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Carlos M. Cortina Collection, 1936-1972

Collection Overview

Title: Carlos M. Cortina Collection, 1936-1972

ID: COLL/038

Creator: Cortina, Carlos M. (1927-1973)

Extent: 3.0 Boxes. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church. The papers consist of annotated bulletins and programs from the Spanish Christian Reformed Church, Wyoming, Michigan.

Biographical Note

Carlos and Elsa Cortina left Cuba as refugees in 1961.  They were among many who found it impossible to remain under the Castro regime.  Carlos had studied law.  Both he and his wife operated a private school in Cuba.

After ten months in Miami, the Cortinas moved to Grand Rapids.  While in Miami, they had met Christian Reformed people.  Carlos accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord and decided to enter the Christian ministry.

When Carlos graduated from Calvin Seminary in 1966, he served as missionary for Cuban evangelism and was pastor of the Spanish Christian Reformed Church in Wyoming, Michigan.  Our collection includes bulletins of that congregation in which he inserted his sermon notes and special messages.  In 1971, Carlos received the Lincoln Marti prize of the US Department of Social Services for his aid to Cuban refugees.

Carlos became a victim of cancer in 1970 but he continued in active ministry until his death on April 10, 1973, shortly before his forty-fifth birthday.

His ministry to the Spanish-speaking people was at a time when many Cubans came to the United States and moved in areas where Christian Reformed churches were attempting to witness to Mexican and Cuban workers.

Administrative Information

Alternate Extent Statement: 1.25 cubic ft.

Acquisition Source: Gift of C.M. Cortina family.

Other Note: Collection in Spanish and English.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Sermonic Notes --- 1963-1972
Box 1
Folder 1: Iglesia Christiana Reformada hispana bulletins with sermon notes --- 1965-1966
Folder 2: Iglesia Christiana Reformada hispana bulletins with sermon notes --- 1967-1968
Folder 3: Iglesia Christiana Reformada hispana bulletins with sermon notes --- 1969-1970
Folder 4: Iglesia Christiana Reformada hispana bulletins with sermon notes --- 1971-1972
Folder 5: Letter to Reeman CRC on work among Mexicans in the Reeman community --- undated
Folder 6: Prayer
Folder 7: Seminary report cards --- 1963-1964
Folder 8: Sermons and sermon notes in English --- undated
Series 2: Notes and Reports --- 1936-1969
Box 2
Folder 1: Apologetics: Bibliography and notes
Folder 2: Basic Unity of the Covenant of Grace.  Course paper --- 1965
Folder 3: Catechetics:  Notes
Folder 4: Christian Ethics:  Class notes
Folder 5: Church History:  Mimeographed material and notes
Folder 6: Church History:  Notes --- 1969
Folder 7: Church Order:  Mimeographed material and Class notes --- 1965
Folder 8: God's Grace, Man's Will and Preaching in Augustine's Doctrine of Predestination.  Class paper
Folder 9: Hebrews:  Ezekiel.  Notes --- 1964
Folder 10: Nature of the Canonicity of the Old Testament class notes
Folder 11: Nygren's Agape and Eros.  Report
Folder 12: Old Testament Biblical Theology.  Mimeographed material and class notes
Folder 13: Parables:  Mimeographed material, notes
Folder 14: Poimenics:  Mimeographed material, notes
Folder 15: Principles of Missions, class paper
Folder 16: Report on Jonathon Edward's Nature of True Virtue, paper
Box 3
Folder 1: Soteriology: mimeographed material
Folder 2: What is the Issue about Barth?  Notes
Folder 3: De Catecismo de Heidelberg
Folder 4: Home Missionary reports --- 1936-1937
Folder 5: Missionaries working with Spanish-speaking people.  Request for information, reports
Folder 6: Spanish books:  Dones de Dios, Curso I de Jardin de Infantes
Folder 7: Spanish books: Libro B and D.  Escuela biblica de Vacaciones
Folder 8: SWIM activity.  Correspondence and program --- 1968