|
 |
La
Voz Eterna English Report
"The Eternal
Voice"
OCTOBER
2011
REPORT
The
story of the
Restoration
(in English) (Complete)
(B. J.Humble,
PhD)
Plus:
Other English
items: Booklets & articles in
English
An
introduction to the "La Voz Eterna" Spanish
publications ministry
|
|
"The Eternal Voice" - A Bimonthly Magazine Dedicated to Proclaiming The Eternal Voice of God - The Holy Scriptures A threefold Spanish publications ministry thru (1) magazines; (2) tracts & books; plus (3) web site teaching - edifying, educating and evangelizing the Spanish world! If you would like to read this entire site in English, please go to a search engine, Google for example, and enter "La Voz Eterna." They will give instructions to obtain their automatic English translation. Sometimes the automatic translations are strange, sometimes delightful, but almost always understandable.
OCTOBER 2011
REPORT
OCTOBER 2011 REPORT
66 CDs of the La Voz Eterna web site were distributed to our preaching brothers in Cuba!
A gospel preacher from Cuba, now in Spain, told us that CDs for computers could be reproduced very economically in Cuba, and he requested a CD be made of our web site for teaching gospel preachers in that nation. A computer expert at the Garden Oaks Church of Christ had a special program to put web sites on CDs, and he did this work for us without cost. The Cuban preacher reported that enough copies were made - 66! - for all, or almost all, of the brothers who had PCs to have their own copy. (We were pleasantly surprised to leearn that so many preachers had PCs, since Cuba is one of the poorest nations in the hemisphere.) The Cuban brother reported that they all considered the CD a great blessing and a valuable resource for their studies. Indeed, the project was a great blessing for all of us, for the Garden Oaks computer expert (so he told us), and for all the preachers in Cuba.
Bible Correspondence Course Ministry
We have transferred the old, established and valuable BCC ministry to the Lawndale Church of Christ (Iglesia de Cristo Lawndale), a long established congregation here in Houston, Texas. They have plans for large scale local BCC programs as well as for continuing our U. S. and international correspondence ministries. The same BCC basic course, in a simple form, can also be studied on this Internet site and the answers sent by e-mail to the Lawndale church. (Please click on "Curso" for information.) We pray that this ministry will continue to flourish and be blessed by the Lord through this new group.
Restoration studies included on web site
The book "The Story of the Restoration" by Dr. Bill Humble is now featured on the web site. It is the latest of our several entries on the restoration movement, plus one article about restoration movements before the Campbells. This complete book by bro. Humble was published as a series in the La Voz Eterna magazine beginning in 1989 and concluding in 1991.
Summarizing the 2010 financial report
For a complete report prepared on QuickBooks, please e-mail or call us. Briefly, our 2010 figures were: 85,223 copies of the magazine were mailed (7 editions) and 5 tracts were reprinted. Bank balance at the beginning of 2010 was $19,260.72 and at the end of 2010 the balance was $6,911.86. Contributions in 2010 were $70,112.90 and expenses, with 7 editions mailed instead of the normal 6, were $84,119.59. (This shows that the cost per copy of the magazine, if all expenses of the ministry, BCCs, tracts, utilities - everything! - are included, was a little under $1.00 per copy, even though about 90% of our 12,000 copies are mailed to foreign countries, with their exorbitant international postage rates.) Printing the magazine was $25,571.74 and postage for the magazine was $37,644.85. No salaries were paid. The remaining $20,903 of expenses covered reprinting tracts, BCC and other postage, mailing equipment & supplies, our excellent Spanish preacher/contractor and proofreader, plus ordinary business expenses of lights, telephones, etc. We will have 2011 financial figures later.
May the Lord continue to bless you, and may you continue to help us teach Christ and his message thru out the Spanish world.
If you would like a sample copy of the magazine, please let us know and we will be happy to send one to you.Thank you and God bless you.
(Please make contribution checks payable to "Candlelight Church of Christ" with "La Voz Eterna" or simply "LVE" in the left memo corner. Please mail to "La Voz Eterna", P. O. Box 15218, Houston, TX 77220. Thank you.)
Site includes two booklets in English:
The church and its work (Cooperation, benevolence and Christian schools) - Batsell Barrett BaxterThere is a way that seems right to a man... - Tony Dupree
Plus articles in English:
Guilty or Not Guilty? (If Christianity was a crime in America, and you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?) - Neal TalmadgeThe new hermeneutic: A sign of apostasy? - Howard Norton
Since the beginning, marriage is of God - Harris Goodwin
Plus an article on the beginning of Baxter Institute in Mexico: "A young man's dream - Evangelizing Latin America"
We expected international postage to rise again in January 2011, which it did. But we didn't expect another round of increases on April 17th. At least these increases will not affect the 350 or more "International Priority Envelopes" which we send. They will increase other classes of international postage that we use, but not the largest, most expensive, and most necessary class, the International Priority Envelopes.
We wonder sometimes if it is worth the huge postage cost to get a magazine teaching the gospel in Spanish to the 30 countries we serve. The subscribers say that this is the only way they can get gospel literature. Our requests come largely from villages in the boondocks of each nation where they have no literature of any kind, according to their e-mails and letters. Some are able to send e-mails from Internet cafes, but this is too expensive for many others. Churches in large cities also request the magazine and confirm the value of the publication in their teaching and evangelizing, and distribute them to small rural churches. If you would like copies of many of these letters of request, please send us your name and address and we will be happy to send them to you, for whatever nation you are interested in.
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. Now in our 49th year of service, we wonder how long we will be able to continue. However, the Lord continues to provide and we continue to serve.
E-mails are continually received 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. Foreign churches and individuals who have contributed are shown under the section "Ofrendas" ("Offerings"). Because of several natural disasters this year, and the bad economy in much of the world, these foreign offerings are fewer than in past years. But they represent sacrifice and appreciation from each donor, and we are grateful for their support. It 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:
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 - The October 1, 2010 edition of "Watchtower" states that they distribute over 39 million copies in 182 languages! And the October 2010 edition of "Awake!", their family magazine, states that over 38 million copies of it are distributed in 84 languages! 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.
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 12,000 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.
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 12,000 copies. The magazine is sent only by request, and we ask subscribers annually 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.
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.
During these 49 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.
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 and the assistant editor in Houston. There are no employees, only one very able part-time contractor, a full time Spanish preacher, who handles the BCCs, fills orders, does fund raising plus helping with proofreading and many other activities. Printing the magazine plus supplies runs to almost $5,000 each edition, and postage costs (mostly international) are a little over $6,000 for one edition in 2010. 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.
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.
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. GoodwinApdo. 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. Please make contribution checks payable to "Candlelight Church of Christ" with "La Voz Eterna" or simply "L.V.E." in the memo section on the left corner. And may the Lord bless you all.
Great
Slogans of the Restoration
Movement
Across the ages those successful in communicating their ideas to others have been able to couch their doctrines in simple, easily remembered slogans. Solomon put it beautifully when he said, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a network of silver" (Prov. 25.11). In this lesson we will notice some of the great slogans of the Restoration pioneers of the nineteenth century.
1. "No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible."
In a world of warring sects, each with its own human creed and tests of loyalty, our brethren confessed no human creed; only Jesus as the Christ the Son of the living God (Matt. 16.18). They acknowledged no document as authoritative in matters religious but God's book. That confession all sincere souls of every stripe can confess without reservation, shame or embarrassment. With the inspired Bible as their guide, they can "be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Tim. 3.16-17). To confess Christ and follow the Bible is a way that is right and cannot be wrong.
2. "Do Bible things in Bible ways; call Bible things by Bible names."
This simple statement struck at the corruptions of the Christian faith as practiced by the spokesmen of denominationalism. Across the ages Catholicism had corrupted every item of the faith. Protestant sects still held to many Romish practices and spoke her corrupt language. Like the Hebrews in Nehemiah's day, "the children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language..." (Neh. 13.24). To bring all believers to unity in Christ, the restorers saw the need to "turn the people (to) a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah with one consent" (Zeph. 3.9). Rather than human names of identification they took the God-given name, Christian (Acts 11.26). Laying aside the terms "mass" and "eucharist" they spoke of "the Lord's Supper" (1 Cor. 11.10). Rather than affusion, sprinkling or pouring they spoke of baptism as a "burial" (Rom. 6.3-4). No longer were preachers called pastors, reverends, or fathers; rather they were called ministers, evangelists, brethren (Matt. 23.8-9; 1 Tim. 4.6; 2 Tim. 4.5). Baptism by immersion was administered to penitent believers not to guileless infants (Acts 2.38; 8.38-39). The whole vocabulary of the faith had to be restored. In so doing they cleared away most of the dreary mist that had confused the people.
3. "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent."
This truth sets forth the fundamental difference between the Lord's church and the whole of denominationalism. The pioneers correctly learned that we can only do what Christ has authorized in his New Testament. We are specifically told to teach men to observe Christ's commandments (Matt. 28.20). Again we are warned, "not to go beyond the things which are written" (1 Cor. 4.6 ASV). They recognized that to please God we must respect "the silence of the Scriptures." This principle is illustrated in the case of Nadab and Abihu. They were struck dead for offering "strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them" (Lev. 10.1-2). Christian preachers who taught Gentile brethren that they must be circumcised were rebuked by the apostles because they had not been given commandment to do so (Acts 15.1, 23-24). We do not ask where does the Bible forbid infant baptism or instrumental music; we ask where is such authorized. Those who ignore the silence of the Scriptures opened a flood gate through which a thousand corruptions pour in unchecked.
4. "In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; in all things, charity (love)."
These words, first spoken by Rupertus Meldenius, were drafted by Thomas Campbell and placed in his Declaration and Address. They form a workable plan of unity in a world of divided believers. All devout souls accept the Bible as God's Word. All agree on the fundamentals. It urges men to humbly accept what is plainly taught in Scripture. Love for Jesus means keeping his commandments (John 14.15). Christ saves those that obey him (Heb. 5.8-9). In unclear areas and in matters of judgment all are urged to grant the fullest liberty to others (Rom. 14.4-5). It is this area of Christian faith and practice where we have stumbled most. Campbell's slogan urges brotherly love as the essential nutrient for unity (John 13.34-35). We can be most patient, forgiving and tolerant of those we love dearly.
5. "Truth first, union afterward; and union only in truth."
This saying of David Lipscomb was voiced when a large segment of our brethren departed from Scriptural ground to embrace missionary societies, instrumental music, the denominational pastor system, women preachers and a host of other departures. While so doing, they expected our brethren to tolerate their innovations and fellowship them under the guise of maintaining unity. Our fathers responded with John's warning that "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ hath not God; he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9). To receive the false teacher and give him greeting made one a partaker in his evil works (2 John 9-11). They noted Paul's charge to "mark them that are causing divisions and occasions of stumbling contrary to the doctrine which ye learned; and turn away from them" (Rom. 16.17). True unity can never ignore error; it can only be attained when men meet on God's divine truth.
6. "Be true to the truth, oppose the error, but bear with humanity".
This wise saying of David Lipscomb spoke to those who were impatient in dealing with fellow Christians. Without discounting the value of truth or the duty to oppose error, it urged patience in dealing with those in error. Not all Christians are at the same level of maturity. Not everyone will see the danger that you may see. All will not have the strength of conviction that you have at this moment. Everyone has not had, or taken the time to study a given point which is at issue. "We who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak..." (Rom. 15.1). We "must not strive but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil..." (2 Tim. 2.24-26). We must recognize the difference between those who are coming out of error into truth and those who are leaving truth for error. There is a difference in those who are confused or misled on a matter and those who are deliberate, destructive false teachers. Our goal should be to salvage as many people as possible rather than cut them off.
7. "Back to Jesus, back to the Bible, back to Jerusalem."
These words declare the direction we are traveling. We are not progressives departing from Christ (2 John 9). We are looking for "the old paths" that we may walk therein (Jer. 6.16). The faith was once for all times delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Jesus is our savior, founder and head; we look to no other man. The Bible is our standard; we need no other book of doctrine. The church which began in Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago is our pattern.
8. "The only way to make progress in religion is by going back to the Bible."
This reminds us that we must not seek to modify the church to please modern man. We strive to please only Jesus (Gal. 1.10). We please God and reach our optimum effectiveness by seeking out "the old paths" and walking therein (Jer. 6.16). This would not be true of any other institution, law, book or system. What comes from man's hand is dated and is soon obsolete. But what the omniscient God creates is perfect, eternal and ever contemporary. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb. 13.8). So is the Bible, and so may be the church.
These slogans are not inspired; they are not to be thought of as Scripture. They are truths that help us remember our commitment to be Christians only as were those saints in the first Christian century.
- John Waddey
"firstcenturychristian"
 |
|