In the early years of the Cuban Revolution, the government declared Cuba to be an atheist state. For generations, political leaders tried to stomp out Christianity. Religious activities were oppressed as leaders believe that religion —especially Christianity— to be incompatible with the advancement of communism. New constitutions in 1976 and again in 1992 gave much-welcomed recognition to religious freedom rights.
While this bit of history may be interesting, chances are Isbel Garcia Suárez, at 35 years of age, doesn’t think much about it. In sharing his testimony with us, for example, it never even came up: Isbel says, “I came to know the Lord through my grandmother. I remember how she sang me old gospel songs when I was a child. As I grew up, I left the church and the Lord. When a terrible crisis came into my life, I was invited to church by a friend. I remembered those old gospel songs and the truths my grandma taught me about Jesus, and I rededicated my life to Christ. Thanks to the Lord, I was able to get through the crisis, and I have been walking with the Lord now for over five years.”
LOGOI’s Founder, the late Dr. Les Thompson, was born and raised in Cuba. Like Isbel’s Grandma, who sang him old gospel songs, he experienced the heavy hand of Cuba’s oppression on Christianity. But try as much as the Cuban government did to stomp out Christianity, they couldn’t stop Les Thompson from proclaiming the Gospel or Isbel’s grandma from singing and teaching her children and grandchildren about Jesus.
Today, Isbel is one of our LOGOI Bible students (he has already completed five courses) and is also studying to be a schoolteacher. “I feel the Lord has given me the desire to teach and help others learn,” he says. “I especially want to help others learn about Jesus just as my grandmother taught me.”
“I’m so grateful for the LOGOI Bible courses,” Isbel states. “They have helped me enormously and have been a blessing in my life as I prepare myself for ministry. I don’t have the words to express how much these courses have meant to me in my life. Thank you so much!”
Would you take a moment right now and pray for Isbel? Pray that God will bless his desire to teach and boldly proclaim the gospel in Cuba. While doing so, thank the Lord for his grandma. What a beautiful reminder that God’s Word can never be extinguished..
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