREAT SONGWRITER
Writer of more than two thousand hymns, Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, on July 29, 1866. Guided by the Holy Ghost, he came to Jesus at the age of 26, after listening to missionary Henry Clay Morrison, president of Asbury College, preach the Gospel. In 1903, he became a minister of God. Faithful to the Holy Scriptures until his death on February 29, 1960, he once described his purpose for writing Christian songs: “I have sought to be true to the Word, and to avoid flippant and catchy titles and MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 24 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
LIVING FOR JESUS 1 Living for Jesus, a life that is true, Striving to please Him in all that I do; Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for me. 2 Living for Jesus Who died in my place, Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace; Such love constrains me to answer His call, Follow His leading and give Him my all. 3 Living for Jesus, wherever I am, Doing each duty in His holy Name; Willing to suffer affliction and loss, Deeming each trial a part of my cross. 4 Living for Jesus through earth’s little while, My dearest treasure, the light of His smile; Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem, Bringing the weary to find rest in Him. REFRAIN O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me; I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne; My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
treatment. I have greatly desired that each hymn or poem might have some definite message to the hearts for whom it was written.” Carl Harold Lowden was born on October 12, 1883, in Burlington, New Jersey. Lowden was a endowed with a remarkable musical talent that he used since a very
young age to spread the Lord’s message. He taught music for several years at the Bible Institute of Pennsylvania and was the minister of music for the Linden Baptist Church in Camden for 28 years. During another twelve-year period, this songwriter was also music editor for the Evangelical and Reformed Church board (now the United Church of Christ.) Lowden composed a number of hymns tunes and edited many songbook collections during his life time. He died on February 27, 1963. “Living for Jesus,” a song based on the Scriptures, sheds light on the greatest blessing obtained through the Redeemer: Salvation.
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LITERATURE
THE OTHER GOSPELS Christian theologian and writer Pablo Hoff describes the new threats against Christian faith and speaks about the most proselytizing and dangerous sects in South America.
What is a cult? According to Josh McDowell and
Don Stewart, it “is a perversion, a distortion of biblical Christianity and/or a rejection of the historic teachings of the Christian Church.” Christianity is acknowledged as a religion based on the Bible and Christians, as the “people of the Book.” Cults generally accept some biblical teachings, reject others, and add new doctrines. They preach “the other Gospel,” twisting the truth “unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). Their members are people who blindly follow an “innovator” of doctrines and ideas. Hoff wrote The Other Gospels near the end of the 20th century to inform believers of the new threats against Christian faith. In addition, the book introduces the most proselytizing and dangerous sects in South America, telling their stories, summarizing their doctrines, exposing their weaknesses, and giving biblical answers that disprove their particular doctrines. ENEMIES OF FAITH
If you read the Book of Mormon and the other writings that they use to gain new followers, you would think that the Latter Day Saint Movement is orthodox concerning the most relevant doctrines. They claim to believe in the Trinity as well as in Jesus-Christ’s divinity, atonement, redemption and role as a mediator. Nevertheless, scholars who have done research into their doctrines and have read the sermons and revelations of their prophets state that they have developed a brand new theology based on the rejection of the Church established by Christ. They worship another Jesus-Christ, another Gospel, and another Holy Spirit. Mormons believe in many gods, and “these gods are ordered according to a progressive hierarchy, some being in a more advanced state than others.” WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MISIONERO MOVEMENT MUNDIAL 26 MOVIMIENTO America • Europa América Europe • Oceanía Oceania • África Africa • Asia
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LITERATURE American missionary Pablo Hoff has preached God’s Word in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. In The Other Gospels he exposes the ideology of religious groups that not only fail to follow the Holy Scriptures, but also manipulate the truth and spread chaos and confusion among believers. His book is a tool to identify these enemies of faith, to recognize their beliefs, and to expose them. Jehovah’s Witnesses have published no statement of faith or doctrine, but they categorically deny the adoption and influence of any of Russell’s ideas, and state that they take their teachings directly from the Bible. Josh McDowell observes, however, that they “misuse the Scriptures in order to support their own beliefs. They do it mostly by quoting verses out of context and leaving others out. In practice, their own writings have priority over the Scriptures.” What is more, the translators of their version of the Bible are blamed for distorting some biblical verses to match the notions of Russell and Rutherford, which contradict the Scriptures. MANY CULTS
Hoff ’s book is divided in two parts and contains relevant information about Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, spiritism, occultism, astrology, satanism, Hinduism in the West, the New Age movement, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Jesus Only Movement. It is an in-depth study of religious groups that have been spreading misconceptions across Latin America. Of all the forms of religion, spiritism is the most ancient one as well as the most condemned by God. Spiritism is the belief that it is possible to communicate with invisible spirits and dead people in order to ask for their guidance and support. It is said that the first medium was the serpent of the Garden of Eden. Religions of ancient Egypt, Assyria and Babylon included elements of occultism in their ceremonies. Similarly, sorcery was common practice among Canaanites and Phoenicians. And the oracles of Delphi were famous in Greece despite their way of giving their counsel. Charles R. Erdman states: “The inspiration of Greek sorcerers and fortune tellers was conveyed in savage frenzy and they glorified madness.” Floyd Woodworth wrote the prologue and made a comment on the context of the publication. He states: “We are surrounded by swarms of preachers of different philosophical theories and extra-biblical religious doctrines. Many ideas influence our word without us realizing. These agents are in plain sight on the streets but we do not bother to know more about their ideas or their origin.” Satanists say that they do not seek members, but Satanist cults attract people by promising solutions to all MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 28 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
American missionary Pablo Hoff has preached God’s Word in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. In the Other Gospels he exposes the ideology of religious groups that not only fail to follow the Holy Scriptures, but also manipulate the truth and spread chaos and confusion among believers. His book is a tool to identify these enemies of faith, to recognize their beliefs, and to expose them.
kinds of problems (e.g. to gain power and status or to harm their enemies). People are first introduced to magic, which at first glance seems harmless, and they are promised wealth, professional success or sex appeal. Satanism basically promises the complete fulfilment of three ambitions: power, sex and revenge. Satan finds followers among those willing to resort to aberrant means to meet their selfish goals, without realizing that they are just falling into the devil’s trap. CHRISTIAN LOVE
Hoff’s book is divided in two parts and contains relevant information about Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, spiritism, occultism, astrology, satanism, Hinduism in the West, the New Age movement, the Seventhday Adventist Church, and the Jesus Only Movement. It is an in-depth study of religious groups that have been spreading misconceptions across Latin America.
Published in 1993, Hoff explains in the last part of the book which are the steps necessary to gain the followers of the other gospels. He says that Christian love can disarm those who actually expect rejection and persecution. Similarly, he states that the followers of false religions are blinded by the earthly god, but that only the Holy Spirit can persuade them against their wrongdoings. Some scholars, after studying other gospels, no longer classify Adventists as members of a cult. They believe in biblical inspiration, the Trinity, Christ’s holiness, virgin birth and atonement, and many other evangelical doctrines. Therefore, why should we concern about Adventism? Because although many of its doctrines are orthodox, they have many others that are not. For instance, they divert some of their beliefs on death and the afterlife from the biblical sense, they exaggerate the observance of the seventh day as a rest day, and they have accepted Ellen Gould White’s prophecy almost as “inspired,” using it to interpret the Bible. Christian followers should know about these bizarre ideas to be ready to refute them. Pablo Hoff has thoroughly examined the Roman Catholic Church in the end of the second part of his book, showing some of the doctrines that contradict Christianity. He states, nonetheless, that explaining Catholic concepts in depth is a very complex task due to the variable conditions behind an institution of such widespread influence and power. Conservative Protestants accept the Bible as the only source of divine revelation and authority. In contrast, the Roman Catholic Church states that the revealed truth lies both in the Scriptures and non-written traditions, such as the doctrines of the saints. In practice, the Roman Catholic Church exerts the magisterium (dignity and authority of the master) over the teachings. Councils determine the doctrine even if the Vatican denies its superiority: “The magisterium is not above God’s Word; it serves Him.” It is crystal clear that the sacred tradition, the Scriptures and the magisterial authority of the church are so closely related that one cannot exist without the other.
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HERO OF FAITH
HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING? Henry Hall
Reverent Robert Lowry was a talented musician and preacher that spread the Word through his sermons and more than five-hundred hymns. With a unique vision of the Gospel, he is an all-time reference of Christian music.
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Robert Lowry also learned about gospel music and hymnology to serve the Lord, and today he is renowned for his fruitful musical ministry. With his extraordinary talent and creativity, he wrote many inspired hymns.
The name of Rev. Robert Lowry is a familiar one in almost every home where gospel songs are sung. The mention of his name brings up emotions of affection and pleasure in the hearts of thousands of Christian people who have used his hymns. Robert Lowry was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 12, 1826. Son of Irish immigrant Crozier Lowry, his fondness for music was exhibited in his earliest years. At the age of seventeen he joined the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, and soon became an active worker in the Sunday-school as teacher and chorister. FRUITFUL MINISTRY
In 1848 Lowry was encouraged by his pastor, Rev. Geo. B. Ide, D.D., to prepare for a life’s work in the Christian ministry. At the age of twenty-two, he gave himself to the work of the ministry, and entered upon a course of study at the University of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-eight he graduated with the highest honors of his class. In the same year of his graduation, he entered upon the work of the ministry. He served as pastor at West Chester, Pennsylvania, 1854-1858; in New York City, 1859-1861; in Brooklyn, 1861-1869; in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, 1869-1875. He then went to Plainfield, New Jersey, where he became pastor of Park Avenue Church. In each of these fields his work was crowned with marked success. Dr. Lowry was a man of rare administrative ability, a most excellent preacher, a thorough Bible student, and whether in the pulpit or upon the platform, always a brilliant and interesting speaker. He was of a genial and pleasing disposition, and a high sense of humor was one of his most striking characteristics. Very few men had greater ability in painting pictures from the imagination. He could thrill an audience with his vivid descriptions, inspiring others with the same thoughts that inspired him. While preaching the Gospel, in which he found great joy, was his life-work, music and hymnology were favorite studies, but were always a side issue, a recreation.
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HERO OF FAITH
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When he saw that the obligations of musical editorship were laid upon him, he began the study of music in earnest, and sought the best musical text-books and works on the highest forms of musical composition. He possessed one of the finest musical libraries in the country. It abounded in works on the philosophy and science of musical sounds. He also had some musical works in his possession that were over one hundred and fifty years old.
DETERMINED PREACHER
On the death of Wm. B. Bradbury, Messrs. Biglow & Main, successors to Mr. Bradbury in the publishing business, selected Dr. Lowry for editor of their Sundayschool book, “Bright Jewels,” which was a great success. Initially Lowry was opposed to the idea, afraid that it might affect his pastoral and preaching work, but was persuaded. During the following 30 years, Lowry oversaw the production of more than 20 hymnals. In 1869, Lowry was persuaded by Dr. Loomis, President of the University at Lewisburg, to return to the town in the dual capacity of Professor of Rhetoric at the university. In 1875 Lowry was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) by Lewisburg. In the year 1880, he took a rest of four years, visiting Europe. In 1885, he felt that he needed more rest, and resigned his pastorate at Plainfield, and visited in the South and West, also spending some time in Mexico. He returned, much improved in health, and again took up his work in Plainfield. When he saw that the obligations of musical editorship were laid upon him, he began the study of music in earnest, and sought the best musical text-books and works on the highest forms of musical composition. He possessed one of the finest musical libraries in the country. It abounded in works on the philosophy and science of musical sounds. He also had some musical works in his possession that were over one hundred and fifty years old. TALENTED COMPOSER
A reporter once asked him what was his method of
composition: “Do you write the words to fit the music, or the music to fit the words?” His reply was: “I have no method… The tunes of nearly all the hymns I have written have been completed on paper before I tried them on the organ. Frequently the words of the hymn and the music have been written at the same time.” The Doctor frequently said that he regarded “Weeping Will Not Save Me” as the best and most evangelistic hymn he ever wrote. The following are some of his most popular and sweetest gospel melodies: “Shall We Gather at the River?” “One More Day’s Work for Jesus,” “Where is My Wandering Boy To-night?” “I Need Thee Every Hour,” “The Mistakes of My Life,” “How Can I Keep from Singing?” “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me,” “Saviour, Thy Dying Love,” “We’re Marching to Zion,” etc. “Shall We Gather at the River?” is perhaps, without question, the most widely popular of all his songs. Of this Mr. Lowry said: “It is brass band music, has a march movement, and for that reason has become popular, though for myself I do not think much of it.” He also mentioned: “I began to wonder why the hymnwriters had said so much about the river of death and so little about ‘the pure water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” GREAT LEGACY
Lowry had a gift for oratory which one later commentator described as “spellbinding.” Dr. Lowry said, “I would rather preach a gospel sermon to an appreciative, receptive congregation than write a hymn”; yet in spite of his preferences, his hymns have gone on and on, translated into many languages, preaching and comforting thousands upon thousands of souls, furnishing them expression for their deepest feelings of praise and gratitude to God for His goodness to the children of men. What he had thought in his inmost soul has become a part of the emotions of the whole Christian world. Close friend of Annie Hawks and Fanny Crosby, and acquainted with singer Ira David Sankey, Robert Lowry never boasted about the success of his musical ministry in favor of Christ’s doctrine. He remained humble when praised for his work. He always used to say that Christian hymns had to be easily understood and to reflect the experiences of its author with inspiring and powerful words. Rev. Robert Lowry died at his residence in Plainfield on November 25, 1899. Dead, yet he lives and his sermons in gospel song are still heard and are doing good. Dr. Lowry was a great and good man, and his life, well spent, is highly worthy of a place among the world’s greatest gospel song and hymn writers.
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LIFE STORY
ABRAHAM’S LAST FLIGHT Abraham loved money and pleasure. To afford his lifestyle he became part of the world of drug trafficking and dealing and began to smuggle drugs. However, one day everything changed for him. STEVEN LÓPEZ PHOTO: FAMILY FILES
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Abraham Roggeband Herkt’s life was marked by heartbreak and neglect since his birth. His father, Abraham, was a Dutchman living in Italy; his mother, Cecilia, was from Ecuador. They fell deeply in love, but the relationship did not last long due to the constant fights. After the couple divorced, Cecilia went back to Ecuador with her son. Abraham spent his childhood in the province of Esmeralda amid the wealth of his maternal grandparents, owners of extensive banana plantations. As a child, his family was too preoccupied with the farm to look after him, so Abraham was taken care of by the family’s housemaids, who mistreated him. One day, one of the young servants sneaked into his bedroom and sexually abused him. He was too afraid to ask for help and kept the secret for many years, until he eventually spoke up. Abraham, who was now a very sturdy teenager, nested much hatred against the man who had raped him. Revenge was his only thought and would not let him live in peace. He never got revenge, but overwhelmed by anger, he turned to alcohol. Despite his young age, he was always allowed in local pubs and bars because of his height. While he was still very young, he moved to Quito to pursue a career. There, his lifestyle was even more dissolute. He would drink every day with his friends from college until the early hours and more than once he was taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. His mother advised him to change, but it was in vain. Some time later, the family and the banana business went bankrupt. Abraham’s family made the decision to send the young student abroad, to the Netherlands. He did not want to leave, mainly because he had met a beautiful girl in one of those wild nights out. At the insistence of his family, he agreed to move to the Netherlands. Abraham promised the girl to send for her in a couple of years. However, far from having a romantic love story, he had no peace of mind as he was constantly bombarded with gossip that she was not being faithful. Abraham tried several times to end the increasingly toxic long-distance relationship, but he always found himself unable to do it. He learned later that the girl had cast a love spell on him. He eventually managed to break the curse, but alcohol was still a blemish in his life. THE FALL
Abraham made friends with young people who smuggled drugs into different countries of America and Europe and thus became part of the world of drugs. As his
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LIFE STORY
mother and grandparents were working hard to make their lands produce, he had no one to turn to for moral advise and became a drug mule. On his first trip, he smuggled ecstasy into the Dominican Republic under his underwear. Although he was nervous, he left the airport in Amsterdam without any problem. However, he had a layover in Paris, and when he went through the metal detector, the warning signal rang. It looked like he had been discovered. He was set aside for a more thorough inspection. MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 36 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
Abraham no tenía a nadie cerca que le aconsejara y sucumbió al abismo de las drogas. Su madre, junto a sus abuelos, se esforzaban por sacar adelante sus tierras y en Ecuador y no podían darle apoyo moral. En la soledad y la decepción amorosa aceptó ser pasante de drogas.
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LIFE STORY After one week in the Dominican Republic, and with the drugs delivered to its recipients, took the flight back. Once in the Netherlands, the young man would proudly boast about how he successfully passed the controls. He wasted the money in prostitution, parties, alcohol and drugs.
He asked God for help. The police asked him to spread out his legs and lift his shirt to check him up. Abraham obeyed without resistance, resigned to his fate. However, the drug was not discovered and the officers let him go. Upon arriving in the Dominican Republic, things became more dangerous. In immigration control, his passport was rejected by the machine. The migrations lady consulted with her supervisor and after several minutes, Abraham was allowed in the Caribbean country. “Thank you, Lord, for helping me,” Abraham said to himself. After one week in the Dominican Republic, and with the drugs delivered to its recipients, took the flight back. Once in the Netherlands, the young man would proudly boast about how he successfully passed the controls. He wasted the money in prostitution, parties, alcohol and drugs. A few months later, he was informed that his next trip would be to Curaçao. While the shipment was being prepared, he spent his time going to clubs to get drunk and sell drugs. ENCOUNTER WITH GOD
One afternoon, Abraham and a friend of his went to the beach. They had drinks with some women, and when they took the tram back, an old woman went up at one of the stops and, began to preach about God. She invited the listeners to the meetings that were held in a nearby Christian church. Both young men listened carefully and felt as if something was changing inside of them. They decided to go to the church. The atmosphere in the temple made their hearts happy. However, as soon as they left, they went back to their old ways. Sin was stronger then. After a few days, the Peruvian mother of another friend also began to preach the Word to Abraham.
As soon as he boarded the plane back to his homeland, tears shed his eyes. God was giving him a chance to rebuild his life. He cried for several hours, and when he managed to pull himself together, he began to preach the Word during the flight and tell wonders of his Savior.
Whenever he went to visit his friend, the woman would take the opportunity to tell him about God. The day came when he had to travel to Curaçao. He got up early and began to swallow the drug capsules that he would carry in the stomach. Things went smoothly as usual, but deep down he felt a lot of fear. His accomplices accompanied him to the airport to board him. Deep fear haunted him during the flight. He thought that perhaps one of the drug bags could burst in his stomach or he could be stopped by the police. Finally, he boarded the plane and embarked on the long journey. He began to feel a kind of regret. On the way to Curaçao, he began to pray to God, asking Him for protection and for a miracle that would prevent him from accomplishing his mission. Upon his arrival at the airport, immigration agents asked him to explain how he would cover his travel expenses. As he had no money for his stay, he was immediately denied entrance in Curaçao. He was put in a flight back to the Netherlands with no right to complain. As soon as he boarded the plane back to his homeland, tears shed from his eyes. God was giving him a chance to rebuild his life. He cried for several hours, and when he managed to pull himself together, he began to preach the Word during the flight and tell wonders of his Savior. From that day on, Abraham gave up bad friendships and drugs. The trip to Curaçao was his last flight as a drug mule and he started a new life, far from sin. Three months later, God baptized him in the Holy Spirit and one year and a half later he met a young Christian woman and they got married. He currently serves God with his wife, Rosanna Marte Herasme, and their children in the church of Rotterdam, Netherlands. God taught him to love the Work of God and the needy.
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There is evidence in the Holy Scriptures that when God calls or appoints someone to a ministry or task, He knows the person beforehand.
PREDESTINATION (II) Rev. Luis M. Ortiz
When God created man, He created no automaton, no robot, no computer; but God created man “in his image,” with a spirit, a privileged mind, a brilliant intelligence, with free will.
And why are not all saved? Because not everyone believes! Jesus said, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God...” (John 3:18-21). And why do some believe and others do not? Simply because when God created man, He created no slave, no automaton, no robot, no computer; but God created man “in his image,” with a spirit, a privileged mind, a brilliant intelligence, with free will, that is, with the power and ability to analyze, reason, decide and act with reflection of choice. PREDESTINATION
To predestine means to destine someone or something beMISSIONARY MOVEMENT 40 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
APOLOGETICS
forehand for a particular fate or purpose. Synonyms are: to choose, to predetermine, to appoint, to dedicate. There are only five verses that mention “predestination” in the Bible, and they are all in the New Testament. Such are the verses which Saint Augustine and Calvin refer to for their theories on predestination. Romans 8:28 reads: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” If God had no purpose, no one would be called; and nothing would work for anyone’s good, as there had been no person to call according to God’s purpose. Romans 8:29 says: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Note that the first thing it says is “for whom he did foreknow.” There is evidence in the Holy Scriptures that when God calls or appoints someone to a ministry or task, He
knows the person beforehand, even since they were in the womb of their mother. Let’s see some cases: • The patriarch Job addressed to God and said: “Did not he that made me in the womb make him?” (Job 31:15). • Psalmist David addressed to God and said: “But thou art he that took me out of the womb… I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly” (Psalm 22:9-10); “By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels…” (Psalm 71:6); “O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me… For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:1, 13). • Prophet Isaiah, as God’s messenger, said to the people of Israel: “Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee… Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb…” (Isaiah 44:1-2, 24); “Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb” (Isaiah 46:3); “… The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name… And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant…” (Isaiah 49:1,5). • More than a hundred years before it happened, Prophet Isaiah, by divine inspiration, called by name the MediaPersian king that would seize the city of Babylon on a night of parties and orgies held by Belshazzar. The biblical prophecy stated: “Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb… That saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof… That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid” (Isaiah 44:24-28); “Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him… I will go before thee… That thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:1-3). • Prophet Jeremiah said: “Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:4-5). • The angel of the Lord said to the priest Zachariah during a worship at the temple: “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John… For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord… And he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:13-15).
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INTERVIEW
“NO ONE CAN CHANGE THE FUNDAMENTALS” Eliseo Aquino
The Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM) is gaining ground all over the world. Missionaries can now save more and more souls for God in different countries, but success comes with new challenges that require a better pastoral training.
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Reverend Albert Rivera informs that the Elim Bible Institute will soon obtain accreditation and international coverage. He also explains how God is blessing the country where the Worldwide Missionary Movement was founded. This is an interview with Reverend Albert Rivera, national supervisor of Puerto Rico, for Impacto Evangelistic. Pastor Rivera, how is the Movement advancing in Puerto Rico? Thanks to the Lord, the Movement is still standing. There are sixty churches all over the island and we are working hard to establish new white fields in the municipalities (there are 78 in total) where we are not yet present. The population has recently decreased, as many have left the country after Hurricane Maria. However, there has been an encouraging spiritual revival. National activities (retreats of women, youth camps, and local and regional campaigns) are still being held, and there has been an increase in church attendance. People realize now that they have to seek God’s presence to stay strong and move on, as we have learned from our founder. The church of Puerto Rico is an emblematic church. 56 years after its foundation, how do you assume the defense of the Sound Doctrine? We preach the same doctrine that we preached 56 years ago, when the Lord’s Movement was established. Our Doctrinal Statement, which contains the Work’s fundamentals, is in Impacto Evangelistic. We zealously protect them. We know the difference between doctrine, dogma, creed, rule and opinion. We cannot share an opinion as if it were a doctrine; that must be clear. Absolutely no one can change our fundamentals. Here in Puerto Rico we protect them no matter what. That is why we are working so that the Elim Bible Institute obtains international coverage and accreditation. Reverend José Arturo Soto, president of the WMM, said in a previous interview that he wants to standardize all the syllabi of the Elim Bible Institute in all the countries. Could you explain us how it will be done? We want all the institutes to have the same coverage, to share the same teachings, to teach the same subjects, to provide the same material, to follow the same approach. Misconceptions and misuse of biblical concepts come when every institute has its own book. We will make sure that all institutes are one in the doctrine. There are pastors in different countries who have never been trained in a biblical institute. Do you think that this slows downs the efforts of the WMM? Certainly. We need pastors and leaders that know
how to teach the Word properly. Everyone can preach nonsense, but true men of God preach with knowledge and, of course, with the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. We want to implement the Bachelor’s degree in the Institute. This will give prestige to the Movement, as we will have a serious theological center with a Pentecostal approach. We want the entire Movement to have the same biblical foundations so that it is prepared to face heretical teachings. In some places missionaries are required to have theological studies to officially stay in the country. Will this accreditation benefit all the brothers and sisters that study in the institute? We have entered into a partnership with Universidad Teológica Bíblica of Puerto Rico. They gave us coverage and now they are helping us with the accreditation. In this way, Elim Bible Institute students will be granted a Bachelor’s degree and be fully certified as pastors. This will cover all the institutes of the Movement worldwide.
Our missionaries have to be trained to teach God’s Word with knowledge, as well as respect for other cultures.
The Movement has spread to other continents with different cultures and languages. Is it necessary to prepare future missionaries in languages and adaptation to new societies? It is necessary and critical to train new missionaries in Theology at the Elim Bible Institute, but it is also important that they are ready to deal with new cultures. Our missionaries have to be trained to teach God’s Word with knowledge, as well as respect for other cultures. They also need to be taught languages to effectively share the powerful message of salvation. We plan to hold workshops to train missionaries and brothers from the countries where the Movement is present. Having local leaders will contribute to the spreading of the Gospel. Similarly, we want to translate our material into the local language to make the teaching process of the Sound Doctrine easier.
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DEVOTIONAL “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” Isaiah 52:7. Rev. Luis M. Ortiz
WHAT IS THE BEST JOB? The Christian ministry is the most noble and honorable job in the world. A true man of God is a “chosen instrument” in His hands and the most important person in a community. SALESPEOPLE buy and sell things, but men of God buy the truth and never sell it (Proverbs 23:23). ELECTRICIANS make connections for us to have electricity, but men of God connect believers with God. ENGINEERS design and build homes and highways, but men of God edify homes and show the high way to in Christ. ATTORNEYS defend both fair and unfair causes, but men of God defend the fairest cause of all: the atonement of souls. JUDGES give temporary sentences according to human law, but men of God give counsel in eternal and spiritual issues according to the divine law.
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PHYSICIANS diagnose and treat physical diseases, but men of God treat spiritual illnesses. BANKERS trade with money, while men of God have eternal, priceless wealth. JOURNALISTS spread both good and bad news, but men of God announce the Good News of salvation in Jesus-Christ. TEACHERS share their knowledge about subjects that may or may not become obsolete in time, but men of God teach God’s everlasting message. FARMERS sow and cultivate seeds for the survival of humankind, but men of God sow and cultivate the seeds of God’s Word for the spiritual and eternal life of humankind. POLITICIANS try to improve the living conditions of citizens in earthly nations, but men of God promote the improvement of personal conditions of citizens wherever they go. Humankind was and will be able to survive without atomic disintegration, astronauts, spaceships and satellites, laser beams, computers and genetic engineering. However, without men of God, humankind would have perished long ago. The ultimate job is to serve, love and obey God. The great preacher Spurgeon said once to his students: “If God calls you to be a minister, don’t stoop to becoming a king.” Jesus said to his disciples: “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). And Apostle Paul said: “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1). “As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:15).
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DEVOTIONAL “And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest… But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” Acts 27:18, 21-24. Rev. José A. Soto Benavides
GOD’S PROTECTION Before his arrest in Jerusalem, Paul talked to governors Festus and Felix, to king Agrippa and then to the Roman Emperor. He had been accused by the Jews of fomenting uprisings and being the leader of the Nazarene sect. Paul, who had decided to go to Rome to fulfill the Lord’s will some time before, made this journey as both a prisoner and missionary. The Bible tells that Paul was with other 270 prisoners on a ship of Adramyttium that would have brought him to the coast of Asia Minor. When they arrived in Sidon, the Roman centurion “gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself ” (Acts 27:3). These friends were people who recognized Paul and his work, though there were also people who attacked and rejected him. Some days later, they took an Alexandrine ship to cross the Mediterranean towards Italy. As they sailed deeper and deeper, the wind went increasingly violent. They managed to pass by Cyprus and Crete and reached The Safe Havens, and Paul advised the centurion to stay there because a storm was upon them, but he “believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul” (Acts 27:11). Back in open sea they faced the violent winds of Euroclydon. The ship was dragged away and, unable to resist the storm, they let it drift away. For many days they saw neither sun nor stars, but only a strong storm raged about them. In those circumstances, Paul resorted to the Lord and said to the crew: “… For there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship” (Acts 27:22). They did not even want to eat, but Paul encouraged them by saying: “For there stood by me this
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night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee” (Acts 27:23-24). The soldiers on the ship had the mission to bring the prisoners to Rome at all costs. If prisoners escaped, soldiers had to pay with their lives. When they struck the ship, the soldiers decided to kill the prisoners, including Paul, so that no one would swim away. However, when the centurion learned about their intentions, he allowed the prisoners to swim to land safely in order to save the apostle.
The ship ran aground the Maltese islands. Winter was really cold in that place; prisoners, soldiers and natives all gathered around a big fire. However, while Paul was gathering a bundle of dry branches and placing them on the fire, a viper clung to his hand. The natives, who were expecting him to fall dead any moment, wondered what kind of murderer he was, because he had escaped from the shipwreck but death would not let him live. But Paul shared God’s blessings. As the hours passed by, seeing that he was unharmed, they began to say that he was a god, but Paul told them that he was not.
Beloved, the devil wanted to stop Paul from fulfilling God’s plan. Nature showed no mercy to him, the soldiers wanted to kill him, and the devil himself (in the form of a serpent) tried to stop him, but he could not. A Movement was established on the island, instead. Once in Rome, while Paul waited to appear in court, he “dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31). God granted him victory!
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DEVOTIONAL “And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.” Matthew 20:29-34. Rev. Alberto Ortega
GIVE EAR TO JESUS “What will ye that I shall do unto you?” (Mat-
thew 20:32) was the question that our beloved Savior Jesus Christ asked the two blind men of Jericho who lived in darkness. Jesus once said, “The light of the body is the eye” (Matthew 6:22), and yet the lights of the body of these men were hopelessly damaged. There was no human solution and no medical treatment for them to see the light again; they were beyond all hope of getting their eyesight back. What else could those passing by Jericho do but pity them and give them alms? However, one day, Jesus went by this place of despair, poverty and impossibility. Jesu is the light of the world; the One who created the human body, soul and spirit without flaws; the fixer of the spiritual and moral perversions of the human nature; the only that can take us back to the glorious fellowship with the Father. Some time ago in England, insurance companies were allowed by government decree to request a genetic map from those who wanted to buy an insurance policy. This genetic map let them see if the buyer had some genetic condition, or disease not yet detectable in test results but likely to manifest in the future. If these two blind men were living in England today, they would be denied their right to acquire an insurance policy. This is just an example of the unfairness of the 21st century. Some genetic scientists are avowed atheists who feel like gods and claim to be fixers of nature’s mistakes. They do not know that the sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is the real cause of much of the human physical and emotional suffering. Humankind is suffering the dire consequence of living away from God, and yet no scientist takes time to MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 48 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
think about a way to fix human behavior, to recover the peace with the Almighty that we lost in Eden. Jesus approaches the hopeless, the forgotten, the hurting. And so He passed by the blind men and, “when they heard that Jesus passed by,” they used whatever they had within reach to call His attention. God can work when we use what we have. These blind men give us a great lesson. First, they gave ear to Jesus, as the Bible says: “so then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). Then, they went further: they not only listened to Him, but “they cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.” Paul reminds us: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). How good it is to give our ear, heart and mouth to the Lord! When we do, He will ask us, “What will ye that I shall do unto you?” Jesus is now passing by you. Perhaps the law, doctors or society have labeled you as hopeless, but why do you not give ear to Jesus right now? Why do you not cry out: Lord, have mercy on me!? Right where you are, on your own way to Jericho. Only then you will get His response, healing and victory. “So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him” (Matthew 20:34). Dear readers, Jesus has not changed. He is still calling, still asking: “What will ye that I shall do unto you?” August 2019 / Impacto evangelistic
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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).
THE GLORY BE TO THE LORD With the support of its board of officers, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Italy celebrated the 10th anniversary of the church of Monza from May 24 to May 26 with a spiritual event whose theme was “The Glory Be to the Lord.” At the opening service, Reverend Hugo Lope, national treasurer of the WMM in Italy, preached the Word of God through the message “The Glory Be to the Lord,” based on Exodus 40:34-38. In the second service, Reverend Ramón Ortega, national officer of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Italy, preached the Gospel with the message “Was the Work of the Tabernacle Completed?” based on Exodus 40:34-38. In the third service, Reverend David Echalar, national supervisor of the WMM in Italy and the Block B of Europe, announced the good news and shared the message “The Power in the Blood of Christ,” based on John 6:53-57. In the last service of the 10th anniversary of the church of Monza, Sister Senaida Espinoza evangelized the flock of Jesus Christ. Based on Exodus 40:34-38,
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Event: 10th anniversary of the church of Monza and missionary service Date: May 24 - May 26 and June 2 Place: Monza and Busto Arsizio, Italy
EVENTS
the preacher shared the sermon titled “I Took You Out to Show You My Glory.” THE TWO REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINISTRY
On June 2, the Women Society of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Italy held a missionary service in the central church of Busto Arsizio with the aim of worshiping and honoring the Lord for His infinite mercy. Sister Lizet Arias, wife of Reverend Hugo Lope, announced the Gospel with the message “The Two Requirements for Ministry,” based on John 15:16. Sister Arias’ intervention focused on the two requirements needed to answer to the call of the Lord. She said that Christ is looking for brave people and He helps those who say “here I am.”
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EVENTS
THE GOSPEL ENLIGHTENS THE IGNORANT Event: 9th anniversary of the church of Zaragoza, evangelistic campaign and missionary service Date: April 26 - April 28, May 11 and May 26 Place: Zaragoza, Mollerussa and Terrassa, Spain
A missionary service was held on May 26 in the beautiful city of Terrassa, Barcelona, by the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Spain. Pastor Clemente Vergara, international officer of the Work, preached the Word of God. Based on John 4:31-38, Reverend Vergara said that the WMM has been raised by God to bring a message of power, life and salvation to the world. He also stated that Jesus Christ is the shield of believers, the one who takes the blows of the enemy. Finally, he said that the Gospel enlightens those ignorant of God. WITH JESUS I AM HAPPY NOW
On May 11, the WMM in Spain held an evangelistic campaign at Plaza Mayor of the city of Mollerussa, in the province of Lleida. A number of children joyfully praised God during the event whose motto was “With Jesus I am Happy Now.” Pastor Alexander Montes, national treasurer of the WMM in Spain, shared the Word of Christ with the little ones. It should be noted that the spiritual event held in Mollerussa by the WMM in Spain together with members and leaders of the churches of Barcelona, Castellón, Girona, Reus and Zona Franca. SHEKHINAH INSPIRES, GUIDES AND ANOINTS
From April 26 to April 28, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Spain celebrated the 9th anniversary of MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 52 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
the church of Zaragoza, located in the district of Delicias, with a spiritual meeting whose motto was “Shekhinah Inspires, Guides and Anoints.” Reverend Oswaldo Romero, presbyter of Zone 5 of the WMM in Spain, preached the Gospel with the following messages: “God’s Presence of Inspires Us,” “Divine Strategy” and “The Perfume of Love.” The event for the 9th anniversary of the church of Zaragoza was attended by a large group of faithful from the churches of Torrero, Burgos, Arnedo and Soria. Guided by the Lord, the believers fed on the Word ministered by Pastor Romero.
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EVENTS
I WILL HELP YOU Event: 8th National Fellowship Date: June 21 - June 23 Place: Vienna, Austria
The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Austria held its 8th National Fellowship in the
church of Vienna, capital of the country. The event MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 54 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
was organized together with a delegation of members of the WMM in Switzerland, and was attended by more than one hundred faithful who gathered to worship and praise the Lord for three days. In the first service, Pastor Jonathan Angulo, head of the church of Klagenfurt, preached the Word with the message “I Help You,” based on Isaiah 41:13. In the second service, Sister Elizabeth Vanegas, member of the church of Ticino, shared the God’s message with an impressive preaching, “God Made a Covenant with Us,” based on Joshua 1:1-6. CHRIST IS HERE
In the third service, Reverend Jimy Ramírez, national supervisor of the WMM in Switzerland, was the in-
strument chosen by the Lord to announce the good news. He gave a speech titled “Developing the Character,” based on Ephesians 4:10-16, and talked about the purposes of the Lord. On the last day of the 8th National Fellowship, Pastor Ramírez preached to the faithful who answered to the call of the WMM. Based on Nehemiah 2:1-5, he shared the message “Time for Development and Growth.” It should be noted that the WMM in Austria works tirelessly to spread the Gospel and the sound doctrine of the Work in Austria. Under the protection of the Holy Spirit, this church also brings the message of salvation in Jesus Christ as a permanent source of hope and faith for those who seek God.
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UNITED AS AT PENTECOST Event: 4th Fellowship of Block A of Europe Date: June 7 - June 9 Place: Køge, Denmark
The Worldwide Missionary Movement celebrated the 4th Fellowship of Block A of Europe in the beautiful city of Køge, Denmark. The event was attended by a large group of faithful under the motto “United as at Pentecost.” At the opening service, Reverend Alexander Montes, national treasurer of the WMM in Spain, was the instrument chosen by God to spread His Word. Based on John 17:22-23, he shared the preaching “The Perfect Unity.” In his biblical teaching, Pastor Montes pointed out that the Word of God is above all things. He also said that Christians have only one faith and one Lord, and recommended the faithful to strive and stand firm against adversity, the world and discouragement. In the morning worship of the second day, Reverend Carlos Contreras, presbyter of Scandinavia, shared the message “God’s Holiness and Unity of,” based on John 17:17-23. In his preaching of the Gospel, Pastor Contreras stressed how difficult it is to preach the Word and convince people that God only wants their happiness. He also said that submitting to the Lord is the most beautiful act. At the night service, Reverend Fisher Torrejón, member of the WMM in Spain, preached to the flock of Christ through the message “The Ministry of the Holy Spirit,” based on John 16:7-15. In his address, Pastor Torrejón said that the presence of God is indispensable in the life of believers. In addition, he stated that since Christ died on the cross and since the day of Pentecost, true Christians have never neglected the Word. At the close of the 4th Fellowship of Block A of Europe, Reverend Carlos Medina, national supervisor of the WMM in Spain, announced the Good News. Based on Ezekiel 37:15-23 and 26, he presented the preaching “United by the Authority of the Holy Spirit.” In his speech, Pastor Medina, who is also Supervisor of Block A of Europe, claimed that Jesus is the only alternative to achieve true happiness. He also said that Ezekiel, the prophet of visions, was a powerful instrument of God.
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EVENTS
THIS WORK BELONGS TO GOD Event: 30th National Convention Date: July 9 - July 12 Place: Michigan, United States
The 30th National Convention of the Worldwide
Missionary Movement in the United States was held in Michigan. Such an important event aimed to strengthen bonds between brethren, to exchange proposals, to reinforce the doctrine, to listen to God’s Word, and to thank the Lord for His blessings. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
On the second day, Reverend José Arturo Soto, interMISSIONARY MOVEMENT 58 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
national president of the WMM, analyzed the present conditions of the Worldwide Missionary Movement. He pointed out that, “Many want this Work to be destroyed. They repeat that we’re useless. But this Work belongs to God.” Likewise, he said that, “Some don’t preach but only reproach the congregation and the brethren. Those who seek to divide the church are liars, cheaters and hypocrites. They want to cause division in the Work of the
Lord because they have failed in the ministry.” Reverend Soto also remarked, “We must love the Work above any leader. Leader can go astray, it’s in the Bible. In this Movement, God expel those who go astray. There is no autocratic leadership here, but everyone’s got a say in meetings. Let’s lead people well.” WORD OF GOD
Pastor Humberto Henao, international vice president of the Work, shared the opening message of the event. Based on 1 Kings 18:36-38: “Fire’s Seven Characteristics.” In the second service, Reverend Aris Solís, national supervisor of the WMM in Colombia, spoke about “A People Under the Cloud,” based on 1 Corinthians 10:1. In the third service, Pastor Luis Meza Bocanegra, international director of the WMM, offered the sermon “Being Good Builders,” based on Matthew 7:24-29. In the fourth service, Reverend David Echalar, national supervisor of the WMM in Italy, shared the message “There Is Power in the Blood of Christ,” based on Romans 7:15-20 and 24. In the fifth worship, Pastor Carlos Guerra, international director of the WMM, preached the Gospel with the message “God Gives Power to Those Who Stand in the Gap,” based on Acts 14:1-4. In the sixth service, Reverend Soto preached the Gospel once again and announced the Sound Doctrine, based on 1 Kings 17:17. In the closing ceremony, Minister Soto shared the Word of God. Based on Joshua 14:6-14, he spoke about the biblical story in which Caleb received Hebron.
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EVENTS
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS Event: Opening of new church Date: June 8 Place: Bindung, Equatorial Guinea
Under the protection and direction of Jesus Christ, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Equatorial Guinea opened a new house of God and gate of heaven in the town of Bindung, located a few miles from the capital. The Gospel of the Lord is reaching more and more people thanks to the efforts of the
MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 60 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
brethren of the Work of God. At the opening ceremony, Reverend Nze Obama, national treasurer of the WMM in Equatorial Guinea, shared the message “The Power of Forgiveness,” based on Luke 23:34, and spoke about the mercy of the Son of the Lord. After the biblical teaching by Pastor Obama, the church of Bindung was officially inaugurated. The ceremony was led by Reverend Antonio Yombo, national officer of the Work in Equatorial Guinea, who asked Christ to use the new building as a means of great blessing for those who seek the protection of the Most High. HARD WORK
It should be noted that the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Equatorial Guinea has been successfully
spreading the Gospel in Bindung since the beginning of May. God has allowed the missionaries and workers of the WMM to win many souls for the Lord and change the life of a number of people throughout the Gospel. With more than three decades of presence in the Central African country, the WMM announces the Good News every day, as a permanent source of hope and faith. Founded by Reverend Clemente Vergara, international officer of the Work of the Lord, the congregation in Equatorial Guinea continues to grow. The new church of Bindung, built thanks to the hard work of the members of the WMM in Equatorial Guinea, will allow more men and women to receive the Sound Doctrine and listen to the message of Christ for humanity. In addition, it will help God show His power and glory and free local people from evil.
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EVENTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S COMFORT Event: Missionary visit Date: May 31 Place: Andorra la Vella, Andorra
True to what Jesus Christ commanded in his earthly life, Reverend Carlos Medina, national supervisor of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Spain and Block A of Europe, made a missionary visit to Andorra to preach the Gospel. Together with his family and coworkers of the church of Mollerussa, Pastor Medina arrived in An-
MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 62 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
dorra la Vella, capital of Andorra, and met with a group of women and children who were eager to listen to the Good News of the Lord The meeting was held in a conference room at Centric Atiram Hotel, and Pastor Medina shared the message titled “The Importance of God’s Comfort,” based on Isaiah 40:1-4. Under God’s guidance and protection, Reverend Medina is hopeful that the Work will soon be established in Andorra. This small country in southwestern Europe needs to discover the Word and the Sound Doctrine of the Lord.
CHURCHES OF THE BLOCK A OF EUROPE SPAIN
TENERIFE NORTE: Avenida San Miguel de Chimisay 11 VALDEPEÑAS: Avenida de los Estudiantes 74 u GRAN CANARIAS: Calle Alfredo Calderón 48 u LANZAROTE: Calle José Pereyra Galviaty 13 u u
ZONE 1
BARCELONA LA SAGRERA: Calle Costa Rica 31 ZONA FRANCA: Plaza de Cristofol 5 HOSPITALET: Avenida Masnou 35, local 7 SANT JOAN DESPI: Calle Bonavista 29 RIPOLLET: Calle Virgen de Montserrat 7 TERRASSA: Calle Príncipe de Viena 22. u
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MADRID CIUDAD LINEAL: Calle Sambara 167 ENTREVIAS: Calle Manuel Laguna 33 GALAPAGAR: Calle Calvario 22 u FORCADILLO: u FUENLABRADA: Avenida de las Regiones 2, local 60 u SESEÑA: Calle Lavadero 8 u PARLA: Calle Pablo Casal 22 u
ZONE 3
VALENCIA: Paseo La Petxina, 65 u ALICANTE: Calle Virgen de Fátima 8 u ELCHE: Avenida Libertad, 7 u PALMA DE MALLORCA: u IBIZA: Calle Fra Vicente Nicolau 5 u
ZONE 4
ZARAGOZA: DELICIAS: Calle Desidero Escosura 29 TORRERO: Calle Granada 21-23 u ARNEDO: Avenida Logroño 10 u BUROS: Polígono Industrial Pentasa III, nave 93 u SORIA: Calle Marmullete 1, bajos 42002 u
ZONE 7
CASTELLÓN: Calle Ricardo Català 17 REUS: Calle Camí de riudoms 17 u GIRONA: Calle Montfalgars 7-9 u MOLLERUSSA: Calle Cervera 7 u LLEIDA: Calle Rogers de Lluiria 66 u u
ZONE 8
SALAMANCA: Calle Pinzones 10 ÁVILA: Paseo Santo Tomas, 46, bajos 2 u VALDEMORILLO: Calle Eras Cerradas 3 u SEGOVIA: Avenida Vía Roma, 21 u u
PORTUGAL
SÃO JOÃO DA MADEIRA: Rua Infante Santo 185 LISBON: Rua Vale de Santo Antônio 146-A u MADEIRA ISLAND: Estr. Regional 226, entr. 24 u u
FRANCE u u
SWEDEN u u
ZONE 5:
VIEDO: Calle Coronel Boves, 26 SANTANDER: Calle Valderrama, 5 u LA CORUÑA: Calle San Isidoro, 54 u PAMPLONA: Avenida de Navarra 2-4, San Jorge u IRUN: Calle Blas de Lezo 18, Colón
PARIS: 73 Boulevard de la Boissière 93130 Noisy-Le-Sec GRENOBLE: 51 Rue Thiers 38000
STOCKHOLM: Hagalndsgatan 9, Solna MALMÖ: Norregatan 12, 21127
u u
DENMARK
SLAGELSE: Verdensmissionsbevægelsen, Bredegade 16, 4200 u
ZONE 6
SEVILLA|: Calle Fernán Sánchez de Tovar 4 MARTOS: Avenida Europa 154 u JAÉN: Calle Hermanos Pinzón 8 u
FINLAND
u
u
KERAVA: Asemanaukio 7
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LETTERS FROM OUR READERS CARTAS@IMPACTOEVANGELISTICO.NET
JANUARY 3-10 CONVENTION COLOMBIA, Medellín 21-24 CONVENTION NICARAGUA 25-27 CONVENTION PARAGUAY, Montevideo 31-3 (Feb.) CONVENTION BOLIVIA, Tarija
CARMEN ARRIETA God bless all the brothers of the wonderful team of the magazine. It’s such a blessing for the members of the church, as well as the unconverted. From El Carmen de Bolívar, Colombia.
FEBRUARY 7-10 CONVENTION BELIZE (ORANGE WALK). 21-24 CONVENTION ARGENTINA (BUENOS AIRES).
JUAN SOTO
MARCH 2-5 CONVENTION PANAMA 14-17 CONVENTION HONDURAS (SAN PEDRO SULA). 14-17 CONVENTION AUSTRALIA (MELBOURNE).
God bless the brothers and sisters who work for this great magazine. From Massachusetts, USA.
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APRIL 11-13 17-21 18-20 25-27 25-28
I thank God for the blessings given by Jesus Christ through this Work that is growing thanks to all of you who work hard for it. From Pennsylvania, USA.
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).
CARLOS BASTIDAS God bless you, brothers of Impacto Evangelistic. Greetings from Ecuador. Keep up the good work, and may God continue to guide you in the publication of this magazine. I love it since the first time I read it and will continue to read it to see the wonders that God does in our lives. God bless you. With Christ we are more than conquerors. From Villegas, Ecuador.
DIEGO PIÑEROS I feel happy whenever a new issue of the magazine comes out because God speaks to me through the biblical teachings. The testimonies move me, and the pictures of the WMM’s activities inspire me to do my part for the Lord. Keep up the good work. May God continue to give you wisdom and grace. From Bogotá, Colombia.
JORGE BATISTUTA Hello again. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ in Córdoba. I’d like to congratulate the brothers who make this magazine. It’s much more than just a magazine, as it has converted countless people to Christ. Blessings. From Córdoba, Argentina.
JUAN ROJAS Dear brothers in Christ, I’d like to tell you how grateful I’m for the magazines you have sent me. They’re a blessing to me, a prisoner sentenced to life. I’ve read some precious testimonies of people who telling their experiences have become a blessing to others. I’m very grateful. I keep these magazines as a treasure. From Peñuelas, Puerto Rico.
GLOBAL AGENDA 2019
MAY 3-5 CONVENTION JAPAN (TOKYO NARITA). 16-19 CONVENTION SWITZERLAND (GENEVA). 16-19 CONVENTION GERMANY AND BLOCK C (HAMBURG).
CARLOS FONSECA I’ve been watching Bethel Television for some time now. After I first watched it, I was no longer the same; I was a social drinker but quit drinking altogether. My family was happy with the change, but I felt that something was still missing. One day I read the Impacto Evangelistic magazine and found beautiful testimonies that made me decide to convert to Christ. I’m so happy today! Thank you for the media at the service of God, they are a blessing. From Lima, Peru.
FLOR CORNEJO God bless you. I’ve been receiving this magazine for many years, reading about all the wonders that God has done through this ministry. I serve in the ministry of women through seminars, retreats and counseling. God has done many miracles. From California, USA.
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
LUIS FLORES Keep up the good work with the beautiful message of salvation and the Sound Doctrine that is one of the fundamentals of the Work and this magazine. God bless you. From Medellin, Colombia.
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n Past events n Future events MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 66 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
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MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 68 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia
