788_English

Edition for EUROPE

Renewed in the Spirit Isaiah 44:3

2nd anniversary Church of Santander

October 5 and October 6 MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 2 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

With the visit of Rev. Carlos Medina

EDITORIAL

LOOKING UNTO GOD Rev. José Arturo Soto B. International President of the WMM

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2.

God never changes, He is the same now and for-

the Almighty, the only one who can forgive us and

ever. God is never wrong and He speaks as the Lord

change our life. The ultimate purpose of the Gospel

and Master of history, as the Sovereign of all things.

is total change.

He knows the past, the present and the future. He is from eternity to eternity.

Remember that we are committed to Jesus-Christ, not to men. It is Him to whom we are accountable.

The Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM)

Let us preach holiness, “without which no man shall

was founded on the principle of humbleness. In the

see the Lord.” Christian life means living in holiness,

beginning, more than one laughed at us and said that

which comes from within and is manifested without.

we were going nowhere. But small beginnings should

In order to keep the global vision entrusted by

never be underestimated. We must always rely on

God, the Worldwide Missionary Movement has been

the Lord and keep our spirit humble. Even if we are

established all over the world. This is how we fulfill

extremely blessed, wealthy or famous, we must put

the great mission: “Go ye into all the world, and preach

everything at His feet.

the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). This is our

Likewise, it is important to keep the principles of communion and brotherhood. These two are essential to receive God’s blessing.

unwavering vision.

Finally, I would like to remind all my dear friends in the holy ministry that our work is but a comple-

Brothers, we must keep preaching the Gospel.

ment to the wholesome mission of God. With the

We cannot deviate from our message, which is Jesus-

Lord’s help we will keep working hard in Jesus-

Christ-focused. The Gospel confronts sinners with

Christ’s name. Amen.

September 2019 / Impacto evangelistic

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www.impactoevangelistico.net

evangelistic Founder Director: Rev. Luis M. Ortiz SEPTEMBER 2019 / EDITION N° 788 (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 IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE?

Some contend that the Scriptures are riddled with inaccuracies, errors and out-of-date laws. Nothing further from the truth 14.- Infography OVER 560 YEARS SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST PRINTED BOOK: THE BIBLE Around the year 1455, Gutenberg invented a printing press with metal letters that could be moved around to print whatever he wanted.

16.- International WHY ARE THERE SO MANY MASS SHOOTINGS IN AMERICA? Why do most mass shootings in public places occur in the world’s first power?

18.- Current news MISSIONARIES IN THE WORLD The World Mission Day will be celebrated on September 28 in all the churches of the Worldwide Missionary Movement.

20.- Teaching THE LESSON OF EBONY The Bible only mentions ebony once, but this sole reference means a vital lesson for Christians.

22.- Youth SIGNS OF SPIRITUALLY WEAK YOUNG PEOPLE Young Christians fight an ongoing battle in the physical and the spiritual world.

24.- Music I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR! This hymn by Annie Sherwood Hawks has touched the hearts of believers since 1872.

26.- Literature REVELATION, AN OPEN BOOK

FOR TODAY This book by Pastor Luis M. Ortiz is based on a detailed, practical, inspiring, devotional and easy-to-understand theological research about the final section of the Holy Scriptures 30.- Hero of Faith THE TIRELESS PREACHER Guillaume Farel is a remarkable role model of active Christianity. He was a powerful instrument of Christ.

34.- Life story LOVE REKINDLED Away from home for twenty years, he found joy in fleeting romances until, one day, a disease made him ask God for help.

40.- Apologetics PREDESTINATION (III) The Holy Scriptures do not state that God predestines some for salvation and others for damnation. It states that we all make our own decisions.

42.- Interview “LET’S PRESERVE THE DOCTRINE” After 56 years, the Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM) reaffirms its commitment to preserving its doctrinal essence in all its churches around the world.

44.- Devotional WHAT IS THE BEST JOB? 46.- Devotional GIVE EAR TO JESUS 48.- Devotional IT WAS WITHERED BUT IT BUDDED! 50.- Events THE EVANGELIZING WORK DONE

BY THE WMM IN THE WORLD 66.- Letters LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

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COVER NOTE

IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE? Some contend that the Scriptures are riddled with inaccuracies, errors and out-of-date laws and teachings that border on the ridiculous for a modern society.

Nothing further from the truth. The Bible was inspired

by God and written over a period of approximately 1500 years, by men from different eras, social conditions and professions: from farmers, fishermen and shepherds, to prophets, judges and kings.

Josh McDowell & Sean McDowell (*)

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COVER NOTE

Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and thought, Now, what does that mean? Or perhaps the passage made sense but you wondered, Is that really relevant to us today? And then there are critics today that scoff at the idea of taking the Bible seriously.

“The Bible is a gift from God, one for which we can be truly grateful. This unique book reveals things that we could never find out otherwise. For example, it tells us about the creation of the starry heavens, the earth, and the first man and woman.”

“The Bible is also a heartwarming gift, for it reveals something about the Giver, God. The fact that He has provided such a book is proof that he wants us to get to know

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Him well (Jeremiah 9:24). Indeed, the Bible can help you to draw close to the Lord.”

1. Is the Bible Inspired by God? When the apostle Paul said that “all Scripture is inspired

by God” (2 Timothy 3:16), he did not mean that the Bible was an inspirational book. He used a specific Greek word – theopneustos, which literally means “God-breathed” (theos, God; pneo, to breathe). All of Scripture is “God-breathed,” which means the written words in the Bible are from God. Jesus referred to Scripture this way when he told the Pharisees that they were misusing scriptural teaching. He said, “So you cancel the word of God [Scripture] for the

sake of your own tradition” (Matthew 15:6). The apostle Paul explained how the Jewish people “have been entrusted with the very words of God” (Romans 3:2). So when you read the Bible, you are not simply reading an inspirational book; you are reading words from God. The apostle Peter made the same point when he wrote that “no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit and they spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

2. Is the Bible Without Error?

Conservative Christian theologians do say that the Bi-

ble is without error (inerrant). But what they mean is, when all the facts are known, the Scriptures as they were penned by the authors in the original writings and as properly interpreted will be shown to be true and not false in all they affirm.

There were 40-some authors of the 66 books of the Bible. It was a complex process for God to communicate His message through such a diverse group of men over the span of about 1500 years. Yet he miraculously brought His Word together.

Not only did God speak through spokesmen with varied human experiences, he also expressed His Word in a number of literary styles and forms: from the mournful la-

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COVER NOTE

ments of Jeremiah to the exalted poetry of Isaiah and the Psalms. God’s Word is full of historical narratives, parables, letters, allegories, metaphors, similes, satire and hyperbole.

God captures the full character of those he spoke through, from the tight-knit logic of a scholar (Paul, in his epistles) to the priestly perspective of a theologian (the writer of Hebrews), the poetic talents of musicians (David, in the Psalms), and the despair and agony of a people (Jeremiah, in Lamentations). So as we unpackage a passage we will be mindful that God’s truth is being presented through the lens of its human spokesman yet still conveys the exact, error-free message God wants us to receive.

3. Does the Bible Contain Any Mistakes?

Although the original writings of Scripture are without MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 10 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

error, none of the original autographs are in existence today. What we have today are copies of what was originally penned. And while those who made the copies (scribes) did their best to copy accurately, some errors were made.

The earlier manuscripts tend to be more accurate because they are closer to the original. But we did not know just how amazingly accurate the Old Testament copies were until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947.

Before 1947, the oldest complete Hebrew manuscript in our possession dated to AD 900. But with the discovery of more than 800 manuscripts in caves on the west side of the Dead Sea, we came into possession of Old Testament manuscripts dated by paleographers to around 125 BC. These scrolls were therefore a thousand years older than any previously known manuscripts.

TRANSMISSION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT One of the ways God ensured that the Old Testament would be relayed accurately was by choosing, calling and cultivating a nation of men and women who took the Book of the Law very seriously. God commanded and instilled in the Jewish people a great reverence for the Scriptures. That attitude became such a part of their identity that a class of Jewish scholars called the Sopherim, from a Hebrew word meaning “scribes,” arose between the fifth and third centuries BC. These custodians of the Hebrew Scriptures dedicated themselves to carefully preserving the ancient manuscripts and producing new copies when necessary.

The Sopherim were eclipsed by the Talmudic scribes, who guarded, interpreted and commented on the sacred texts from about AD 100 to 500. The Talmudic scribes were followed by the better-known Masoretic scribes (about AD 500 to 900).

The Talmudic scribes, for example, established detailed and stringent disciplines for copying a manuscript. Their rules were so rigorous that when a new copy was complete, they would give the reproduction equal authority to that of its parent because they were thoroughly convinced they had an exact duplicate.

But here’s the exciting part: Once the Dead Sea Scrolls were compared with later manuscript copies, the then-current Hebrew Bible proved to be identical, word for word, in more than 95 percent of the text. The other 5 per cent consisted mainly of spelling variations.

In other words, the greatest manuscript discovery of all time revealed that a thousand years of copying the Old Testament had produced only very minor variations, none of which altered the clear meaning of the text or brought the manuscript’s fundamental integrity into question.

4. Is What We Have Today Truly God’s Word?

Today our complete Bible is comprised of 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament.

But how do we know those are the God-inspired books

God prepared for us? Maybe some God-inspired books were overlooked. How do we know we have all the writings that were inspired by God? The 66 books accepted as God’s inspired word are referred to as the canon of Scripture. Canon comes from the Greek word kanon, meaning “rule” or “principle.” In other words, there was a very high standard or measuring tool needed to deem a writing “inspired by God.” Contrary to what some modern critics say, early Jewish and church leaders did not create the canon. Rather, those leaders merely recognized or discovered which books were “God-breathed” from their very inception. A writing was not given the authority of being Scripture just because early Jewish or Christian leaders accepted it as such. Instead, it was accepted by the leaders and the people because it was clear to them that God himself had given the writing its divine authority.

We can see at least four guiding principles or rules that qualified a letter or book to be recognized as a divinely inspired writing: • The writing was authored by a prophet or apostle of God or someone connected with them.

• The message of the book was consistent with what had already been revealed about God. • The writing clearly evidenced the confirming presence of God. • The book was widely accepted by the church from an early date.

By as early as the 300s BC, and certainly no later than

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150 BC, all the 39 books of the Old Testament had been written, collected and officially recognized as canonical books. The Hebrew text of these 39 books was originally divided into 24 books: five books of the Law (of Moses), eight Prophets, and eleven Writings.

By the 200s and 300s AD, church elders began to set criteria for recognizing writings of the apostles as inspired

by God. In AD 367, Athanasius of Alexandria provided the first official list of the 27 books of the New Testament we have today. And by the late 300s there was consensus. All 27 books were canonized by the councils of Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397). Remember, this was not a group of church elders authorizing a collection of religious writings – rather, they were recognizing that this collection of books was authorized by God as His Word.

5. Is the Bible Historically Accurate and Reliable?

Some people think that the Bible can be trusted on moral issues but is not to be fully trusted on matters of history. However, many of the truths of the Bible are rooted in history. For example, it is crucial that Jesus was a historical person and that the bodily resurrection was a historical reality. Because as the apostle Paul puts it, “If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

The Bible is largely a historical book that reveals who God is, who humans are, how humans became separated from God, and how His redemptive plan was put in place to restore His lost children to a relationship with Him. And it is vitally important that His words have been accurately passed down from generation to generation. So the question is: Can we be confident that what was inspired by God and written down has been in fact preserved as an accurate record of history?

God has not left us to wonder. He has miraculously supervised the transmission of the Scriptures to ensure they were relayed accurately from one generation to another.

6. How Do We Interpret the Bible to Know What It Means for Us Today?

The Bible was written in a time and place vastly different from twenty-first-century North America. It is true that the Old Testament was written over a period from 3400 to 1900 years ago. The cultures were different; there is no question about that. What people did and how they expressed themselves do not much resemble the speech and activities of our modern world.

But with all these cultural differences, the Bible is still extremely relevant to us today. And to interpret and understand the relevancy of Scripture to our lives involves a two-step process. The first step it to determine what the specific passages meant for those who first spoke them or wrote them down, and what the passages meant to those who MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 12 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

heard them or read them. Because the Bible was written in various time periods, we must understand its historical context. How a given truth applies to us must be understood through the attitudes, settings, lifestyle and political structure of the times in which it was given.

In this first step we need to remember that nothing spoken or written in Scripture was spoken or written directly to us living in the twenty-first century. Moses and the prophets were speaking to the children of Israel. Jesus was speaking to his disciples, the crowds and various individuals. When the apostles wrote the Gospels and when Paul, Peter, James and others wrote the other books of the New Testament, they were writing them for certain hearers or readers of their time. So because God was revealing Himself and His truth to a specific audience within a specific time in history, our first task is to interpret what He intended to communicate to them at the time.

But then comes the second very important step: understanding what universal, relevant truth God is reveal-

COVER NOTE

TRANSMISSION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

ing to us right now. This is when we attempt to draw out God’s meaning ourselves or read into a text what we think it is teaching. When people impose their particular slant on a passage or inject their own ideas, it is not hard to see how we can end up having different and contradictory views on a particular truth. But much of this can be avoided is we follow a process to discover God’s meaning of a truth. This process is called exegesis.

Exegesis is from the Greek word exegeomai, which means to make known, to unfold in teaching, to declare by making known. The word is used by John when he says that Jesus “has revealed God to us” (John 1:18).

Thus, to exegete a passage means we must understand the meaning of words and put those words within context – a literary, historical and theological context. And if we read a passage out of its context, we are in danger of reading another meaning into the text that simply is not there. Scholars call this eisegesis, or “reading into.” Most errors of interpretation come from reading into Scripture a meaning that is

While there were expert Hebrew scribes who made copies of the Old Testament manuscripts, that is not the case with the New Testament. There are several reasons for this: 1) The official Jewish leadership did not endorse Christianity; 2) the letters and histories circulated by the New Testament writers were not at the time thought as an official Scripture; and 3) the documents were not written in the Hebrew language, but rather in forms of Greek and Aramaic. Thus, the same formal disciplines were not followed in the transmission of these writings from one generation to another. In the case of the New Testament, God did a new thing to ensure that His Word would be accurately preserved for us and our children.

Historians evaluate the textual reliability of ancient literature according to two standards: 1) the time interval between the original and the earliest copy, and 2) how many manuscript copies are available.

For example, virtually everything we know today about Julius Caesar’s exploits in the Gallic Wars (58 to 51 BC) is derived from ten manuscript copies of Caesar’s work The Gallic Wars.

The earliest of these copies dates to a little less than a thousand years from the time the original was written. Our modern text of Livy’s History of Rome relies on one partial manuscript and nineteen much later copies that are dated from 400 to 1000 years after the original writing.

By comparison, the text of Homer’s Iliad is much more reliable. It has an estimated 1757 manuscript copies in existence today, with a mere 400-year time gap between the date of composition and the earliest of these copies.

Using this accepted standard for evaluating the textual reliability of ancient writings, the New Testament stands alone.

It has no equal. No other book of the ancient world can even approach its textual reliability.

Nearly 25,000 manuscripts or fragments of manuscripts of the New Testament repose in the libraries and universities of the world in languages such as Coptic, Latin and Armenian.

Among these are nearly 5800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, which is over three times as many as for the Iliad.

The earliest of these discovered so far is a fragment of John’s Gospel, located in the John Rylands Library of the University of Manchester, England; it has been dated to within 50 years of when the apostle John penned the original. As this book goes to publication there is compelling evidence that a recently found portion of Mark’s Gospel dates from the first century.

We can be confident that the text of the New Testament and Old Testament has been handed down over the centuries with precision and accuracy.

just not there. To understand what God is saying to us today we must understand it within its context and then properly apply His truth to our own culture and personal lives. (*) Joslin “Josh” McDowell is an American Christian writer. Some of his best-known books are The Resurrection Factor, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Right from Wrong, and The Deceivers. Sean is his son and follows in his father's footsteps.

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7th century AD

11th century AD

The first movable type printing technology is invented in China using baked clay.

Papermaking moves out of China, where it was invented in the 2th century, to the rest of the world.

Chapter initials were drawn by hand.

13th century AD

5th century AD

Chinese use wood blocks to print patterns on cloth and later on paper (woodcut).

Each sheet was hung up to dry.

Koreans make cast-metal movable types.

15th century AD

Gutenberg invents the printing press around 1440.

Fifteen years later, the printing of his 42-line Bible was completed.

1863

Paper

William A. Bullock obtains the patent of the first rotary press for printing books on continuous paper (hectography).

Each page was arranged in two columns of 42 lines each.

1886

Ottmar Mergenthaler invents the linotype machine, the first mechanical typesetter.

1904

The lithography technique reaches its peak with the development of offset printing, used today.

Books have been made for thousands of years, but they did not always look like the ones with pages and covers that we are used to. The earliest books were rolls of paper or animal skins, called scrolls. In the 15th century, during the period of time called the Renaissance, there was a huge increase in the amount of new and exciting ideas in science and art. Around the year 1455, a German machine-maker called Johannes Gutenberg invented a printing press with metal letters that could be moved around to print whatever he wanted. Copies of books could be made easily instead of one by one. The first book to be printed and sold in Europe was a copy of the Bible. For hundreds of years, until the invention of digital printing, books were still printed using metal letters and printing presses.

Over 560 years since the publication of the first printed book:

THE BIBLE The Bible is among the earliest major books printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe.

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5th century BC

Romans use stamps to print on clay objects

On February 23, 1455, the printing of the Gutenberg Bible, the first book printed with movables types, was completed.

THE REINA VALERA BIBLE OR BIBLE OF THE PITCHER This well-known version of the Bible in Spanish was widely spread during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, and it is one of the most accepted by Protestant churches in Spanish-speaking countries.

Screw

Inking tool

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INTERNATIONAL

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY MASS SHOOTINGS IN AMERICA? Why do most mass shootings in public places occur in America, the world’s first power? So far this year, over 250 mass shootings have been reported in different cities across the U.S. (*)

Mass shootings always reignite U.S. gun control debate. Why can a 21-year-old, who has been recently allowed to buy alcohol, purchase in just a few steps a semiautomatic firearm that could lead to a massacre in a matter of minutes? It makes no sense at all.

The only explanation behind the high rate of mass shootings in America is the astronomical number of guns in the hands of fundamentalists and psychopaths.

So the question is: Why do lawmakers, after all the bloodbaths, continue to fail in their efforts to limit mass access to guns?

America is the world’s most heavily armed country, with an average of one gun per capita (around 300 million people). In other words, Americans account for about 4.4 percent of the global population but own 42 percent of the world’s guns.

A survey by Franklin E. Zimring and Gordon Hawkins from the University of California found that 133 mass shootings have occurred from 2000 and 2014 in the United States. Only two were reported in Finland, killing 18 people, and only one in Switzerland, killing 14.

The difference is clear.

In 2013, American gun-related deaths included 21,175 suicides, 11,208 homicides and 505 deaths caused by an accidental discharge. That same year in Japan, a country with one-third America’s population, guns were involved in only 13 deaths.

This means an American is about 300 times more

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likely to die from gun violence than a Japanese person.

U.S. gun ownership rate is 150 times higher than Japan’s.

That gap between 150 and 300 shows that gun ownership statistics alone cannot explain American mass shootings.

Other researchers believe that the Texas mass shooting was clearly a racially motivated hate crime. The alarming reality is that in America – which is on the alert for jihadists just as the rest of the world – the concern about extreme right-wing terrorist groups and individuals has dramatically risen.

In fact, more and more people are accusing President Donald Trump of promoting these massacres with his inflammatory rhetoric against immigrants and minorities. Since his 2016 campaign, the American president has not hesitated to call Mexican immigrants “rapists” and “drug traffickers,” and Muslims “terrorists,” and has not condemned any white supremacist actions. What is more, he constantly insults minorities and has even told American Congresspeople of foreign origin to “go back” to the country where they came from.

Mass murderers in America have very different mo-

tivations but many of them share some features, such as being white young men.

Donald Trump and his politicians refuse to establish a stricter gun control and usually claim that these attacks can be attributed to mental health issues. However, FBI profile analysis have found that only 25 percent of shooters had been diagnosed with a mental disorder and they did not normally live isolated. (*) With data from the Internet.

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CURRENT NEWS

MISSIONARIES IN THE WORLD The World Mission Day will be celebrated on September 28 in all the churches of the Worldwide Missionary Movement. This year’s event will be broadcast by the media of the Work.

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“Missionary work is inherent to our Movement. Let’s keep spreading the missions all over the world.”

Every last Saturday of September, the Worldwide Missionary Movement holds a general fasting to pray for the missionaries around the world and to motivate more believers to join the missionary calling.

Reverend José Arturo Soto, international president of the WMM, will share a message to all the churches the day before the main service. He will highlight the importance of the missionary work and announce the official motto for World Mission Day 2019. The announcement will be broadcast by Bethel TV and the social networks of the churches.

Every year, this important event gathers thousands of congregations around one purpose: to pray for the missionary fields and for the missionaries who spread

the Gospel in the most dangerous and faraway places of the world. Prayers are also aimed to motivate potential missionaries to join the cause entrusted by God: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

Likewise, a special contribution is collected to acquire new lands, to build new temples, to found new children’s homes, to open schools, and to cover the expenses of the missions worldwide.

The WMM has been mission-oriented since the beginning, as stated by Reverend Luis M. Ortiz in a poem: You go, sower, your seed in good soil will sprout. In joy you will present your sheaves, and the divine Farmer will reward!

The Bible states in Matthew 9:38: “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” The WMM has obeyed this biblical order since its foundation. The Work is currently established in 73 countries, being Abu Dhabi, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Martinique, and New Zealand the last ones to which missionaries were sent.

In last year’s message, Reverend José Arturo Soto spoke about the missionary character of our Movement.

“We have been focused on missionary work over the last 60 years,” he mentioned. “Missionary work is inherent to our Movement. Let’s keep spreading the missions all over the world,” he added.

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TEACHING

THE LESSON OF EBONY The Bible only mentions ebony once, in the book of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 27:15). But this sole reference means a vital lesson for Christians. (*) The word ‘ebony’ comes from hobní in Hebrew and also hbny in Egyptian. The literal meaning of these terms is “stone” or “wood stone,” on account of its extraordinary harness. Its generic name Diospyros comes from a Greek word which etymologically means “the grain or fruit of God.” In ancient times, the merchant ships of Tyre imported ebony and ivory from the coasts of the Indian Ocean, as the Phoenicians traded with products of this kind. The dark color of ebony, as well as its density and the fact that it was so easy to polish, made it easy to combine with white ivory, so it was highly appreciated in marquetry and ornamentation.

It has also been used to make knife-handles, brushes and tools, musical instruments such as clarinets, chessfigures, black piano-keys, animal-figures and so on.

From the 13th century onwards until the Baroque period, ebony was used in Europe to make luxury objects like furniture with a black veneer (hence the Spanish term ‘ebanistería,’ “cabinet-making” in English) and exotic desks. However, the mahogany trade, in the 18th century, led to ebony gradually being abandoned.

There are many species of ebony tree, both in Asia and in Africa, although not all of them have such uniformly dark wood. Ebony trees belong to the Ebenaceae family, usually reach a height of between 20 and 30 meters, have a broad crown and a thick trunk. The trunk has a light-colored bark (sapwood) surrounding the black heartwood, which is the highly appreciated ebony wood. The leaves of authentic ebony trees are lanceolate, dark green in color and are arranged alternately on the stems. The flowers are also usually green, and the fruit takes the form of round, yellowish berries.

However, there is actually a range of different species which are sometimes grouped together under the same common name. For example, the so-called Bombay or Ceylon ebony includes the species D. bupru, D. ebenaster, D. ebenum, D. melanoxylon, D. peregrina, D. silvatica, etc.; the name “Manila ebony” is given to the species

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D. ebenaster, D. philippensis y D. nigra. But there is also “Philippines ebony.” “green India ebony,” “white ebony,” “Gabon ebony,” “Madagascar ebony,” “red Mauritius ebony,” etc., each with their respective associated species, which gives some idea of the enormous diversity of ebony trees and ebony wood that exists.

The Bible only mentions ebony once, in the book of Ezekiel, in relation to the prosperous maritime trade and the splendor of the port-city of Tyre. This chapter refers to the fact that, despite the grandeur and luxury

of this city, its inhabitants were utterly indifferent to the most basic moral principles.

All that really mattered to them was trade and the material wealth that it brought them, even though they achieved this wealth by means of morally unscrupulous conduct. They saw themselves as gods, believing that they depended on themselves alone to achieve wealth and well-being. They forgot God completely, and the consequences were catastrophic. The city of Tyre was erased from the face of the earth.

The lesson could not be clearer: every society that turns its back on Almighty God and consciously sets its face against His will, whatever the material prosperity it might be experiencing, will come to nothing. Sooner or later it will disappear.

Today there are many people who do not believe in God, but He is still in control of the history of the world, and in the end, He will pronounce judgement on it. (*) Retrieved from http://evangelicalfocus.com

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SIGNS OF SPIRITUALLY WEAK YOUNG PEOPLE Steven López

Young Christians fight an ongoing spiritual battle. The only way to win this battle is to hold on tight to faith and never fall, as some do, into a false spirituality.

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YOUTH prayer. Such conditions are essential to develop intimacy with God and, consequently, to be able to listen to the voice of the Lord. Otherwise, people become spiritually weak and an easy prey for the enemy.

The signs of spiritually weak young people are the following: Pride. Just as humbleness is the main feature of Christians, so pride is the first evidence of a spiritually weak person. When young people stop being humble, pride starts to gain momentum. As a result, they do not own their wrongdoings but imitate or focus on other’s mistakes.

Selfishness. Spiritually weak people lose empathy and can no longer perceive the needs of others. They only focus on their own interests and remain indifferent to suffering. If they once committed to spreading the Gospel, now they try to avoid it.

Wavering faith. Fickleness of faith is very common among spiritually weak young people. They used to have strong faith, but now even the smallest obstacle is enough to make them doubt or even give up altogether.

They are also easily influenced by the worldly currents.

No fasting or praying. Young people affected by spiritual weakness pray in a very mechanical and disengaged

Walking in the Spirit comes from a full communion with God, from faith nurtured through His Word and prayer. Such conditions are essential to develop intimacy with God and, consequently, to be able to listen to the voice of the Lord.

Some people try to fill the void in their hearts with the false, fleeting happiness given by money, luxury, unhealthy entertainment, etc. After a while, when the day comes where it all inevitably ends, their inner self feels even worse than in the beginning.

The same goes for Christians. The beginning of their path is promising and encouraging, but by neglecting the pillars of faith they fall into a depressing, shallow spirituality that leads many to a tragic ending without even noticing.

Walking in the Spirit comes from a full communion with God, from faith nurtured through His Word and

manner. Also fasting becomes very hard, as they are away from God. During service, instead of seeking God, they are distracted, mentally elsewhere.

Fear and doubt. Spiritually weak people are easily attracted by earthly pleasures, but also discouragement and negative. They become a victim of the devil.

No Bible reading. Every time they open the Bible to read, they feel tired and discouraged. They put the Bible down and seek pleasure from other sources.

Lack of vision. Spiritually weak people lose their spiritual vision, and they call right what is wrong, and wrong what is right. They constantly judge other people and do not accept any rebuke. Instead, when they are told off, they play the victim and forget that rebuke is necessary for God to guide us.

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MUSIC

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR! This hymn by Annie Sherwood Hawks has touched the hearts of believers since 1872. Written to worship God’s presence, it brings peace to those who sing it.

“I Need Thee Every Hour” focuses on the need to

feel Jesus Christ and the yearning to have a personal relationship with God. Written in June 1872 by Annie Sherwood Hawks, this devotional song offers peace through its stanzas.

About the origin of this hymn, the author revealed: “One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks during a bright June morning in 1872. Suddenly I became filled with the sense of nearness to the Master, and I began to wonder how anyone could ever live without Him, either in joy or pain. Then the words were ushered into my mind and these thoughts took full possession of me.”

After finishing the poem, Hawks gave it to her pastor, Reverend Robert Lowry, who mentored her in the production of songs to worship the Lord. He set the hymn to music and added a refrain. Thanks to the help of Lowry, who was a renowned Christian hymnwriter, the song was included in a hymn compilation prepared for the National Baptist Sunday School Convention in Cincinnati in November 1872.

OUTSTANDING POETESS

Born in Hoosick on May 28, 1835, Annie Hawks wrote more than four hundred spiritual songs. At a very young age, while she was taking her first steps into the Gospel, she showed a special gift for conveying her feelings for the Redeemer through lyrical poetry. At the age of fourteen, a local newspaper published her first poem.

In January 1865, after marrying Charles Hial Hawks, the hymnwriter moved to Brooklyn. There she met Pastor Lowry at a local temple she had joined. With his support, she composed a number of poems for the Lord that MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 24 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR! 1 I need thee every hour, Most gracious Lord; No tender voice like thine Can peace afford.

3 I need thee every hour, In joy or pain; Come quickly, and abide, Or life is vain.

REFRAIN I need thee, O I need thee; Every hour I need thee!

O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

4 I need thee every hour; Teach me thy will, And thy rich promises In me fulfill.

2 I need thee every hour, Stay thou near by; Temptations lose their power When thou art nigh.

5 I need Thee every hour, Most Holy One; Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

are now part of her vast legacy and are mainly sung in Sunday schools.

In 1888, impressed by the fame of “I Need Thee Every Hour!” and shaken by the death of her husband, Hawks reflected about the popularity of her song: “I did not understand at first why this hymn had touched the great throbbing heart of humanity. It was not until long after, when the shadow fell over my way, that shadow of great loss, that I understood something of the comforting in the words I had been permitted to write and give out to others in my hours of sweet security and peace.”

This renowned poetess from the 19th century died on January 3, 1918 in Bennington, Vermont, after fighting the good fight of faith and preaching the Lord’s Words through her hymns. Her evangelistic work has had a great impact on the world and has motivated many men and women to joyfully worship God.

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LITERATURE

REVELATION, AN OPEN BOOK FOR TODAY This book by Pastor Luis M. Ortiz is based on a detailed, practical, inspiring, devotional and easy-to-understand theological research about the final section of the Holy Scriptures. Based on God’s Word, it also speaks about the future that awaits humanity.

Biblical prophecies are studied following the “principle of double reference.” According to this principle, a prophecy can be either interpreted from a literal (closer) or dispensational (distant) perspective. From the first perspective, “the Lord’s day,” as the first primitive Christians called it, would refer to the first day of the week, Sunday.

Ignatius, a bishop of Antioch who lived from 30 to 107 AD during the time of the Apostles, wrote: “Let every friend of Christ keep the Lord’s Day as a festival, the resurrection day…” However, from the latter perspective, the prophets and Apostles referred to the Second Coming of Christ as “the Lord’s day” in their prophecies.

Reprinted in April 1993, Revelation, an Open Book for Today is a practical, inspiring, devotional and easyto-understand theological research by Reverend Luis M. Ortiz Marrero, founder of the Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM). It is an accurate and detailed study inspired in the last book of the Holy Scriptures and based on the prophetical conferences he held as missionary and pastor.

Chapter 6 of Revelation is some sort of sketch of the events of the Great Tribulation, that is the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy. Six out of the seven seals of the book taken by Jesus were opened in this chapter. Note that the seventh seal introduces the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls. Seals, trumpets and bowls represent three stages of the divine judgement of humanity. The Father sent the Lamb of God for our redemp-

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tion, and now the Father gives to the pierced hand of the Lamb “as it had been slain” the sealed book to fulfill the redemption of all creation.

Revelation, an Open Book for Today was originally published in two volumes, the first printed in 1984 and the second in 1988. In 26 chapters, Brother Ortiz thoroughly explores the prophetical book of the New Testament and offers a neat interpretation of future impending events.

Jesus-Christ foretold that in the end of times “there

tichrist), and the Second Beast (the antiHoly Spirit).

CHRIST’S DOCTRINE

shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24). There has been, there are and there will always be false Christs and prophets, but nothing will compare to the times of the Great Tribulation. During these times, the Dragon (Satan) will be thrown down to the earth, the First Beast will rise out of the sea, and the Second Beast will come up out of the earth, thus forming the accursed trinity consisting of the Dragon/Satan (the anti-God), the First Beast (the An-

The book is aimed at those who believe in the Gospel, which according to the author, have the privilege of knowing the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Through his research, the founder of the Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM) thoroughly explains the meaning of the symbols and numbers contained in the book of Revelation. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he also tackles the most controversial subjects related to the last part of the Bible.

This is the ninth and last parentheses in the book of Revelation; it goes until the tenth verse and includes the marriage supper of the Lamb. The devilish, pagan, apostate and Babylonian mother of harlots and abominations of the earth has been destroyed by the Antichrist and his European allies. Here we are in the first part of the Great Tribulation. The “great city” of Rome, the headquarters of this religious system, is also destroyed by the end of the second half of the Tribulation. This marked the end of the second half of the Great Tribulation. The end of the conflict of all times is near. The Dragon, the Antichrist and the False Prophet vehemently prepare for the final battle of the Armageddon. The Earth is filled with tears, lamentations, wailing and despair.

Guided by the King of kings and Lord of lords, Reverend Ortiz examines in his book the role of Christ in the execution of our redemption. Just like a light in the darkness, the Puerto Rican preacher states that the Savior works based on precise schedule, and that time, events and history are subject to His Word.

The first seven verses of chapter 20 of the book of Rev-

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LITERATURE

elation mentions “a thousand years” six times. God deals with us in terms of Dispensations or Ages. A Dispensation is a period of time during which God tests man based on the revelation received from Him and the responsibility entrusted by Him. Five Dispensations have already occurred: Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, and MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 28 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

Law. We are now near the culmination of the Dispensation of Grace (of the Gospel, the Church and the Holy Spirit), which will end with the Rapture of the Church.

MARVELOUS BOOK

In the beginning of his book, Pastor Ortiz warns that,

A Dispensation is a period of time during which God tests man based on the revelation received from Him and the responsibility entrusted by Him. Five Dispensations have already occurred: Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, and Law. We are now near the culmination of the Dispensation of Grace (of the Gospel, the Church and the Holy Spirit), which will end with the Rapture of the Church.

“Satan does not want us to study the book of Revelation. He has deceived many into thinking that it is a difficult book, that it is better left unread. Nevertheless, when we read Revelation with the enlightenment and anointment of the Holy Spirit book, the book does justice to its name. It becomes a clear Revelation, and

open book of the events that are to come.”

Throughout the Ages, the presence of sin has rendered ineffective all human efforts to build a better world.

Teachers, sociologists, philosophers, scientists, politicians, lawmakers, rulers and religious people have yearned and worked towards this goal, but all their endeavors have been in vain. When some progress is made in public health, a plague breaks out; when the economy is strengthened, a crisis strikes; when a country is rebuilt, a revolution emerges; when a peace treaty is signed, a war is declared; when public honesty is declared, corruption is revealed.

Luis M. Ortiz – born on September 26, 1918 and died on September 25, 1996 – presents in Revelation, an Open Book for Today the events that will occur during the end of times. He states that God allowed him to complete this work through much prayer and much hard work before his typewriter. It is while writing and worshiping Jesus-Christ that he experienced the power of the Lord.

After the defeat and failure of the First Adam, humankind became a fallen, sinful and corrupted race doomed to both physical and eternal death. However, thanks to the victory of the Second Adam, those who repent and believe in the Lord are raised, restored, forgiven, cleansed and transformed in new creatures that will be spared from eternal death. As Satan is “the god of this world” and this world “lies in wickedness,” there is a fight between the flesh and the spirit, between “the old man” and the “new man,” between worldliness and holiness. This is necessary for us to be victorious and to grow in the Lord. In the New Land (the Thousand-year Reign), Satan, his demons, sin and evil will not exist; it will be a New Land “wherein dwells righteousness.”

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HERO OF FAITH

THE TIRELESS PREACHER Emma Bevan

Guillaume Farel is a remarkable role model of active Christianity from the 16th century. As a powerful instrument of Christ, he worked nonstop for four decades in the valleys and mountains of Switzerland to spread God’s Word.

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At some point in his childhood, Guillaume decided to learn and study to gain enough knowledge to write books and preach the Word. In 1509, he persuaded his father to send him to study to the University of Paris and he also took private classes of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. This is how he met Jacques Lefèvre, theologian and humanist who despised the idolatry of the traditional church.

Guillaume Farel was born in 1489 into a Christian family in Gap, a commune in southeastern France.

He knew Jesus through his parents and proved to be eager to follow in the steps of the Lord since a very young age. He was a righteous man who sought no greater honor than to be a servant of the Lord and no greater joy than to lead others to worship Him. At some point in his childhood, Guillaume decided to learn and study to gain enough knowledge to write books and preach the Word. In 1509, he persuaded his father to send him to study to the University of Paris and he also took private classes of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. This is how he met Jacques Lefèvre, theologian and humanist who despised the idolatry of the traditional church.

Amazed by Lefèvre’s stance against sin, Guillaume listened to his conferences, attended his classes and became one of his closest disciples. In March 1517, Farel acquired the degree of Master of Arts. As Faber’s disciple, he witnessed how his master discovered the true doctrine of the Savior through faith and started to spread the Gospel.

The influence of Lefèvre’s worships and the study of the Bible brought the future reformer to believe in the true, unappealable foundations of Christianity. He read the history of the beginnings of Christianity and discovered the transforming power of Christ’s message. This led him to rebel against the Catholic Church, which encouraged paganism with invented traditions and rites and the worshipping of images, saints and virgins.

PROMOTER OF THE GOSPEL

Inspired by God to spread the truth, the French missionary started his evangelistic work in 1521, in Meaux. There he shared the bread of life on the streets and markets and announced with a thunderous voice

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HERO OF FAITH that humankind had to walk away from evil and follow Jesus-Christ. His preaching aroused the hatred of the ecclesiastical authorities and he was forbidden to preach in 1523.

After leaving Meaux, the preacher returned to Paris and openly denounced the deviations of the Catholic Church. He went to Gap and spread the Word in streets, fields, mills, farmyards, riverbanks and mountainsides. Wherever two or three could gather to listen to him, Guillaume would show up to speak about the King of kings.

As people found his doctrine very strange and he was declared heretic by local monks and priests, Guillaume left Gap. He was persecuted and travelled from one place to another, hiding in forests and mountains.

In December 1523, he arrived to Basel, Switzerland, and was received by theologian Johannes Hausschein.

During this period, he made a visit to Zurich and became acquainted with theologian Ulrich Zwingli, the most important Swiss reformer of the time, whom he held in high regard. He was also invited to preach the Gospel in the commune of Montbéliard, which belonged to the German Empire. Unfortunately, his active ministry against the worshipping of images attracted the attention of the authorities and prompted his exile.

REFORMER OF SWITZERLAND

His exile forced him to go to Strasbourg, an important center of communication that today belongs to France.

There he found his master, Lefèvre. Later on, in October 1526 Guillaume was again in Switzerland and settled there for a while, at the advice of Berthold Haller, an exegete friend of Zwingli who lived in Bern.

With the support of Haller, Farel moved to the town of Aigle, located south-east of the lake of Geneva, and became a school teacher. For four years, besides teaching how to read and write, he spoke to the poorest about the love and grace of Jesus and warmly introduced them to the Savior they had never met until then. The locals looked unto Christ during those days.

Convinced that the Almighty had sent him to Switzerland to attract more believers to His flock, Farel was blessed by God with a faithful preaching that helped him save many people. Souls thirsty for the Lord would come to him from different places across the country to feel the presence of the one and only Redeemer. Just like in the times of the Apostles, a number of people joined the Lord’s ranks and the Good News spread from town to town.

Guillaume, when not teaching, preaching or praying, would thoroughly study the Bible. In January 1528, he participated in a public disputation between MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 32 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

He was persecuted and travelled from one place to another, hiding in forests and mountains. In December 1523, he arrived to Basel, Switzerland, and was received by theologian Johannes Hausschein.

Catholics and Reformers in Bern. The disputation marked a milestone in the history of the Reformation in Helvetian territory. As the last speaker in the event, Guillaume contributed with his solid arguments for the abolition of mass.

GLORIOUS PREACHER

After leaving Aigle in 1530, the preacher continued doing his best to bring the Gospel to new places such as Orbe, Saint-Blaise and Grandson. Nevertheless, his efforts were not well received and his message provoked the wrath of monks, priests and bigoted women who refused the Sound Doctrine, and he was more than once threatened with death.

Despite the obstacles, Farel experienced the joy of witnessing the salvation of sinners in several Swiss cities and towns thanks to his preaching. A great number of men and women were thus protected from the clutches of evil and devoted themselves to the true God. Wearing the sword of the Holy Spirit and the helmet of salvation, Guillaume fought against the blasphemous and idolatrous ceremonies of the Roman cult.

In October 1532, the messenger of Jesus went for the first time to Geneva to spread the Scriptures. In that moment, Geneva was amidst a fight for its freedom. Although attacked as soon as he entered the city, he paved the way for the faith in the Gospel. Later on, Guillaume met French theologian John Calvin, whom he urged to become a renowned representative of the Reformation.

Guillaume worked nonstop for almost forty years in the mountains and valleys of Switzerland to spread God’s Word. He died on September 13, 1565 at the age of 76. Few men have done as much as this beloved servant of Jesus-Christ, who prevailed over hatred, disdain and repression to preach about eternal life and redemption.

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LIFE STORY

LOVE REKINDLED Away from home for twenty years, he found joy in fleeting romances at nightclubs and bars. One day, a disease made him go down on his knees and ask God to save him. He recovered not only his health but also his wife and children.

STEVEN LÓPEZ PHOTO: FAMILY FILES

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“You will be the mother of my children,” José Miguel told Ana Antonia. He made this vow of eternal love on their first date. They had met a couple of months before at the bakery where they both worked.

It could be said that it was love at first sight, because they felt instantly attracted to each other from the first moment. At the beginning, they were just friends, but one day they agreed to take a walk and talk after work.

That is when the young man told her about his feelings and she gladly accepted to be his girlfriend.

After three years of relationship, José and Ana became husband and wife. Although her family was not happy about it –they thought that she was not old enough to make such a decision– the young couple got married in a modest ceremony in which they vowed to love and be true to each other forever.

Soon after, they were invited by some neighbors to a Baptist church. There they put their lives at the service of God’s will. They were proving everyone that they were a good match, and the news of the arrival of their firstborn increased their happiness.

A few months later, the employment situation in the city underwent a crisis, and José decided to look for better job opportunities somewhere else. He moved to another city and left his family. That was the beginning of the end. His love for God and his wife grew colder and colder over time.

He turned to the pleasures of the world: drinking, bad friends, women. He did not keep the promises he made to Ana Antonia. Temptation was stronger than the love for his wife, and after four years of marriage, they decided to end the relationship.

José Miguel, who was born on January 28, 1970, in the province of Barahona, was following in the footsteps of Leo Cuevas, his father. The middle-ranking officer and Luisa Encarnación fell in love when she was only fifteen. However, he had a fling in each town he would visit during times of conflict in the Dominican Republic and abandoned his family when he was a child.

After the separation, the little boy went under the care of his loving maternal grandparents, who tried to raise him as a trustworthy man, but failed. At age 15, José Miguel was taken to his father’s home, in the city of Constanza, in search of a better future. He finished school, but did not pursue a career. He got a job as an assistant at a bakery and there he met Ana Antonia.

THE RUIN OF MARRIAGE

Four years and two children later, the marriage between José Miguel and Ana Antonia collapsed. He stopped loving the woman to whom he had promised eternal love. Nightlife was his entire life now. He would

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LIFE STORY

go to bars and nightclubs and meet women with whom he had affaires that lasted only a few days or just hours.

Thanks to his mother’s financial support, he traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to work and pay for the education of his children. Fortunately, he had not neglected them despite his busy licentious life. This new beginning made no improvement in him: parties and women were still part of his everyday life.

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find, and the little money he got he would spend at some bar in the Catalan city. He had been 16 years in Spain and had not achieved much; what is worse, his health was getting weaker by the day because of his lifestyle.

REMEMBER GOD

One day, JosĂŠ Miguel was taken to the ER. After several exams, doctors diagnosed him with aggressive cancer

in the tonsils and intestines. The news left him speechless. His life seemed to have a near end.

It was 2008, and his children still needed his help to pay for their studies. He called them to tell them about his disease. They could not do much, being so far away, and only told him to take care of himself. Ana Antonia and him were cold but polite to each other because of their two children. No reconciliation was in their plans.

Doctors recommended JosĂŠ Miguel to go through

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invasive treatments to prevent cancer cells from spreading to other organs. They were months of much pain and suffering that he had to endure in solitude.

Several months passed and he was well; the chemotherapies and radiotherapies had successfully worked.

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self again and went back to his old ways in search of pleasure. He had not learned the lesson.

A few months later, the disease was back. José was taken to the hospital. The doctors opted, this time, for a bone marrow transplant. The intervention had to be done as soon as possible, otherwise he would die.

LIFE STORY After praying, José Miguel felt the desire to apologize to his ex-wife; he even wanted to hear her voice.

He did not understand what was happening; more than once he had told her that he had no feelings for her and to rebuild her life, but now he wished to talk to her.

The surgery was a success and, a few months later, he was discharged. Grateful for the miracle and the opportunity, he began to attend the church of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Barcelona. He had asked God to lead him to a church of Sound Doctrine and love for souls.

LOVE REKINDLED

José Miguel went to church almost every day. The pastors’ preaching about marriage echoed in his heart. He wanted to go back to his wife, but twenty years had passed, and the love between them was now history.

Although contact with Ana Antonia was regular, they were just friendly. One day, however, he decided to tell her about the idea that had been in his mind: to get back together. Their conversations became more constant and romantic.

Not many months passed before God fulfilled his perfect will; the prayers of José and the brothers in Barcelona were answered: they both fell back in love. The fear of infidelity was in the past.

Lying on the hospital bed, he looked up at the sky and asked God for help. His life was in danger and only the Lord could help find a way out. He prayed fervently and peace flooded his heart. It was his last chance to repent and return to the path of faith that he had left so many years before.

After two years of incessant prayer, José traveled to Santo Domingo to tell her face to face that God had made him love her again and that he wanted to share his life with her forever and thus fulfill the promise he had made 20 years before. “Pray. If this is God’s thing, my love will also grow back,” Ana Antonia told José Miguel.

Not many months passed before God fulfilled his perfect will; the prayers of José and the brothers in Barcelona were answered: they both fell back in love. The fear of infidelity was in the past.

José and Ana renewed their wedding vows and decided to move together to Barcelona along with their children and their brothers in the faith. It has been 10 years since he reconciled with Christ and his wife and he feels that he falls more love with his wife every day.

What was impossible to man was possible to God. Currently, the couple and their two children serve in the church of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Barcelona. Brother José Miguel supports the Work as head of deacons.

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PREDESTINATION (III)

Rev. Luis M. Ortiz

The Holy Scriptures do not state that God predestines some for salvation and others for damnation. We all make our own decisions, and we reap the fruits of our choices.

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APOLOGETICS Not one man in the Bible – neither Job nor David, nor Isaiah, nor Jeremiah, nor John the Baptist, nor Paul – was predestined by God to be saved or to be condemned. Still, God knows in advance, ever since conception, which of us will fulfill His eternal purpose of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ.

God’s prior knowledge is called in the Bible “the foreknowledge of God.” The apostle Peter writes: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…” (1 Peter 1:2). That is, God chooses to call those who, to His foreknowledge, will answer positively to such call.

Peter himself, on the day of Pentecost, points out to the Jews that God knew in advance what their actions would be: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God…, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified” (Acts 2:22-23).

Let us go back to Romans 8:29 to see the divine sequence in this matter: “For whom he did foreknow…”

There is His prescience, His foreknowledge. It is by this anticipated knowledge that He knows who will respond positively to His call, and who will reject it. God does not choose anyone for salvation or damnation; the decision is made by the individual himself.

1 Timothy 2: 4 clearly says that God wants to save all men, but not all men want to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 states that “the Lord ... is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” but not everyone wants to repent.

In many alike verses of the Old Testament, God invites everyone to salvation; e.g. “Look unto me, and ye be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22); “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

And in the four Gospels of the New Testament, the Lord continues to hand out invitations to everyone in general. The first is in Matthew 11:28, in which He says with much love: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” And the Lord’s last invitation is found in the last book of the New Testament: “And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

But, as we have already observed, to those who reject His love, the Lord, in great firmness and justice, says: “But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword… the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and

God knows in advance, ever since conception, which of us will fulfill His eternal purpose of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. God’s prior knowledge is called in the Bible “the foreknowledge of God.”

sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Isaiah 1:20; Revelation 21:8).

So, it is very clear in the Holy Scriptures that God does not predestine some for salvation and others for damnation. We all make our own decisions, and we reap the fruits of our choices: those who believe and accept Jesus Christ are saved; those who do not believe and reject Jesus Christ are condemned. In both cases, forever.

The verses in chapter 8 of the epistle of the apostle Paul to the Romans were used by St. Augustine, Calvin, and others used to support the theory of predestination. “For whom he did foreknow” (v. 29). To know means to be aware of something, someone o some event through observation, inquiry or information.

God the Creator perfectly knows everything and everyone; nothing is hidden from God and nothing escaped His notice. For this reason, the Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to write: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11: 33-36).

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INTERVIEW

“LET’S PRESERVE THE DOCTRINE”

Eliseo Aquino

The purposes revealed by God to our ministry are based on two pillars: the Work and the doctrine. After 56 years, the Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM) reaffirms its commitment to preserving its doctrinal essence in all its churches around the world.

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Reverend Alberto Ortega has been serving Christianity for 45 years. Ever since he left his homeland, Spain, he has devoted his life to missionary work in different countries. Now he takes on a new responsibility as National Supervisor of the WMM in the USA. In an exclusive interview with Impacto Evangelistic, he analyzes the current situation of the Movement in North America.

Could you tell us more about yourself and your career before your appointment as National Supervisor of the WMM in the USA? I come from Spain. The Lord saved me and my beloved wife in 1974, when I started to serve the Lord. In 1983, I went with Pastor Luis M. Ortiz to France as his interpreter and it was there that he told me: “I believe the Lord wants you to stay here.” I accepted. In 1995, I was promoted to Supervisor of Europe, Africa and the Indian Ocean Region.

I was called to Puerto Rico in 1999 by request of the International President, Reverend Rubén Rosas. From 2001 to 2007, I was National Supervisor of the US. In 2014, I was appointed Missionary Supervisor of Haiti.

What challenges will you face as National Supervisor of the US? This is a very important question. Some things have evolved. I remember that back in 2001 our conventions were held in hotel conference rooms; now it is a totally different story. But other things are not as well. I am assuming this position amid an unfortunate conflict. I think that over these last three years the Work here has been walking in the wrong direction; it is like there has been a movement within the Movement.

In order to right the wrongs, first we need to make ourselves clear about the vision that the WMM had had since its foundation, as said by Pastor José Arturo Soto. To show the true values of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, we have to understand the concept of Work and doctrine.

People are mixing things up. Some say that they support the doctrine but not the Work; others say that they support the Work but not the doctrine. But the truth is that both are important pillars that must be protected.

If we lack proper foundations, our growth will be weak.

In order to prevent this, we will train presbyters so that they are committed to both the Work and the doctrine, and then we will do the same thing with all the brethren. A healthy leadership means a healthy church. In addition, the National Board will participate from now on in the decisions of the WMM in the USA. What is your opinion about the detractors of the Work who state that the doctrine has changed?

Saying that we do not preserve the doctrine is an evil lie. We teach the same biblical instructions for the newly converted that I was taught 45 years ago.

I have been developing a study on the Work and the

doctrine. The parable of the mustard seed came to my mind. It is the smallest grain, but then becomes a large tree where birds make their nests. My take on the situation is that the Movement was as small as the mustard seed in the beginning, but now it has become an impressive tree. The birds, which are not part of the tree as the roots, the trunk, the branches and the fruits, just pass by, they use the tree and fly away when it is shaken.

The Work attracts birds of passage as well, people who come to nest in its thick foliage. However, as they do not feel part of us, they fly away when problems arise. That is why we have to teach the new workers to love God’s Work and make them understand that they are part of it.

You met pastor Luis M. Ortiz, founder of the WMM. What do you think his position about this situation would be?

Impacto Evangelistic recently published a message that he wrote back in 1985. He was very clear about people who divide. I was in France when he made that article and I witnessed the situation. Pastor Ortiz was calm but firm and categorical when dealing with divisiveness. I am surprised to see that the ones who are trying to divide the Work today are old members who approved and signed Pastor Ortiz’ letter 34 years ago.

What new changes will come for the WMM in the USA? Despite the difficult times, there is now a harmonious, encouraging and united atmosphere. We have turned the page and we are focused on the upcoming activities, such as the ladies and youth fellowships. The Work in the USA is doing great and we will see huge progress by the end of the year. Growth comes after pruning.

You have spoken about the importance of unity in the US National Convention. What can you tell us about it?

Unity requires selflessness to achieve harmony and collective contribution. Unity demands sacrifice. We read in Ecclesiastes 4:12: “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

As Supervisor of the WMM in the USA I have met immigrants from different countries and cultures. We need pastors who know how to deal with diversity, united in one purpose to make one Work.

What are your final words for the readers of Impacto Evangelistic around the world.

It is important to grow not only in numbers but also in roots as well. This is the time of centennials and millennials, but no one can change the foundations of God’s Work.

We have tons of information on the Internet, so we have to teach this generation to tell what should be taken from what should be rejected. Doing this can be difficult if we lack a critical spirit and biblical knowledge. We must also teach future generations that no one is greater than God’s Work.

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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.

PHYSICIANS diagnose and treat physical diseases, but men of God treat spiritual illnesses.

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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, 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.

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living away from God, and yet no scientist takes time to 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?”

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

Rev. Clemente Vergara

IT WAS WITHERED BUT IT BUDDED! The people of Israel left the captivity in Egypt and embarked on a journey through the desert with no water, no vegetation, no shadows. These conditions led the people to rebel more than once against Moses, who was their spiritual and legal authority. However, God allowed rebellion to show that He supported His servant.

BUDS AS PROOF OF HIS AUTHORITY

The Scriptures tell about the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, Abiram and other 250 Israelites against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:1-3). Facing their accusations and behavior, Moses warned them that they were not speaking ill of Aaron, but also of God (Numbers 16:11).

The Lord intervened and opened the earth and the earth swallowed Korah, Dathan and Abiram along with their families (Numbers 16:28-33). As regards the 250 rebels who dared to offer incense before the Lord – a task exclusive to the priests of Aaron’s descent – they died consumed by fire (Numbers 16:35).

But the people kept complaining and speaking ill of Moses and Aaron. In order to stop the muttering, God asked each prince of Israel to give Moses a rod with their name on it – the rod belonging to Levi’s tribe would carry the name of Aaron. God said that the rod of the man that He had chosen would sprout again. The following day, “the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds” (Numbers 17:8).

Rods were made of withered wood and were used as support to walk long distances or to defend the sheep against wild animals. Human logic and nature laws establish that it is impossible for a withered rod to ever sprout again or to regrow a living bark or fibers. Nevertheless, that night, sap flowed again through the withered rod and not only did it bud, but it also went through the three stages of growth: budding, flowering MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 48 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

and fruition. The rod was dead, but it came to life.

This was the undeniable proof that God’s authority was with Aaron.

SACRIFICES AND DANGERS OF BUDDING

The name “Jabez” means “he who causes pain” or “he who grieves.” In the Bible, this man was born in very painful circumstances for the mother, and by choosing his name, she “passed on” her pain to him.

Jabez was a man of prayer. The Holy Scriptures contain a powerful prayer directed to God in 1 Chronicles 4:10: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

Jabez became “more honourable than his brethren” (1 Chronicles 4:9). An honorable person stands out for their virtues and deeds, and this man was wise. He asked God to enlarge his land, but he also asked for greater humbleness to prevent pride from taking over his heart. The success that comes from budding can never be an excuse for self-sufficiency and arrogance.

NEW BUDDING IN THE MINISTRY

Timothy was a devout preacher who traveled with Paul during his ministry. The church informed Paul that Timothy was too young to be a pastor and that he seemed to be listless and apathetic. The Apostle wrote a letter to Timothy stating that the problem was not his youth (1 Timothy 4:12-13), but his negligence towards his gift

granted by God (1 Timothy 4:14-16).

Paul encouraged Timothy to become an example of the people in many aspects: the Word (not only concerning the teachings and preachings, but also his behavior in and out of the pulpit), in conversation with believers and non-converted (attitudes, expressions, looks, etc.), in charity (with a sensible heart passionate for lost souls), in spirit and faith (Timothy was no longer up to his own principles as both his faith and spirit were weakened; he was frightened), and in purity (his

holiness was diminished and that affected his ministry).

Every ministry needs to go through a new budding, else it will fall into routine and come to a standstill. A stagnated ministry knows no renovation and exalts itself in past glories; it has no love for lost souls and evangelization; it is no longer a model of behavior, spirit, faith and purity; it changes its message to fit modern times; it hesitates to tell the truth to the people for fear of ending up with empty pews.

Beloved readers, if we are withered‌ let’s bud again!

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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 GREAT COMMANDMENT Event: Baptism ceremonies Date: July 20 - July 27 Place: Segovia, Castellón, Morón de la Frontera, Oviedo, Soria and Ponts, Spain

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EVENTS

Faithful to the commandment of Jesus Christ,

the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Spain held, amid great expectation, six water baptism ceremonies all over the country.

On July 27, Zone 1 held a ceremony in the town of Ponts, located in the province of Lleida. Twenty-three faithful descended into the baptismal waters and received the sacrament as established by God. Reverend Carlos Medina, national supervisor of the WMM in Spain, shared the message of the Lord. In his preaching, he stressed that Christians have to set a good example of their new life in Christ.

On the same day, Zone 4 held a special baptism

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EVENTS

worship on Gamella beach, located in the city of Soria.

After having received the Sound Doctrine, ten believers were baptized in water, thus giving public testimony that they have accepted Christ as their Savior. Reverend Fisher Torrejón, presbyter of Zone 4, preached the Gospel through the message “The Great Commandment,” based on Matthew 22:34-38.

I LIVE FOR CHRIST

On July 20, Zone 5 brought together the faithful in Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias, to celebrate the sacrament of water baptism.

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ing their lives to the service of the Lord. Reverend Oswaldo Romero, presbyter of Zone 5, was chosen to preach the Word.

On the same day, Zone 6 held a baptism service in the town of Morón de la Frontera, located in the province of Seville. Four believers descended into the baptismal waters.

With the support of brothers from the churches of Martos and Seville, the meeting of faith was led by Reverend Salomón Rodríguez, presbyter of Zone 6, who shared a teaching based on Matthew 28:19.

Also, on July 20, Zone 7 held an emotional baptism ceremony in the province of Castellón. Five sisters and two brothers received water baptism as stated by the

Messiah in his Word.

Reverend Alexander Montes, presbyter of Zone 7, announced the Good News with the message “Run Away” and said that the faithful must seek the grace of Jesus.

On the same day, Zone 8 gathered its members in the city of Segovia, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León. Four brothers and four sisters were baptized and thus joined the ranks of Christianity.

Reverend Edison Galvis, presbyter of Zone 8, preached the Word of God with a message based on 1 John 3:1-10. Likewise, the newly baptized cried out with faith and conviction: “I Die for the world and I live for Christ.”

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EVENTS

GO, SET A WATCHMAN, LET HIM DECLARE WHAT HE SEES Event: 6th anniversary of the Church of Lissone Date: June 27 - June 29 Place: Lissone, Italy

The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Italy

celebrated the 6th anniversary of the church of Lissone with the theme “Go, Set a Watchman, Let Him Declare What He Sees.” The three-day event was attended by Reverend Hugo Lope, national officer of Italy, and a large group of faithful.

At the opening service, Pastor Edison Borbor, head of the church of Novi Ligure, preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Based on Psalm 32:1-2, the missionary shared a message about the joy in the forgiveness offered by the Lord.

Sister Mileidy Espinoza, from the church of Monza, announced the Word of God at the second worship with the message “Called to Be Watchmen,” based on Nehemiah 4:1 and 9. He pointed out that the people of Christ must always be united in fasting and prayer.

WATCHMEN TODAY

In the third service, Pastor Jorge Solano, head of the church of Novara, shared the Good News. Based on Nehemiah 4:8,9 and 22, he spoke about the “Watchmen of the Lord,” and urged believers to share the message of salvation with every creature.

Minister Lope, presbyter of Zone 1, taught the Sound Doctrine during the last service. Based on Isaiah 21:6, the missionary presented the speech “Watchmen Today.”

Under the Lord’s guidance, Pastor Julio Pereira is in charge of the church of Lissone. Along with his wife, he spreads the Gospel in the province of Monza and Brianza where the WMM is gaining ground thanks to its evangelistic work. He states that the doctrine of Christ has touched the hearts of many in the province of Monza and Brianza.

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EVENTS

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD Event: 1st National Convention Date: July 12 - July 14 Place: Porirua, New Zealand

The Worldwide Missionary Movement in New Zealand held its 1st National Convention in the city of

Porirua, under the theme “Nothing Is Impossible with God.” The event was attended by Reverend Daniel Cuéllar, national supervisor of the WMM in Australia, and Pastor Fredy Sánchez, head of the church of Canberra.

In the opening service, Pastor Cuéllar preached the Word of God through the message “If You Want,” based on Matthew 8:1-2. In his preaching, the missionary stated that the Lord is always attentive to the needs of men, and He has mercy upon those who repent.

In the second service, Reverend Cuéllar announced the Good News with the sermon “Water Baptism,” based on Matthew 28:19-20. A special baptism ceremony was also held, and Sister Ana Lucía Cruz descended into the baptismal waters to publicly accept God as her Savior.

In the third service, Minister Fredy Sánchez preached the Gospel through the message “Touching Your Miracle,” based on Mark 5:30. The servant of God said that faith is essential to see the glory of God, and that without faith it is impossible to please the Lord.

In the last service, Reverend Cuéllar shared the Sound Doctrine with the message “Righteousness Amid Corruption,” based on Genesis 6:9-22. The preacher said that people in Noah’s time were corrupted, but there was one man that pleased God. At the end of the 1st National Convention of the WMM in New Zealand, Reverend William García, missionary of the Work of God in this country, said that the local church got ready for this event from the beginning of the year. He also stated that the presence of the WMM in Oceania is becoming increasingly strong.

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EVENTS

WORKERS OF THE ALTAR Event: 52nd National Convention Date: July 17 - July 20 Place: San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Puerto Rico held its 52nd National Convention in

the church of Río Piedras, located in the municipality of San Juan. The event was attended by the main world leaders of the WMM. Reverend Humberto Henao, international vice president of the Work of God, preached the Gospel in MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 58 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

the first service of the event. Based on Job 31:1-2, the Lord’s servant shared the message “Making a Pact with Ourselves.”

In the second service, Reverend Mario Lima, national supervisor of the WMM in Bolivia, announced the Good News. Based on 3 John 1-12, the minister of the Lord presented the preaching “The Power of Example.”

Based on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Reverend Rómulo Vergara, international director of the WMM, shared the Sound Doctrine in the third service of the event.

The missionary offered the message “Preaching with the Power of the Holy Spirit.”

PRAISE AND WORSHIP

In the fourth service, Reverend Enrique Valenzuela, national vice president of the WMM in Bolivia, shared God’s message “They Call Me Joy,” based on Ruth 1:19-21.

Reverend Rubén Concepción, international secretary of the Work of the Lord, preached the Word of God in the fifth service. Based on John 4:24, he shared the message “Victory Through Praise and Worship.”

In the sixth worship, Reverend Jorge Álvarez, former member of the International Board of the WMM, was chosen to preach God’s Word through the speech “Workers of the Altar,” based on 2 Chronicles 7:1-3.

Reverend José Arturo Soto, international president of the Work of God, delivered the last sermon of the meeting, “The Importance of Keeping the Vital Principle of the Work,” based on 1 Samuel 4:19.

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EVENTS

PRESERVING THE ACQUIRED POSSESSION Event: Pastors Retreat Date: July 12 - July 14 Place: El Progreso, Honduras

The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Honduras held its annual Pastors Retreat in the church

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international secretary of the Work of God, as well as around one hundred and eighty ministers of the Lord.

Pastor Rubén Concepción preached the Word of God at the opening ceremony with the message “Shunem,” based on 2 Kings 4:8-10. In his preaching, he said that serving the Lord is no easy task but He takes care of His servants.

In the second service, Reverend Concepción preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ through a biblical teaching aimed to offer advice and guidance to the pastors. He also took the opportunity to talk about the progress of the WMM around the world.

THE LIFE OF A LEADER

Minister Rubén Concepción announced the Good News of God at the third service of the Pastors Retreat.

Based on Joshua 23:1-5, he shared the message “Preserving the Acquired Possession,” and he stated that Christ is the one who has control of all things.

In the last service, Reverend Marcelino Duarte, national secretary of the WMMM in Honduras, delivered the sermon “The Life of a Leader,” based on Exodus 18:13-21. He said that there is much apostasy nowadays.

In the closing event, Reverend Heriberto Chacón, national supervisor of the Work in Honduras, announced that the National Convention this year will be held from October 17 to October 20 in the city of Comayagua. He also expressed his support to Reverend José Arturo Soto, international president of the Work of God, and prayed for the strength and unity of the Work of God.

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JESUS LOVES YOU Event: Evangelistic Campaign Date: July 20 Place: Perth, Australia

Under the guidance of the Lord, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Australia held an evangelistic campaign on Murray Street, one of the main arteries right in the financial heart of the city of Perth.

The event, whose theme was “Jesus Loves You,” was attended by a group of brothers led by Pastor Luis Yucra. The members of the Work of the Lord shared the

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message of Christ for humanity with pedestrians, who stopped to listen to the Word of God. Placed at the entrance of a mall, the faithful of God saw with their own eyes that there is a huge need of the Gospel among Australians. They distributed more than half a thousand leaflets with information about the Sound Doctrine.

An important group of people became aware of the importance of Christianity and received the leaflets with joy and hope. God allowed the evangelistic campaign to have the authorization of the Perth authorities. GOD DID IT.

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

ZONE 2

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

September 2019 / Impacto evangelistic

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OUR CHURCHES IN ITALY FLORENCE (Church)

GENOA

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NAPLES Address: MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 64 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

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VISIT OUR CHURCHES IN ITALY!

September 2019 / Impacto evangelistic

65

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS CARTAS@IMPACTOEVANGELISTICO.NET ANA RUIZ Dear brothers, I thank God for the holy men who work in this beautiful, unique magazine.

Let’s pray for the team and this Work, let’s do our bit! Reverend Luis M. Ortiz and his vision are always on my mind. God bless you. From New York, USA.

ALVARO DE SERAS God bless you, dear brothers in Christ. I’d like to receive the Impacto Evangelistic magazine. I really love its content and articles. From Seville, Spain.

IGNACIO JESÚS BENITEZ CRUZ Thank you, brothers. I’m receiving the wonderful Impacto Evangelistic magazine again.

God bless you greatly. From Havana, Cuba.

ERMILIANO PIMENTEL SANCHEZ Thanks God for this magazine, it’s such a blessing. Keep up the good work until the second coming of Christ. God bless you. From San Martín, Peru.

Christ offers through the magazine. Impacto Evangelistic is such a great magazine and blessing, it gives us strength through its articles.

From Meta, Colombia.

JANUARY 3-10 CONVENTION COLOMBIA, Medellín 21-24 CONVENTION NICARAGUA 25-27 CONVENTION PARAGUAY, Montevideo 31-3 (Feb.) CONVENTION BOLIVIA, Tarija

ODALIS GUZMAN

FEBRUARY 7-10 CONVENTION BELIZE (ORANGE WALK).

21-24 CONVENTION ARGENTINA (BUENOS AIRES).

God bless you, brothers. I’ve read one of your magazines and I’ve learned more about the Work of the Lord in other parts of the world. The articles and the testimonies of people used by God are amazing. I’d like to receive the magazine.

With love. From Holguín, Cuba.

ELENA MOLINA God bless you, brothers and sisters of Impacto Evangelistic. I thank God for letting us see what He is doing in other nations and continents. I feel blessed for being part the Church of the WMM. May God bless this edifying website designed for God's people and the entire world.

From Colombia

God bless you for this beautiful work. I thank God for this edifying magazine, it’s such a spiritual blessing. Every month I look forward to reading the magazine, and it’s not only me but also my brothers from church, who borrow it to receive the blessings that God sends to our lives through it. We pray for the Worldwide Missionary Movement. From Holguín, Cuba.

APRIL 11-13 17-21 18-20 25-27 25-28

CONVENTION NEPAL. CONVENTION GUATEMALA (GUATEMALA CITY).

CONVENTION SRI LANKA. CONVENTION DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. CONVENTION GUYANA, SURINAME AND MARTINIQUE, (SURINAME).

26-28 FELLOWSHIP EAST AFRICA PRESBYTERY, CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE).

MAY 3-5 CONVENTION JAPAN (TOKYO NARITA).

16-19 CONVENTION SWITZERLAND (GENEVA).

16-19 CONVENTION GERMANY AND BLOCK C (HAMBURG).

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.

CLARISBEL JORGE BATISTA God bless you. I’ve been receiving the magazine for two years now. With it I feel as if I have traveled the world as a servant of the Lord. I’m a presbyterial chaplain and I converted to the Lord 30 years ago. Greetings to the entire team of the magazine. Impacto Evangelistic has truly made such a great impact. I wish I could see my name on the “Letters” section one day. I pray for you.

From Holguín, Cuba.

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

DAVID ROSILLO URBINA

JORGE ELIECER GAITAN ROJAS

MARCH 2-5 CONVENTION PANAMA 14-17 CONVENTION HONDURAS (SAN PEDRO SULA).

14-17 CONVENTION AUSTRALIA (MELBOURNE).

JULY 2-6 4-7 9-12 12-14 17-20 25-28

YAMIRA TAMAYO JIMÉNEZ

I thank the Lord because He edifies me every month through this magazine and its articles.

God bless this media and keep using His servants to continue doing this precious work until Christ comes again. From Tumbes, Peru.

GLOBAL AGENDA 2019

IVÁN HUAYANA God bless all the Officers of the WMM. Impacto Evangelistic is a great edifying magazine. The Gospel is reaching the whole world. From Moquegua, Peru.

Thank you for the great opportunity that Jesus

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OCTOBER 4-6 FELLOWSHIP CANADA. 18-20 FELLOWSHIP MADAGASCAR. 25-27 CONVENTION MAURITIUS. 31-3 (NOV.) CONVENTION CHILE (SANTIAGO).

NOVEMBER 14-17 CONVENTION EL SALVADOR. 21-24 CONVENTION URUGUAY (MONTEVIDEO) 26-29 CONVENTION MYANMAR.

n Past events n Future events MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 66 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia

September 2019 / Impacto evangelistic

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MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 68 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceania • Africa • Asia