Wishing each of you a Happy New Year in the
service of the Lord!
(and any year is a happy year when we are serving
Him!)
Our purpose never changes - proclaim the gospel to every land
where Spanish is spoken! The magazine continues to reach over 30
countries, blessing them with greater knowledge of the scriptures
and building a firmer faith in the readers. As we begin our 48th
year of service, we wonder how long we will be able to continue.
However, the Lord continues to provide and we continue to
serve.
Once again the Post Office has raised its international prices,
effective January 4, 2010. Now a four pound package of magazines
costs $11.45 for Canada and Mexico and $13.45 for all other
countries - only a $0.50 increase for each package, but a cost of
several hundred dollars when you are sending hundreds of
packages.
Many e-mails have been received during the holidays expressing
our readers' desires for the magazine to continue. Each speaks of
their prayers for the ministry, and for all those in the U.S. who
make the publications possible. They realize that without help
from the States they could never have this quality literature to
teach the Word in their own countries.
Our contributions for 2009 totaled $77,746.20 plus $2,755.00
contributed for the Brandon Memorial Fund. We also received
$1,470.31 for tracts, books and BCCs.
Although we had to reduce circulation to 13,000 copies, our
total distribution including November-December 2009 will be 76,030
copies, with multiple readers studying each of these copies. In
Latin America, copies are passed on; they are rarely thrown in the
trash. When they are, they are often picked out of the trash by
another person to read and study.
We received $500 additional foreign contributions in December,
which makes a total of $7,350.31 in foreign contributions
deposited in 2009, plus a few not yet deposited in dollars, pesos
and euros. There contributors are shown on the website under
"Ofrendas". Their support confirms that they need the magazine;
they want the magazine; and they are willing to pay for it as they
are able.
And our readers,
along with us, say "God bless you in all your service
to the Master!"
Several questions we are often asked:
Why continue when funding is so low?
Because our Latin American brothers and many friends
depend on the serious Bible studies found in the magazine. This is
the only widely circulated and regularly published international
magazine in Spanish in the brotherhood. The brethren write us that
the articles continue to teach year after year, decade after
decade, both the converted and the unconverted. Look at some
Jehovah's Witness magazines - they distribute over 60 million
magazines in more than 80 languages every month! Why? Because
magazines produce results!
Latin American brothers and friends need the magazine
for continual spiritual growth, thru a greater variety of subjects
than fine tracts can provide. Our beautiful tracts, books and
Bible correspondence courses are all important. Our web site is
important, but as brothers write, "Not all members have Internet.
It's very expensive in many countries." Plus the fact that many
can not afford computers, and though they can read articles at
Internet cafes, they say this simply isn't the same as having your
own computer and printer at home, to read when you want and print
whatever you want when you want it. Both computers and printers
continue very expensive in most other countries.
What has the magazine accomplished during its 47
years?
It has introduced the gospel of Jesus in multiple cities
where no church of Christ existed; it has converted the lost; it
has established congregations thru the years. It has provided
articles used for sermons by untold numbers of preachers.
The estimated readership of our 13,000 copies is
immense. Place an attractive magazine on a table in the home of a
large Latin family, and many friends and relatives will read the
copy as well. Our circulation has been lowered substantially from
the 17,000 copies we published for many years due to continual
international postage cost increases.
Can't the readers pay for the
magazine?
They would if they could! When economies were
better and disasters fewer in the late 1990s, Spanish readers gave
$8,000 one year and about $9,000 another, paying for one edition
of the magazine. Now their gifts are much less and international
contributors are fewer. Bank fees and money orders are far more
expensive now. Our foreign contributors are listed on our web site
under "Ofrendas" ("Offerings" in English) and a number of
countries are represented.
We require all subscribers in the U.S. to contribute, and are
beginning to require international subscribers who want only one
copy to pay as well. Larger subscribers, churches and others, will
continue to be asked to send whatever they can contribute.
An introduction
to the "La Voz Eterna" Spanish publications
ministry:
Our principal publication is the magazine called
La Voz Eterna. This 36 page
teaching magazine with a four color cover is published
bimonthly and goes to over 30 nations and Caribbean islands.
For many years we distributed 17,000 copies - all requested -
but because of the continual international postage increases,
it was necessary to lower the production each year to the
present 13,000 copies. The magazine is sent only by request,
and we write subscribers annually to see if they wish to
continue receiving the magazine. We also publish tracts, books,
and study guides. Our Bible correspondence course ministry is
flourishing. The 16 lesson basic course is advertised on this
web site as well as in the magazine. Each student is invited to
take the advanced course when he graduates. Myriad letters
received attest the quality and value of each of our
publications.
What is the purpose of this literature?
To evangelize and edify; to reach the unsaved and to
strengthen the saved throughout the Spanish world. This has
been the mission of La Voz Eterna
since it was founded by Harris Goodwin in Mexico City in
1963.
What are the results of this work?
During these 47 years our magazines, tracts, BCCs and
books have led thousands to Christ; many new congregations have
been started; and many more thousands of Christians have been
strengthened thru this gospel literature.
How are the magazines used?
La Voz Eterna magazines are used
in many ways. They provide excellent training materials for new
preachers to advance in their studies of the Word; they provide
fresh sermon material for experienced preachers; they reach
serious contacts in evangelism; and the magazines reach the
hearts and souls of brothers in the church and friends outside
who want to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. How do
we know this? By the many letters we receive so stating .
Would you like to know how our readers value our
publications?
Please click on "Ofrendas" ("Offerings" in English) and look
at the list of foreign churches and individuals who have sent
contributions to the magazine ministry recently. Many others
write that they can not send offerings because the bank
commission to obtain a check in U.S. dollars is more than the
offering they planned to send.
How does the ministry do this with
less than $4,000 monthly in regular contributions?
Thru the services of volunteers, including the editor in
Honduras. There is only one part time paid worker in Houston.
Printing the magazine plus supplies runs well over $5,000 each
edition, and postage costs (mostly international) are now over
$5,500 for one edition. Even with generous occasional
contributions, little is left to print tracts and books or to
pay general office expenses.
WE MUST DO MORE! Demand is far greater
than we can supply without substantial additional funding.
Funding is needed to reprint long out-of-stock tracts and books;
to increase the magazine circulation; and to pay the new
exorbitant international postage costs.
At least $5,000 more monthly is needed to
continue this ministry! Funds are spent on printing and
postage, with few other office costs.
Please write or call for more information. Financial statements
are always available. Our address and telephone are shown
below.
Each piece of literature is a printed laborer
for the Lord! Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the
laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to
send out laborers into his harvest" (Matthew 9.37,38).
We ask your help that this economical and effective way to
send out laborers into all the Spanish world may continue.
May the Lord bless you always,
Harris Lee Goodwin and the
Staff of
La Voz Eterna
Publications
WE AFFIRM:
- The all-sufficiency of the Scriptures.
- A "thus says the Lord" in matters of faith and
practice.
- Christian unity based on the New Testament.
- Rejecting all human creeds. Christ is the only creed.
- The autonomy of each local congregation.
- Liberty in matters of opinion.
- Restoration of the church of the New Testament in creed,
name, organization, worship and life.
- Practicing only those things authorized by the Scriptures.
Some churches practice things not prohibited by the Scriptures.
When we practice only those authorized by the Scriptures, we can
be sure that these doctrines are accepted by God.
La Voz Eterna Publications
P. O. Box 15218
Houston, TX 77220-5218
Tel. 713-674-7172 Fax 713-674-6545
E-mail:
"lavozeterna@aol.com"
or"revistalavozeterna@yahoo.com"
Editor's address:
Harris L. Goodwin
Apdo. Postal 30-328, Correo
Toncontín
Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.,
Honduras
E-mail:
harris.goodwin78@yahoo.com
The La Voz Eterna
ministry is sponsored by the Candlelight Church of Christ,
Houston, Texas.
www.candlelightchurchofchrist.org
Copyright © 2010 La Voz
Eterna Reservados todos los derechos
