A NOTE FROM GARRY MORRISON

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Published: Monday, 11 June 2012 10:35

Twenty-three years ago, when my wife and I met Ed and Dianne, none of us could have imagined that God was putting together a ministry team, that eventually would impact many unbelievers and believers, in several Spanish speaking countries, including the communist island of Cuba. God has given Bro. Ed the privilege of ministering on 27 mission trips to Cuba. I have had the great privilege of traveling with him on the last eleven trips. God has also given me the privilege of translating innumerable workbooks into Spanish, which have literally touched thousands of people in various Spanish-speaking countries with sound doctrine, theology, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Moreover, these teachings have personally more soundly rooted and grounded me in the Word of God and in its practical applications for my personal daily living and ministry.

On this last trip to Holguín, Cuba, it was so wonderful to see our brethren from Iglesia Bautista Maranata (also known as First Baptist Church of Holguin), with whom we have had an on-going relationship for many years, to once again host this annual conference. As these Cuban brothers shared with us, (both in a staff meetings and a joint missionary meeting), we became more aware, that they were excited and expectantly awaiting to receive a Word from the Lord on this teaching of the Holy Spirit. But, we were also very thankful that they felt an increased openness to share what the Lord has been doing in their ministries, and in their personal and family lives, (both in the mountain tops and in the valleys). There was also some sadness to learn that one of the missionary lady assistants had recently gone home to be with the Lord. We had the opportunity to visit the family members of the deceased missionary. As we visited with them we realized that she had left a wonderful legacy of faith, (her Godly testimony, her constant prayer for her lost family members and friends, and her love to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, up to the moment of her last breath on earth). 

The highlight for me on this trip was to witness to an unconverted forty-three year old lady. She has a high managerial position in Cuba’s tourism industry, and her husband is a “high-ranking” member of the Cuban Communist Party. For security purposes, I will conceal her identity and will call her, “Mary”. Mary’s good friend and co-worker, Mayra, who is a Christian, had given her a New Testament and had shared her testimony with her; but Mayra wanted me to visit Mary to intentionally share the gospel of Jesus Christ with her. So Mayra set up an early morning appointment, and I was able to share with her who Jesus is, what Jesus did on the cross, and the terms of Jesus to have salvation in Him, which are repentance and faith. Mary was broken over her sinfulness and she knew that Jesus loves her unconditionally and was willing to forgive her sins. However, Mary told me, with tears in her eyes,

“Now I know who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for me on the cross of Calvary; but I also know, that there is a cost to follow Jesus. I know that I need Jesus in my life, but I am scared because if I follow Him, it might cost me my marriage, I might be ostracized from my family, I may lose my job, and I might suffer persecution from my own husband (who is an atheist and faithful member of the Cuban Communist Party). I am going to have to count the cost before committing my life to Jesus Christ.”

Needless to say, we could sense the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in Mary’s life. I finally shared with her from Mark 10:28-30, “28Then Peter spoke up, we have left everything to follow you! 29 Truly I tell you, Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and the gospel’s 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time - houses, and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands—with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life”. I gave Mary a gospel tract, and I urged her to seek the Lord Jesus Christ. I prayed for her and for her husband and her son; and told her that I will be praying for her in the weeks and months to come, so that the Holy Spirit will give her the strength to commit her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. So, would you please join me in praying for the salvation of Mary, her husband, and her son? Also please pray for an invitation to travel to Cuba in December of this year, to preach a week-long evangelistic crusade. I am praying that the Lord will provide the finances for this opportunity.