722_English by Impacto Evangelistico

March 2014 / Edition N° 722 / www.impactoevangelistico.net

The magazine that edifies your life

evangelistic

Devotional

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

Marriage and ministry Testimony

Melchor, free of drugs and alcohol

WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT

Hero of faith

The prince of preachers

The drama of alcohol

“Sipping

Saints” march 2014

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

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EDITORIAL

Follow God Rev. Gustavo Martínez International President of W.M.M.

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” 1 Kings 18:21.

ACK IN THE DAYS of prophet Eliah, the people of

The apostle Paul told the Galatian Church, “Ye did

Israel had left God, turned their back on Him

run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This per-

and gone after the false gods worshiped by the

suasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the

pagan nations. The sad thing is that these people had

whole lump” (Galatians 5:7-9). For a moment remember

been taught in the Word of God and had experienced

the early days in the Lord, when serving God was not

His power in their lives, as the Lord said through pro-

a burden but a joy, when being in commune was a de-

phet Jeremiah, “For my people have committed two evils; they

light, when being in the house of God was a powerful

have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them

blessing.

out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah

Dear reader, if you’ve lost interest in the Lord, we

2:13). These people had left the true God, the one who

invite you to turn to God, to return to the old path as

had brought them out from slavery and gave them a

soon as possible, today, and tell Him, “Lord, I need

stable place in the land of Canaan, showering them

you, I need your touch, I need you to fill me, I do not

with blessings.

want to live a wayward and empty life, I do not want

1 Samuel 3:1 says that in the days of Eli the priest

to continue as a religious, I want to drink from the

“the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision”.

rivers of the Spirit and the Word, I want to run after

In those days, the priest and the people were in similar

the message of life.”

conditions, there were disorder in the priesthood, abu-

How is your spiritual life? Your life is not the same,

se of authority and situations that made people stop

there is no praise, no life, no dedication, no Word, no

congregating. Nothing could encourage or help them,

desire to win the lost ones, no desire to improve. Being

there was no reprimand or teaching of the Scriptures,

humble is not simple anymore, you have lost the es-

and so the people walked away, went astray, and the

sence, the life and the true purpose. Then it is time to

glory of God was taken later from them, falling into a

turn to God, so as to go back to the time of surrender,

deplorable and sad state.

consecration, service and spiritual delight. Amen

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WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT www.impactoevangelistico.net America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

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Founder Director: Rev. Luis M. Ortiz March 2014 / Edition N° 722 (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 CHURCHES ESTABLISHED IN: Germany Argentina Aruba Australia Austria Belgium Belize Bolivia Bonaire Brasil Cameroon Canadá Chile Colombia Congo Costa Rica Curacao Dinamarca Ecuador El Salvador Spain United States The Philippines 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 Panamá Paraguay Peru Portugal Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Sweden Switzerland Surinam Trinidad and Tobago 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

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The Worldwide Missionary Movement is a religious nonprofit organization duly registered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in the federal capital, Washington DC, with headquarters in both cities and in every state of the United States and other countries where we have established missionary Works. Important The offerings and donations in cash, equipment, real estate and bequests by will, in the benefit of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, Inc.’s Work, are deductible from the income tax, and receipts issued by the WMM are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the Federal Government of the United States of America and of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico. n

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

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

Copyright © 2009 Impacto Evangelistic Movimiento Misionero Mundial, Inc. (World-Wide Missionary Movement, Inc.) All content of this magazine and each subsequent edition are duly registered at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC USA. All rights reserved. Total or partial reproduction in any form and translation into other languages without prior permission of the Director are prohibited. Under international copyright agreements, they are crimes punishable by law. n

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

• The inspiration of the Holy Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21. • The Adorable Godhead in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Matthew 3:16-17, 17: 1-5; 28:19, John 17: 5, 24, 26, 16:32, 14:16, 23, 18:5, 6, 2 Peter 1:17,18; Revelation 5. • Salvation by Faith in Christ: Luke 24:47, John 3:16, Romans 10:13, Titus 2:11, 3:5-7. • The New Birth: John 3:3, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 3:9. • Justification by Faith: Romans 5:1, Titus 3:7. • Water Baptism by Inmersion, as commanded by Christ: Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39. • The Baptism in the Holy Spirit subsequent to salvation, speaking in tongues according to: Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, 8, 2:4. • Divine Healing: Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:16, 17, Mark 16:18, James 5:14, 15. • The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. • The Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22-26. • Sanctification: 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15, 16, 1 John 2:6. • Ministry and Evangelization: Mark 16:15-20, Romans 10:15. • Tithing and Maintenance of the Work: Genesis 14:20, 28:22, Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21-26, Malachi 3:7-10, Matthew 10:10; 23:23. • The Rapture of the Church: Romans 8:23, 1 Corinthians 15:5152, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. • The Second Coming of Christ: Zechariah 14:1-9, Matthew 24:30, 31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Titus 2:13, Jude 14, 15. • The Millennial Kingdom: Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:5-10, Zechariah 9:10, Revelation 19:20, 20:3-10. • New Heavens and New Earth: Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1.

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Alcohol is now seducing millions of people, young and old, male and female, as it happened on the biblical passage of the golden calf that dazzled those who were waiting for Moses on the mount Sinai.

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COVER

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Impacto Evangelistic Magazine

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This is the second installment of the book “In the arena of faith” by theologian and writer Erich Sauer, who demands Christians to leave the frivolity and worldliness in which they live and to get rid of their complacency in a passive spirituality.

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Memories of the evangelisation work throughout the 50 years of the Worldwide Missionary Movement.

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Charles Haddon Spurgeon, prominent nineteenth-century preacher, marked an era in the history of World Christianity.

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Drugs and alcohol have almost always been part of his life. He was just 12 years old when he started to taint his body. As an addict, he formed a family just to destroy it.

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Events in: Bogota, New York, Puerto Rico, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Bolivia, Italy, Geneva, Chile, Ecuador, Philippinas and Switzerland.

Letters

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WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT

America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia COVER

The Drama of

alcohol This nation is fast becoming a sodden society of too many intoxicated citizens. Alcohol is now the modern golden calf, and millions of people, young and old, male and female, have been seduced by it. David Wilkerson

HE TEETOTALER, the prohibitionists, and all the others who have for years fought against this flood of booze have been laughed out of existence. We laugh to scorn those old–fashioned little ladies who went around smashing barrels of whiskey and shutting down bars and honky-tonks, and taking pledges of abstinence. We liberated moderns have made it fashionable to drink. It is now considered sophisticated, urbane, cool — to drink socially. Try saying “No” to the airline stewardess who keeps pushing drinks at you from the time you get on 6 Impacto evangelistic

the airplane till you deplane. “What do you mean, no drinks?” She looks at you as some kind of kook for refusing free drinks. People are offended nowadays when you refuse their offer of a complimentary drink. They try to make you feel unneighborly for not joining them, or that you are putting on a “holier than thou” attitude. Even President Carter couldn’t keep drinks out of the White House. To me, the real tragedy is that so many who call themselves “Christian” are now drinking. I call them “sipping saints,” because that is how it all begins — one sip at a time. A recent poll revealed that 81% of all Catholics now drink and 64% of all Protestants. These shocking figures keep mounting higher each month. The permissive attitude toward social drinking is fast creeping even into the most conservative, evangelical church circles. I have spoken at Charismatic

conventions where thousands of “Spirit–filled” saints of God lifted hands in praise and adoration to God — and after being dismissed, numbers of them walk out into the parking lot, open their car trunks and pull out a couple six– packs and pass them around to fellow worshipers. Others order mixed drinks with their restaurant meals, in between the praise sessions. They return to speak with “pickled tongues.” “And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands” (Isaiah 5:12).

The prophet Isaiah has a message for the entire Charismatic movement — in both Catholic and Protestant circles. “God’s people are in captivity to these things because of a lack of knowledge… But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness” (Isaiah

5:13–16).

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

g A fine Christian lady wrote to me saying: “We are good church– going Christians. We love the Lord, and we see nothing at all wrong with serving wine in our home. We drink moderately, and our children are learning to drink under our supervision. They do not overindulge. We have never seen anyone drunk in our home. “You are simply trying to make us feel guilty and are pushing your fundamentalist morals on us. We were not raised under the legalistic taboos like you evidently were. Frankly? Sir, our drinking habits are none of your concern.” God bless that dear lady — but one of these days it will be my business. It starts becoming my business when those teenagers go out with their friends and get stoned. Just today, one of my students, a converted alcoholic, told me how she became a drunkard. Her parents taught her how to drink moderately. At parties, birthdays, and when company came, everybody took a social drink. It was served at meals. She admired and loved her parents. They despised drunkenness, yet they had a bar in the house. This young lady started going to teenage parties and began to drink socially with her crowd. That led to drinking in clubs. Soon she was getting stoned in parked vans. Finally, when problems began to pile up, she began to lean on wine heavily. She ended up in a mental institution, a hard–core alcoholic. That same story is repeated to me over and over again from coast to coast. How many, many times I’ve heard it, “My parents 8 Impacto evangelistic

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1)

were considered good Christians. They went to church. But we always served wine or beer at our house. My big brother drank moderately and he was my hero. I drank to be like my

parents and big brother, but I couldn’t handle it. But they made me think drinking was the thing all good people do.” Am I prejudiced? Narrow–minded on the subject? You bet I am! And I have reason to be. My own brother, a minister’s son, started drinking beer moderately — just to be sociable with friends. He wound up a heavy drinker, leaving his wife and lovely

COVER

children to pursue his habit. Thank God he is saved today and back with his family. But I sent my brother Jerry with a team of converts to Europe to testify about what Christ did in delivering him from the power of alcohol. The Christians in Europe gladly rejoiced in the testimonies of deliverance from dope and prostitution — but they didn’t want to hear a word

about Jerry’s deliverance from alcohol. Why? Because European Christians guzzle wine and beer like water. It broke his heart. I have heard all the excuses for the drinking among Christians in Europe — and I can’t accept any of them. They blame it on impure water. They talk about it being rooted in their culture and customs. They drink “because they have

always done it.” How deeply offended some of the pastors were in Paris, France, when I refused to drink their wine. American missionaries, who themselves easily adopted the European customs, told me I should “do as the Parisians do, while in Paris!” Yet, how deeply offended I was when some of these same ministers were so stoned they couldn’t stay awake during my crusade. There is an alarming rate of alcoholism and heavy drinking in Christian circles in Europe. They do get drunk! They are not all moderate! None of their excuses make it right. And what phoniness for American Christians to drink “only in Europe.” They won’t touch a drop here in the States, but they think it’s “cute” to join the brethren over there in sipping a few! I am deeply offended by drinking Christians because of the terrible example it sets for young people! This nation is now facing a plague of drinking among teenagers. The two most popular words in school today are “cruising and boozing.” Drunkenness is spreading in our schools like a wildfire out of control. Kids tell me that as many as 80% of their class not only drink, but get stone drunk. We face the possibility of having over one million young alcoholics next year. I’ve been helping drug addicts for 20 years. But this drinking rage now sweeping our nation frightens me. They drink now because they think alcohol won’t “waste” them like drugs! Booze is now the preferred “liquid pot.” Everywhere you see teenagers getting stoned, they tell

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

g you — “No cops, no parents, no politicians can hassle us now — because they are all doing it, too. We finally found a kick that won’t put us behind bars!” We are forgetting the laws of God, the very laws Jesus said He came to fulfill. We now allow a lesbian priest to be ordained in the Episcopal church. Homosexuals not only flaunt their sins, they boldly seek recognition and power within the church. One million new divorces this year. Ten million kids victims of broken homes. Nude dancing in the church sanctuary. Liberal ministers mock old– fashioned biblical sex standards. They now tell our kids, “Masturbation is a gift from God to relieve your tensions.” And the lawlessness to end all lawlessness, some of our church agencies have been serving as fronts for anti– God, Communistic anarchists seeking to destroy democracy — using the churches’ missions money to engage in covert acts of violence. Do Christians drink because of ignorance? Has no one challenged them by the Word of God? Do these new converts from the Jesus movement drink to prove they are liberated and not under law? A young lady, a member of a Christian love commune, wrote to me recently and said, “Sure, we all drink. Jesus did; Paul did! The Bible is not down on it. Our leaders drink moderately. They are good Bible teachers and they travel, speaking at youth gatherings.” Yes — and I happen to know some of them also smoke. They mix Jesus with 10 Impacto evangelistic

“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things” (Proverbs 23:29-33).

their heavy rock music, and only God knows where the compromise ends. They seem to think that adding the word “Jesus” to anything sanctifies it and makes it all right. You say — “Don’t judge, David! What about the beam in your own eye?” I am not anyone’s judge. I have not set myself up as some kind of spokesman for any group. But Paul said, “We judge those within — God judges those without.” It’s time judgment was called for! It’s time all drinking Christians were challenged!

It’s time for the Holy Spirit to expose the looseness, the slaphappy “anything goes” attitude. If it’s wrong for my dear converted alcoholics and addicts and prostitutes to drink, even moderately, then it is deadly wrong for mature Christians to drink and set a poor example for them. And I get very weary and spiritually indignant when drinking Christians come back at me with — “Aw, you’re just a fundamentalist, law bound, moral do–gooder. We modern, liberated Christians are free in Christ. We are

COVER

not under law. We will not be bound by your attacks on our freedom.” That offends everything in me that yearns for godliness and holiness. That offends every young convert whom God has convicted of past drinking habits. And the Bible says “But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” (Matthew 18:6–7).

I refuse to give in to the

mounting pressures of worldliness — in the disguise of spiritual freedom! What has happened to us, saints of God — when we can sit idly by and not rebuke the fast eroding morals in the house of God? I believe in free grace, but not licentiousness. I believe in the imputed righteousness of Christ, by faith. But I also believe the holiness of God demands that we “touch not that which is unclean.” I also believe that smoking ministers are not being honest with God. These “puffing prophets” refuse to practice what they preach.

And drinking ministers are a reproach to the name and power of God. It is not an effort to condemn true ministers of the gospel. But how can we as ministers and parents ask our kids to quit using drugs and alcohol, if we will not clean up our own lives — and set a Christ–like example? At times, just for a fleeting moment, I think to myself, “Maybe I’m the one who is wrong. Maybe these new Christians who rock, roll, smoke, drink, and who go back to their old haunts to sing,

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

g entertain, and perform — maybe they have seen something in God I haven’t yet seen. Maybe all these fast changes aren’t compromise, but a sign of maturity and growth. Maybe I am too old–fashioned — too out of it to recognize some new thing God is doing.” But then I begin to compare the rollicking, boisterous sounds of their music with the old songs like “The Old Rugged Cross,” and “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Then I want to cry! I look at them going back into those smoke– filled clubs to entertain the drinking crowd on the pretense of taking Jesus with them, and then I compare them with all the millions of God’s people over the centuries from the martyrs on down to the converted addicts and gangs of today, who forsook the world and all its associations to take on the reproach of Christ. I begin to weep for those compromised Christians. I know I am not wrong. Please don’t get mad at me! If you are one of the sipping saints — don’t allow your hurt or anger to rob you of the truth. If you find yourself resenting this message of separation — it is probably because God has already convicted you — and He is now wanting you to enjoy complete freedom. Pray that God will lay it on the hearts of ministers all over the nation — to take a bold stand in their pulpits against these insidious trends. Pray for our teenagers! The pressures on them to drink with the crowd are getting worse daily. They need to be encouraged to stand up and resist, lest they be drawn into this whirlpool of drunkenness u 12 Impacto evangelistic

COVER

I've been helping drug addicts for 20 years. But this drinking rage now sweeping our nation frightens me. They drink now because they think alcohol will not “waste” them like drugs! Booze is now the preferred “liquid pot.”

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The dangers of alcoholism WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT America • Europe • Oceanía • África • Asia

The Bible says: “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge… Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure.” Isaiah 5:11-14. “Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.” Ezekiel 44:21. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1. “Be not among winebibbers…” Proverbs 23:20. “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who

hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.” Proverbs 23:29-33. “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” Proverbs 31:4-5. “Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.” Hosea 4:11. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit…” Ephesians 5:18.

Source: WHO (World Health Organization).

The most damaging rum

95 %

de alcohol

320 000

young people between the age of 15 and 29 die from alcohol-related causes, resulting in 9% of all deaths in that age group.

Made in the USA by Luxco company, this type of drink has an alcohol content of 95%. Just for being so strong, it is illegal, but it is very popular among American university students. As it is very strong, some use it to light fires and even as an antiseptic.

A recent survey revealed that

81 % 64 %

of Catholics

The consume of alcohol is related to many serious problems of society and its development, such as violence, maltreatment of children and absenteeism in the workplace.

and

of Protestants drink alcohol.

24 100

out of every

accidents are caused by alcohol.

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Alcohol shortens your life.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1.

Deadly effects of alcohol on the body

Excessive alcohol inhibits the functions of the frontal region of the brain, decreasing memory, concentration and self-control.

- High blood pressure, strokes, and other heart-related diseases. - Liver disease. - Damage to the nerves. - Sexual problems. - Permanent brain damage. - Vitamin B1 deficiency, which can lead to a disorder characterized by amnesia, apathy and disorientation. - Ulcers. - Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach walls) - Malnutrition. - Mouth and throat cancer.

In the liver, the effects of this metabolism are nausea, vomiting and headache.

Alcohol is the world's third largest risk factor for disease burden; it is the leading risk factor in the Western Pacific and the Americas and the second largest in Europe

Global percentages of the DALYs* attributed to 19 major risk factors, by income group. Underweight children Risky sexual practices. Alcohol consumption. Unsafe water, sanitation, hygiene. High blood pressure. Smoking. Poor breastfeeding. Hyperglycemia. Indoor smoke from solid fuels. Overweight and obesity. Physical inactivity. High-income countries

Hypercholesterolemia.

Middle-income countries

Occupational risks.

Low-income countries

Avitaminosis A. Iron deficiency. Low fruits and vegetables intake. Zinc deficiency. Illicit drugs. Unmet need for contraception. Global percent of the DALYs (total, 1530 million

2,5

million deaths each year

are caused by harmful consumption of alcoholic drinks.

* Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) extends the concept of potential years of life lost due to premature death…to include equivalent years of 'healthy' life lost by virtue of being in states of poor health or disability.

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

REMINISCENCES

of the

WORK 16 Impacto evangelistic

IMAGES

1. Reunion of the brothers who encouraged the Work in Ecuador and started the evangelization of this country. 2. Mr. and Mrs. Ortiz Hernรกndez, the consummation of love. A historical moment in 1943.

3. Mass campaigns for the glory of the Lord, organized by Luis M. Ortiz in the decade of 1950.

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

Venezuela’s Nightmare

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29:2.

The situation is not easy for the government of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Thousands of young opposition activists protest against the difficult economic and political situation in Venezuela.

HE TRIGGER was an attempted rape against a university student in the city of San Cristobal on February 4. Two days later, hundreds of people mobilized, a group attacked the governor’s residence and the protests grew. After several demonstrations, the student federations called for a march in Caracas. Nicolas Maduro also called on the “chavistas” to mobilize, and so the violence began. The reasons to the street demonstrations are many, but they have something in common: the discontent. President Maduro has been 18 Impacto evangelistic

burying his head in the sand for months, but that does not avoid sunstroke. Maduro refuses to accept that people are tired and need policy changes. He persists with the theory of international conspiracy and maintains that the movement’s intention is to carry out a coup d’état. It is true that there was a marked decrease in the levels of poverty and inequali-

ty during Chavez’ term. But everything seems to indicate that the current economic data shows the costs of the policies adopted in the past. In 2008, the government debt was 23% of GDP; in 2011, 43 %; in 2013, 57%, and it keeps growing. The inflation rate in 2006 was 14%, in 2012 it was 21%, and in 2013 it increased to 38%. Many analysts state that today is

INTERNATIONAL

President Maduro has been burying his head in the sand for months, but that does not avoid sunstroke. Maduro refuses to accept that people are tired and need policy changes. He persists with the theory of international conspiracy.

already above 50%. In 2008, unemployment was 7.4% and increased to 10.3 % in 2013. On the other hand, GDP grew 10% in 2006 and 5.6 % in 2012. In 2013 it grew by only 1%. The scarcity index, which measures the lack of goods, reached in January this year 28%, its highest level since it was first measured. This means that the products are increasingly in short supply and when they are available, the price is so high that they sometimes become unaffordable. Besides these factors, there is a crisis that comes from long ago and continues to deepen: a terrible crisis of

security that has psychologically affected a citizenship invaded by fear and mistrust. Finally, reports such as the Amnesty International Re-

port 2013, have documented the problems of impunity that persist in this country as well as the human rights violations and the lack of independence of the Judiciary. The crisis in Venezuela will have international repercussions. The financial support and oil given by Venezuela in recent years to Nicaragua, Bolivia and Cuba is incalculable. The oil royalties to many Caribbean countries are a key element for economic support. Bolivarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream of a united Latin America is certainly a legacy of former President Chavez. Unfortunately, the internal crisis may end up being its main enemy u march 2014

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

The Apocryphal (V) Gospels

This is the fifth installment of this valuable work that reveals the intention of the authors of the Popular Version of the Bible in Spanish, which attempts to undermine the basis of Christianity. Rev. Domingo Fernández Dr. César Vidal Manzanares

) TEXTS ABOUT SALVATION: Just as the divinity of Christ is a doctrine minimized in the PV, the teaching on salvation receives a particularly inconsiderate treatment. Not only the word “justify” has been changed again and again by “make just” (which implies a clear theological difference), but also some references to the value of the blood of Christ or to His saving mission have been omitted. Matthew 9:13 RVR. “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the 20 Impacto evangelistic

righteous, but sinners to repentance.” PV. “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (In the PV it is not stated that this is a call to repentance). Matthew 18:11 RVR. “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” The PV completely suppresses verse 11. John 6:47 RVR. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” PV. “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.” (The PV suppresses the reference to the fact that the believing should be in Jesus). Colossians 1:14 RVR. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” PV. “In whom we have

redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (The PV suppresses the reference to the blood of Christ). I Peter 4:1 RVR. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.”

HISTORY

PV. “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude...” (The PV suppresses the fact that Christ suffered for us). Zechariah 9:9 RVR. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having sal-

Just as the divinity of Christ is a doctrine minimized in the PV, the teaching on salvation receives a particularly inconsiderate treatment. Not only the word “justify” has been changed again and again by “make just” (which implies a clear theological difference), but also some references to the value of the blood of Christ or to His saving mission have been omitted.

vation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” PV. “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (The PV suppresses the reference to

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g the fact that the Messiah is the Savior). III) Texts about prophecies fulfilled: One of the bases of the truthfulness of the Christian faith lies in the fact that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies - over three hundred - that mark him out as the Messiah promised by God. As we will also see in Chapter 3, the PV shows a special interest in omitting the texts stating that Jesus fulfilled a messianic prophecy as well as in hiding those passages of the Old Testament that were fulfilled in Jesus. Matthew 27:35 RVR. “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, they parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.” PV. “When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” (The PV suppresses the reference to the fulfillment of the messianic prophecy in Jesus). Mark 15:28 RVR. “And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, and he was numbered with the transgressors.” The PV entirely suppresses this verse and with it the reference to the fulfillment of a messianic prophecy in Jesus. IV) Texts about the virginal conception of Jesus: As noted in the introduction, this biblical doctrine was emphasized at the begging of the century as one of the basis of the Christian faith especially attacked by liberal theolo22 Impacto evangelistic

(…) fornication is replaced by “immorality” or “sexual immorality”, and so once again the content of sexual relations between unmarried people is obscured and replaced by a word as ambiguous as “immorality”, which is not further defined.

gy. That liberal attack is also obvious on the PV. Isaiah 7:14 RVR. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” PV “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The young woman will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel”. (The PV suppresses the reference to the fact that the mother of Immanuel – the Messiah – was a virgin). Luke 1:34 RVR. “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”

HISTORY PV. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “seeing I live not with a man?” (The PV suppresses the reference to the fact that Mary was still virgin). Luke 2:33 RVR. “And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.” PV. “The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.” (In the PV Luke converts Joseph in the father of Jesus when only God was His father. See Luke 2:49). V) Texts about Christian life: If Christian theology is clearly attacked by the PV, so is the basis of the life of the disciple of Christ. In the following examples, we can see how the PV not only undermines something as essential to the Christian life as prayer, but also provides the basis for an interpretation of sexuality to be completely contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures. Matthew 6:13 RVR. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” PV. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (The PV suppresses the reference to the fact that God’s is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever). Matthew 23:14 RVR. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”

The PV entirely suppresses this verse. Luke 11:2-4 RVR. “And he said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” PV. “He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” (The PV suppresses the reference to the fact that God is “our” Father, that His will must be done (v.2), that the bread is “ours” (v. 3), and the will of being delivered from evil (v.4)). Matthew 17:21 RVR. “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” The PV entirely suppresses verse 21. Mark 7:16 RVR. “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” The PV entirely suppresses verse 16. Mark 10:24 RVR. “And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” PV. “The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom

of God!” (The PV suppresses the reference to the fact that this difficulty is special for “those who trust in riches”). Mark 11:26 RVR. “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” The PV entirely suppresses verse 26. 1 Corinthians 6:18 RVR. “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” PV. “Flee from prositution. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” (The PV replaces in various texts – see also 1 Corinthians 6, 9 – “fornication by “prostitution”. This alteration of the biblical text is very serious, as God’s displeasure towards the sin that involves sex between unmarried people is not shown, and His rejection is limited only to fornication in which money is involved, i.e. prostitution. In other verses (Colossians 3, 5; 1 Thessalonians 4, 3; etc.), fornication is replaced by “immorality” or “sexual immorality”, and so once again the content of sexual relations between unmarried people is obscured and replaced by a word as ambiguous as “immorality”, which is not further defined). As briefly exposed in the previous pages, the PV substantially alters the content of Scriptures in the doctrinal and ethical grounds. In the next chapter, we shall see how it has also made alterations presumably aimed at pleasing some of its customers u march 2014

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In the Arena of Faith (II)

“

OOKING UNTO JESUS the author and perfecter of faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.” (Hebrews 12: 2, 3.) All depends on how one looks at life. He who would live aright, must see aright. He who would live aright as a Christian, must look upon Christ. “If you wish to be disappointed, look upon others. If you wish to be downhearted, look at yourself. 24 Impacto evangelistic

But if you wish to be encouraged and to experience victory, look upon Jesus Christ.” He, Jesus alone, is the source of power for all who run in the arena of faith and who would reach the goal of their calling. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews shows us in chapter 12 a magnificent picture of the Crucified One. Christ endured the cross. Without this central event in the history of revelation there would be no salvation. For this purpose the message of Christ and His sacrificial death, in connection with the triumph of His resurrection, must occupy the central place in the foreground of all true and Scriptural and effective preaching of the gospel. In the arena of faith: “Let us look unto Jesus!” He endured the cross: 1. As the steadfast Hero with an unflinching will to attain unto victory What outwardly appeared to be weakness was in fact inward power and strength. How easy it

would have been for Him to have come down from the cross and freed Himself. Without any difficulty. He could have prayed the Father for “twelve legions of angels,” which surely would have been granted Him (Matt. 26:53). We can hardly imagine what that would have meant. When God in the days of Hezekiah saved Jerusalem which was attacked and much oppressed by the Assyrians, He sent only one angel out against this strong military might of the Assyrians, and this one angel destroyed one hundred and eighty-five thousand Assyrian soldiers and officers in one night (II Kings 19, 35). Now Jesus declares that He could have twelve legions. The word “legion” is taken from Roman military use. The Roman legion, on a war footing, consisted of 6,000 soldiers. So this would mean, if we express ourselves in modern military terms that heavenly armies to the order of brigades and divisions would have come to His aid. And only a single member of these ten thousands of heavenly

LITERATURE

warriors could have destroyed in one single night hundreds of thousands of His enemies! If only Christ had wished it! But He did not wish it. He knew that the vicarious redemptive sacrifice could be offered only by holding firmly on His way of suffering. And therefore He remained on the way of suffering. Therefore He held out until the goal was reached and until in the hour of death on Golgotha He could cry victoriously, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). The Hebrews letter most strongly emphasizes this

steadfastness and unflinching will to conquer on the part of Jesus. This amazing situation on Golgotha is described in three steps: He, the Lord of the Universe, endured “contradiction” of earth-born creatures, indeed “great” contradiction, yes, even “so” great contradiction. He, the King of Glory, allowed Himself to be despised and put to shame, and then, in the midst of all this shame, in true kingly dignity, He “despised the shame.” And finally: He, the Perfect and Holy One, endured all this

at the hands of “sinners.” Sinners treated Him thus. Sin is in reality the dishonoring of the creature. That means that creatures who had lost their own honour through sin robbed Him, the holy King of glory, of His honour. They even expelled Him from human society by executing Him as a criminal, as they regarded Him. To bear all this without being compelled to do so; to make no use of all the power which could have helped; to allow oneself to be conquered when one is in rea-

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g lity vastly superior to one’s enemies, and all this only in order to reach a high goal-this is indeed unflinching will to conquer, unequalled steadfastness, this is real genuine heroism of indescribable, unrivalled greatness. Of a truth, Christ, the greatest of all endurers, was the greatest herowarrior just in this, His enduring. In the arena of faith: “Let us look unto Jesus!” He endured the cross: 2. As Leader and perfect Exponent of the faith Christ is the “Author and Perfecter of faith.” Scripture does not speak here only of “our” faith in the sense that Christ is the creative basis of our personal faith through His sacrificial death, His resurrection, and the preaching of the gospel through the Holy Ghost, or in the sense that He keeps us in the faith, perfects our faith and brings His own people to the goal. The Scripture here speaks of faith in general. The same word (Gk. archegos), which is translated in Hebrews 12 by the 26 Impacto evangelistic

English word “author,” occurs in Hebrews 2:10, The Object of our faith had Himself practiced faith. This, in the sense of “trusting,” He did even before His incarnation, indeed, before the creation of the world, in an eternal Divine manner. For there can never have been a moment when the Son did not trust the Father. Thus He originated the principle of faith (trust) in God, “and He perfected the development and display of faith by surrendering His original glory, by stepping down to the state of manhood, by walking on earth as a dependent being and above all by surrendering Himself unto the death of the cross” (G. H. Lang). Inasmuch as the Son must have from eternity trusted the Father, He was the first to have exercised faith, and so is its “Author”. On the cross He brought faith to its highest conceivable development, and so became its Perfecter.” Thus He, as pioneer of faith, goes before His own, showing them the way by Himself believing, and thus His, faith becomes

the most perfect example of faith. The true Son of God and of man showed in Himself how faith may be raised to the highest degree of perfection. Jesus showed perfect faith. In this way He is at once Author, Pioneer, Forerunner, full Exponent and Perfecter of faith. This is most wonderfully shown in His cry of victory: “It is finished!” If this cry had been uttered on the resurrection morning or after the ascension to the throne of God’s glory, one would perhaps have understood it-we say this in all reverence. But Christ uttered this cry at Golgotha, at the very moment of apparent defeat, when the sun had been darkened, when bodily and spiritual sufferings were at the worst, when His enemies mocked Him and triumphed over Him, when the dark moment of death was approaching ever nearer, then He cried: “It is finished!” In the darkest hour of the history of the whole world He gave utterance to the most radiant cry of victory. If in fact faith is, according to the testimony of

LITERATURE the Hebrews letter, the “substance” (realization) of things “hoped for,” the “evidence” (conviction) of things “not seen” (Heb. 11:1), then the faith described here as exercised by Jesus-is of the most perfect order. Never has anyone so exercised faith as Jesus on Golgotha. Faith was brought here to a state of absolute perfection. For this very reason Christ is the One, who, enduring the cross, became not only the Pioneer and Captain of faith, but in the deepest meaning of the word the Perfecter of faith. In Him we see for the first time what true faith actually is. At the same time the perfect humanity of the incarnate Son of God shines before our eyes (John 1:14). It is our habit, and rightly so, to regard the deity of the Redeemer and His eternal relationship as Son of God as the central point in our spiritual thinking. Of a truth, Jesus of Nazareth, who made His pilgrim way through this world and then was crucified for our sakes on the cross, was “God manifested in flesh” (I Tim. 3:16), “God blessed for ever” (Rom. 9:5). But we should never forget that He was God revealed “in flesh,” that is, truly as a man in life and nature. Or as one of the early church fathers expressed himself: “He remained what He was. He became what we are.” “He was at once in His own world and nature as equally in our own world and nature.” To try to clear up this mystery would be foolishness. The mystery of His incarnation is forever unfathomable. Christ did not only work the miracle of all miracles, the original archetypical miracle. We must recognize the truth of His humanity and the truth of His deity. In Christ we have a man on this earth who perfectly carried out the will

of God. In Him it became clear what God meant when He said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26). Christ’s life on earth is the perfect explanation of the meaning of the creation of man. How encouraging and refreshing it is to know that this perfect Man has given us the proof that it is possible to live in faith here on earth, in our present circumstances, in such a way as perfectly to glorify God. When we look at His heavenly priesthood from this point of view, how effective and vital it becomes. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). For this reason meditation on the humanity of the Incarnate One is not a speculative problem of Christian theological philosophy, but a subject for serious contemplative thought for the believing heart, so that it may be encouraged to go on in the way of practical sanctification. Our Lord’s example is given to form and educate us. The picture of Jesus given us in the Gospels should not be used exclusively for evangelistic purposes, that is, chiefly for those who are “without” in order to win their souls; it should be used just as much for ourselves to teach us practical faith in life and sanctification. This applies both for the regular devotional Scripture readings of the individual and for public ministry in the church. The true humanity of the Redeemer and His life of faith on earth give us the reason why the author of the letter to the Hebrews does not introduce Him in our verse by His title as “Christ”; he does not say, “Let us look unto Christ,” but he names Him by

His name “Jesus” to emphasize His humanity and does not even add the word “Christ,” or any title belonging to His deity, such as “Kyrios” (= “Lord”). He says quite simply: “Let us look unto Jesus.” This is done purposely; just as in other parts of the New Testament the two names “Jesus” and “Christ” are carefully distinguished. “Jesus” is the name which was given to the Son at His incarnation (Matt. 1:21). This name is therefore connected in a special manner with the period of His life on earth, His true humanity and His humiliation. It is the name which He has in common with other men (e.g., Jesus Sirach, Jesus Justus: Col. 4:11). “Christ” is His title as Messiah, into the full meaning of which He entered later by His ascension and exaltation. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Thus the reason is clear why the Gospels speak mostly of “Jesus” while the Epistles use mostly the title” Christ.” For the Gospels treat mostly of the time of His humiliation, while the Epistles testify of Him as the raised and exalted One. It is only in the places in the Epistles where the past humiliation of the Incarnate One is emphasized that the name “Jesus” appears alone (II Con 4:10; Phil. 2:10; I Thess. 4:14; Heb. 2:9; 13:12). The passage which we are now considering also treats of the time of humiliation of the true Son of Man, and thus the use of the name “Jesus” here shows again how perfect and exact is the inspired Word of God. In the arena of faith: “Let us look unto Jesus!” He endured the cross u march 2014

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Oh God’s love!

Work of English poet Frances Ridley Havergal. Her message reminds every follower of the Lord that holiness is a supreme duty, and that we should always persist on the path of faith.

“

AKE MY LIFE, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee; take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.” This is how hymn “Take my life and let it be” begins, a beautiful Christian song. The words of this ode written by Frances Ridley Havergal are a reminder to all believers that just as the child is forced to become a man, Christians have the obligation to walk in holiness. It is also a call not to forget how much we depend on the grace of Jesus Christ to continue on the path of faith. Frances Ridley Havergal was born on December 14, 1836 in the village of Astley, Worcestershire County, England. Rai28 Impacto evangelistic

sed in a Christian family, she showed great intelligence since she was little. She learned to read at the age of four, and by seven, she was already writing verses with remarkable fluency and amazing depth. She learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and memorized the Psalms, the book of Isaiah, and most of the New Testament. Likewise, she always took pleasure in prayer, Bible reading and worship. Throughout her life, Frances had a clear interest in God’s things. Once, while listening to a sermon given by a pastor, she was so impressed that at the end of the service, she addressed the preacher to talk more about the good news, but he was an unskillful counselor and did not help her find Christ. However, in February 1851, when she was nearly 15 years old, “longing to know that she was forgiven” and after an extensive conversation with a pious woman, she experienced the new birth. The following year, Frances accompanied her father and his

second wife to Germany and studied there for a year in the city of Düsseldorf. She came back to England in December 1853, but three years later she returned to Germany. In this second stay, Havergal met musician Ferdinand Hiller, a man of vast experience who instantly noted her musical talent and the beauty of her harmonies. She engaged in a fruitful composing activity of hymns and poems ever since. The hymn “Take my life and let it be” was written in 1874 and joyfully accepted by the Christian community, being translated into a dozen languages. Frances revealed that God inspired her to write this song after leading two young men to repentance. Not being able to sleep for the joy caused by this event, she prostrated herself before the Lord and spent most of the night worshiping Him and renewing her own consecration. Frances’ health was fragile, but that did not stop her to have a very active life, being most of

MUSIC TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

1 Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my hands, and let them move At the impulse of Thy love. 2 Take my feet, and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice, and let me sing, Always, only, for my King. 3 Take my lips, and let them be Filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold; Not a mite would I withhold. 4 Take my moments and my days Let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my intellect, and use Every power as Thou shalt choose. 5 Take my will, and make it Thine; It shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne. 6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure-store. Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee.

her work totally dedicated to the service of the Lord: she talked, taught, sang, prayed and wrote to Him. She visited the sick and weak, and often made long journeys to take a message of hope. Every time someone referred to her health, she answered with these words: “I see my pain in the light of Calvary”. In autumn 1878, she moved to the community of Mumbles,

POEMS AND HYMNS

L THOUGH SHE IS best known for her hymns and poems, Frances Havergal also published prose writings, such as “Morning Bells”, “Little pillows”, “My King and his service”, “Kept for the Master’s Use”, among others, all marked by the same sincere and practical godliness. Regarding her collection of poems and hymns, we can mention “Ministry of song”, “Under the Surface”, “Loyal Responses” and “Under His Shadow.” Her autobiography was published in “Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal” by one of her sisters.

located in Wales, in order to renew her physical strength to continue her ministry. However, she suffered from peritonitis and went to be with the Lord at the age of 42 on June 3, 1879. Due to the brilliant style of her writings, Preacher Charles Spurgeon said after her death: “Frances could never have written as she has except for an extraordinary intimacy with God” u march 2014

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The Prince of Preachers

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, prominent nineteenth-century preacher, marked an era in the history of World Christianity. It is estimated that he preached the Word of God to approximately ten million people. Tireless Son of the Lord.

ECOGNIZED AS “The Prince of Preachers”, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was one of the most devoted Christians used by God to cause a spiritual revival in the Victorian England of the nineteenth-century. This servant, who evangelized about ten million people and preached ten times a week in different places – matching up to other titans of faith like George Whitefield and Charles Wesley –, remains in the memory of God’s followers due to the impact of his messages, the energy shown at the pulpit, his witty sermons and specially the passion for lost souls. 30 Impacto evangelistic

Spurgeon was born in Kelvedon on June 19, 1834 in the English County of Essex. His father John and his grandfather James were Gospel ministers, so Charles was nourished with the Scriptures since very little. At a very young age, Charles was taken to his grandfather’s house located in Stambourne, where he was raised by an aunt whom he affectionately called “aunt mother” When Spurgeon was six, he read “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan and throughout his life he read it a hundred times more. PREMONITORY WORDS

During the time he spent with his grandfather, the latter noticed how sensible and insightful Spurgeon was, and so he had no doubt that the boy would be very important someday. Impressed by his intelligence, his passion for reading and judicious perso-

HERO OF FAITH

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g nality, Richard Knill, famous pastor of that time, said some premonitory words regarding Spurgeon: “I do not know how it is, but I feel a solemn presentiment that this child will preach the gospel to thousands, and God will bless him to many souls.” Spurgeon excelled at mathematics and used to read the Scriptures during family worship. He memorized many hymns during his childhood, which were later used in his sermons. When he was 16 years old, he had his first experience with God. On the night of December 15, 1850, while he was walking through the streets of Colchester, absorbed in one of his many thoughts, he heard a distant singing. When he got to the modest church, where that singing was coming from, he decided to enter and hear the Word of God. Facing the congregation was one of the church’s officers who had taken over from the main pastor because of an emergency. Nervous and insecure, this son of the Almighty read the text of Isaiah 45:22 (“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else”) and he did nothing but constantly repeat it. However, that was enough for Charles’ heart to be touched by the Holy Spirit, and that same night he acknowledged Christ as his Lord and Savior. As soon as he converted, he became a voracious reader of the Scriptures. PASTORAL MINISTRY

After he finished his studies, 32 Impacto evangelistic

he worked as an assistant at a Christian school. The school soon moved to Cambridge and Spurgeon went there and joined the church where Robert Hall and Robert Robinson had been famous preachers in. This congregation had 15 missionaries spread in the nearby villages who were part of the Lay Preachers’ Association, of which Spurgeon will later become a member. He gave his first sermon in a cottage at Teversham, near Cambridge. Since the beginning, his eloquence appealed in such a way that in 1852, at the age of 18, the little church of Waterbeach called him to join as a pastor. With full readiness, he accepted the challenge, and did such a good job that his “fame” extended to the very English capital. The following year, the deacons of the London Southwark church invited him to occupy their pulpit. He arrived in London at the age of 19 to preach in the pulpit of the New Park Street Chapel. On the morning of December 18, 1853, Spurgeon’s powerful voice was heard for the first time in the English capital. Such was the impact of his first message that in the following Sundays the attendance increased. Four months later, on April 28, 1854, the deacons of this Church unanimously asked him to be their pastor. His success in this important position was such that by the end of the year it was indispensable to enlarge the building. While the reconstructions were made, they rented the facilities of the Exeter Hall, a famous hall at that time. Spurgeon’s sermons were pu-

blished and reached an unprecedented sale. In 1856, back in the New Park Street Chapel, they had to rent another place again because the capacity was insufficient. Then, the congregation of Charles moved to the House of Music, which had a 700-people capacity. Aware of the necessity of having a more appropriate place, Spurgeon and his congregation planned to have built a new place. Thus, in 1859, the first stone of the Metropolitan Tabernacle was laid, and the construction was completed in 1861. POWERFUL PREACHER

In one year, 200 000 copies of his sermons were distributed at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. His sermons were translated into 20 languages. Likewise, American newspapers used to print his sermons each week and called him the preacher of the moment. In his lifetime, he published 3561 sermons. Today, his sermons are grouped in 63 volumes, enough to read one different sermon every day for ten years. Also, the series of Spurgeon stand as the largest set of books written by a single author in the history of Christianity. Spurgeon’s messages were characterized by its simplicity, biblical flavor and power of persuasion. He did not dwell on irrelevant details, but spoke directly to the conscience of his audience. When he had something to say to his congregation, he would say it clearly and fearlessly. His sermons were not sugarcoated by affability, but soured in truth.

HERO OF FAITH

In the words of Dr. Joseph Spencer Kennard, Spurgeon was a great preacher because he met three essential factors in his sermons: “adequate presentation of the truth, psychic force and divine influence.” Besides being a prominent minister of Jesus Christ, Charles was an eminent writer. He wrote many books, such as a commentary on the Psalm called “The Treasury of David” (compiled in seven volumes) and “Lectures to my students.” In short, his writings of all kind, such

as newspaper articles, pamphlets and books, together form a large library. Similarly, Spurgeon was also a great benefactor. When he assumed the pastorate in the English church, he found shelter for widows and then established other refuges for hundreds of widows and old people. Although thousands of people came to hear his sermons, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a very humble man. He never took the glory for himself, but gave all the glory to God, because considered

himself nothing. He had a thirty-eight-year-old pastoral ministry. He also led the University of Pastors that trained nearly nine hundred students during his lifetime and continues to the present. After a fruitful existence, the “Prince of Preachers” ceased to be on January 31, 1892 in France. Dwight Lyman Moody, a contemporary of Spurgeon and famous preacher, said after his death: “Spurgeon, you will not die , you will live forever in the hearts of the people of God” u march 2014

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Melchor’s rebirth

Drugs and alcohol have almost always been part of his life. He was just 12 years old when he started to taint his body. As an addict, he formed a family just to destroy it. He would beat his wife and live in a world of violence and spiritualism until he was set free by the power of God. Marlo Pérez photos: family archive

VERY YEAR, thousands of young people succumb to alcoholism and drug addiction in all its ways and forms. Many of them are not aware of the damaging results of these substances on them, until they get trapped by the sensation that causes an awful addiction. Jorge Melchor was part of the bunch of young people that succumbed to this social issue. His somber dependence made him lose control of his early adulthood and marriage, as he violently hit his wife’s on her face and body. 34 Impacto evangelistic

Years later, life would hit him back. His yearning for narcotic substances arose when he was twelve years old, while at school, while working in the green fields with his uncles, and while with his workmates. They were all part of the perfect complicity that triggered the little drug addict and alcoholic monster in him. Who was Jorge René Melchor Chacón? Born on April 5, 1981 in Naranjo city, Petén, Republic of Guatemala, he was the first-born son of Guillermo Melchor and Ethelvina Chacón, a young couple joined in the midst of scarcity. By the end of that decade, his parents, siblings, uncles and grandparents became immigrants, sheltered in the border country of Belize. All of them had run away from the civil war and the poverty that consumed their country between 1960 and 1996. When they reached the

border nation and settled in the district of Cayo, the fifteen members –as many other exiled people– had to cultivate the land, a task they mastered already, as it was the only tool that kept them alive in their homeland. Since he was five years old, Jorge also learned the family work. Not only because he was the elder one of six little children, but because poverty forced him to work in order to survive. “My little siblings suffered because we used to eat anything we could find on the way. On many occasions, we would cook the hill’s buds and eat them as foodstuff; until one of them got really sick”, he recalls. Already in these new lands bathed by the Caribbean Sea, Jorge –with twelve years old– experienced the physical and psychological changes of puberty. But he also came into contact with the substances that changed his personality

LIFE STORIES

Jorge Ren茅 Melchor Chac贸n and his wife, Mildrid Marcela. Life at rest and peace.

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g and turned him into his worst enemy. “I started drinking rum and smoking marijuana cigarettes with my uncles and friends…” he says. “When my parents noticed the seriousness of my problem; they tried to stop me, but it was too late”. THE STORMY ADDICTION

Because of their condition of undocumented immigrants and the lack of job opportunities, Jorge’s large family suffered hunger, thirst and all kinds of health conditions. They would migrate from one region to another like nomads from the 20th century looking for more than just compassion and astonishment. They settled in districts such as Stann Creek, Orange Walk and Indian Church. Jorge experiences in the latter the scourge of his own tragedy, but also its redemption. As time went by, his dependence to drugs and alcohol spread as the miles travelled in search of fixed abode. He mutated depending on his condition, as well as his name. Some people called him Chipoco while other knew him as Hard Liquor, for obvious reasons. After leaving his home and high school, where he remained for three months, he came back at 17, but this time to work independently in a community of Mennonites. In this new place, he learned a little more about the lifestyle and customs of these white, blonde foreign people. There, he also met the Word of God. It was the second time that Jorge heard the Gospel. Long ago, his family had be36 Impacto evangelistic

Fruits of a new life: The whole family with their kids.

LIFE STORIES longed to the ranks of faith, but as the Parable of the Sower says, the difficulties and years took them away from faith. His grandfather –who was disabled–, was the last one standing and would constantly pray for the rebellious Chipoco. “The enemy took over my life, and so I turned against my parents… Vices consumed me because I was looking on the streets to be someone important in life”, says Jorge. The fearsome spiritualism When it came to start a relationship with a woman and follow the natural cycle of life, Jorge had little chance due to his licentious lifestyle. Therefore, he turned to spiritualistic techniques to attract the loved one, as advised by a compatriot. After midnight, they broke into the cemetery of the city with a little sand in their hands. A ghostly figure came down and escorted both magic arts amateurs out. This presence disturbed him, but he continued his way without saying a word. The next day, they went to a Catholic church and started invoking spirits from beyond. Few days later, the instigator of the pact suffered an eye injury at work, and so he had to be repatriated to Guatemala for recovery. Jorge lost a friend but gained another one that lived with and inside him. “I was involved with the occultism since I was nine. In that time, my parents believed that it was a joke or something harmless, like a game, because they never

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g understood this,” Jorge says, pointing out that “…it was the folly of the youth in that time. But that foolishness made me do things I never thought I would do.” Suddenly, Jorge was disturbed by a powerful being that would lay down on his body and awake him with terrifying nightmares. Several weeks later, he got sick and lost weight, so he became the patient of the witch doctor of the city. Nonetheless, the cure turned out to be worse than the disease, just as much as the drugs and alcohol that he kept consuming. Once physically recovered, he tells, “One day I was coming back home drunk and drugged, I passed by some hillocks, and this black shadow appears and falls on me… When I came to my senses, I was with a machete willing to kill my father.” Time passed by and Jorge started wandering and waking up in the streets, shouting until exhaustion. “People who would pass me by and shake their heads saying ‘Jorge is hopeless’, ‘he is lost’, or ‘what will become of him’. Those words dug dip in my soul and made me suffer”, he recalls. THE TERRIBLE VIOLENCE

In 2000, few months before turning 19, he married his current wife, Mildrid Marcela, whom he had met months earlier. She had been raised in a Christian family; still she was given away by her parents despite the conditions of the admirer. The situation did not change her deep feelings for the loved one. “The first 38 Impacto evangelistic

night, I left her all by herself at home and I went out with my friends”, he recalls. The following year, they traveled for job reasons to San Pedro and settled in one of the district islands. Once settled, Jorge started again being violent and consuming drugs and alcohol, besides having fleeting relationships with other women. “Once, she scolded me for coming home late. So I grabbed a cable and lashed her until her body went purple”, he says, as he mentions

Jorge –with twelve years old– experienced the physical and psychological changes of puberty. But he also came into contact with the substances that changed his personality and turned him into his worst enemy. “I started drinking rum and smoking marijuana cigarettes with my uncles and friends…” he says. “When my parents noticed the seriousness of my problem; they tried to stop me, but it was too late”.

countless situations that put in jeopardy the life of his wife and his first daughter, born in 2001. The forthcoming birth of his second child was not an impediment for this man to keep venting his anger. “I always felt I was being followed by a shadow, as it was a big black animal…I felt possessed and blinded, and I think that why I mistreated my wife”, he recalls. The number of abuses suffered by this anguished woman was nothing compared to the number of opportunities she gave to the persecutor and father of her children. One day, all of a sudden, Jorge went out of control and ended up destroying their little house and with it what was left of their marriage. After this brawl, nothing was ever the same. According to his parents, Jorge destroyed –with huge strength – the bedroom door,

LIFE STORIES

Testimony of transformation. From the depths of a life of suffering, a man of great faith arose, devoted to God and to his family.

hit his wife brutally and tried to burn the evidence, but the neighbors and the bystanders stopped him. The next day he woke up, saw the debris and realized what he had done, but it was too late; his wife had left. While Mildrid went back to her parents’ house in Indian Church to be comforted by them, Jorge found comfort in the death through suicide: “When I grabbed the cable to hang me, something extraordinary happened. Something went through my head; I began to cry and I did not do it.

Now I understand that God had mercy of me thanks to my grandfather’s prayers that reached His presence”. Days later, justice of put him in dire straits, but his wife did not reported him. TIME FOR MERCY

“Lord, make of this man a preacher…” These were the prayers of a Costa Rican missionary who interceded for Jorge when he was completely drunk. He never forgot these words, even more when they came true. A few months later, when

the wounds healed, one of the Christian aunts of Mildrid interceded for the couple, with the following promise: “The heavenly God can change your marriage”. These words encouraged and convinced Mildrid to meet with her husband and make a pact of nonaggression and search for God. Nevertheless, once reconciled, temptation appeared and “I happened to be cleaning some fields, when some friends came with a bottle of rum and asked me to join them”, says Jorge. But the sweet voice of her wife made him come to his sense and keep his promise of not going back to the same thing but going to the House of God instead to be free of temptation. In the evening, when they went to the church, the Lord –through the preacher– challenged Jorge to choose between himself and his friends, or his wife and children. Jorge could only gnash his teeth from the seat. “I started to get mad because I thought he was judging me”, he tells. After waging an internal battle, the Lord took control of his life and took him to the foot of His altar. His wife and family hearts were also taken before the altar. Ever since that October 2003, Jorge lives in peace preaching the Word of God. “Ever since I embraced Christ, my life changed. I have a very happy family and feel the conviction of the change that God made in me, always reminding myself that I came from Guatemala to Belize with purposes and objectives”, he concludes u march 2014

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Teachings and sermons of the most renowned preachers who expose the truth of the Lord through their life stories consacrated to God. The Bible says: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life... And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 5:39; 8:32

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Marriage and Ministry

“This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3: 1- 7 40 Impacto evangelistic

Rev. Luis M. Ortiz

OD HAS always established very high codes of conduct for his people, especially for his Ministers, because besides all of those established for the believers, there are even higher standards for those who are his Ministers.

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

THE PRIESTS. In regards to priests, we find in Leviticus 21 of the Old Testament that: • Regarding their character, priests had to be holy: “They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God” (v. 6).

• Regarding marriage, priests had to be married to a virgin. They could not marry a widow, a whore, or a woman condemned for fornication. (v. 7, 13-14). • Regarding their testimony and family, if the priest’s unmarried daughter committed fornication, this being a dishonor to her father and the Ministry, she had to be burned with fire (v. 9). • Regarding their physical appearance, priests had to be flawless: they could not be blind, lame, brokenfooded, brokenhanded, deaf, have their bones broken, crookbackt, dwarf, have a blemish in their eye, scurvy, scabbed. (vv. 16-23). • Regarding their garments, priests had to dress according to what God had established; they had to be well covered. When a priest dishonored the ministry, God would judge him severely, sometimes even with death. This occurred to the sons of Aaron that were priests, the sons of Eli for adulterers and profane, died the same day, according to what God had sentenced. In the days of Ezekiel, the abominations were such among the people and the rulers that they also involved the priests and invaded the sanctuary. God ordered to mark the foreheads of those who prayed and cried out to the Lord for these abominations to

be removed, and upon the rest God sent mortality. The priests descending from priests who had dishonored the ministry could not be priests in the millennial temple; they could only aspire to be assistants of the priests and doorkeepers of the temple. God demanded, demands, and will continue to demand holiness and faithfulness from his Ministers. THE PROPHETS. The prophets lived simple and sober lives. They generally lived separate from the bustle, and they were rarely seen in public, only when they had a message from the Lord to give. Their holy lives and their moral strength were the only human credentials they had, and the power of God in them was the mighty force that made kings and kingdoms tremble. As there were some priests who dishonored the priesthood ministry, there

When a priest dishonored the ministry, God would judge him severely, sometimes even with death. This occurred to the sons of Aaron that were priests. The sons of Eli died the same day for adulterers and profanes, according to what God had sentenced.

were some prophets who dishonored and disobeyed the prophecy ministry and died. Deuteronomy 18:20 says: “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.” We can also find

in Jeremiah 29:21 and 23: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son

of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes… Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives”. And indeed there were many false prophets: deceiving, given to wine, impious, hypocrites, adulterers, wild, sinners, foolish, mercenaries, dissolute, prevaricators, but all of those were judged by God. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Yesterday and today, God demands good moral, dignity, simplicity, good testimony, obedience, fidelity and holiness from his ministers and preachers. If the demands of the Old Testament were strong, greater are the ones in the New Testament, since, “you heard as it was told: “ But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”

(Matthew 5: 28). The demands of the Grace are greater than those of the Law. The difference is that a true Christian –the one who has been reborn – has the grace, the strength, the presence of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help him defeat all temptations and “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” (Ephesians 4: 1). Regarding marriage, priests could not marry a woman who had been married to another man before, a widow, a condemned woman, or a whore, but a virgin. Neither could he have more than one march 2014

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g woman, commit adultery with his neighbor’s wife, or the whores, or condemn or divorce his own wife to marry another. The Bible says: “And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you… For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts… And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away (divorce)” (Malachi 2:1, 7,

13-16). So priests could not remarry or divorce their wives. They had to be husband of only one woman. The apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, establishes in the letters to Timothy and Titus many requirements for the Lord´s workers, pastors, ministers, evangelists and the Christian Ministry, such as: irrepressible, irreproachable, to have nothing to be ashamed of, to not be the cause of repression or scandal, husband of only one woman. What God applied to the Priests in the Old Testament, has been applied by the Holy Spirit to the priests in the New Testament, to the pastors and ministers: no divorce and no remarriage. Where there is divorce and remarriage, the man has a legitimate wife whom he 42 Impacto evangelistic

married originally, and even though they might be physically separated, she is still his legitimate wife before the eyes of God and so he is with the non-legitimate one. Therefore, when he is not “husband of one woman” (1 Timothy 3:2), he is no longer irrepressible; then he is disqualified to be a pastor or minister. The Aramaic Bible says: “that he had not more than one woman”; the Bible of Jerusalem states: “that he had not marry more than once”. This “husband of one wife” is an objection, a reproach, a censure against divorce and remarriage. However, getting married after becoming a widower does not disqualify. Paul says to the widow: “I say therefore to the unma-

The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, established in the pastoral letters various requirements for the Lord`s workers, such as: irrepressible, irreproachable, to have nothing to be ashamed of, to not be cause of repression or scandal, and husband of only one woman.

rried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.” (1 Corinthians 7: 8-9).

DAVID´S CASE. There are men who take David´s adultery to excuse their own. • First of all, David was worthy of death. He sentenced himself when the prophet Nathan told him a story, and David replied: “is worthy of death”. David himself did not die, but his son conceived in adultery died 7 days after being born. David did not die, but because he despised the Lord´s word and looked down on God for

a few moments of carnal pleasure with Urea´s wife… sword and death never left his home. • Furthermore, David did not have a priestly, prophetic, or spiritual ministry; he was not a minister, he was a King; this was a civil, political, administrative and military job. If he had carried out all of his duties as a King, he would not have committed such a moral and physical crime. If David had been a priest and not a king, he would have been disqualified as such, because the moral requirements for priests were strict. The day that the minister had to enter the Sanctuary, he could not even have intimate relations with his own wife, let alone being an adulterer. • The sons of the priest Eli, that were also priests, Ofni and Finees, died the same day according to what the prophet of God had warned Eli, for being profane y adulterers, since they would lay down with the women who watched the doors of the Tabernacle. “these are spots”, says Jude in his epistle (1:12). An evangelist preached out in the open air in Brooklyn, New York, and in a pause he made, a woman’s voice that was not his wife was heard. She yelled out: “Shut it, you liar! This kid I have with me is yours!”. “These are spots”. CONCLUSION

How good would it be for the Ministry and the cause of Christ, if all those who preach and do not and will not meet these qualifications, abandoned their position and their ministry, and let the Lord pla-

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ce men that truly honor the Ministry and obey the Word. How good would that be for the work of God! The work of God suffers more by the hand of the intruders, profane, adulterers and wrong hearted inside; than by the hand of the Farohs, Herods and Neros out there. Dear friend and brother, this is the authentic message of the bible: God is love, but He is also just, he is consuming fire (1 John 4: 8; 2: 29; Hebrews 12: 29). He loved us, but hates the sin in us. God in His love wants to save us and take us to his heavenly place,

to his glory, but in his justice he can’t save us and take us to heaven stained and filth with sin (Revelation 21: 27). God in his wisdom provided the plan of redemption to take us from our sin, forgive us and take us to heaven, the blood of Jesus Christ His son cleansed us from all our sin (1 John 1: 7). We must live cleaned from transgression and in holiness, because without holiness no one can see the Lord (Hebrews 12: 14). “If this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the Day of Judgment.” (2 Peter 2: 9). You

cannot take the sacrifice and the blood of Jesus lightly. “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left” (Hebrews 10: 26). They

have their eyes filled with adultery, they never get tired of sinning, and they have their heart placed on their desires and are children of condemnation. My friend, in this moment you can be cleaned from all your sin by repenting and embracing Jesus as your great Savior. Beloved one, keep firmly what you have and do not let anybody take your crown. Amen! u march 2014

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Branded for Christ I “It was seven years before Carey baptized his first convert in India; it was seven years before Judson won his first disciple in Burmah; Morrison toiled seven years before the first Chinaman was brought to Christ; Moffat declares that he waited seven years to see the first evident moving of the Holy Spirit upon the Bechuanas of Africa. Henry Richards wrought seven years on the Congo before the first convert was gained.” A. J. Gordon. Why the Revival does not arrive E. Leonard Ravenhill Chapter 15

44 Impacto evangelistic

N A CERTAIN SENSE, all men are strangers to one another. Even friends do not really know each other. To know a man, one must know all the influences of heredity and environment, as well as his countless moral choices that have fashioned him into what he is. Though we do not really know one another, tracing the cour-

DEVOTIONAL bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal. 6: 17).

se of a man’s life sometimes offers rich reward, particularly when we see the great driving forces which have motivated him. For instance, how greatly your life and mine would be benefited if we could experience the same surge of Christlife that moved Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul) and plumb even a little the hidden depths of the meaning in his words, “I

One thing is sure about these words: they were an acknowledgment of Christ’s ownership. Paul belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ - body, soul and spirit. He was branded for Christ. When Paul claimed to bear in his body the wounds of the Lord, he was claiming no “stigmata,” as did Saint Francis of Assisi in 1224 A.D. It is not a bodily identification by outward crucifixion. He had been “crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). The marks of Paul’s inward crucifixion were plainly evident. First of all, Paul was branded by devotion to a task. If, as tradition says, Paul was only four feet six inches in height, then he was the greatest dwarf that ever lived. He out-paced, out-prayed, and out-passioned all his contemporaries. On his escutcheon was blazed: “One thing I do.” (Philippians 3:13) He was blind to all that other men gloried in. Calvin suffered vituperation because he sat all day over his Institutes -with never a flourish of his mighty pen to tell us of the glories of the Alps. Pascal was bitterly criticized because apart from the immortal soul of man, he could see no scenery anywhere worth looking at. By the same token, the Apostle Paul might be castigated for saying not a word about Grecian art or the splendor of the Pantheon. His was a separation to spirituality. After the Athenian clash on Mars’ Hill, Paul poured contempt on the wisdom of this world, dying daily to the temptation to outwit and out-think the wise. His task was not that of getting over a viewpoint,

but of overcoming the legions of hell! Somewhere, most likely in Arabia, Paul’s personality had been transfigured. Never after that was he listed as a backslider. He was too occupied with going on. It would have vexed his righteous soul to hear a congregation sing, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it!” Unsponsored, unwelcomed, unloved — these made little difference to Paul. On he went, blind to every jewel of earthly honor, deaf to every siren-voice of ease, and insensitive to the mesmerism of worldly success. Paul was also branded by humility. Moths could not corrupt this God-given robe. He never fished for praise with humility’s bait, but in the long line of sinners, put himself first (where we would put him last). The old Welsh divine said that

Paul belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ - body, soul and spirit. He was branded for Christ. When Paul claimed to bear in his body the wounds of the Lord, he was claiming no “stigmata,” as did Saint Francis of Assisi in 1224 A.D. It is not a bodily identification by outward crucifixion. He had been “crucified with Christ.”

if you know Hebrew, Greek, and Latin , do not put them where Pilate did at the head of Christ, but put them at his feet. “What things were gain to me,” says Paul, “these things I count as loss for Christ.”(Philippians 3:7). What a heart’s ease is the virtue of humility — the great joy of having nothing to lose! Having no opinion of himself,

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g Paul feared no fall. He might have swaggered in the richly embroidered robes of the chancellor of a Hebrew school. But in the adornment of a meek and quiet spirit, he shines with more luster. Next, Paul was branded by suffering. Consider the thing he mentions in Romans 8: famine, peril, nakedness, and sword (these belonging to acute discomfort in the body), and tribulation (perhaps of the mind), distress, persecution (of the spirit). Of all these sufferings the “little” minister partook. This wandering Jew “made war on all that made war on God and on the children of men.” This prince of preachers and his foe, the prince of hell, spared each other no beatings. It was a free-for-all and no holds barred! Look closely at Paul — at that cadaverous countenance, that scarred body, that stooped figure of a man chastened by hunger, kept down by fasting, and ploughed with the lictor’s lash; that little body, brutally stoned at Lystra and starved in many places; that skin, pickled for thirty-six hours in the Mediterranean Sea! Add to this list danger upon danger; then multiply it with loneliness; finally, count in the 199 stripes, 3 shipwrecks, 3 beatings with rods, a stoning, a prison record, and deaths so many that count is lost. And yet if one could add it up, all must be written off as nothing, because Paul himself thus consigned it. Listen to him: “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment…” (2 Corinthians 4:17) That’s contempt of suffering, if you like! Furthermore, Paul was 46 Impacto evangelistic

branded by passion. A man must be in the dead center of God’s will and walking the tightrope of obedience to call upon the Holy Ghost to bear witness to his witness. Yet Paul does this in Romans 9:1. Oh, that from this wondrous flame every living preacher might capture just a little light! Beatings could not cast the flame out of Paul; fastings and hunger could not kill it; misunderstanding and misrepresentation could not quench its fire; waters could not drown it; prisons could not break it; perils could not arrest its growth. On and on it burned, until life ebbed from his body. The living Christ who was within Paul (Gal. 2:20), as manifested by his soul-passion, was at once the despair of hell, the capital for enlarging the Church, and cheer to the heart of the Saviour, who was seeing the travail of His soul and was being satisfied. Paul was branded by love.

Paul’s love carried him to the lost, the last, the least. What scope of love! Mars’ Hill with its intellectuals, the synagogues with their religious traditionalists, the market places with their prodigals — all these he yearned over and sought for his Lord. Like a mighty dynamo, love pushed him on to attempt great things for God.

When Paul experienced becoming a “man in Christ,” he developed the capacity for love. Only maturity knows love. How Paul loved! First and supremely, Paul loved his Lord. Then he loved men, his enemies, hardship, and soul-

pain. And he must have loved this latter particularly, else he would have shirked prayer. Paul’s love carried him to the lost, the last, the least. What scope of love! Mars’ Hill with its intellectuals, the synagogues with their religious tra-

DEVOTIONAL

ditionalists, the market places with their prodigals — all these he yearned over and sought for his Lord. Like a mighty dynamo, love pushed him on to attempt great things for God. Not many have prayed as this man prayed. Maybe McChey-

ne, John Fletcher, mighty Brainerd, and a few others have known something of the souland-body mastering work of intercession motivated by love. I remember standing by the Marechale once as we sang her great hymn:

“There is a love constraining me / To go and seek the lost; / I yield, O Lord, my all to Thee / To save at any cost!” That was not just a lovely sentiment. It cost her prison, privation, pain, and poverty. Charles Wesley seemed to reach on tiptoe when he said, “nothing on earth do I desire but Thy pure love within my breast!” More recently Amy Carmichael uttered the heartfelt prayer; “Give me a love that leads the way, a faith which nothing can dismay!” These men and women were certainly on the trail of the apostolic secret of soul-winning. Great soul-winners have always been great lovers of men’s souls. All lesser loves were conquered only by the greater Love. Great love to the Lover of their souls drove them to tears, to travail, and to triumph. In this evil hour, dare we love less? Without any of their choosing, millions will be branded for the Antichrist one day. Shall we shrink to bear in our spirits, our souls, and our bodies our Owner’s marks — the marks of Jesus? Branded means pain. Do we want that? Branded means carrying the slur of the servant. Will we choose to be branded — for Christ? “O brother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer; rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast, and lose breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper – and sleep too - than not pray. And we must not talk about prayer, we must pray in right earnest. The Lord is near. He comes softly while the virgins slumber.” Andrew A. Bonar u march 2014

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Women’s Role in Congregation “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” 1 Timothy 2:11-14

HE HEAD OF THE WOMAN IS THE MAN; wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:22-24). Women in all nations must be taught to submit themselves to men. LIVING UNDER THE AUTHORITY “Let the woman learn in 48 Impacto evangelistic

silence with all subjection” (1 Timothy 2:11). This talks about subjection, and it is clearly stated in many passages of the Bible: women must be subject to men. This is not to say that women cannot speak, because it would also be unfair, women always spoke. At first glance, this seems

Rev. Rodolfo González Cruz

to be a general commandment that women are not allowed to speak at all in the Church. However, 1 Corinthians 11:5 mentions women praying and prophesying in the Church, which is not condemned. “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:12). The apostle Paul, a man from the eastern part of the Earth, is speaking. In these countries, women have always been subject to men, and so they cannot go, do, talk or do anything, because they have been shaped that way for centuries and millennia within

DEVOTIONAL their societies. Arab women suffer a lot, but not only them, Indian women suffer too; and in Japan, women are also highly subject to men. Biblical history tells us that when a woman was alone and someone arrived, she could not answer the door before immediately putting a veil over her face, so that no one could see it. If her husband was not home, she could not answer the door and the visitor had to leave. Woman were not allowed talk to men unless they were single women, but it was forbidden for a married woman to speak to a man. At that time, women were locked up, they could not go out, and to cook and serve food, they had to wear a veil and talk very little. Just go and serve, without talking with the guest. Anything of the kind was possible because the rules were very strict in those places. In the East, a fight is taking place to put an end to this problem. Men hitting women on their heads or any part of their bodies, and submitting them to such a tremendous rigor is nothing but a terrible abuse, and this is not what God commands in His Word. The Bible says that a man should love and respect his wife and consider her a fragile vessel; therefore, a man must respect his wife and be considerate of her. This does not mean that women should assume authority in the house or that they might be the head. Thank God there are women who can save homes. When there are men lacking leadership, authority or understanding, their very wise and prudent wives use their

wisdom to help their senseless husbands and do not embarrass them. The Bible says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.â&#x20AC;? There are very cheeky women who want to be more than men and that will always be frowned on. However, society has experienced a tremendous evolution and women have taken up important positions, such as presidents, prime ministers, militaries with great ranks, judges and prosecutors. They are very capable, intelligent and useful. That is true!

There are women who are beaten and abused by men because men are sexist and possessed. Man cannot mistreat women, humiliate them, beat them or abuse of their position as a man. Christians cannot be sexist.

Now, let us go back four thousand years in time, when the law was strict and women could not speak. God raised a woman named Deborah and she became a judge. In Israel at that time, the judge was like the president or the king, to the point that the army general did not move if Deborah did not take action (Judges 4). So you can see that God has no mold, because when there is a capable woman who loves and serves God, He himself can use her. When law was stricter for women, God raised up Deborah, and Deborah judged and ordered men and even the general. THE HEAD OF THE WOMAN IS THE MAN

I cannot go against this Word. Women have a place in the Church, all women who are true Christians have a place in the Church. Whether they are workers or wives of pastors, they have to be very well aware of where they belong and, so they cannot desire to be the pastor of the Church. They are the wives of the pastor and not the pastor. Therefore, single women in a Work (a congregation) should get married to do a good job because, as it brings happiness and joy, changes the mood and rejuvenates. However, do not look for a partner just for the sake of it; do not go from bad to worse. Brother and sister, you have to analyze whom you are going to marry, always talk first with the pastor of the Church. The man is the head; the woman is subject to his authority. Sister, when your husband fulfills his role as a pastor, you must be his copastor, a contributor. You can preach under the authority of your husband, because women in our churches preach but they are aware that they cannot take authority over men. In some countries, women consider themselves as presbyters just because they are the wives of pastors or priests, and their actions even create pain in many hearts. The wife of the presbyter is not the presbyter, the presbyter is the man. In some countries, due to lack of supervision and certain negligence, women have been appointed as presbyters, but that was never the case, and should not be. Do not get angry, you

g march 2014

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

g women who fulfill the role of presbyters, but the presbyter must be a man, he is the authority. This has not been taught but I’m teaching it now. When I talked with the worldwide Officials, we agreed that the Officials of the Work (the WMM) must be men and not women. And I’m not exaggerating; we are teaching what God’s Word says. FOR ADAM WAS FIRST FORMED, THEN EVE What would I do if someone asked me if this is in the Bible? The Bible says, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” This is what gives women a place in marriage and society. Have you not seen how things have changed today? Women today have a very important place in society. Women today are increasingly taking authority over men. It is true that women are very smart and capable and that their values should be used, but women in all nations must be taught that WOMEN MUST BE SUBJECT TO MEN. There are women who are beaten and abused by men because men are sexist and possessed. Man cannot mistreat women, humiliate them, beat them or abuse of their position as a man. Christians cannot be sexist, but respectful, polite people. We must acknowled50 Impacto evangelistic

ge and use the great values that many women have. They are tremendously intelligent and can help us a lot. But men losing their authority and women taking over is against God’s command. Going against the Bible is harmful to society. This is an order that must be respected. Why? Because the man was first created by God, the woman was made from the man, and God said that

WOMEN MUST BE SUBJECT TO MEN, NOT MEN SUBJECT TO WOMEN. In the book of Judges 4:8-9, we see Deborah as judge. She ruled Israel, and on one occasion when there was a war King Barak said, “If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go”(v. 8). “And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not

DEVOTIONAL the transgression” (1 Timothy 2:13 - 14). Besides, it was the woman who brought sin into the world, and Adam sinned because of her. Today we live in a society under the curse of sin, and the woman is responsible for that terrible sin. So God determined that women will have to suffer even to give birth and that she would have to be subject to man, because the man is the authority. It is true that because of a woman sin entered the world, the curse. It is also true that because of a woman named Mary salvation came to man and his sins. Mary was a simple and humble peasant, who lived on an untiled floor and not in a palace. She was a poor, God-fearing woman who

But men losing their authority and women taking over is against God's command. Going against the Bible is harmful to society. This is an order that must be respected. Why? Because the man was first created by God, the woman was made from the man, and God said that WOMEN MUST BE SUBJECT TO MEN, NOT MEN SUBJECT TO WOMEN.

be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (v. 9). This was a humiliation and shame for men. How can a king be overshadowed, how can a king get frightened, how can he tell a woman “If thou wilt go with me, then I will go.” That one is a wimpy man, and wimpy men are not helpful for God, God does not like cowards. We cannot be coward, but brave, and women also have

to be brave. They can give a boost to us men. Sometimes when we want to give up and go back, women help us to keep going. When a man makes progress and improves, there is always a woman behind encouraging him tremendously. Women are a tremendous help. “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in

fasted and prayed, and went to the synagogue to hear the Word of God. And God chose to put in her womb the most holy being than had ever been born or will be born of a woman, Jesus the Son of God. He did not come from a man, but by the intervention of the Holy Spirit that overshadowed Mary. She conceived by the power of God, and through her the salvation came to humankind u march 2014

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

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)

EVENTS Inauguration of Baptistery in Bogota Twelve brothers took an important step in their lives and publically testified the change made in their souls. Colombia has now a new baptistery.

“

E THAT BELIEVETH and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). After the repentance and reception of Christ as our sweet savior, the next step in our Christian lives is the baptism in water. It is a step of obedience and faith. We must bear in mind that the baptism in water is a divine commandment: “Be baptized every one of you” (Acts 2:38). In order to fulfill this commandment, the inauguration of the “Baptistery” of the Worldwide Missionary Movement Church was held last February 2, 2014, in Bogotá, Republic of Colombia. Twelve brothers took an important step in their lives and publically testified the change made in their souls. The ceremony was led by Rev. Enrique Centeno, local pastor, who preached under the theme: “A church worth imitating”, which makes reference to the primitive Church. Also, three sheep from the Church of 52 Impacto evangelistic

Cota, led by Pastor Héctor Barrera, were baptized. It was a moment of joy and victory. The newly baptized brothers were publically received as active members of this Work. The service ended with the blessing of the Last Supper of the Lord. The commandment “Be baptized every one of you” is for those who have personal faith and live in the Good News of Salvation through Christ, received as the Lord and Savior u march 2014

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

First Fellowship in New York This glorious event gathered a great number of brothers from the 22 congregations belonging to Zone 6 in the USA.

HE FIRST FELLOWSHIP of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in New York City, USA, was held on Saturday, January 11. Queens 54 Impacto evangelistic

County was the place chosen for this glorious event that gathered a great number of brothers from the 22 congregations of Zone 6. Despite

the low temperatures in this time of the year, the brave members of our Churches, together with their respective pastors, came to Queens to give

glory and praise to our God. On this occasion, the Presbyter of New York, Rev. Benito Green, share an edifying teaching under the inspirer title: “Five Convictions of the Ministry of God”. The Word of God flowed like a river and, although the temperature outside was below its freezing point, inside the fire of God melted the indifference. In the afternoon ser-

EVENTS

vice, the message was given by pastor Joseph Betances, from the Church of the Bronx. That preaching was titled: “Fire to my core”. Pastor Betances highlighted the urgent necessity of being full of the Holy Spirit to rapidly deliver the message of saintliness and sound doctrine with authority and unction of the Holy Spirit At the end of this activity, Rev. Green, Presb-

yter in New York, shared his vision and goal for this year of Conviction: “Operation Fire in the Arctic”, an effort of the New York Zone to establish the Work of the WMM in the State of Alaska; and “Operation DC”, which is also an evangelical effort that seeks the establishment of the WMM Work in the federal capital of the Unites States of America, Washington DC u march 2014

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

Leaders Retreat in Puerto Rico It was a glorious activity of worship to our God, especially to keep sharing the vision for this year's work. God spoke to all the attendees.

HE NATIONAL LEADERS of Women, Men, Youth and Children – Sister Gretchen Lugo, Brother Jaime Rodríguez, Brother José Luis Vázquez Brother and Sister Maria Alicea –, together with their respective work groups, zone leaders 56 Impacto evangelistic

and local church leaders, held a retreat on Saturday, January 25, under the theme: “In Defense of Our Convictions” at the Church of the Worldwide Missionary Movement located in Urbanización Hnas. Dávila, Bayamon. It was a glorious retreat to worship our God

and keep sharing the vision for this year’s work. God spoke to all the attendees through Rev. Albert Rivera, National Officer, who in the morning preached under the theme “Leaders Who Face The Challenges of the 21st Century,” based on Nehemiah 1:1-4.

Rev. Rivera gave useful tips revealed by God to face the challenges. He also urged to love what we do and walk with God, emphasizing the preservation of the family as the greatest challenge of this century. Then he presented the characteristics of the leader, such as reliability, disposition and sensitivity. Finally, a meeting with the zone leaders and local churches was held by the National Leaders to discuss the work plan for this year. In the evening service, the presence of God kept on manifesting itself in a very special way through

EVENTS a teaching based on the story of Gideon, found in the Book of Judges 6. Through an objective lesson on the theme “In Defense of Our Convictions,” prepared by the National Leaders with the help of Sister Migdalia Torres, the attacks received by leaders were illustrated: discouragement, frustration, loneliness, inability. Likewise, it was emphasized that we should not let the enemy devastate the fruit of our work, and the leaders were urged to fight the battle and face the enemy by going into the field, because God has called us: “Brave Men and Women.“ The evening message was given by Rev. Alberto Santana, National Officer, who brought the same teaching philosophy and used the same Bible passage, Judges 6. He emphasized that our greatest tool when feeling the attack is crying out to the Lord, recognizing that God is more powerful than any attack by “the Midianites.” The retreat was attended by the National Supervisor of the Work in Puerto Rico, Rev. Luis Ayala, and some National Officers: Rev. Jimmy Rios, Sister Norma Santiago, Rev. Alberto Santana, and Rev. Albert Rivera, in addition to the Presbyters and Pastors of the nine work zones of the Work of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Puerto Rico. To God be all the Glory! u march 2014

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

Outdoor Fellowship in Mar del Plata Over four hundred brothers came from different cities of the Argentinian province belonging to this Presbytery. Some young people went to the streets to preach the Word of God.

Y THE END of last year, the churches of Zone 1 of the WMM in Argentina gathered in a glorious Fellowship in the city of Mar del Plata. Over four hundred brothers came from the diffe58 Impacto evangelistic

rent cities of the province belonging to this Presbytery. The Missionary Supervisor of the Southern Cone of America, Rev. Gerardo Martínez, was invited as preacher to this great event. He

wisely and vigorously reminded the people about the necessity of a life committed to spiritual consecration. On the last day of Fellowship, some young people decided to carry out evangelical work

and walked through the streets to preach the Word of God. They received the support of the neighbors, who felt happy and said that it was the first time a Christian Evangelical Church did that kind of work. Bathed in the blessing of the Holy Spirit and full of the Word edification, each pastor returned to their different congregations to keep the principles of faith that has held this missionary and evangelical work for 50 years u

EVENTS

Baptism in Water in Buenos Aires Seven brothers gave public testimony of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Before the ceremony, pastor Ismael Parrado shared a teaching reminding that our faith must be based on the Word of God.

FTER RECEIVING the teaching of the Christian doctrine in the Church of the WMM of the city of Buenos Aires, seven brothers descended into the baptismal waters. They gave public testimony of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by fulfilling all the rules of moral and saintliness that the Bible

demands from every candidate to baptism. Before the ceremony, Ismael Parrado, pastor of the Church and National Supervisor of the WMM in Argentine, shared a teaching with the brothers who baptized and the believers who came to be part of this special moment. He reminded them that our faith must not be based on emotional experiences, but in the wise sayings of the Word of God. Last year, forty new brothers descended into the waters to enlarge the Church of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Argentina, which continues to grow for the Glory of the Lord u march 2014

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

National Youth Convention in Oruro

The Lord's presence was palpable through many healings from day one. We had large attendance and representation of all the youth in Bolivia.

HE 10TH NATIONAL Youth Convention was held by the Worldwide Missionary Movement from January 16 to 19, under the theme: “Young people transformed by the power of God”. The guest prea60 Impacto evangelistic

cher was Rev. Samuel David Mejia, National Supervisor of the WMM in Colombia and Missionary Supervisor of the Work in Asia. Our convention was filled with the glory of God from the first day.

The Lord’s presence was almost palpable, and we had a large attendance and representation of all the youth in the country. The inauguration was led by the hosts, the Church in Oruro. After a lovely time of praise, baptism

and Holy Spirit’s filling, the opening words were given by the National Supervisor of the Work in Bolivia, Rev. Ciro Alfonso Soto, and then the Word of God was given to Rev. Samuel Mejia. The messages were filled with the power of God, and met the need of all attendees – new converts, old Christians, workers and pastors. PATIENTS HEALED

Divine healing was what the Lord emphasized

EVENTS ter Pastor Samuel Mejia prayed for them, testing in front of everyone that they could hear from the distance and repeating what they were told in a low voice. It was wonderful! THE MEDIA

A special service dedicated to the media took place on Saturday night, enjoying the presence of God. After some very encouraging words from the Presbyters and Officials of the Work, the people felt very motivated to raise a special offering to keep acquiring more radios and TV channels (via tenders granted by the government). It is estimated that by the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ we will be reaching 50 legal media throughout the country this year. MISSIONARY SERVICE

every day. The call to salvation was essential after each message, followed by ministration and prayer for the sick. There was a large num-

ber of testimonies. Many people testified that tumors and hernias had disappeared. A man who had a visible tumor in his head could not hide his

excitement when, after praying, realized there it was gone. Several deaf people began to hear again in front of all the people af-

The last day of our convention was missionary. The Lord touched the depths of the hearts, showing the great need to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole country. The play performed during the missionary service was the asleep bride, which represents the Church and the outcry of the lost who ask for help. The call was heard by many young people who surrender their lives on the altar, asking the Lord, with many tears, to use them. These were glorious days in the presence of God u march 2014

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Anniversary and Fellowship in Novi Ligure The presence and ministry of the Lord manifested themselves in a special way in this activity in Italy. During four days, the attendees renewed their lives and theirs convictions in the presence of the Lord.

“

N THE BATTLE, MY TRUST IS IN GOD”, was the theme of the Third Anniversary and Fellowship of the Church in Novi Ligure, Italy, led by the brother Edison Borbor and his wife Jessenia Quinga. 62 Impacto evangelistic

The celebration started on Wednesday, February 5, with the visit of the Pastors and Officials of the North Presbytery, who presented the Word of God during these days, bringing spiritual nur-

ture and renewal to the Church. In this precious fellowship, the Word of God was given by Rev. Hugo Lope, Presbyter of the North Zone and National Treasurer, under

the theme “Conviction, the key to victory”, based on James 2:26. He said that the only way to meet the finish line and obtain the victory is remaining strong and firm in our conviction in God, as the Christian path is not for those who start it, but those who end it. Only those will obtain the victory. During these days, the Word of God was also given by Rev. David Echalar, Supervisor of Italy and Assistant of Super-

EVENTS

vision in Europe (Block B), who preached under the theme: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Raising the headâ&#x20AC;?, based on Jeremiah 52:31. He gave as example the life of Joachim to explain the attitudes of disobedience and ingratitude that Christians may have when spoiled by comfort and privileges, thus bringing curse to their life. The event attended by all the Churches and white fields from Zone 1, North Presbytery, ended with great joy on Saturday, February 8 u march 2014

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Special Service in Geneva Sister Ruth Paisible, from the Church in Holland, brought the message of God in this glorious meeting. Almost sixty brothers gathered for this event.

ASTOR JIMMY RAMÍREZ and Sister Mercedes Yamberla, pastors in the city of Geneva, Suisse, started the service with greeting and welcome words to Sister Ruth 64 Impacto evangelistic

Paisible. This great event was held on January 28 at 7 o’clock at night in the facilities of the ICC construction. Sister Ruth Paisible brought the greeting of

our dear brothers from Holland, and also those of her beloved mother and Sister Rafaela Gonzáles. Almost sixty brothers gathered for this event. Sister Paisible brought

a powerful message under the theme: “Warning for the people of God”. During the dissertation, the attendees felt the presence of God, especially over the Gospel of Luke 13:22-24. Furthermore, in another citation, Sister Paisible gave us the example of the young rich man. She also highlighted what God said: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay”. We lived moments of confession and forgiveness in the altar. Glory to God! u

EVENTS

Others Events CHILE

ECUADOR

PHILIPINES

SWITZERLAND

YOUTH RETREAT IN SANTIAGO

ELIM BIBLICAL INSTITUTE

THE ASIAN CONTINENT IN VICTORY

NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP IN GENEVA

The Second National Youth Retreat of the WMM in Santiago de Chile was held from January 22 to 25 under the theme: “Dedicated young people”. Young people from the country gathered in the spiritual Christian complex “El Manzano”, San José de Maipú. The event was attended by approximately 150 young people, and three foreign pastors, including the National Supervisor of Uruguay, Rev. Alfonso Martínez, who brought the Word of God. He highlighted the necessity of living a life in saintliness and service to God. The event was also attended by pastor Hamilton López and his wife, Sister Alexia Sagardia (Chilean Missionary in Colombia), who encouraged the youth to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit and to love our God. It was four days full of the presence of God, in which two messages were given in the services of the morning, and one message in the night services. It was a retreat where God renewed, strengthened, restored, and broke chains. This great retreat ended with a Missionary Worship on Saturday 25. The theme was: “God has a purpose for you”, presented by pastor Alfonso Martínez. It was a service where God made a call for his Work and lighted the missionary fire in many young people.

From November 18 to November 29, 2013, the ELIM Biblical Institute gave an intensive course for pastors and leaders of the Church in the city of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, in the National Office of the Worldwide Missionary Movement. The lessons – Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Science – were given by the teachers of the ELIM Biblical Institute of Puerto Rico: Rev. Ramón Aponte, Rev. Dan Moyeno, Rev. Juan Casiona and Brother Roberto Cuadrado, who were a great blessing for the Ecuadorian people. Thanks to God and the teachers who shared this knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. The pastors and the attendees are very grateful for the knowledge given during the two weeks of training.

The Church of the WMM in the Philippines held a glorious Campaign of Evangelization form November 22 to November 24, 2013. All the attendees were edified in a great way. The biblical message was shared by Rev. Samuel Mejía, Missionary Supervisor of Asia. A glorious Baptism was held on Sunday November 24, where four brothers descended into the baptismal waters. They belong to the white field of the city of Antipolo, capital of the province of Rizal, South Philippines. This evangelistic work is part of the “Ephesus Project, reaching Asia for Christ”, a project of the Worldwide Missionary Movement, the objective of which is reaching millions of people that live in the 52 countries of the Asian continent. Among its other objectives: promote churches and establish pastors in the different countries of this continent in order to strengthen the new believers. Furthermore, it seeks to provide means of worship, follow-up, and training.

The National Fellowship of the Worldwide Missionary Movement in Switzerland was held in the city of Geneva form October 25 to October 27 under the theme: “Overcoming Challenges”. On October 25 and 26, Rev. David Echalar, National Supervisor of the WMM in Italia, shared the powerful Word of God. The Holy Spirit moved magnificently, and the people were strengthened to keep working in the Work. On Sunday 27, the message was brought by Pastor Ramón Ortega, from Italy. The event was attended by pastors and brothers from Belgium, Italy, France and all the congregations in Switzerland: Pastor Miche and his beloved wife and sons, from Antwerpe, Belgium; pastor Jonathan, from the city of Florence, Italy; Sister Milen Bito, from Grenoble, France. Other attendees were: Pastor César Gonzáles and his wife Rafaela de Gonzáles, together with their sons, from the city of Languental; Sister Ruth Sueiro and his daughter, from Zurich; Sister Elizabeth Vanegas, from Ticino (Italian part); Sister Mercedes Lechon, from Basel; local pastor Rev. Jimy Ramírez, responsible for all the Work in Switzerland, and his beloved wife, Patricia Almache, and sons, from Geneva. Approximately two hundred brothers from all the congregations were present.

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in the different magazines, since the world needs nowadays the Word of God. God bless you. From Chiapas, Mexico.

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Hello, brothers. God bless you for the great work that you are taking to the world thanks to the Impacto Evangelistic magazine. By reading this magazine, many lives have surrendered to the Lord. God bless you, brothers, go ahead with this mission. From Marquez, Callao, 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, Cesia Heredia. Web master and Infographics: Julio de la Cruz. Illustration: Julio Limachi. Transcription: Fanny Vidal, Ana Rodriguez. Community manager: Juan Becerra, Denisse Barrientos. Distribution: Javier Arotinco.

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