ing on! We’re going to completely transform the Templo auditorium, and Mr. Fenton says we can show the Spanish version of Moody’s science film, ‘Dust or Destiny,’ as a special attraction. We’re going to have it three nights in succession, and I’m sure there will be more than a thousand each night. And with Israel Garcia as the preacher—” Just behind the seminary, Dayton Roberts and Gordon Houser watch as the new Editorial Caribe building begins to take shape. Organized in 1948, the publishing branch of the L.A.M. has now taken over all the Spanish stock of the American Tract Society and in addition publishes books, Sunday school materials, and other gospel literature. A new group of small publications similar to Moody Press’s Acorn Series is scheduled for next year. “ Doesn’t seem possible, does it, Gordon? Soon a modern two-story building, a good paper supply, our own multilith and other equipment, a staff of workers. The Lord has been wonderfully good in providing our needs so far.” Gordon looks meditative. “What thrills me is that God has given us this means of getting gospel literature into the hands of the people. Every time I talk with a national pastor he begs me to get him more Bible study materials in Spanish and tells me how frantic his people are for Christian books of every kind.” As the two men turn to go down the street, he adds, “ It’s a big responsibility the Lord has given us.” Some twelve miles away, up on a breathtakingly lovely mountainside, children of the L.A.M. farm-home are already settled in school for the day. Missionary teacher Nancy Koop looks at her charges thoughtfully: “How many of these youngsters would be out on the streets begging or shining shoes if it weren’t for this orphanage! Yet here they are, with home and Christian love and a chance for the education they could never have had otherwise.” As she begins to write an arithmetic problem on the black board, Rolando shyly comes to the front of the classroom with one hand behind his back. “What is it, Rolando?” “ For you, señorita.” He holds out a bouquet of flowers that have been clenched tightly in sticky littie hands. And in other parts of Costa Rica in suburbs in and around San José, or far away in the rural lowlands, L.A.M. national workers and pastors are busy about tending their flocks. In Costa Rica as in Colombia, there are many thriving churches holding up the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Students of L.A.M. Bible Seminary When the customer leaves, having heard a word of testimony and received a tract in addition to the Book, the clerk returns to her desk. She not only tends the store, but also is respon sible for much of the office work in connection with the L.A.M. Bible correspondence courses. And also working in the Temple building is the Mission’s official translator, who spends full time translating books, Sunday school lessons, and articles into the best possible Spanish. Radio station, hospital and clinic, lively church—but the Bible Seminary in San José is the busiest of all, center of the continent-wide outreach of the L.A.M. A group of young men students representing Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Panama and other republics, are congregated outside the two-story white cement building. “ Are we still scheduled for that evangelistic trip this afternoon?” Luis wants to know. But just then the bell rings for their class in Bible Doctrine, and they go in to join their class mates in the precious study. The Seminary is one of the oldest aspects of the L.A.M. work, for it was founded back in 1923 when the Strachans realized the desperate need of a training school for Latin pastors and Christian workers. Since then it has been in creasingly blessed of God and to date has turned out nearly 400 well-prepared young people to serve in the Lord’s vine yard in Spanish-speaking America. Students include both young men and women. A year of Bible training is required for girls before they can enter the three-year nursing school in the hospital, and a few also take the full seminary course. At present the young people come from ten different countries and many more denominational groups, since one unique feature of the seminary is its inter denominational and international emphasis. In the seminary the L.A.M. has an essential supply line for the future of the church in Latin America! With classrooms, library, chapel, dining room, faculty offices and girls’ dormitory all together, the building is full enough. But up in one cubby-hole office is General Director R. Kenneth Strachan’s headquarters, from which the continental evan gelistic campaigns are also directed. In other offices are the Costa Rica field director, Horace L. Fenton; business man ager, mailing clerk, mission treasurer, and busy secretaries. Downstairs the offices of the youth department are hum ming with activity. A term at Camp Roblealto—Costa Rica’s only summer camp—opens soon, several new boys’ clubs are being organized near San José, young people are writing in to request more Scripture memory packets. Missionary Kenneth Hood comes in for a brief talk with Paco Segura, youth worker. “How are plans coming for the big youth rally in the Templo next month?” Paco brightens. “ Fine you should see the theme we’re work
Conference of radio TIFC Staff members. From left to right: Script writers Francisco Blanco and Jorge Escalante; Director W. Dayton Roberts; Music Editor Helen Fenton; Chief Engineer Philip Smith; Librarian Georgina Solt; Engineer David Solt.
N O V E M B E R , 1 9 5 2
Page Nine
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs