The job description of “pastor” often includes a few subtitles, such as janitor, counselor, landscaper, bus driver, youth director, music director, funeral director, wedding chaplain, hospital chaplain, accountant, and marketing director — all at the same time. Often on the same day.
I remember visiting an accomplished businessman in Miami when my dad, Les Thompson, was a full-time pastor while also running LOGOI Ministries. At the end of our meeting, the businessman looked at my dad and with great admiration said, “I can only imagine the success you would have enjoyed as a businessman.” I think that was one of my dad’s favorite compliments ever.
I wish the businessman could have been with us on an amazing day in Cuba. It was the day I started to understand how the Lord uniquely prepares and equips His people to do His work (Ephesians 4:12).
In 2009, LOGOI was hosting a pastor and church leader event in Placetas, where my dad grew up and where my grandfather started the Los Pinos Nuevos Seminary. The Los Pinos grounds and facility are situated in one of those, “you have to know it’s over there somewhere” kind of places.
I stood outside the empty, air-condition-less conference center feeling sorry for us. It was getting dark, the place was empty, and the conference was about to begin. “Of course, it’s empty,” I mumbled discouragingly under my breath, “we’re in the middle of nowhere and I don’t know how anyone would even know we’re here.”
Dad sensed my discouragement but just looked at me as if knowing some secret and kept working on his notes. Then, off in the distance, I heard the rumblings of vehicles.
Looking up the pot-hole-filled gravel driveway, to my astonishment, a bus was arriving. It was the opposite of a nice, air-conditioned American bus. It was an old school bus that looked more like a prisoner transport than a commuter bus. It was packed with people — happy people.
Behind the “prisoner transport bus,” there came a tractor pulling a flat bed. The flat bed, somehow, was full of smiling people bouncing crazily down the gravel path. Then another tractor arrived pulling a trailer in something that looked like it was made for transporting cattle. But instead of cows, it carried dozens of humans. They were smiling… and singing!
One crazy bus or tractor pulling something not intended for people arrived after the other. They joyfully jumped out of their respective vehicles (no doubt happy to still be alive) and entered the building. I was astounded.
Somehow, each participant learned about our LOGOI conference and organized their means of transportation. Within minutes, the empty, air-condition-less conference center was crowded to capacity with folks singing praise songs and joyfully greeting each other. Jesus (and my dad) beamed with joy.
One pastor I met that night, Angel Luis Hernandez, had been Cuba’s Greco-Roman wrestling champion for his weight class. Even his eyelids looked strong. He had a big mustache and an even bigger laugh. “You know what Fidel Castro himself gave me for my wrestling trophy,” he asked. Before anyone could reply he answered, “A turkey. A live turkey!” Then he laughed so loud and hard that the rest of us had no choice but to laugh with him.
He told me about his little air-condition-less church. “My house is our church. We are just a few, but we love the Lord. God is going to do something special in our community and we are full of hope.” Then he jokingly added, “If they don’t believe, I will squish them until they do.”
I looked at him in awe, imagining the success he’d have in the US…
What a privilege to help these incredibly talented and capable pastors and leaders — not to build air-conditioned buildings or buses — but to better teach and proclaim God’s Word. Not only in Cuba but in the lives of over 32,000 others spread across the Spanish-speaking world. Like our champion Greco-Roman wrestler-turned-pastor, they are already at work in their communities, already understand their culture and people, and want to help others discover the love, joy, peace and hope of believing in Jesus.
Thank you for your prayers and financial gifts. We invest them in the lives of people called to proclaim the Good News. Just imagine the success they will have in Jesus’s hands.
Forever,
P.S. Our partners in Cuba will soon complete registration and begin the scholarship program many of you have generously supported. Communication with Cuba can sometimes be challenging, and we thank you for your support and patience as we get the courses going.
Kommentarer