ТОП просматриваемых книг сайта:
Foundational missionaries of south american adventism. Daniel Plenc
Читать онлайн.Название Foundational missionaries of south american adventism
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9789877650334
Автор произведения Daniel Plenc
Жанр Документальная литература
Серия Pioneros
Издательство Bookwire
Although he initially did not know neither the Portuguese nor the Spanish language, he was able to convey clearly and guided by God the great Biblical truths, using appropriately the English and German languages. He spent a long time until using the first phrases in the local language.77
One of the first sessions of the South American Union held in 1918 in Lo Espejo, Chile. Among the sitting, center, stands out Frank Westphal.
It was his duty to be superintendent in charge of the development of the church in the east coast of South America (1894-1901), that comprised Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay; the in the west coast of the same continent (1904-1907) that comprised the countries of Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, and later on as president of the la Chile Conference (1907-1918). However, administrative tasks did not divert nor stop him from the urgency and undivided dedication to evangelizing and preaching. During many years he kept a system of three daily meetings to share the study of the Bible: at 9 a.m., in the afternoon and in the night. Thus, happened in Crespo, in San Cristóbal, with the Kalbermatters and in many other places.78 He made of personal relationship without distinction of persons a clear line of action and behavior.
He taught to sing, pray and study the Bible as a powerful means to worship.79 One of his favorite hymns, that he translated into Spanish and personally sang in his morning missionary visits, was “Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear my voice ascending high; to thee will I direct my prayer, to thee lift up mine eye.”80 Situations of difficulty and physical risk did not weaken his dedication, but enabled him to value the way God transformed those facts for good.81
His brother, Joseph W. Westphal, being the president of the church in the present church territory of the South American Division and then of the Austral Union (that included Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay), both had an appropriate relation with the mission of the church and of deep family warmth. Frank, in closing a letter to José, he stated affectionately, “your brother with much love”.82
With his wife, Mary, they developed coordinated action; she was an effective partner in missionary action and Sabbath School.83 She “was with him in spirit and soul in his ambitions and work”.84 Westphal also valued actions carried out by the brethren and missionaries with whom he shared the years spent in South America.85
It is said that pastor Westphal “talked with such conviction and fervor that the coming of Christ seemed to be about to happen, at the door”;86 that rallied and stimulated his action. It can be stated that Frank Westphal has a significant place in the beginnings and following years of Adventism in South America. His surrender to God, his virtues and his resolution will always be a guide for new generations in the evangelizing mission stipulated by Jesús for his disciples.
Frank H. Westphal and his family. His wife, María Thurston, and his children: Carlos E. Westphal, who was director of the River Plate Adventist Sanitarium and Hospital (standing in center); to his right, Grace Westphal, and to his left, Ruth Westphal.
1 Arthur E. Thomann, “Progress Report”, The Westphal Family Letter 3, No. 2 (1962): 100; this material is found in the personal archive of the author of this article. The Westphal family tree covers from the year 1780 until 1962. It allows to know diverse data from Frederick Westphal, grandfather of Frank H. and Joseph W. Westphal. In the year 2005 it was updated. F. H. Westphal died on February 24, 1944, in Glendale, California.
2 Enrique J. Westphal, “The 1879 Backround”, Centennial-New London Church (document, May 12, 1979), 4. There is a copy of this document in the personal archive of the author.
3 Ibid. Pastor J. W. Westphal, on December 14, 1943, and his children, pastors Arturo Leroy in 1953 and Enrique in 1979 wrote about family history and its relationship with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
4 SDAE (1966), see “Westphal, Frank Henry”.
5 “Delegados que asistieron al Congreso de Minneapolis [Delegates Attending the Minneapolis Congress]”, Ministerio Adventista 36, No. 212 (March-June 1988): 46. Westphal was one of the 96 delegates. The subject dealt with was justification by faith. N. Z. Town and F. H. Westphal, “Argentina”, The General Conference Bulletin 4, No. 14 (April 18, 1901): 324. The 1901 session was dedicated to a worldwide reorganization of the church.
6 Carlos Edgardo Westphal (1890-1965) is buried in Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos, Argentina, in the local cemetery, row 18, grave 17 (his wife, Amalia Schimpf, is buried in row 18, grave 18); Elena and Earl are in the British Chacarita Cemetery, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Road 37, 2 C grave 12. Earl died on June 15, 1899 (Registro Civil de la Capital, República Argentina, No. 188), “at half past nine in the night was born in his residence a male and is dead.” F. H. Westphal was the witness. Mary V. Thurston died on October 27, 1931, in Glendale, California, USA. F. H. Westphal married again to Miss Dena Barr (1866-1952) on May 30, 1934.
7 F. H. Westphal, service record written by himself on August 22, 1930, in Los Ángeles, California.
8 Ibid.
9 Westphal, Hasta el fin del mundo, 1-5. The territory of the South American Division covers Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. F. H. Westphal, “Journey to Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic”, Review and Herald 71, No. 41 (Oct. 16, 1894): 645.
10 Westphal, Hasta el fin del mundo, 5-6.
11 Peverini, En las huellas de la Providencia, 56-57; F. H. Westphal, “Argentine Republic”, Review and Herald 71, No. 43 (Oct. 30, 1894): 678. Notes he also went on September 18, 1894, to San Cristóbal, Santa Fe. The Crespo Church, that is in the countryside, was the first to be organized in the territory of the South American Division.
12 Westphal, Hasta el fin del mundo, 5-6.
13 Peverini, En las huellas de la Providencia, 56-57; Westphal, Hasta el fin del mundo, 12; F. H. Westphal, “Argentina, South America”, Review and Herald 73, No. 48 (Dec. 1, 1896, supplement): 3. F. H. Westphal, together with Johannes Mangold, in August of 1896, went from San Cristóbal to Ripamonte, Lehmann and Felicia, Santa Fe province. Federico Mangold, “Algunas anotaciones de la familia Mangold [Some Annotations of the Mangold Family]”, (family biographic notes, June 28, 1956), 12. In Ripamonte, Johannes visited a “relative” Guillermo Mangold. On August 6, 1896, F. H. Westphal baptized the parents, Guillermo and Elizabeth, and the children: Elisa, Santiago and Ana.
14 Westphal, Hasta el fin del mundo, chapters 1 and 2; R. B. Craig, “South American”, Review and Herald 71, No. 51 (Dec. 25, 1894): 805. Correspondence dated Friday, November 1, 1894, mentioning that the organization of the Buenos Aires Church took place two weeks before. F. H. Westphal, “Argentina”, Review