[1]MIAMI (BP)–With a growing array of resources available in Spanish, Broadman & Holman International, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, welcomed opportunities to talk with hundreds of distributors from Latin America, Spain and the United States during Expolit, May 18-22 in Miami.
“We’re progressing and going in the right direction,” Luis Lopez, B&H field service consultant, said during Expolit, the largest Spanish expo of Christian books, Bibles, curriculum, music, gifts and supplies. “We have more new resources than ever before.”
A new Scofield study Bible, Holman Concise Bible Dictionary and Sunday School for a New Century curriculum were premiered. Other new products included “Breaking Free,” “In God’s Presence,” “When God Speaks” and “Jesus by Heart.”
Leticia Calcada said the “Scofield in Latin America is very well known. However, the only version available in Spanish was the Scofield edition produced in the early 1900s.”
Study helps in the updated version include 2,000 footnotes, 26,000 center column references, subject chain references, a topical concordance, a complete index of footnotes, an analytical chart of weights and measures and others.
“From beginning to end, I worked on this Bible for four years,” said Calcada, who did the translation of the study helps and oversaw editing and production. Based on early response, she expects the Bible to go into a second printing during the summer.
[2]While Sunday School for a New Century curriculum in English was introduced in the fall of 2000, the Spanish edition premieres in the fall of 2001.
Guillermo Hernandez, B&H resident consultant for Central America, saw the curriculum for the first time during a workshop preceding Expolit.
“The concept of Bible study as a family is very good,” said Hernandez, who will introduce the concept to churches this summer. He said churches in his region have responded most positively to date to “Experiencing God,” “Making Love Last Forever,” “Share Jesus Without Fear” and “Survival Kit for New Christians.”
He hopes the impact of Bible study and discipleship resources will be spiritual and numerical growth in the churches and a “greater sense of commitment” among believers.
Cesar Badillo Garduno, resident consultant in Mexico, said B&H International resources “transform people. They help people live by biblical principles. It is a beautiful experience for all the people to learn from the resources.”
Rose Corvalho, vice president of Bompastor, a Brazilian publisher, retailer and music distributor, said their partnership formed with LifeWay Christian Resources in 2000 is growing rapidly.
“We think LifeWay is the future for churches in Brazil,” she said.
In another area, B&H International introduced a witnessing tool, “Evangecube,” in 2000. Produced by Evangecube International, B&H has international distribution rights.
Casey See, executive vice president of Evangecube, said the 1 millionth cube will be distributed this year. A goal has been set to evangelize one billion people using the cube in the next 10 years.
“Evangecube preserves the simplicity of the gospel and can be used effectively in any language,” See said. It is available in 47 countries. Tracts to use with the cube have been published in six languages and will be available in 24 more by the end of 2001.
At a luncheon for 70 distributors of B&H International resources in the United States, Latin America and Spain, the top five distributors were recognized. These included Pan de Vida, Los Angeles; Representaciones Biblias, Maranatha and La Puerta de la Fe, all of Mexico; and Peniel of New York.
Eloy Tamez, manager of Alpha y Omega of Houston, received the award as the fastest-growing distributor.
Tamez said he was a distributor of Christian music until customers began asking for Bibles. “I believe the new Scofield Bible will be well received,” he noted.
B&H International resources in Spanish are now available in the United States, Spain and 17 Latin American countries.
Luis Aranguren, senior vice president of B&H International, attributed the growing acceptance and use of resources to applying the principles of the Experiencing God discipleship course.
“Before I even think of a strategy, I ask God to show me exactly where he wants us to work and what he wants us to do,” Aranguren said.
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(BP) photos posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo titles: STAYING STOCKED, SCOFIELD IN SPANISH and INTERNATIONALLY ORIENTED.