HCJB Global announced Monday (Jan. 27, 2014) that the 82-year-old ministry, founded in Quito, Ecuador, is changing its name to Reach Beyond. The new name and the release of the Reach Beyond Mission Manifesto are intended to encourage and challenge Christians worldwide to reach beyond their comfort zones and perceived limitations to share the love of Jesus in places where the gospel has seldom, if ever, been heard.

The mission is defined by the tagline, “The Voice and Hands of Jesus. Together.” Through its “voice” ministries, the mission works with partners to use radio and modern media to make the gospel accessible in places where it typically isn’t available.

The “hands” ministries of the mission provide much-needed healthcare service in places where even common medical help isn’t readily available. Reach Beyond “hands” ministries takes many forms, including mobile community healthcare clinics, counseling centers in war-torn areas, clean water projects and general hygiene training, all with an emphasis on demonstrating the love of Jesus to recipients of the care.

Reach Beyond also values partnership with local Christians, churches and ministry partners as its core way of operating, signified by the word “together” in its tagline.

“For more than 80 years our missionaries and partners have boldly been going to places where people have never had the opportunity to experience the love of God,” said Wayne Pederson, president and CEO of Reach Beyond. “But now is the time to accelerate and multiply those efforts. Through the use of modern media and healthcare, we work arm in arm with partners to show people that a relationship with Jesus Christ can change their lives forever.”

The “Reach Beyond Manifesto” challenges believers to reach beyond borders and their own comfort level in an effort to accomplish the “great commission.” It serves as a declaration for how the renamed Reach Beyond wants to invest its time and efforts in making Christ known to the ends of the earth. It’s also a call – and a challenge – for other Christians to recommit themselves to the same effort.

“With all the technology, knowledge and experience available to us today, there is no reason why we can’t make Christ known to everyone on the planet,” said Pederson. “We hope the ‘Reach Beyond Manifesto’ causes all like-minded Christians to renew their commitment to demonstrate God’s love as His ‘voice’ and ‘hands.’”

Founded in 1931 as World Radio Missionary Fellowship Inc., Reach Beyond has focused on making disciples of Christ around the world. With ministries in more than 100 countries, Reach Beyond equips partners to air Christian content in more than 120 languages and dialects. The name change also reflects the ministry’s ongoing international focus and commitment to reach areas where less than 2 percent of the population is Christian.

“Adaptability has always been a strength of the mission,” said Curt Cole, executive vice president of international ministries. “When the best model was to own a large hospital or broadcast over shortwave radio, the mission leveraged those strengths. Today, technology and the world are changing, and we are adapting. That’s why we place such a high premium on partnerships with local Christians. They know their own culture and needs far better than we do. If the need is for a small, community healthcare clinic or a local FM radio station, we’re committed to equipping the people with all the resources they need to reach their own people in their own culture.”

HCJB Global’s “Beyond the Call” radio program, on more than 1,000 stations around the U.S., will now be called “Reach Beyond.”

“The new name is much more than a brand change,” Pederson said. “Reach Beyond is a reflection of our ministry DNA. It’s about doing whatever is necessary to reach those who have never heard the name of Jesus. In essence, it’s a call to Christians to reach beyond their comfort zones and challenges them to actively participate in making Christ known among the nations.”

To read and sign the “Manifesto,” visit www.reachbeyond.org.

The organization hopes the “Reach Beyond Manifesto” will serve as a call to action for Christians to focus their attention and efforts on those areas of the world where Christ has yet to be proclaimed.

“We hear it every generation, but perhaps it’s more true now than ever,” Pederson said. “We are at a pivotal time in our history. We have the means and ability to spread the message of Jesus to everyone who is alive today. We can accomplish this by renewing our commitment and reorganizing our priorities. Reach Beyond wants to be on the forefront of this new gospel era and encourage others to join us in making Christ known in every country, city, village and community around the globe.”

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The United States Supreme Court recently decided to hear a case that could have an impact on the approximately 1.4 million people who are arrested nationwide for driving while intoxicated each year. The legal issue before the court is whether those who have been stopped on suspicion of DWI have Fourth Amendment protection against forced blood tests.

The case, Missouri v. McNeely, began when a highway patrol officer in Missouri pulled over Tyler McNeely for speeding. During the stop, the officer claimed that McNeely’s behavior gave him cause to believe that he was intoxicated. The officer ordered McNeely out of the car and administered a field sobriety test; McNeely performed the test poorly. Due to McNeely’s performance on the test, the officer asked him to submit to a blood test.

McNeely did not consent to the blood test. Because of this, the officer drove him to a clinic and instructed a staff member to draw blood from McNeely, over his protests. When the results of the blood test came back, they showed that McNeely’s blood alcohol level was nearly two times the legal limit. As a result, McNeely was arrested for DWI.

Before the trial, McNeely’s lawyers made a motion to exclude the blood test results from being used as evidence at the trial. To support the motion, the attorneys argued that the blood test results are inadmissible as evidence, because no search warrant was issued.

Prosecutors said that the blood test was admissible as evidence. They argued that in the time it would take to procure a warrant, the alcohol in McNeely’s system would be metabolized. They argued that officers were legally justified in drawing the blood without a warrant, because a delay would cause a destruction of evidence and would weaken their claim that McNeely was driving drunk.

The Missouri trial judge ruled in favor of McNeely’s attorneys, prohibiting the blood test results from being used as evidence. When the prosecution appealed the decision, the appeals court reversed the trial court’s ruling. However, when the case was taken to the Missouri Supreme Court, it ruled that that it was not legally justified for the officer to order the blood test without a warrant, because there were no special facts or “exigent circumstances” that would legally justify the hasty drawing of the blood.

Across the nation, courts are split on whether the dissipation of alcohol in the bloodstream creates a sufficient emergency to legally justify the drawing of blood without a warrant. Since the United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, it will make the ultimate decision and resolve the nationwide differences on this legal point.

Ruling’s effect on Texas law

The effect that the Supreme Court’s ruling will have on Texas law is unclear. In the past, it has been common for certain counties in Texas to implement a “no refusal” weekend program where drivers accused of DUI are not allowed to refuse blood tests. However, due to the fact that the blood drawn under this program is pursuant to a judge-issued search warrant, it is fairly unlikely that the McNeely decision will affect the legality of such programs.

In Texas, a DWI suspect’s blood may be drawn without a warrant for various DWI offenses such as third offense drunk driving and intoxication assault or manslaughter cases. However, the issue in the McNeely case is limited to whether the natural metabolism of blood is sufficient justification to allow warrantless drawing of blood. Since the McNeely case does not address whether such laws are constitutional, it is unclear if the decision will have any effect on this Texas law.

The McNeely case is not expected to be decided until spring of 2013. However the court rules, drunk driving will remain a serious offense in Texas and carry significant penalties. If you have been arrested for DWI, it is vital for you to protect your rights. An experienced criminal defense attorney can put together a strong and effective defense and work to obtain the best possible outcome.

Article provided by The Shapiro Law Firm
Visit us at www.theshapirolawfirm.com

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