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THE MAGAZINE THATS EDIFIES YOUR LIFE
April 2015 / Edition 735
evangelistic
TESTIMONY
The Victory of Isabel over Temptation LITERATURE
Against the Tide: The story of Watchman Nee DEVOTIONAL
Christ will always triumph
The web OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT
Causes and consequences
CATASTROPHIC
WARS
April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 2 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
EDITORIAL
THE GREAT RECONCILIATION Rev. Gustavo Martínez International President of the WMM
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” 2 Corinthians 5:20.
W
hen talking about reconciliation, we also think of enmi-
ty. Men sometimes become enemies and then become reconciled. However, the reconciliation between man and God is so sublime that it should be called the Great Reconciliation. Few words are as meaningful as the word ‘reconciliation.’ It talks about the friendship that begins on firm foundations of good will and marks new pathways to the future. This world really needs reconciled men who start a new workday and make progress in the benevolent shade of the same white flag. Reconciliation is source of friendship, happiness and peace. Reconciliation brings us closer, unites us, inspires us, paves roads, makes borders disappear, banishes selfishness, forgets insults, forgives and redeems. Reconciliation is imperative today, as it is no secret that these are difficult times, perhaps the most critical and decisive times in history. Times of tension, national and international conflicts, wars, rivalries, racial or political hatred. Today, reconciliation is urgent because only by reconciliation with the Creator, the creature may reconcile with others. It was in the Garden of Eden where the relationship between God and man was broken, and the latter became a sin-
ner and an enemy of his Creator. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). The result of all enmity is the world that we know, where only chaos reigns and life becomes increasingly difficult and worthless. In Romans 3: 10-18, the Bible presents the man’s rebellion against God. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Dear friend, remember you are a spiritually eternal being and one day you will be in the presence of God, being held accountable for what you did in this world. Christ loves you and does not want you to lose your life, but to be with Him. Open your heart’s door to God and accept him as your only Savior and He will blot out all your sins. Amen l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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evangelistic Founder Director: Rev. Luis M. Ortiz April 2015 / Edition N° 735 (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
INTERNATIONAL BOARD MEMBERS OF WMM INC. Rev. Gustavo Martínez President Rev. José Soto Vice President Rev. Rubén Concepción Secretary Rev. Rodolfo González Treasurer Rev. Álvaro Garavito Director Rev. Margaro Figueroa Director Rev. Rómulo Vergara Director Rev. Humberto Henao Director Rev. Luis Meza Director CHURCHES ESTABLISHED IN: Germany Argentina Aruba Australia Austria Belgium Belize Bolivia Bonaire Brasil Cameroon Canadá Chile Colombia Congo Ivory Coast Costa Rica Curacao Dinamarca Ecuador El Salvador Spain United States The Philippines Finland
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
Legal deposit made on the National Library of Peru Nº 2011-02530 Christian Pentecostal Church-Worldwide Missionary Movement: Av. 28 de Julio 1781 - Lima 13 - Peru Printout: Quad/Graphics Perú S.A. Av. Los Frutales 344 - Lima 03 - Peru MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 4 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
The 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
• The inspiration of the Holy Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21. • The Adorable Godhead in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Matthew 3:16-17, 17: 1-5; 28:19, John 17: 5, 24, 26, 16:32, 14:16, 23, 18:5, 6, 2 Peter 1:17,18; Revelation 5. • Salvation by Faith in Christ: Luke 24:47, John 3:16, Romans 10:13, Titus 2:11, 3:5-7. • The New Birth: John 3:3, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 3:9. • Justification by Faith: Romans 5:1, Titus 3:7. • Water Baptism by Inmersion, as commanded by Christ: Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39. • The Baptism in the Holy Spirit subsequent to salvation, speaking in tongues according to: Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, 8, 2:4. • Divine Healing: Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:16, 17, Mark 16:18, James 5:14, 15. • The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. • The Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22-26. • Sanctification: 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15, 16, 1 John 2:6. • Ministry and Evangelization: Mark 16:15-20, Romans 10:15. • Tithing and Maintenance of the Work: Genesis 14:20, 28:22, Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21-26, Malachi 3:7-10, Matthew 10:10; 23:23. • The Rapture of the Church: Romans 8:23, 1 Corinthians 15:5152, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. • The Second Coming of Christ: Zechariah 14:1-9, Matthew 24:30, 31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Titus 2:13, Jude 14, 15. • The Millennial Kingdom: Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:5-10, Zechariah 9:10, Revelation 19:20, 20:3-10. • New Heavens and New Earth: Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1.
SUMMARY 6. Cover. Why do wars exist? 14. Infography. Deathly. 16. Health. The threat of obesity. 18. Current events. The Bible Always Ahead of Science. 20. International. Alarming jihadist violence. 22. Current events. Great March for Life in Peru.
Search us in:
24. Literature. Against the Tide: The Story of Watchman Nee. 28. Music. I Found the Eternal Source. 30. Hero of the faith. The Second Great Awakening.
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48. Event. PERU. Trust in God. 52. Event. INDIA. Special meetings in Chennai. 54. Event. GREECE. “The New Birth”.
34. Life Stories. The Victory of Isabel over Temptation.
56. Event. URUGUAY. “Youth Called to be Strong”.
40. Devotional. Christ will always triumph.
57. Event. SPAIN. Women Retreat in Terrassa.
42. Devotional. Give an account of your stewardship.
58. Event. ITALY. “The Walls Will Fall Down”.
44. Devotional. Authority as a Fruit of Character.
59. Event. BRASIL. Fellowship in Amazonas.
46. Interview. “The Gospel is spreading across Islamic countries”.
60. Event. DOMINICAN REPULIC. First Fellowship in the Dominican Republic. 61. Event. PARAGUAY. Paraguay in Fellowship. 62. Event. VENEZUELA. “Receiving New Forces”. 63. Event. PUERTO RICO. First Fellowship in Puerto Rico.
April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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COVER
WHY DO WARS
EXIST?
Wars are closely related to the history of mankind and to disasters, catastrophes and emergencies. It is the continuation of politics; however, it is not simply a political act, but it goes beyond: it is a wide range of different types of aggression that affects every aspect of our lives as a group, ethnic group, community, social class, town, nation or country.
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It is very complex to define the causes of war. It has been a subject of much debate since antiquity. For some people, man is aggressive by nature; for others, war is something inherent and consubstantial to mankind. What is true is that armed conflicts have happened in all societies and cultures, and nothing seems to indicate that it will stop in the future. There is not only one cause to explain war, but there are always many interrelated causes. Causes may be immediate or longterm and the nature of these causes may be divided as well into different types. Immediate causes are the ultimate reasons that trigger a fight. It usually is the most superficial and evident cause, but not
at all the most important. If we compare the causes of war with an iceberg, immediate causes are only the visible part of the ice block. Long-term causes, also known as remote causes, are those going far back in time and explaining the deepest roots of the conflict. It is not surprising that these motivations complement or clarify many of the short-term causes. For instance, the remote causes of World Word I date back to 1871, when Bismarck, German chancellor, defeated the French during the Franco-Prussian war. Ever since then, Germany made alliances with all the most important countries, determined to isolate and prevent France Continue reading––
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Continue reading––
There is not only one cause to explain war, but there are always many interrelated causes. Causes may be immediate or long-term and the nature of these causes may be divided as well into different types.
Economic causes are the most ancient of all. From ancient times, wars have taken place to conquer territories, goods or people from foreign countries, and pillaging is the oldest form of confrontation.
MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 8 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
from seeking vengeance. To accomplish his objective, Bismarck did not hesitate to remark the evident, but false, risk of a European war, which on the other hand resulted in a frantic arms race. Bismarck managed to fulfill his purpose with three consecutive systems of alliances. But when he left the German chancellery in 1890, his successors could not, or did not want to, manage the military alliances in the same way. As a result, France broke its isolation and got close first to Russia and then to Great Britain, which generated a military alliance that was able to confront the Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. Almost all the European countries ended up siding with one of the two blocks and any friction could have triggered the conflict, which finally broke out due to the murder of Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo.
THE NATURE OF CAUSES Wars have their origin in many different causes, which are most of the time interrelated, such as poverty and underdevelopment, absence of democratic systems, control of geostrategic resources (such as oil, water or minerals), political, ideological, territorial, ethnic or religious issues, and economic interests (such as arms commerce). Economic causes are the most ancient of all. From ancient times, wars have taken place to conquer territories, goods or people from foreign countries, and pillaging is the oldest form of confrontation. Economic causes are always involved in every conflict, either because they are the trigger or because going to war also means doing to the math to see if it is worth it or not. Calculations before a conflict are usually wrong since it is hard to know in advance how long the war will last and how much it will cost. Ideological causes are also essential to explain some conflicts, as they concern the theoretical development of a way of thinking. This ideology may or may not question the preexisting reality or propose a new vision of reality, thus defying precedent ideologies. Religious causes have always been his-
torically relevant and explained important movements and wars: the Reconquista of medieval Spain, the crusades, the religious wars in Europe in the 12th and 16th centuries. During the 20th century wars, the importance of religion has diminished considerably and religious factors have simply become part of the ideology or identity of a nationalist movement.
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THE DEFEATED They say in war there are no actual winners, but only losers, because its consequences are always devastating. Only when the ceasefire arrives, the true cruelty of war is visible: missing people, mutilated by antipersonnel mines, raped women, destroyed buildings, hundreds of displaced and refugees. Part of the sad reality of conflicts is also the named “child soldiers”, minors who are
recruited by force to become members of the regular army or rebel groups. These children are kidnapped from their families and their community, and are sometimes forced to be cannon fodder or to perform dangerous works, such as demining or sending messages. In addition, girls are used as sexual slaves by soldiers and members of armed groups. It is a terrible violation of children’s rights.
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So, do we have the right to expect peaceful times from God only to get further from Him and live in sin, insulting His holy name? Wars may make us think and conclude that the Lord is our number one priority in life.
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DOES GOD ALLOW WARS? During the last World Wars and others in the bloody 20th century, many people wondered how they could reconcile their faith in goodness, justice and the omnipotence of God with the fact that He allowed those cruel actions. Since they did not get any answer as they ignored the Scriptures, many of them lost their poor faith, some suffered spiritual crisis and others abandoned the Church. Nonetheless, the Bible does not lie and is very realistic when dealing with the subject of war. First of all, it is important to say that God never promises in his Word that there will be no wars. Jesus himself foretold that we would hear of wars and rumors of wars and that nation would go to war against nation. Likewise, the Apostle Paul foretold in some of his epistles that the worldwide system would increasingly worsen.
The social idea of building a world of peace and free of wars in the long-term through human intelligence, culture, education and moral effort is a chimera. Sometimes, even Christians make the same mistake, as it happened in the past when some theology schools taught that the world could become progressively better through the preaching of the Gospel and according to the plan of God. While it is true that the Gospel may alleviate the evil, it will be completely removed only when the Lord creates new heavens and a new earth. It is essential to discover what God has promised and what He has not in this world, so that we do not have false expectations that may otherwise lead to disappointment, sadness and faith crisis. We must consider the words of Jesus and do not get surprised if war gets to us. He told us “not to fear” if that happened. Then, instead of asking ourselves why God allows war, we should ask: Has Continue reading––
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The Bible does not isolate war as a particular fact different from other sins; it is one of the consequences of sin. Asking God to stop wars is like asking Him to forbid one of the particular consequences of sin.
Paul the Apostle
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He ever promised that He would prevent wars? Another interesting question would be: Why should He prevent every war? We would probably answer that to avoid the horror and suffering of innocent people and elude all the pain that would affect our daily and peaceful lives. Logically, that is a good and licit wish and we should fight for peace and justice, but it is not enough to just wish for peace to live well; our true wish of peace should be another more elevated: to use the good times to build in a better way a pitiful life
serving and glorifying the Lord. In the Bible there are two very enlightening verses that support the above information: “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria (after the persecution), and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied” (Acts 9: 31). This other passage, 1 Timothy 2: 1-2, says: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for
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kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” Therefore, we must yearn peace as it gives us more freedom, concentration, calm and time to devote us to the Lord, to edify His Church and extend His kingdom without suffering the restraints of a war state (public insecurity, family concerns, scarcity of resources). In times of true peace, instead of using this blessing to live grateful to the Lord and devoted to Him, we fall into laziness and
gradual loss of faith. After the last World War that shook Europe, we have lived in relative peace and progressive economic and social development. However, as economic prosperity has increased, the interest of society in God has decreased, to the point that many believers of traditionally protestant or catholic countries have become non-religious and live a materialist and sinful life. As Christianity has gone into decline, so has social and political moral. This also happened with the people of Israel. During their prosperous times, they forgot the Lord and they only remembered Him when their enemies threatened them with war. So, do we have the right to expect peaceful times from God only to get further from Him and live in sin, insulting His holy name? Wars may make us think and conclude that the Lord is our number one priority in life. As Christians, we understand that God has a perfect will for everything, but sometimes He acts according to his permissive will because of the harshness of the human heart. It is clear that the Lord does not want wars, as He knows that they are the terrible consequences of sin and human carnality – i.e. not essentially caused by political and socio-economic crisis, as some may think: “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (James 4: 1-2). The Bible does not isolate war as a particular fact different from other sins; it is one of the consequences of sin. Asking God to stop wars is like asking Him to forbid one of the particular consequences of sin. Wars make us examine the foundations of our lives and poses the question of why mankind acts so cruelly. Man, pride and foolish, refuses to listen that he is a sinner and keeps thinking that armed conflicts may be stopped through good policies. He has an absolutely blind faith in himself and believes that he can create a fair world without God. What mankind is not willing to learn in peaceful times, God may reveal through the suffering of war to show him his weak nature and the consequences of sin. The love of God rejected by men in times of peace may be accepted in the affliction of war l
Chancellor Bismarck
(*) Fuente www.protestantedigital.com
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DEATHLY WARS “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4: 1-3. War is the most serious form of socio-political conflict between two or more human groups. It is perhaps one of the oldest of all international relations, but it becomes a particular phenomenon with the beginning of civilization and involves organized confrontation between armed groups of people, in order to control natural or human resources, disarm, impose
any kind of ideology or religion, subjugate and, sometimes, destruct the enemy. Wars are caused by multiple reasons, among which are maintaining or changing power relations, resolve economic, ideological, territorial disputes, etc. Throughout the history of mankind, there have been countless wars that have killed millions of people worldwide.
tons 155 thousand of bombs were dropped in the Vietnam War
65 About
million men
from 30 countries fought in the First World War
1 Gallic Wars It was a military conflict fought between the Roman proconsul Julius Caesar and the Gallic tribes between 58 and 51 BC. In the course of these wars, the Roman Republic managed to subjugate Gaul. The Romans also raided into Britain and Germany. The Gallic Wars ended with the Battle of Alesia in 52 BC. Although César explained that the invasion was a defensive action, most historians agree that the main cause was to strengthen the political career of the general and pay debts. However, no one can ignore the military importance of this territory to the Romans, who had suffered several attacks by barbarian tribes from Gaul and northern France.
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2
The Hundred Years' War
It was a 116-year-old armed conflict (January 1, 1337 October 17, 1453) between the kingdoms of France and England. This war had a feudal origin, as its purpose was to resolve who was to take control over the huge possessions accumulated by British monarchs since 1154 in French territories due to the ascent to the English throne of Henry II Plantagenet, Count of Anjou. It had international implications and, after many vicissitudes, it ended with the British withdrawal from French territory.
3 World War I It was an armed conflict that took place between 1914 and 1918 and produced millions of casualties. Over 60 million European soldiers were mobilized. Originated in Europe by the rivalry between the imperialist powers, it became the first war to cover more than half the planet. It was at the moment the bloodiest in history. It began as a confrontation between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. Russia joined the conflict, as it considered itself the protector of the Slavic countries and wanted to undermine the position of Austria-Hungary in the Balkans. After the Austro-Hungarian declaration of war on Russia on August 1, 1914, the conflict turned into a military confrontation at European level. Hostilities involved 32 countries.
4 Russian Revolution of 1917 It was a political movement in Russia that ended in 1917 with the expulsion of the provisional government that had replaced the Tsarist system, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Soviet Union until its fall in 1991. The Revolution can be divided into two phases. The first was the so-called Revolution of February 1917, which ousted the autocracy of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the last in history, and intended to set in place a liberal republic.
53million
Reference areas where wars were started.
About
dead
2 1
5
700 000
3
dead and 5.95 million wounded
1
About
thousand
7
dead
8
3 million About
6
500 000 dead
720 billion
was the cost.
50 About
1million
4
million
About
135thousand
dead
dollars
soldiers and civilians killed
2 trillion
102 billion
350 dollars was the cost.
the cost.
10
dollars was
500thousand About
millions
soldiers and civilians killed
soldiers and civilians killed
4 trillion
dollars was the cost.
Persecution of Christians (30-313): 100,000 Christians martyred
+60 million Christians killed worldwide
Many Christians have suffered persecution by non-Christians and even by Christians of different denominations throughout the history of Christianity. Such persecution had had several degrees: detention without guarantees, decline of public rights, imprisonment, flogging and torture, execution (called martyrdom), payment of additional taxes (as the case of the Mozarabs), confiscation or even destruction of their goods, art, books and symbols, and incitement to abjure their principles and betray other Christians.
5 World War II It has been so far the biggest and bloodiest armed conflict in world history, in which the Allied and the Axis Powers fought between 1939 and 1945. Armed forces of over seventy countries engaged in air, naval and ground combat. The war killed about 2% of the world population of the time (about 60 million), most of which were civilians. As world war, it began on September 1, 1939 (although some historians argue that in its Asian front it was declared on July 7, 1937) to officially end on September 2, 1945.
6 Vietnam War Also called the Second Indochina War, it was a conflict between 1964 and 1975 that set the Republic of Vietnam, or South Vietnam, supported mainly by the United States, against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, or North Vietnam, supported by the Communist bloc, in the general context of the Cold War. After the end of the war, with the armistice between North and South, the Vietnam War was considered by the morale and public opinion the first defeat in the military history of the United States.
7 Gulf War It was the war between Iraq and an international coalition made up of 31 nations led by the United States, in response to the invasion and annexation of the emirate of Kuwait by Iraq. It is also known as “Operation Desert Storm”, led by the United States to liberate Kuwait. In Iraq, the war is called “The Mother of All Battles” (a phrase coined by Saddam Hussein). The war began with the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, for which Iraq was economically punished by the UN. Hostilities began in January 1991, resulting in the victory of the coalition forces. Iraqi troops withdrew from Kuwait leaving behind a very high number of casualties.
8 2003 Invasion of Iraq Between March 20 and May 1, 2003, the invasion was conducted by a coalition of countries led by the United States. Other countries were involved in the subsequent occupation phase. The invasion marked the beginning of the Iraq War. According to the President of the United States, George W. Bush, the reasons for the invasion were “to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people.”
April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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THE THREAT OF
OBESITY
Since 1980, obesity has more than doubled worldwide. Rates of obesity are increasing everywhere, and the total number of cases (prevalence) of obesity in adults is high in many parts of the world.
Walter Menchola Vásquez (*)
(*) Wálter Menchola Vásquez, medical Internist.
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The epidemiological pattern is changing rapidly in many parts of the world, from a profile of communicable diseases to another of chronic non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cancer, traumatism, violence and mental illness. Between these two epidemiological patterns, there is a transition period in which a society may have communicable diseases such as malnutrition and tuberculosis, and chronic non-communicable diseases such as overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, among others. Currently, obesity constitutes a public health problem in both developed and developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that obesity is a chronic non-communicable disease with epidemic characteristics that begins in childhood and has a multifactorial nature. Overweight and obesity increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and joint diseases, cancer (breast, endometrial, colon), and psychosocial disorders, among others. Obese children are associated with a greater risk of severe obesity, premature death and adult disability. Obesity can and should be prevented. There are social factors that influence the development of overweight and obesity, such as education, gender, poverty, place of residence, history of obese parents, culture and tradition. Education is inver-
sely associated with overweight and obesity. Overweight is more common in men than in women at an early age and obesity is more common among women. Likewise, it is higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Carbohydrate intake is greater in poor people, to the detriment of the consumption of protein, iron and vitamins. According to WHO, an adult is overweight if their body mass index (BMI) is equal or greater than 25 kg/m2 and obese if it is equal or greater than 30 kg/m2. In general, by 2014, about 13% of the world adult population was obese (11% men and 15% women) and 39% of adults aged 18 and older were overweight (38% men and 40% women).
WHAT CAUSES OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY? The fundamental cause is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. Globally, there has been an increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat, salt and sugars, and low in vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients. Likewise, there has been a remarkable decline of physical activity as a result of the development of the cities, the increasingly sedentary work and the changing modes of transportation. However, it is known that these diseases have a multifactorial origin. Examples include advertising, urban development that encourages sedentary lifestyle, cultural aspects (children must be “chubby” and men should eat more), poor access to healthy
HEALTH food, working schedules, genetics, hormonal problems, medications, emotional factors (anxiety, depression), quitting smoking, age and pregnancy, among others. In short, aspects such as social, educational, advertising, public policy, psychological, genetic, lifestyle, economic and cultural, have an impact on people and result in overweight and obesity. Based on all of them and my own professional experience, I can point out that cultural, educational and psychological aspects affect men significantly. The impact of causal factors differs between men and women and changes with age.
HOW CAN IT BE REDUCED? These diseases are largely preventable but require healthy environments. At an individual level, people should limit the energy intake from total fats and sugars, which requires basic nutrition education in order to identify foods high in calories and those that should limited or avoided. Likewise, we should increase our intake of vegetables and fruits high in water content and engage in regular physical activity (60 minutes for young people and 30 minutes for adults). At the societal level it is important to consider public policies that discourage the consumption of foods high in calories and saturated fats, to educate children and parents in preventing the consumption of such foods, to regulate the industry to decrease fat, sugar and salt in processed food, to develop social responsibility in companies considering these aspects, to encourage employers to make their employees (and their families) engage in physical activity while in breaks, to discourage recreational activities with little physical movement (television) and to create attractive, safe, inclusive public spaces. To curb the global epidemic of
overweight and obesity, it is necessary to develop a population, multisectoral and multidisciplinary strategy that is adapted to the cultural environment of people. Likewise, international organizations should provide the world with objective scientific information to implement strategies and policies that put an end to this new epidemic threatening humanity, not by hunger and misery anymore, but as a result of its greater economic development. Paradox of happiness. I wish you all good health, unity and harmony l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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THE BIBLE
ALWAYS AHEAD OF
SCIENCE The Bible does not claim to be a scientific textbook. Yet, when the Bible talks about scientific matters, it is completely accurate. God sets up the laws of science; he made sure that his Word does not contradict those laws.
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ACTUALITY Johannes Kepler, the famous mathematician and astronomer, once said, “Science is simply thinking God’s thoughts after him.” In other words, God established the laws of physics, and then we discover them. The Bible was not meant to be a scientific textbook. You do not study the Bible to build a rocket. And the Bible doesn’t use scientific language. But the Bible never gives bad science! In fact, it is always ahead of science. For example: • For thousands of years, people believed that the earth was flat. But God said 2,600 years ago in Isaiah 40:22 that God is enthroned above the sphere of the earth. • For thousands of years, people believed something held the earth up. Hindus believed huge elephants did it. The Greeks believed Atlas did it. The Egyptians believed five columns held the earth up. The Bible never says that anything is holding the planet up. • For thousands of years, people believed that the number of stars were finite. But Jeremiah 33:22 says the number of stars can’t be counted. In 1861, a very famous book came out called “Fifty-one Incontrovertible Proofs that the Bible is Scientifically Inaccurate.” Today, you cannot find a single scientist on the planet who would agree with any one of those incontrovertible facts. They have all been disproved by science. SCIENTIFIC ACCURACIES The Bible is not a scientific textbook. Yet, when the Bible speaks scientifically, it is completely accurate. In fact, it was further ahead than any other book in its time. 1. The shape of the Earth “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.” (Isaiah 40:22). “God is enthroned above the earth, and those who live on it are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the sky like a canopy and spreads it out like a tent to live in.” (Isaiah 40:22). 2. The Earth is not suspended “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.” (Job 26:7). 3. Stars are countless “And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the
stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” (Genesis 15:5). 4. The existence of valleys in the seas “And the channels of zthe sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.” (2 Samuel 22:16). 5. The existence of springs and fountains in the seas “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” (Genesis 7:11. See Genesis 8:2; Proverbs 8:28). 6. The existence of paths of water in the seas “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! … When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained… Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet… The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” (Psalm 8:1, 3, 6, 8). 7. The hydrological cycle A. “He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.” (Job 26:8). B. “For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof, which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.” (Job 36:27-28). C. “The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.” (Ecclesiastes 1:6-7). 8. The concept of entropy “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.” (Psalm 102:25-26). 9. The nature of health, sanitation and disease The listing for this section is too long; but references in the Scriptures can be found in the Book of Leviticus (chapters 12 to 14) l
The Bible wasn’t meant to be a scientific textbook. You don’t study the Bible to build a rocket. And the Bible doesn’t use scientific language. But the Bible never gives bad science! In fact, it’s always ahead of science.
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ALARMING JIHADIST
VIOLENCE
The advance of jihadism and the violent response towards religious protests is a concern within the UN, where an important meeting of leaders of all religions is being organized to send a powerful message in favor of social harmony and peace. UN Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon made a statement in Washington during the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism hosted by the White House, in which representatives of 60 countries joined together in the fight against radicalization and recruitment of individuals, especially young people, by radical organizations. According to Ban, the UN meeting of religious leaders should “promote mutual understanding and reconciliation” in a time of “much pain” throughout the world, with “innocents gunned down in schools” and “girls brutally kidnapped.” During his speech, the Secretary-General of the MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 20 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
UN warned about the rise of a “new generation” of transnational terrorist groups that pose a “grave threat to international peace and security.” They pursue a “deliberate” strategy to “polarize and terrorize, and provoke and divide us,” warned Ban while remarking that the “vast majority” of their victims are Muslims. To confront them, “we need cool heads. We need common sense. And we must never let fear rule,” said the head of the UN. In his opinion, we must “win the battle for the minds of future generations” to stop extremism, and everything begins at school. He en-
INTERNATIONAL
couraged the teaching of “compassion and empathy” to children. Similarly, he highlighted the importance of battling extremist ideologies that in many cases emerge as a consequence of “oppression, corruption and injustice.” Furthermore, the Secretary-General of the UN expressed his concern about the “anti-immigrant forces” that have appeared in some countries and, according to him, “feed” the extremists. Millions of displaced people About 13.6 million people, equivalent to the population of London, have been displaced by conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and many are without water or shelter as winter starts, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said. Amin Awad, UNHCR’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, said “the world was becoming numb” to the refugees’ needs. “Now when we talk about a million people displaced over two months, or 500,000 overnight, the world is just not responding,” he said. The 13.6 million include 7.2 million displaced within Syria –an increase from a long-held UN estimate of 6.5 million– as well as 3.3 million Syrian refugees abroad. In Iraq, 1.9 million
have been displaced and 190,000 have left the country to seek safety. The vast majority of Syrian refugees have gone to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq or Turkey, which Awad said “are putting us all to shame” with their support for homeless Syrian families. “Other countries in the world, especially the Europeans and beyond, should open their borders and share the burden.” UNHCR says it is short of $58.5 million in donations to prepare 990,000 people for winter. This money would cover basic supplies such as plastic sheeting and warm clothes. Without funds to cover all its needs, the agency is prioritizing help for people at higher, colder altitudes and for more vulnerable cases, such as newborn babies. Awad said that Russia and China, both in the UN Security Council, whose members, including the big Western powers, have failed to agree actions to defuse the war in Syria, came in bottom of a list of top donors and should contribute more. “Politically they cannot really be indifferent, therefore humanitarian (aid) is an imperative and it has to be put first and foremost if there is no (political) settlement ... They need to contribute one way or the other, like the others do,” he said l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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GREAT MARCH FOR
LIFE IN PERU
The mass attendance raised awareness among Peruvians and reminded that the absolute right to life should never be set aside. More than half a million people participated on Saturday 21 in the so-called March for Life, held in Lima and other Peruvian cities to raise awareness of the value of life and the rejection of abortion. MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 22 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
People of all ages gathered at the intersection of avenues Javier Prado and Brasil and marched with posters and banners to the Beach Circuit. The demonstration of March 22 was the third one held to march against abortion. Thousands of people went from the meeting point to the slope of Costa Verde. During the march, some people were also carrying banners against the bill authorizing civil unions between same-sex people. Some legislators who voted against the homosexual civil union were also present. The event was held to commemorate the Day of the Unborn Child, which in Peru is celebrated on March 25. In Peru, abortion is legal when the fetus presents serious malformation or when the life of the mother is in danger l
ACTUALITY
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By the late 1950s, the Western world met Watchman Nee. Since then, he has become for many people a symbol of loyalty to the Lord due to his decision to promote the Christianization of China.
THE STORY OF
WATCHMAN NEE Thus on 4 November, 1903, Henry Nga came into the world to be the delight of his quiet father and his strong-willed mother. Chinese names are significant, a child being giving or assuming a new one at some fresh turning point in his career. At first, in the family tradition, he was Nga Shu-jeo in the Foochow dialect, or in Mandarin, Ni-shutsu, “he who proclaims his ancestors’ merits.” Years later, however, conscious of a new mission in life, he sought a fresh name expressing his sense of duty to his people WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MISIONEROMOVEMENT MUNDIAL 24 MOVIMIENTO America • Europa América Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
as God’s seer and spokesman. It was his mother who then proposed To-sheng. Written by Christian author Angus I. Kinnear, “Against the Tide” is the story of the life and work of a completely loyal servant of the Almighty. Follower of Jesus Christ born in the early twentieth century, Nee explained the mysteries of the Gospel with mastery and reached a prominent seat in the Christianization of China. The evan-
LITERATURE
gelical writer Kinnear, who met Watchman Nee in 1938, has expressed in his work the importance of this man who never stopped preaching the Word of God. That night God took hold of Watchman Nee. He had been deeply moved by Huo-ping’s confession. Never had he heard of a Chinese parent accepting such loss of face. If his own mother could be thus transformed, then surely there must be something powerful in Miss Yu’s preaching. Christianity must be more than a mere creed. He would go and see for himself. He went, and before the meetings were over,
her preaching had brought him also to repentance for his sins, and he had found in Jesus Christ a living Savior and Friend. In an act of youthful committal he pledged himself to serve God wholly and utterly.
PUBLISHED LECTURES AND SPEECHES Kinnear’s book highlights the personality of Nee and focuses on the impact of his
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glorification of the Almighty which contributed, like a shock wave, to the spiritual liberation of a large part of the Chinese population. In this regard, in the preface of the book, the author argues that the Christian message of Watchman Nee is intimately connected with his life. He also says that, when one of them is placed in the context of the other and when many of his interpretative stories are used, we can see the Creator’s hand during his pilgrimage in this troubled world. The appeal of Watchman Nee’s own preaching lay first of all in his gift of making so plain the way to God that relies solely upon Christ’s finished work. All too many Christians were striving after a salvation based on good works of their own, a way little removed in principle from Buddhism. They had been told it was presumptuous to say confidently that they were saved. The preaching of new life as God’s free gift startled them, therefore, with its novelty. Nor did Watchman Nee stop with the good news of righteousness by faith. He was finding now much personal help from the writings of Andrew Murray and F.B. Meyer. Watchman Nee wrote and published
one book; however, he left a very complete record of his lectures and speeches published in the evangelical magazines he edited along his missionary work. Based on this work for the cause of the Savior, Angus Kinnear, who devoted much of his life to rebuilding the earthly walk of Nee, drafted a rich narrative aimed at showing to the world a man who stood out for his great spirituality and fierce defense of religious freedom in China. Watchman Nee felt strong enough now to remain in lodgings in Shanghai and work on the further sections of the book he was sure God wanted him to complete. Slowly, under Miss Li’s literary tutelage, the truths he had learned through so much suffering and failure found written expression. Also, he was well pleased to take a quiet look at the missionary scene. Here for the first time he came into close contact with the great interdenominational China Inland Mission, founded by Hudson Taylor, that for sixty years and more had extended its evangelical witness far into the country’s interior. Lacking formal theological studies, Nee learned his biblical knowledge by studying
LITERATURE
the Scriptures and reading various Christian books. During the thirty years of his pastoral ministry, launched in 1922, Watchman Nee traveled to many parts of the Chinese territory and founded a huge number of evangelical churches in rural communities. In addition, he lectured on Christian themes in Shanghai, where he established his base of operations and became a bastion of faith in the Almighty. The strength of Watchman Nee’s work lay in the fact that every believer was an unpaid worker, and everyone moving to a new city for business or in government service might make his home a place of prayer and a new center of witness. China was fast opening up with road systems and new railways, and the rapid development of air services meant that travel about the country was becoming increasingly easy. He gave talks in the New Year to the brothers to whom these new fields would open, to guide their thinking on church formation.
CROSSING BORDERS At first, according to the traditions of the family, Nee was called Shu-tsu. However, years later, when he entered the ranks of the
Creator and conscious of his new mission in life, he sought a fresh name expressing his commitment with the Good News: Tosheng, meaning “the sound of a watchman’s rattle.” The theological influence of the religious work of Nee, who was known as “Watchman” among English-speaking believers, crossed the borders of his native China and reached Christians worldwide. Evangelism was not the task of the preacher alone but of the whole church. All believers were trained as “counselors.” At the end of a gospel address, everyone turned and counseled the person sitting beside him, noting his name and address, asking him questions, letting him talk, and if possible, but without pressure, getting him to pray, calling on the name of the Lord for sometimes in that very act he would be saved. Missionaries who saw this in action were understandably impressed. In 1948, Watchman Nee was asked to supply fifty-two lessons of systematic instruction in Christian fundamentals, ranging from justification by faith to the practical principles of church life. In 1952, Watchman Nee was arrested by the Chinese Communists for declaring his faith in Jesus Christ and for his leadership among local Christian churches. Later, in 1956, he was tried, convicted and sentenced to fifty years in prison. Throughout his jail time he was only allowed to receive occasional visits of his wife. According to Angus I. Kinnear, author of “Against the Tide,” this outstanding Chinese believer devoted himself to the Lord without reservation until June 1, 1972, when he died. In his fiftieth year he was arrested in Manchuria by the Department of Public Safety on April 10, 1952; and at this first inquiry, he was charged as a lawless capitalist “tiger” who had committed all the five crimes specified in the Wu-Fan campaign against corrupt business practices. He was warned that the Sheng-Hua Company would be required to pay a fine of 17 000 million yuan in old currency (equivalent to nearly one and a half million U.S. dollars). He neither accepted this unfair accusation, nor did he have the funds to pay such a fine. So he remained in prison, and the Company was in due course confiscated by the State l
The appeal of Watchman Nee’s own preaching lay first of all in his gift of making so plain the way to God that relies solely upon Christ’s finished work. All too many Christians were striving after a salvation based on good works of their own, a way little removed in principle from Buddhism.
In 1952, Watchman Nee was arrested by the Chinese Communists for declaring his faith in Jesus Christ and for his leadership among local Christian churches. Later, in 1956, he was tried, convicted and sentenced to fifty years in prison. Throughout his jail time, he was only allowed to receive occasional visits of his wife.
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I FOUND THE ETERNAL
SOURCE Hymn written by Henry Cleophas Ball, promoter of Pentecostalism in Latin America and leading figure in gospel music. His singing, which has traveled around Latin America, speaks of salvation and justification by faith.
Son of a couple of American believers, Henry Cleophas Ball was a minister of God who for nearly eight decades devoted himself to preaching the good news of the Savior and achieved great notoriety in Latin America thanks to his huge contribution to Christian music. Pioneer in the evangelization and promotion of Pentecostalism in the American continent, Ball, born on February 18, 1896, was a leading promoter of the use of congregational hymns to share the Word of the Lord. ‘I found the eternal source,’ one of Pastor Ball’s most important musical works, is a Pentecostal song still sung today in many churches in Latin America. Inspired by the biblical passage of Revelation 1: 5, this hymn revolves around salvation and reaffirms one of the basic doctrinal issues of Christianity: justification by faith. Ball, who surrendered to the Lord when he was fourteen, breathed a significant eschatological charge into the song, thanks to which God’s love is simply explained. Ball, affectionately known as ‘Brother Ball’ by the Latin American people, received after his conversion a special call to evangelize Hispanics. Thus, in the beginning of his pastoral ministry in 1916, he founded a church in Ricardo, a small Latin community located in Kleberg County, Texas, and then moved to Kingsville town. Around that time, Henry used to repeat the MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 28 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
only words he knew in Spanish: “domingo por la tarde en la escuela” (“Sunday afternoon at school”). According to Reverend Ball’s biographers, his evangelizing work allowed the establishment of the foundations of the Pentecostal movement along the SpanishAmerican territory. And, although he began to preach with a great limitation due to his poor knowledge of Spanish, over time he managed to translate and compose hundreds of poems aimed to address multiple areas of faith in God. In addition, he was a laborious missionary, as well as the founder and editor of “La Luz Apostólica,” an evangelical magazine focused on spreading the good news.
MUSIC
THE ETERNAL SOURCE I FOUND 1 Redemption by faith I behold, The crimson source, Jesus gives us salvation, His life He gave for me. Refrain: The incomparable source I found, The spring of life and light, Oh, glory of God, cleanse me Cleanse me, cleanse me!
Ever since he arrived in Latin America, Henry Ball encouraged the Latin American congregations to sing hymns. When he noticed the serious lack of Pentecostal hymnals in Spanish, he compiled and published in 1916 “Himnos de Gloria” to fix the situation, a collection of songs spread still today and used by many denominations. His contribution to Pentecostal hymns is one of his most enduring legacies in Latin America.
Founder of the Latin American Bible Institute, Henry Cleophas Ball spent the last days of his life at home playing his organ and loudly singing hymns from his inspiration in Spanish. “La senda ancha dejaré”, “Ya sea en el valle”, “Oh, yo quiero andar con Cristo” and “Cuando estemos en gloria” are some of his most famous compositions. A few days after his 103th birthday and a prolonged evangelization work, he went to meet with the Almighty on January 27, 1989 l
2 My life I give to Jesus, My doubts He has erased, My soul rejoices in his light, My debts He has paid. 3 Such an unspeakable joy it is Knowing I have been saved! My king here is Jesus To heaven I know I will go. 4 Oh, sublime grace of God! So deep is the love, Of Jesus, light of path, The redeeming Lamb. April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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THE SECOND
GREAT
AWAKENING This revival of Christianity, characterized by an unprecedented evangelizing activity and large numbers of conversions, marked the religious history of the United States. It began in the late eighteenth century and Charles Finney was one of its major promoters. William Farley MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 30 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
HERO OF FAITH action to the secularism of the time, a religious revival, known as the Second Great Awakening, spread in the early nineteenth century to the western United States. It was characterized by an unprecedented evangelizing activity and large numbers of conversions, which resulted in the identification of Christianity with social causes such as abolitionism.
By the end of the eighteenth century, when the fight for the American independence was becoming part of far-off times, many educated Americans no longer professed the traditional Christian faith. In re-
SPIRITUAL REVIVAL The Second Great Awakening consisted of different activities according to the region and the expression of its religious commitment. In New England, located in the northeast region of the American territory, the renewed interest in religion inspired a wave of social activism. Moreover, the spirit of renewal led to the emergence of new denominations in western New York. In the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, Southeast e r n United States, and Tennessee, Southern North America, revival strengthened local congregations and led to a new form of faith expression: openair religious gatherings. This spiritual revival altered the character of American religion. Missionary societies, whose members had different denominations, were established to evangelize the western United States. Likewise, the social activism inspired by this revival led to the emergence of anti-slavery groups and to the Society for the Promotion of
The largest outdoor religious gathering was held in August 1801 in Cane Ridge, Kentucky, a legendary event in the American religious history. According to Christian historians, this gathering joined together around twenty thousand believers and became a milestone in the history of the Second Great Awakening.
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Charles Gradison Finney was the greatest promoter of the Second Great Awakening throughout the 1820s and the early years of the next decade. Then, in 1835, he went to Ohio to teach theology at Oberlin College, later becoming its dean. He is attributed, directly or indirectly, the conversion of about 500 000 people.
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Temperance. Furthermore, campaigns for prison reform and proper care for the disabled and mentally ill were initiated. The members of these societies acted not only as apostles of faith, but also as educators, civic leaders and representatives of eastern urban culture. Educational and publishing societies promoted Christian education; the most notable was the American Bible Society, founded in 1816.
With a more optimistic vision of the human condition, the Second Great Awakening marked a fundamental transition in the religious life of America. With great biblical emphasis, preachers of the Word of God stressed the ability of humans to change their sinful situation. Without hesitation, they emphasized that individuals can reaffirm their free will by choosing to embrace the Gospel and attain salvation.
HERO OF FAITH Thus, thanks to the countless conversions, the foundations of the rise of Christianity in the United States were laid.
THE FATHER OR REVIVALS Western New York, from Lake Ontario to the Adirondack Mountains, had been the scene of so many divine renovations in the past that it was known as “the district consumed by fire.” There, the dominant figure was Charles Gradison Finney, a lawyer who had had a religious revelation and decided to preach the Gospel. His acts of revival stood out for their careful planning, scenic skill and advertising. Finney, born on August 29, 1792, preached in “the district consumed by fire” throughout the 1820s and early years of the next decade. Then, in 1835, he went to Ohio to teach theology at Oberlin College, later becoming its dean. The Second Great Awakening scholars agree that he was the spearhead of this religious awakening in the United States. He is attributed, directly or indirectly, the conversion of about 500 000 people. Finney was an innovative theologian and pioneer in social reform in favor of women and African-American, as well as one of the most important leaders of the Second Great Awakening. His life, dedicated completely to the Creator, can be summarized in one word: revivals. He was known for his innovations in announcing the good news of the Almighty and in conducting Christian meetings. In his best-known book “How to Experience Revival,” he encouraged the restoration of the evangelical current. Charles Grandison Finney, who used to repeat tirelessly that a revival is essential when there is lack of fraternal love and trust among Christian believers, shook the world with his transformative ideas and became the most visible face of the modern spread of the Gospel. In the 139 years that have passed since his death, on August 16, 1875, this diligent servant of God has become the most influential Christian author for the next generation of disciples of the Lord. GOSPEL ON THE BORDER In the Appalachian region, a major mountain range in eastern North America, re-
vival was experienced through large countryside gatherings, similar to those of the Great Awakening in the previous century. These were open-air gatherings for several days in which various preachers participated. Colonists in sparsely populated areas looked forward to these meetings, which meant the irruption of God in the border regions. The rejoicing, songs and praises that were associated with these gatherings were caused by the genuine joy of participating in a religious revival with hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. In this regard, the largest outdoor religious gathering was held in August 1801 in Cane Ridge, Kentucky, a legendary event in the American religious history. According to Christian historians, this gathering joined together around twenty thousand believers and became a milestone in the history of the Second Great Awakening. The great revival quickly spread throughout Kentucky, Tennessee and southern Ohio, and its major promoters were Methodists and Baptists. Each denomination had their own advantages to thrive on the border of the United States. Methodists had a very efficient organization, whose basis was the ministers, known as circuit riders, who sought followers in remote border regions. Baptists had no formal church organization; their preachers were farmers who, after hearing “the call” of God, would study the Bible and found a church, which would then give them the priesthood. Other candidates to the ministry would also emerge from those churches and they would establish in turn their presence in more unexplored sites. Due to these methods, Baptists came to have primacy in all border states and most of the southern part of the country. The Second Great Awakening had a profound effect on American history. The number of followers of Jesus Christ from different denominations increased in comparison with the congregations that prevailed during the colonial period. The increasing differences arising within the American Christianity reflected the growth and diversity of a nation in spiritual expansion l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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TESTIMONY
THE VICTORY OF ISABEL OVER
TEMPTATION Ever since she was a child, everything was but sadness for Isabel Delabra. Mistreated by her mother, raped by her half-brother and turned into a prostitute to survive, she even betrayed her own daughter. She seemed to be condemned to sin, but God had mercy on her and one day she found salvation. Marlo Pérez
One afternoon in 2005, Isabel Delabra, 45 years old, was at home in the city of Tampico, Mexico. Suddenly, her daughter’s fiancé knocked on the door asking for Margarita. As he did not find her, he entered and started to talk with Isabel about her daughter and their future projects. As the afternoon passed, they became so close and familiar with each other that taboos and formalities between motherContinue reading–– April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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in-law and son-in-law disappeared. Without thinking, they left restrictions behind and went astray into a forbidden passion. When the night came, Margarita’s boyfriend left the house so quickly that Isabel did not have the time to pick up the clothes spread over the house. After she managed to do it, she dressed up as quickly as her sonin-law did, but she could not make it. She fell on the floor and started to cry feeling a huge agony pressing her head and mind. She had sinned against God and her daughter. However, this was not the first time Isabel had lost her sense of shame. Decades before, she had left all her decency behind to become an illegal prostitute as a consequence of the abandonment of her first husband and the constant rejection of her mother since she was a child. As years passed by, Isabel understood that this profession meant no benefit to her.
CRUEL CHILDHOOD María Isabel Delabra Rivera was born in August 22, 1960, in the city of Veracruz, Mexico. Her poverty made her hit the streets to sell banana chips, golden humitas, peanuts and other native products of the city. She was raised by her mother along with her eight half-brothers, all of whom shared the same room. However, unlike them, she went through harsh punishments and terrifying rituals that remained engraved in both her body and mind. “My mother used me a lot in sorcery… I got scared every time she put me within a circle of fire and danced around me; then she used to hit my body with lots of herbs…,” she remembers. Some years later, after leaving the city of Monterrey in the state of Nuevo León, Isabel was eight years old and remembers being raped by a neighbor of hers when she went to buy some products to the store of the perverted man. After some years, one of his older brothers also raped her and did not stop until she turned 16 years old. She leapt on him to defend herself, but passed out on the ground after he hit her. Two hours after the incident, his halfbrother was apprehended and taken to a police station, while Isabel was taken to the local hospital. When she got up, her mother MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 36 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
Some years later, after leaving the city of Monterrey in the state of Nuevo LeĂłn, Isabel was eight years old and remembers being raped by a neighbor of hers when she went to buy some products to the store of the perverted man. After some years, one of his older brothers also raped her and did not stop until she turned 16 years old.
blamed her for making advances towards the young drug addict, which made her feel deep indignation and hatred. Nonetheless, the tragedy did not end there and a few years later, the heartless man left prison and raped one of her younger brothers. He is gay nowadays. With 17 years old, Isabel could not stand
anymore living with her mother in that environment where great pain and abuse was in the air. That accumulated feeling made her run from home, as all her brothers and sisters did when they became teenagers. When she left home, she got married, but after one year he abandoned her because she could not have children. He threw her out
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and made her look for sustenance in a place where her dignity as a woman was tainted. “Without God, you live the easy life, and that is why I became a prostitute…,” she comments.
SCARLET WOMAN Isabel, 18 years old, ended up in one of the brothels of Monterrey, where she became a prostitute. There, she became a scarlet woman and managed to make herself a name to earn money entertaining the big number of men who came for her sexual services. However, something unexpected happened: Isabel suddenly felt sick. She was immediately examined by the doctor that looked after the sexual workers, and he detected a three-month pregnancy. At the moment, Isabel could not explain the biological miracle, she only knew that she had to leave the place because the local government would not allow her to be a sexual worker while pregnant. So she came back home with her mother in Veracruz and asked borrowed 500 pesos to have an abortion. When she refused, Isabel ate a bunch of bitter herbs to remove her the child from within her. Nevertheless, her abortion attempts ended on December 15, 1979, when she gave birth to her firstborn named Michel, who was left with her grandmother to be another victim of her mistreatments. “I did not want to have a daughter without a dad, and I did not want her to know that her mother was a prostitute,” says Isabel. Four years later and temporarily distanced from prostitution, Isabel took her daughter with her and left to the coastal city of Tampico, in northeast Mexico. There she lived with her other two children: Margarita and Reynaldo, who became orphans of father. In this new city, she started to notice the consequences of her mother’s mistreatments on her child. Isabel, 27 years old, had different jobs to provide for her children and never become a prostitute again. However, she suffered a setback in 1987, while she was working for a well-known beverage company. There, she met a married man with whom she fell in love and had her fourth daughter: Elizabeth. She ended up fired, since one of the rules MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 38 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
forbade romantic relationships between employees. Isabel had no choice but to go back to the streets. From that year until the new millennium, she had to work as a prostitute to pay rent and the education of her children, who were now teenagers. The only way to hide her true profession and hush rumors was to work mornings selling second-hand clothes in the Mexican city. However, a few years later, shame came upon her home.
FORBIDDEN RELATIONS In the beginning of 2005, Isabel met the boyfriend of her daughter Margarita, who at that time was 17 years old. As time passed by, the increasing familiarity between mother-in-law and son-in-law got out of control and, when least expected, both of them gave in to the desire of the flesh. When she realized how terribly she had sinned, she was overwhelmed by a feeling of guilt that made her go to the Christian church to which her daughter Margarita had
Along that period, divine intervention was essential to their reconciliation. The pastor of the church looked for Margarita to make her understand the serious harm that she was causing to her repented mother. Seven months later, Margarita looked for her mother and forgave her with a warm embrace to never separate from each other again. invited her so many times only to be refused. She got a lump in her throat and recalled her childhood, when her mother always gave her the same excuses. It was history repeating itself, she said to herself. When she met with the pastor of the congregation, he convinced her to confess her guilt before her daughter and God for the forgiveness of her sins. Some months later, after Sunday service, they went to a public park. Isabel held her daughter hands and revealed the truth. Immediately, the shaking hands of the young woman left go of her mother’s and, when she finished to listen to her confession, she burst into anger and insulted her. “When I got home, I fell on my knees and ate the dust of the earth, begging the Lord to forgive me and not to let me die until my daughter forgave me,” she remembers.
FORGIVEN BY GOD A few days later, Isabel’s home in Tampico became a true battlefield, with Margarita
constantly yelling and insulting her mother. In her revenge, Margarita managed to destroy the weak reputation of her mother, who was until that time knew as a prostitute “in retreat.” “That is when I realized what I had done and how low I had fallen… I understood that it was God who made me realize what happened,” she recalls. Along that period, divine intervention was essential to their reconciliation. The pastor of the church looked for Margarita to make her understand the serious harm that she was causing to her repented mother. Seven months later, Margarita looked for her mother and forgave her with a warm embrace to never separate from each other again. Nowadays, María Isabel Delabra Ribera, 64 years old and completely retired from prostitution, supports the Worldwide Missionary Movement in the frontier city of Laredo, in the state of Tamaulipas. She walks on the path of the Lord together with the man she married to until today l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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CHRIST WILL ALWAYS
TRIUMPH
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days” Colossians 2:14-16. Rev. Luis M. Ortiz
There is a book entitled “Three days and nights in the heart of the earth,” which presents Christ on the cross as a loser who did not carry out His redemptive work, claiming that Satan overpowered him and took his spirit to hell, that the cross was a place of defeat.
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DEVOTIONAL But the Bible teaches just the opposite: on the cross of Calvary, the Lord won a great victory, as he blotted out the handwriting of ordinances against us, taking it out of the way and nailing it to the cross; i.e., all the demands of the Mosaic law along with its holidays, new moon, circumcision, Sabbath, etc. Furthermore, he spoiled principalities and powers, Satan, and all the infernal forces, making a shew of them openly and triumphing over them in the cross (Colossians 2: 14-16). The Bible exalts the victory of Christ through his death on the cross: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15). Christ’s death on the cross of Calvary was the great victory that destroyed Satan, dismantled his empire of death and freed us from his tyranny. In fact, everything in Christ speaks of triumph. The miraculous conception in the womb of a virgin was a triumph. The angelic announcement of his birth was a triumph. The fulfillment of the prophecy that He would be born of a virgin was a triumph. His baptism in water, the audible testimony of the Father and the visible testimony of the Holy Spirit were a triumph. His immaculate and impeccable life was a triumph. His miraculous and powerful earthly ministry was a triumph. His encounter with Satan in the temptation in the middle of the dessert was a triumph. He fully triumphed over nature by turning water into wine, calming the storm, walking on the water and feeding the multitudes. He fully triumphed over the disease by healing all kinds of sickness and performing all types of miracles. He
fully triumphed over demons by scaring them away from their victims under the authority of His voice. He fully triumphed over death by raising the dead and rising from the dead. His death on the cross was a great triumph, because He destroyed through death the one who had the empire of death. His resurrection and empty tomb meant a promising triumph because we will rise too. His ascension to heaven and return to the Father was a glorious triumph. The sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was a mighty triumph. His relevance in the world is a current triumph. The Rapture of the Church will be another remarkable triumph. His Second Coming to this world in a visible, literal and personal manner will be a spectacular triumph that everyone will see. He will establish His Millennial Kingdom on Earth and it will be a global triumph. Then He will make a new heaven and a new earth and it will be a universal triumph. All these triumphs are wonderful and very important for us his followers, because Christ’s triumphs are our triumphs. Everything He did, He did for us. Romans 8:28, says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39). Christ will always triumph and will always make his true follower triumph. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14). My friend, do you want peace in the midst of a troubled world? Do you want security in the midst of the worst contingencies? Do you want foolproof protection in the midst of the trials and disasters that lie ahead? Do you want an assured victory in the midst of any battle? Do you want eternal salvation and everlasting dwelling in God’s presence? Then accept and receive in your heart and life the Christ that will always triumph, the Christ that is savior and redeemer. Repent of your sins and ask for forgiveness. Amen l
The miraculous conception in the womb of a virgin was a triumph. The angelic announcement of his birth was a triumph. The fulfillment of the prophecy that He would be born of a virgin was a triumph. His baptism in water, the audible testimony of the Father and the visible testimony of the Holy Spirit were a triumph. His immaculate and impeccable life was a triumph. His miraculous and powerful earthly ministry was a triumph. His encounter with Satan in the temptation in the middle of the dessert was a triumph.
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GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF
YOUR STEWARDSHIP “There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, how is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.” Luke 16:1-2. Rev. Gustavo Martínez Garavito
During the absence of his master, nobody could call him to account, as everything was under his authority. However, he forMISSIONARY MOVEMENT 42 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
got that one day the master would hold him accountable for the transactions related to the goods that had been entrusted to him.
DEVOTIONAL When the time came to be held accountable, the master gave the steward the opportunity to confess his misdeed. The master had the authority and the right to dismiss the steward without any justification. The first had realized that the steward had let him down, that he had been using his goods incorrectly. However, instead of firing him, he gave the steward the opportunity to prove his loyalty with clear, thorough evidence, to show him that the alleged misappropriation was only a slander out of jealousy or envy of others who wanted to take over his position. The master gave the steward a chance to show him that he had not let him down by wasting the goods that did not belong to him to achieve his personal goals and interests, to boost his own image and create his own assets. In this regard, “give account of your stewardship” shows God’s mercy. Indeed, He has all the power and authority to drive us away like a straw in the wind. However, as the prophet Jeremiah said, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). So, although he had the opportunity to justify himself, the steward could not prove his loyalty. Being held accountable did not mean the absolute destiny of the unfaithful steward. If he was found guilty, he was only going to be downgraded (“for thou mayest be no longer steward”, says verse 2). He would not be kicked out of the house, but the master simply told him that he would no longer occupy a position of trust, as stewards are required to be faithful people. So says the apostle Paul, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2). The ministry requires you and your faithfulness; God wants men faithful to Him, to His Word. However, it seems that this man did not care much about being found unfaithful, but what worried him the most was that he would no longer be steward. We should use the goods that God has entrusted to us only for His glory and praise and to take thousands of people at the feet of Christ. When we are held accountable,
we will be justified or disqualified. God is faithful and demands our faithfulness. At the request of his master, the steward, knowing that he had been unfaithful, told himself, “What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship” (Luke 16:3). This steward was not willing to do the right thing, that is, two important things. First, he had to admit he had failed and then ask forgiveness for his sins. Then, he had to give back what he had stolen from his master. That is why this man asked himself: “What shall I do?” He knew he had the be humble, to recognize that he had sinned. However, the unfaithful steward began to consider other solutions instead of being humble before his master: “I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed” (Luke 16:3). This man was still worried about appearances and did not accept the idea of being demoted from his stewardship before others. The steward said he was ashamed to beg. In other words, he did not want others to know that he was a thief and that he had lost his position of steward for that reason. He chose to flee instead of admitting that he had let down his master. He chose the favor of men. He called all the debtors of his master and secretly reduced the debts they had (Luke 16: 4-7). In other words, he urged others to steal from his master, he involved others in his fraud. When a person is not humble, they sow discord and recruit others to defend him. They find no peace until they corrupt everyone else around him. Brother, beware of anyone who has been unfaithful in stewardship and wants to involve you in his personal crusades, his sin, his story, his rebellion. Do not let him in, do not hear him, do not let him poison you. Be pure, earn respect as a servant of God. If he wants to be unfaithful, let him do it by himself. Some waste the goods of their master to buy the conscience of others, to keep them quiet. How many have changed the Gospel message for prestige and because of what people may say! Beloved, be wise and escape as the bird from the snare of the hunter. God wants us to be faithful. He wants us to do his will by increasing the heavenly heritage instead of ours. Amen l
Brother, beware of anyone who has been unfaithful in stewardship and wants to involve you in his personal crusades, his sin, his story, his rebellion. Do not let him in, do not hear him, do not let him poison you. Be pure, earn respect as a servant of God. If he wants to be unfaithful, let him do it by himself. Some waste the goods of their master to buy the conscience of others, to keep them quiet. How many have changed the Gospel message for prestige and because of what people may say! Beloved, be wise and escape as the bird from the snare of the hunter.
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AUTHORITY AS A
FRUIT OF CHARACTER “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord” Genesis 10:8-9.
Rev. Alberto Ortega
Authority as a fruit of sacrifice does not hunt but release, does not kill but gives life, does not come through pretense, but through the truth. This authority does not hide in disguise, does not offend, does not cause harm, does not slander, does not threat. This authority has nothing to do with names or numbers. This authority breaks our hearts without pressure. This authority breaks because it comes from a broken heart. This authority is covered by sacrifice and blood.
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The legitimate authority established by God in the time of Nimrod was patriarchal. In his wisdom, God established a natural authority based on the bonds of respect and obedience to parents. However, Nimrod thought that this authority was unsuitable for him and did not fit his character, his ambitions. Therefore, he did not respect the authority established by God and invented a new type of authority, more suitable for his character, his personal ambitions, his purposes and plans. In Genesis 10, we find two words that define the character of this man: “mighty” and “hunter.” In the original Hebrew text, the word “might” means “warrior,” “tyrant;” “being strong”, “prevail;” “being insolent,” “exceed,” and “being excessive.” Certainly, these terms provide insights into the authority as a fruit of character, which is insolent, disproportionate, excessive and exorbitant in its decisions. Nimrod is also described as a “hunter.” Again, the original Hebrew text sheds light on this point, as “hunter” means “costume,” “camouflage,” “get close,” “approach in disguise or deception,” “lie.” It is known that hunters must camouflage to avoid being detected by the prey, in order to approach and kill it. Likewise, authority as a fruit of character uses camouflage and deception and hides its true intentions. Nimrod invented a new type of hunting. He did not hunt animals like everyone else, but men. According to history, we know that he was trained by a group of mercenaries who looted from Ethiopia to Shinar. Nimrod hunted his contemporaries at any cost, either by the persuasive force of his reasoning or
the force of swords and arrows. Authority as a fruit of character not only creates its own rules, but also changes them in favor of its purposes. This authority removes any other authority. As Nimrods are obsessed with those that stand out under his authority, they decide to remove any real or imaginary competitor. Nimrods plan and carry out what they think, and they are also fruitful. In fact, Nimrod built eight cities: Babel, Erech, Accad, Calneh, in the land of Shinar, and Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah, in Assyria and Resen. Let us focus now on Babel, the first city that Nimrod built. It is very important to analyze the first achievements of this kind of authority. The name “Babel” has two meanings: “gate of God” and “confusion.” Nimrod called his project BABEL, describing it as the “gate of God” but God confused the languages and turned “gate of God” into “confusion.” Why did God confuse the languages in here? Because, through this confusion of languages, Nimrod lost his power over those under his authority. Suddenly, Nimrod could not continue exercising his authority because his subordinates, who had stopped speaking the same language, could not understand him anymore. The authority as a fruit of character admits no other language but the one spoken by its leader and is always looking for people who do not think for themselves. These leaders are the only mind, the only thought, they know everything, and decide and schedule everything. But now, Nimrod was facing a serious problem: the people he
DEVOTIONAL had hunted through his ideas and strength could not longer understand him. Dear readers, this is always the case with Nimrods: the day comes when those who spoke and thought like their leader suddenly speak differently and have their own plans. And base on what these followers learned from Nimrod, they also build parallel empires, with different names but with the same principles. This is the result and end of the authority as a fruit of character: confusion and dispersion. In Matthew 28:18, Christ talks about the authority that has been given to Him, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
the authority caused by the Cross, born of pain and His suffering as Savior of mankind. Authority as a fruit of sacrifice does not hunt but release, does not kill but gives life, does not come through pretense, but through the truth. This authority does not hide in disguise, does not offend, does not cause harm, does not slander, does not threat. This authority has nothing to do with names or numbers. This authority breaks our hearts without pressure. This authority breaks because it comes from a broken heart. This authority is covered by sacrifice and blood. This is the authority that made Matthew leave the receipt of custom, that made the Samaritan stop going to the well that could not quench her thirst, that broke the chains of the Gadarene, that raised Lazarus from the tomb, that took Saul of Tarsus out of spiritual blindness. This is the authority that we want to see prevail in the midst of the Work of the Lord. Amen l
all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.� In this phrase, Jesus speaks in present tense. But, when did this authority appear? Where did it come from? Beloved, this is the authority given to Him through the cross of Calvary. This is the authority as a fruit of sacrifice. This is April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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“THE GOSPEL IS SPREADING ACROSS
ISLAMIC COUNTRIES” Pastor Anthony Sosa, missionary of the Work of God, tells us about the progress of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Asia, the largest and most populous continent. The Lord’s Word keeps spreading.
With over twenty years of missionary activity, Pastor Anthony Sosa Powers is a genuine representative of the WMM evangelizing work. He, an American pastor, has been a privileged witness to the expansion of God’s Work around the world and can testify how the good news is spreading across Asia. Pastor Sosa has shared the message of Christ in nations as diverse as India, the State of Kuwait and Malaysia. A revealing testimony on the progress of the WMM. Pastor Sosa, what can you tell us about the WMM missionary work in Asia?
The Power of God has enabled the Worldwide Missionary Movement to gain ground in this part of the world in recent years. As part of my evangelizing work, I have seen the wonderful way in which God’s Word has spread across the largest and most populous continent on Earth. The Gospel, despite a series of adverse conditions, is settling in a vast territory that is not homogeneous and where other religions traditionally prevail. What is your analysis of the presence of God’s Work in India, where you have been on many occasions? In the second most populous country, the Work is growing day by day due to the excellent work done by the local members of the Worldwide Missionary Movement led by Rev. Sam Jacob and the unconditional support of Rev. Samuel Mejia, Missionary Supervisor of Asia. While traveling MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 46 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
I have witnessed the progress of Jesus Christ’s Work in India thanks to the enormous missionary ability of our brothers in this beautiful nation. In previous years, you have been to the State of Kuwait and Malaysia, countries where the good news slowly begin to gain ground, how do you assess the WMM’s breaking into the Arab culture and Southeast Asia? It is impressive how the Word of God is spreading across two countries where Islam is the official and main religion and where there are many restrictions. In Kuwait, where more than eighty percent of the population is Muslim, Pastor Mathew Mathai, Indian by birth, is the main representative of the WMM evangelizing work. While in Malaysia, nation that lacks many of the existing freedoms in Western societies, Pastor Murasu Rajan, who is also Indian, is leading the expansion of the Lord’s Work. How is Christianity being received in these countries where Muslim culture reigns? In principle, in both countries there is a great thirst for the truth offered by the Gospel among Indian immigrants. However, I have witnessed that, behind the countless religious restrictions among Kuwaitis and Malays, there is also interest among local citizens of these two countries to meet Christ and know what this faith in God is about. The Lord can do anything l
It is impressive how the Word of God is spreading across two countries where Islam is the official and main religion and where there are many restrictions. There is a great thirst for the truth offered by the Gospel. The Lord can do anything.
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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).
TRUST IN GOD For six consecutive days, many families across Peru gathered in the city of Lima to praise the Lord and listen to His Word.
God’s power has no limits: it managed to gather a crowd of over 250 thousand faithful to hold in Lima for six consecutive days the Family Convention of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Peru. The massive religious gathering, held under intense heat and under the theme “Trust in God,” took place from March 17 to March 22 at the Stadium of the National University of San Marcos. At the Family Convention’s opening, Rev. Luis Meza Bocanegra, Director of the Board of International Officers, gave a message entitled “I say to you, arise” in which he stressed that the most important thing is the Word of God. MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 48 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
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In this regard, he said that “we as Christians have to practice what we preach. Rituals can be very beautiful, but if there is no holiness, they are a lie. God does not fail. Humans or religion can fail.” On the third day of activities, Rev. Gustavo Martinez Garavito, President of the International Board of Officers of the Work of God, shared a message based on Psalm 27: 4-6 entitled “What do we give priority in our lives to?” In his speech, he said that “there are no barriers to faith. The Lord is with you wherever you go. He is light, salvation and strength.” At the closure of this great event, Rev. Rodolfo Gonzalez Cruz, WMM Treasurer
" (...) we as Christians have to practice what we preach. Rituals can be very beautiful, but if there is no holiness, they are a lie. God does not fail. Humans or religion can fail.”
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Continue reading––
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of the Board of International Officers, preached the Word of God through an emotional message called “Happiness is only in God.” In his speech, he said that “when science can do nothing, there is the Word of God. The Gospel has power. If you run out of resources, do not turn to obscurantism, sorcery or witchcraft. The solution is in God. For Him everything is possible” l
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WORKERS MEETING DURING THE FAMILY CONVENTION, WMM workers gathered to celebrate the II National Fellowship of Workers under the theme: “Women of good understanding.” The event was held on March 18-19 in the premises of the WMM Central Temple of Peru, located in La Victoria, Lima. In this event, the servants of the Lord consolidated their surrender to the cause of God and renewed their commitment to convey the good news to every human being who wants to know the truth of Jesus Christ. Likewise, the WMM sisters praised the King of kings. At this II National Fellowship of Workers, Sister Carmen Valencia de Martinez, wife of Rev. Gustavo Martinez, shared the Lord’s message. On the first day, the missionary gave a message entitled “Good understanding will lead us to the secret path,” in which she highlighted the need to always look for the presence of God. Then, on the final day, Carmen Valencia de Martinez preached a message called “Understanding will lead us to be faithful to our duty,” in which she said that “we should appreciate and seize the opportunities that God gives us to serve Him” l
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SPECIAL MEETINGS IN
CHENNAI
The Worldwide Missionary Movement in India shared the Word of God in the capital of Tamil Nadu during three beautiful days. The Worldwide Missionary Movement in India held three special worships in the city of Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu, from February 20 to February 22. The spiritual event took place in the facilities of the Church of the WMM in Almathy with the massive participation of the people of God.
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The worships were organized by Rev. Sukumar Jeyasingh, National Secretary of the Lord’s Work in India, for the local church to experience great revival and effective growth. The main speakers of the Word of the Lord were Rev. Benito Green, who arrived from the United States, and Pastor Sharon Devaprassannam, National Treasurer of the WMM in India. The glorious presence of God was evident in all services. The Almighty used the preachers greatly and His Word won over the hearts of the attendees, who experienced a renewal of faith and commitment. In the first sessions, Rev. Green preached about the empty jars at the Cana wedding. Afterwards, Pastor Sharon Devaprassannam preached about “The Christian life of a believer.” In these three special services carried out in the city of Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu, a large number of people surrendered their lives to God l
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“THE NEW BIRTH” The Worldwide Missionary Movement inaugurated a new temple in Greece and held its First Fellowship in this country, where the Work of God is growing. The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Greece opened its main temple and held its First Fellowship from February 20 to February 22. The Reception Hall of the Oasis Hotel, located in the city of Athens, was the place chosen for this spiritual celebration that was attended by Rev. Rodolfo González Cruz, Treasurer of the International Officers Board of the WMM, who came to the Hellenic country accompanied by his wife, Sister Rita Vázquez Gonzalez. Under the theme “Tearing down the fortresses,” the First Fellowship of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Greece was attended by delegations from Germany, Holland, Switzerland and Italy, as well as South American and Greek brothers. They all learMISSIONARY MOVEMENT 54 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia
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ned about the particular story of the arrival of the Work of God in Greek lands. In this regard, throughout the event, it was revealed that the WMM entered Greece through the international signal of Bethel Television, the channel for the happiness of the family, and the efforts of a local believer. At the inaugural service, Pastor González Cruz, who arrived from Peru, shared a message entitled “The New Birth,” based on Acts 17: 16-34. “A true Christian must be born again. Today, like Nicodemus, we must be born again, which means a total change in what we are and what we do,” he said. Then, on the second and third days of the First Fellowship of the Lord’s Work in Greece, Rev. González, along with his wife, made a great impact with the Word of God l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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“YOUTH CALLED TO BE STRONG” The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Uruguay held its Fourth National Youth Retreat. Representatives of several Uruguayan cities attended this event of faith. The Worldwide Missionary Movement in Uruguay held from February 20 to February 22 its Fourth National Youth Retreat under the theme “Youth called to be strong.” The event took place in the facilities of the “Asambleas de Uruguay” Bible Institute, near the coast of the department of Canelones. Dozens of people participated in the different spiritual activities, received biblical instruction and reinforced important principles of faith. Themes pertaining to young people were presented, among which “The call to serve,” by Rev. Alfonso Martínez, Supervisor of the Work in Uruguay; “Sexual Holiness”, by Sister Rumalda Martínez; “The Holy Spirit” by Pastor Daniel Lapaz; “The knowledge of God,” by Pastor Fabio Mosquera; “Courtship and friendship,” by Sister Liliana López de Mosquera; and “Internet and Social Networks”, by sister Laura Ballesté. During the first day, the first edition of three conferences took place. The young brothers organized into three working groups received the talks given simultaneously in different sectors. On the second day, nine conferences were presented for the different participating groups. One of the most striking presentations was the conference called “Sexual Holiness,” which urged young people to save themselves for marriage in a world hit by all kinds of sexual messages and influences l
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WOMEN RETREAT IN TERRASSA Over 120 women from the north zone of Spain attended the spiritual journey held in the province of Catalonia.
The Women Retreat of the North Zone churches of the Worldwide Missionary Movement took place on February 27 and February 28 in the city of Terrassa, province of Catalonia. The event was attended by about one hundred twenty sisters, including workers and collaborators of the Work of God. The theme of the retreat was “Women with double honor.” The attendees rejoiced with the praises and testimonies given in the services. Sister Marbelis de Medina, wife of Rev. Carlos Medina, National Supervisor of the WMM in Spain, shared the Word of God. Marbelis de Medina shared with great precision two messages throughout the day: “Double honor of a woman: wife and mother” and “The double honor: daughter and servant of the Almighty.” At night, the last message of the Women Retreat in Tarragona was given by Sister Mardory de Torrejón, from the church in Zaragoza, which was entitled “Woman, what have you brought to God?” l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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“THE WALLS WILL FALL DOWN” The Italian city of Livorno, known for its developed industrial center along the Mediterranean Sea, was the meeting point to celebrate the Eighth Anniversary of the church of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in this place. They were very special moments for the attendees, who came from all Firenze. The praise and music specials built a close brotherhood among the participants. During the preaching of the Word of God, the theme exposed was: “The walls will fall down,” taken from the book of Joshua 6:20, which says: “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets:
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and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” The event was attended by delegations from across the European country, as well as Rev. Luis Valderrama, priest of the south zone, and pastors Jonatán Angulo (Firenze Central), Denis Coronel (Firenze II), Ismael Bautista (Perugia) and José Lumi (Livorno), as representative of the city hosting the anniversary. Pastor Sergio Verizaga from the city of Amsterdam, Holland, also participated in this celebration l
EVENT
FELLOWSHIP IN AMAZONAS For three days in a row, the Brazilian Amazon was visited by the presence of the Lord and His Work through a United Fellowship that gathered several congregations of the region. The Brazilian city of Itacoatira, located in the state of Amazonas, held a United Fellowship from February 27 to March 1. The people of Jesus Christ in this city, with over one hundred thousand inhabitants, enjoyed the presence of God. Attended by a great part of the National Officers of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Brazil, the largest city in the Amazonas state commemorated this Christian encounter. They were three days of Christian celebration where the development of the program was focused on this
year’s theme: “Loyalty 2015.” Likewise, they highlighted the importance of the evangelization carried out in the prison of the city by pastor Arison, his wife Nivia and several workers of the Worldwide Missionary Movement. All of them participated actively in the fellowship, where they testified their work in favor of the re-socialization of inmates. This United Fellowship had as a result a strengthened church with greater responsibility towards its loyalty to God and his Work l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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FIRST FELLOWSHIP IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The First Fellowship in the Dominican Republic was held on February 21 and was attended by hundreds of young people, women and men.
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With the presence and grace of the Lord, the Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM) in the Dominican Republic held its First Fellowship of the year in which dozens of believers from across the Caribbean island lived an encounter with God. The Christian activity took place at the Convention Center of the Eduardo Brito neighborhood, located in the city of Santo Domingo. This first Fellowship of the WMM in the Dominican Republic was attended by the National Board of Pastors, as well as its National Supervisor, Rev. Rubén Concepción, who brought the message of the Lord. This Christian activity also served to recognize sisters Nuris Mejía and Rosa Herminia for their dedication and loyalty in the service of God. Both sisters, former officers of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, contributed for more than three decades to the growth of the Work. At another moment of the worship, the new board of directors in charge of the youth, women and men were appointed l
EVENT
PARAGUAY IN FELLOWSHIP For four days of glory, the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Paraguay held its Regional Fellowship.
In the city of Fernando de la Mora, located in Asuncion, the Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM) in Paraguay held from March 5 to March 8 its Departmental Fellowship, an event of faith that gathered many believers in the metropolitan area of Asuncion. The head of the place organizing the Departmental Fellowship is Sister Nidia Gómez, who welcomed all the brothers and guests
who came to receive the Lord’s blessing. The Word was shared by Rev. Luis Rivera and Rev. Jose Rojas, National Supervisors of the WMM in Paraguay and Argentina, who shared evangelistic messages that made an impact on many lives. The event was also attended by dozens of pastors who were ministered with the teachings and strengthened to continue spreading the Work of the Almighty l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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“RECEIVING NEW FORCES” With great joy, more than two thousand young people held in Venezuela the Youth Retreat of District 1. Under the theme “Receiving new forces,” young members from different churches of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Venezuela held the Youth Retreat from February 13 to February 17. In La Montaña de Dios, a place located in the town of Tovar, state of Aragua, about four hundred believers from the states of Anzoategui, Aragua, Barinas, Barquisimeto, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Tachira, Portuguesa and the Capital District, came together for this event. Rev. Carlos Guerra, from Costa Rica, was in charge of preaching the Word of God. The message, entitled “Sitting by the well,” was focused on the life of Moses and how God led him into the desert to make him the biggest warlord in ancient history. Other preachers of the Word were reverends Alfredo Cabrera and Fredy Arias. Simultaneously, reverends Samuel Mejía and Pablo César Ruedas, from Colombia, ministered the Word of the Lord in the city of El Vigia, state of Merida. While in the city of Santa Ana de Coro, state of Falcon, pastors Ciro Ramírez and Mauricio Fernández shared the good news. In total, God touched more than two thousand young people in Venezuela, who during five days decided to be filled with force and receive the teachings of the Bible l
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EVENT
FIRST FELLOWSHIP IN
PUERTO RICO
Nine presbyteries of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Puerto Rico gathered on February 14, in the town of Trujillo Alto, to hold their first Fellowship 2015. This year’s first fellowship of the Worldwide Missionary Movement (WMM) in Puerto Rico, held in the Christian Pentecostal Church in Trujillo Alto, gathered the nine zones of the country. Songs, devotionals, spiritual praises and testimonies marked the development of this spiritual meeting organized by Zone 3 and its priest, Rev. Federico Cabrera Sandoval. The Word of God was shared by Sister Julita Montes, head of the Church in Luquillo, who presented the theme “What is better,
to obey God or men?” based on 1 Peter 2:21. This sermon concluded with a call to the members of the Work of Jesus Christ to be always loyal to the Lord. Then, the new national leaders that will work in the Women and the Mission Departments were introduced: Sister Elizabeth Peña and Pastor Luis Rosado. Finally, the work done by the former leader of the Women Department, Sister Gretchen Lugo, was recognized; she worked with the ladies for five years l April 2015 / Impacto evangelistic
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Other Events
EL SALVADOR FIRST WOMEN FELLOWSHIP
The Christian Pentecostal Church of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in El Salvador held from February 24 to 28 the First Women Fellowship in the Central Zone at the Church of San Marcos, in southern San Salvador. The WMM Churches of San Marcos, El Pino and Mejicanos were present along with their pastors. Sister Rosa Gallegos, National President of Women, began this glorious activity. The praises were conducted by the praise ministry of the zone. This activity has created high expectations on the work and ministry of the women at local, regional and national levels. God’s Word was shared by Rev. Edwin Parada, WMM National Supervisor of El Salvador, under the theme: “Women of God in the 21st century,” based on Esther 4:14 l
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ECUADOR FIRST FELLOWSHIP OF ZONE 2
The First Fellowship of Zone 2 was held by the WMM in Ecuador from February 20 to 21. This activity took place at the temple of the Work in the city of Quevedo, province of Los Rios. The theme of the event was “Keep going while it is day.” The activity was attended by about 400 brothers, as well as Rev. Eugenio Masías Corbacho, National Supervisor, his beloved wife Sister Maria Rosa and Rev. Lorenzo Cuero, Presbyter of this zone, along with the pastoral group. In the first service, Rev. Eugenio Masías preached under the theme: “Remember Lot's wife” (Genesis 18:17; 19: 1). In the second service, in the morning, Sister Rosa Maria de Masias shared God's message under the theme: “We are living a time of grace and we cannot waste it” (1 Chronicles 7: 1 and 1 Peter 3: 1). Finally, in the third and final service, in the evening, Rev. Eugenio Masías sent a precious message with the theme: “Faith in the Word of God” (Hebrews 11; Matthew 5: 8-13) l
BELIZE NATIONAL CONVENTION
A glorious National Convention of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Belize was held from February 19 to 22 at the Meeting Room of the Gala Lounge in Orange Walk, Belize. This activity began under the theme: “Not by might, not by an army.” The event was attended by Rev. Alvaro Garavito, Missionary Supervisor of Central America and International Officer of the Work of the WMM. Rev. Garavito is also National Supervisor of the Work in Guatemala, and for this event he came with a group of brothers from Guatemala, including four ministers. A group of brothers from Costa Rica was also present. During all these days, God showed his glory in a special way, filling and strengthening His people and saving many souls l
ARGENTINA TRAINING AT THE BIBLE INSTITUTE
A new school year began last Saturday, February 28. The first class was Introduction to Level II of the Bible Institute and had 60 enrolled students. With one change in the staff, Sister Laura Bazán joined us in this challenge, and she will take the place of Pastor Ismael Parrado, who cannot continue teaching for reasons of supervision and will only have the position of Academic Director. The modules are divided into four themes: 1) Laura Bazán: “The History of the Church”, 2) Angel Salazar: “Typology,” 3) Isaac Vigo: “Pauline Letters” and 4) Elsa Garnica: “The Gospels”. To conclude, Sister Elsa Garnica said: “We can see the growth of all the brothers and mine. Sister Laura was a student who graduated from the Bible Institute and now becomes part of the faculty” l
REFLECTIONS
DIVORCE’S DEVASTATING
IMPACT ON CHILDREN Divorced parents generally have to keep in touch because of visitation rights. In these cases, there is no escaping the difficult feelings. When children feel tension and animosity, they often develop emotional traumas.
Children of divorce often experience the same hardships suffered by children born out of wedlock. Because divorce typically slashes the mother’s financial resources, “mothers and children in families that were not poor before separation suffered an average decline in income after divorce of 50 percent” (Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, The Divorce Culture, 1996, p. 93). The consequences of divorce on children are far-reaching. One detailed study found that, “five years after the divorce, more than a third of the children were experiencing moderate or severe depression. At ten years, a significant number of the now-grown young men and women appeared to be troubled, drifting, and underachieving. At the fifteenyear mark, many of the thirtyish adults were struggling to establish secure love relationships of their own … Cruelly, the experience of parental divorce damaged many young adults’ ability to forge strong attachments of their own, in both their work and their family lives” (ibidem, p. 99). A 25-year landmark study of 131 children of divorce demonstrated some alarming facts. “Adolescence begins early in divorced homes and, compared with that of the youngsters raised in intact families, is more likely to include more early sexual experiences for girls and higher alcohol and drug use for girls and boys” (Judith Wallerstein, The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce, 2000, p. 299). This study also found that “one in four of the children in this study started using drugs and alcohol before their fourteenth birthdays” (p. 188). Cohabitation rates were high among the group. Several of the single
young women felt that simply moving in with a man “was safer than marriage because escape was easier if they needed to get out or if the man left” (p. 289). Their reasons boiled down to a distrust of men that resulted when their parents divorced. Not as well publicized is the muchhigher rate of delinquent behavior among children of single-parent or otherwise divorced households. For example, “a study of Stanford University’s Center for the Study of Youth Development in 1985 indicated that children in single-parent families headed by a mother have higher arrest rates, more disciplinary problems in school, and a greater tendency to smoke and run away from home than do their peers who live with both natural parents—no matter what their income, race, or ethnicity” (Daniel Amneus, The Garbage Generation, 1990, p. 215). A far more extensive study of US Bureau of Justice statistics of 25,000 jailed juveniles found that “72 percent of them came from broken homes” and “a child growing up in a single-parent home (usually female-headed) is seven times as likely to be a delinquent” (ibidem, p. 179). In light of these debilitating consequences, we should not be surprised when God thunders: “I hate divorce…” (Malachi 2:16). The Bible also says in Hebrews 13: 4:“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” l
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THEY WRITE TO US... cartas@impactoevangelistico.net LUCY APONTE Blessings for all. Keep up this great task for the Work of God. This is my wish as a contributor since the beginning of the WMM in 1963. I had never written to you, but you are in my prayers. The magazine is wonderful. I still have the first editions in black and white. God bless you. From Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
JOHANNA GUILLEN PARRA Please receive my hear tfelt greetings from the Windy City. May the Lord bless you and keep you in His peace that goes beyond all understanding. My name is Andrea, I am 25 and I am a missionary. I would like to know more about your magazine and your working method. In my spare time, I write articles to edify young people, so I have the desire in my heart to share my writings with you. From Chicago, USA
MARIA ARAUZ God bless you. Your magazine has been a blessing to my life and your articles are really supported by God. I love it that, despite the temptation of the enemy, we can find a means of edification to our life. From Panama City, Panama.
ANA CLAUDIA RODRIGUEZ MELQUIADES Greetings to Impacto Evangelistic. Brothers, the magazine is a blessing to its readers. The testimonies that edify our spiritual lives are
ANANI ESPEZÚA MONTES DE OCA Beloved brothers, I encourage you to distribute the magazine in newsstands or other strategic places, since it would be an alternative to gutter press. God willing, people could get it at cost price. From Lima, Peru. amazing. I congratulate you for your great effort and dedication to the work of God. Keep going and may the Lord continue guiding you. God bless you. From Trujillo, Peru
ISAIAS TIRADO Good afternoon. I am interested in your material, such as the Impacto Evangelistic magazine. Right now, I am in charge of the young people in my church. Every Saturday, we have a youth gathering called “Cedulas,” where we have biblical teachings or Bible study and we would like to use your material this year. May God bless and preserve you. From Sonora, Mexico.
ANTONIO SANCHEZ Beloved brothers, I would like to thank everyone for the splendid work that you do to win over souls for Jesus Christ. May God Almighty continue to bless you greatly. I send you much love and gratitude for your hard work. Your brother in Christ, Antonio Sánchez. From Massachusetts, USA.
LARRY VELEZ God bless you my brothers. The magazine is a great blessing in my life. I wanted to tell you that I really like French. I have read some editions in this language and I would like to ask you if you know what French edition is used by the brothers who translate this magazine. That way I could get it, study it and use it as support for my studies in this language. Thank you very much for everything. Looking forward to your reply. From Colombia
GLOBAL AGENDA 2015 JANUARY 1-4 National Convention in Puerto Rico 6-13 National Convention in Colombia
FEBRUARY 5-8 Convention in Paraguay (Asuncion) 12-15 Convention in Argentina (Buenos Aires) 14-17 Convention in Panama 19-22 Convention in Belize MARCH 5-8 Convention in Honduras 7-12 National Family Fellowship (Lima-Peru) APRIL 1-5 Convention in Guatemala 2-5 National Fellowship in Australia (Sydney) MAY 2-4 Convention in Japan 27-31 Convention in India JUNE 11-14 Convention in Brazil (Manaus) JULY 2-5 7-10 7-11 8-11
Convention in Bolivia (Sucre) Convention in the USA (Marietta, GA) Convention in Costa Rica (Central Zone) Convention in the Netherlands Antilles (Aruba)
AUGUST 4-8 Convention in Venezuela 6-9 Convention in Mexico 6-9 Convention in Spain 12-15 Convention in Africa 12-16 Convention in Haiti 13-16 Convention in Italy 26-30 South American Congress in Guayaquil, Ecuador SEPTEMBER Saturday 26 - Mission World Day OCTOBER 9-11 National Fellowship in Canada 13-18 Convention in Peru (Lima) 21-25 Convention in Mauritius 22-24 Convention in the Dominican Republic 22-25 Convention in Uruguay (Montevideo) 26-28 Campaign in Madagascar 29-1 (Nov.) Convention in Chile (Santiago) NOVEMBER 5-8 Convention in El Salvador 26-29 Convention in Nicaragua DECEMBER 8-11 National Convention Lima(Peru)
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Founder Director: Rev. Luis M. Ortiz Editorial board: Rev. Luis Meza Bocanegra, Jacqueline Rovira, Samuel Martínez, Rev. Andrés Espejo Editorial coordinator: Rev. Julián Morón General editor: Víctor Tipe Sánchez Editor: Jaime Tipe Sánchez Graphic editor: Roberto Guerrero Graphic design: Adolfo Zubietta Writers: Johan Pérez Landeo, Marlo Pérez. Designers: Lesly Sánchez, Jorge Cisneros. Web master and Infographics: Julio de la Cruz. Illustration: Pablo Vilca. Transcription: Fanny Vidal. Community manager: Juan Becerra, Denisse Barrientos. Distribution: Javier Arotinco.
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MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 68 WORLDWIDE America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia