Complete Stats on materials produced by the Shappley’s and Fruits registered

Links to previous reports, beginning with 2008, are also on the above Page.

Report from Dewayne and Rita Shappley

For the month of July, 2014

Highlights of this Report

Another baptism in the Bayamon, Puerto Rico church

Two more conversions through the Internet sites

Margarito Flores Álamo is baptized in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, the tenth baptism in that church so far this year.

Margarito Flores Álamo is baptized in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, the tenth baptism in that church so far this year.

Alfonso Estrella, one of the six leaders of the Bayamón, Puerto Rico church, baptizes Margarito Flores Álamo, 67 years old. A Roman Catholic all his life, Margarito has been attending off and on for several years. After being baptized one Wednesday night during July, he has begun bringing three of his young grandchildren with him, taking them up front on a recent Sunday morning to present them to the congregation and ask for prayers on their behalf. “Margarito” is an old-type Spanish name for a man, his nickname being “Margaro.”

E-mails and Notes reveal much about the material on our sites and positive reactions to it, including two conversions reported in July.

Internet Usage Data after the E-mails

 

-Ciudad Sandino, Managua, Nicaragua. July 01, 2014. “Receive my greetings and great blessings from God our Father. I congratulate you for your excellent Web site. It is a great help to members and to those who are not yet so, for they can see and become aware of the truth Christ teaches.” Anthony
Referer: "http://www.editoriallapaz.org/cursos_capacitacion_desglose.htm"

-This e-mail was sent from the Page which lists courses on our site for the preparation of competent ministers of Jesus Christ.

-Daly City, California. July 01, 2014. “My mother is 92 years old. Thanks to God, she has already been baptized. Also for the youth who were baptized in your congregation and the couple baptized before that.” Susana Pabón

-I have mentioned Susana in previous reports. Through studies on our site she came out of Pentecostalism and attends a congregation in Daly City, near San Francisco. We correspond regularly.

-Nineteen days later, Susana informed us she also had been baptized. See the entry below for July 20.

-Place not identified. July 02, 2014. “I saw your articles on “Apostles and Women Apostles of Today” http://www.editoriallapaz.org/apostoles-apostolas-de-hoy-Ismael.html, “Pentecostal Soothe Sayers and Magicians” http://www.editoriallapaz.org/pentecostales_adivinos_magos.htm#Dionny, and “Mormons: Their Sad History and Major Doctrines”http://www.editoriallapaz.org/mormones.htm. I think they are very good and complete.” Ezequiel Santillán.

-Ezequiel went on to make a number of constructive observations on these subjects. I have offered to publish them if he so authorizes it. The second study of the above three was written by Vicente Mercado, of Colombia.

-Daly City, California. July 20, 2014. Susana Pabón baptized. Susana and I have been exchanging e-mails for perhaps two years, or more. Studying materials on our Site, she and her husband withdrew from Pentecostalism and began attending a church of Christ. During that time, he passed away. A few months later, the preacher of the congregation deeply offended Susana with a remark about her possibly looking for a new husband. She almost stopped attending, but I continued to urge her to keep her eyes on Christ, not allowing men, even an insensitive preacher, to stop her from seeking the salvation she desired. To my great rejoicing, Susana sent the following e-mail dated July 20.

-“Brother Homero, I read your last e-mail to my mother. She is very happy, and told me to greet you and may God bless you. My mother’s name is Lucia Reyes. Her birthday is August 22 and yours is August 20. How lovely! Brother Homero, I also have been baptized. So then, this month I am doubly young. This month, I will be 61 years old. I am right on your heels, so you had better hurry before I catch up with you. Many blessings for you, Sister Rita and the rest of your family.”

-In the e-mail dated July 01, Susana informed us her mother, age 92, had been baptized.

-Place not identified. July 20, 2014. “I read the study on ‘Once Saved, Always Saved,’ and I thought it excellent. It is very complete, being a balanced [presentation] on both points. Many thanks. Blessings.” Enrique Romero Roman

-Place not identified. July 22, 2014. “Blessings. Thanks for such an edifying Web site. God’s peace be with you.” Aurora Rosas

-Pampatar, Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela. July 29, 2014. “This is the first time I have read the Web site, and I like the clarity of every explanation of the Word. May God bless you.” Isabel Palmira

 

Seventy entries for the Sites during July

These are new Pages or substantially improved Pages

An example is the following:

El tabernáculo-templo de Israel es "símbolo para el tiempo presente", del "más amplio y más perfecto tabernáculo, no hecho de manos".

[The tabernacle-temple of Israel is a “symbol of the present time,” of the “the greater and perfect tabernacle, not made with hands”.]

Once imágenes en PDF vía un carrusel de las imágenes

[Eleven images in PDF, via a carousel of the images]

Vista del tabernáculo de Israel de día con la columna de nube encima, imagen para El tabernáculo-templo de Israel, símbolo del más amplio y perfecto tabernáculo de la Era Cristiana, PDF de imágenes en editoriallapaz.org.

El tabernáculo-templo de Israel "es símbolo para el tiempo presente". Símbolo muy acertado del "más amplio y más perfecto tabernáculo, no hecho de manos". Once imágenes en PDF, vía un carrusel de las mismas. Este conjunto de imágenes se presta para clases bíblicas, o para sermones. Siguiendo las instrucciones incluidas en el documento, puede uno confeccionar su propia Presentación en PowerPoint.

The tabernacle-temple of Israel “is symbol of the present time”. [This link is to the Spanish version. An English version is not available.] A very accurate symbol of the “greater and perfect tabernacle, not made with hands.” Eleven images in PDF, via a carousel of them. This group of images (slides) can be used for classes or sermons. Following instructions included in the document, one can compose his own Presentation in PowerPoint.

Internet Usage Data

July, 2014 (31 days)

-Visits

-To www.editoriallapaz.org .............................................................................. 109,974

-To www.iglesia-de-cristo.com ............................................................................... 283

-To www.apocalipsis.co .......................................................................................... 402

-To www.vimeo.com, for videos of hymns and sermon......................................... 460

-Total visits............................................................................................ 111,119

-Daily average of visits........................................................................................ 3,584

-Page views for all sites.............................................................................................. 195,796

Totals for the year 2014

-Total visits...................................................................................................................... 725,757

-Daily average for 212 days.................................................................................. 3,423

-Page views................................................................................................................. 1,301,544

Grand Totals through July 31, 2014

-Grand Total of visits................................................................................................ 12,152,858

-Grand Total of Page Views (documents accessed by visitors)......................... 24,274,802

Data for www.alabanzas.info. Antonio’s site for hymns.

-Visits for July, 2014........................................................................................................ 13,761

-Page views for July, 2014............................................................................................. 21,066

-Visits. Jan. 1 – July, 31, 2014....................................................................................... 83,490

-Page views. Jan. 1 – July, 31, 2014.......................................................................... 158,975

 

Dewayne Shappley performs a wedding ceremony in the Bayamon, Puerto Rico church of Christ meeting place.

Dewayne Shappley performs the wedding ceremony for Yanitza Hernández Pérez and Gabriel Avilés Aponte in the meeting place of the Bayamon, Puerto Rico church of Christ. May 18, 2014.

The congregation in Bayamon had already been established about eight years when Yanitza was born. Her mother, Nilsa Pérez, had been baptized and was a faithful member. Rita and our daughter, Sharon Laretta, thirteen, or so, at that time, were with the family the night Yanitza was born. She was baptized during her teenage years and grew into a fine, young woman. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business administration, she has held a high-paying job for a number of years. Always a faithful Christian, Yanitza was trained by Rita to teach children’s classes, and is exceptionally competent in this ministry.

Very family oriented, for long years Yanitza had wanted to marry and have her own family. She was introduced to Gabriel Avilés by her brother-in-law, Ramón. A couple of years later, Gabriel –“Gaby” to his friends- proposed to Yanitza in a unique way: He had a small plane fly over a San Juan park where Yantiza was with the message, in Spanish, “Yanitza, would you marry me?” She consented, and the date was set.

In previous years, I had performed marriage ceremonies, first for Adaliz (Daly), and then for Lizbeth (Lily), Yanitza’s two older sisters. In the picture below, Daly is the fifth bridesmaid from the left and Lily is the first. The three sisters are faithful members of the church. Daly (short “a”) is an accountant and Lily works in an advertising company. Ramón, who introduced Yanitza to his best friend, Gaby, is the second man to the right of the groom. Both Ramón and Gaby are lawyers, as are also Gaby’s father and mother. The rest of the men, all standing with Gaby during the ceremony, are lawyers, with maybe a doctor or two in the group, and at least one judge was present, though I am not sure he is in this lineup. The flower girl is Mariana, Lily’s daughter, 7 years old, a precocious child who has been reading and writing both Spanish and English since she was 3, even preferring English. Mauricio, the ring bearer, is the son of Ramón and Daly.

The ceremony I prepared was adapted to what I knew about the couple and their circumstances. It also included several statements from Proverbs 31, with personal applications. By the grace of God, such was the nature and content of the ceremony that it produced a most favorable impact on those present, judging by many comments made that Sunday afternoon. Even three or four weeks later, both Yanitza and Gaby said they were still hearing remarks about how beautiful the ceremony was. To the Lord be the glory. His church is thereby seen in a more acceptable context by those who are Catholic, or not members of any church. We wanted that ceremony to be special for another reason too: Yanitza, or “Yanny” as we call her, is like an adopted daughter to us. Indeed, not only Yanny, but also her mother and sisters are like family to us. They often invite us to their home, and I do believe Nilsa is the best cook on the island!

 
A wedding ceremony in the building of the church of Christ in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Complete Stats on materials produced by the Shappley’s and Fruits registered

Links to previous reports, beginning with 2008, are also on the above Page.

  

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