CUBA CONFERENCE ON THE AMAZING GRACE OF GOD

It is hard to believe that it was 15 years ago when the Lord opened the door to this marvelous ministry in Cuba. This was my 26th mission trip to this communist nation. The Lord graced us with the precious opportunity to teach 540 church planters, house church leaders and lay leaders at this year’s conference at Marantha Baptist Church in Holguin, Cuba. It was the best attended conference to date. The theme of this year’s conference was “Walking In Victory In The Reign Of Grace”. It was obvious that all who were in attendance were truly anticipating this 10-session series on the Grace of God. There was an unusual sense of focus, hunger and receptivity among the leaders. As Bro. Garry Morrison and I concluded the 2nd session of teaching on “the Call of Grace”, the entire congregation broke into spontaneous applause. We were all overwhelmed and truly “glorifying God”, for the reality that it was God’s miraculous call of grace that liberated us from the tyranny of sin. The senior pastor of the mother church where this conference was held, Rev. Ernesto Fernandez testified, “Once again our church has been blessed through our brothers, Ed Lacy and Garry Morrison, who have been visiting us in these days. Once again, the Word of God has been taught in the power of the Holy Spirit to our many missionaries and leaders, represented by more than 500 who were participating in the conference. It is really amazing, the way our God moves minds and hearts far away from us, to assist in the needs of the Gospel work that we are doing in this province. We want to express our deep gratitude and our most special thanks for their labor of love among us”.

Bro. Garry and I received 100’s of personal testimonies of the mighty works that the Holy Spirit accomplished through the Word of God. One of the missionaries testified, “God made me profoundly conscious that I was spiritually resurrected and miraculously called unto salvation, by the grace of God. I do not have to fear the fiery darts of the enemy. Instead, I will delight in the grace of God and boldly come to the throne of grace, that I may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Another testified, “I thank God for His grace that has liberated me from the tyranny of the slavery of sin. I can live in the victory of the 2nd Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Another one shared with us, “God powerfully spoke to me during the study of Ezekiel 16:1-6, to make me aware that only He could have cleansed me from my impurity. I needed His external help to rescue me from the penalty and power of sin. I thank God for His marvelous and sovereign grace.”

We also had the pleasure of being accompanied on this trip, by K.J. Pugh, who is the associate pastor of missions and education at Open Door Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL. K.J. developed some precious relationships with brothers, whom he will work with to conduct future “evangelistic youth camps” for unconverted high school and university students. K.J. is a godly young man who is full of “light and heat”. This was the 8th time that I have had the privilege of working “side by side” with Bro. Garry Morrison, who is the pastor of Iglesia Bautista La Roca, (The Rock Baptist Church), in Easley, SC. The Lord always uses Bro. Garry in so many wonderful ways on every trip; and this trip was no different. He did a tremendous job of interpreting throughout the conference and also in the Sunday evening evangelistic service; as well as the message that he preached on Sunday morning. Bro. Garry shares some of his thoughts on this particular trip “Stepping into Cuba in the physical realm is like traveling back in time to the 1950’s, with the old automobiles, the old buildings, the primitive technology, and a poverty-stricken society. Furthermore, there are very few liberties under this communist-dictatorship. And yet, in the spiritual realm, it is like stepping into the book of Acts. God is using His people, (His ‘called out’ ones in Cuba), to bring the true hope and peace to thousands of lives through the faithful proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Maranatha Baptist Church in the province of Holguin, Cuba, has over 1,000 members. This church has planted 4 missions that have already become autonomous churches. They have also planted 22 mission churches, with 70 house cell groups who are meeting under their authority! This church is touching their province in many different ways. They regularly minister at the children cancer ward in the local government run hospital. They conduct yearly camps for unconverted teenagers, young adults and singles. They are continually conducting discipleship retreats for young married couples. They are ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of the elderly, at a senior center that is run by the communists! They are ministering to the mentally handicapped and witnessing to their 50 care-givers at a government run facility. And, they are having various yearly evangelistic crusades, in which we have been blessed to be the preachers on many occasions. In spite of the terrible economic conditions that the Cuban people live under, God has raised-up His church, under the leadership of Pastor Ernesto Fernandez. These brothers and sisters are loving the loss, by praying for them, developing relationships with them, and sharing the Gospel with them. These Cuban brethren are united in purpose, to bring glory to God, by evangelizing the lost and discipling the saved. They are constantly developing leaders, to whom they may commit the Word and the work of the Lord; and who will be able to teach others also. - 2 Timothy 2:2 I thank God, through His grace, that He has made me a partner with Bro. Ed in God‘s magnificent mission in eastern Cuba. We know that only eternity will tell the full impact that these precious opportunities of ministry have made.”

REPORT ON MINISTRY GIFTS FOR CHURCH BUILDINGS IN EASTERN CUBA

Anguilla Baptist Mission, which is one of the rural mission plants of Maranatha Baptist Church, has been packing their members into a small house for their worship and discipleship gatherings. They were in desperate need of a larger facility to meet in; as well as a place for the mission pastor and his family to live. During this trip, we became aware of an opportunity to purchase a piece of land in this rural area. There is a house on the property that is big enough for both the church to meet and the pastor and his family to live. I had brought funds into Cuba on this trip, looking for opportunities to meet immediate needs. When I was informed of this particular need and the cost of the property, my heart leaped at this opportunity to be a channel of blessing! The pastor of this mission, Bro. Eddie, began weeping with tears of joy, when we informed him that we were giving the funds for the purchase. Glory to God! What a tremendous thrill it is to be a “channel of God’s grace” to this mission church. Also, we had the opportunity to see the newly completed structure for 3rd Baptist Church of Holguin. The Lord had enabled us to give the funds for it’s construction on a previous trip. The church will be moving into the building in a couple of weeks. The pastor, Bro. Israel and his family, will be able to live there also! But there is more! A few years ago, God graced us with the funds to build Providence Baptist Mission which is in another area outside of Holguin. We heard the good news on this trip, that Providence has grown so much, that it is now an autonomous church, which is fully supporting a “fulltime” pastor! But there is even more! The Dean of the Baptist seminary in Santiago de Cuba informed us that Ducureaux Mission, (which is another mission we had the privilege of donating the funds for it’s construction), is also now an autonomous church. A few weeks ago, they held a simultaneous evangelistic outreach in the various homes of the members. They are now discipling 150 new “professing believers” as a result of that one week of “home” evangelistic outreach. Last year, we were also able to give the funds to make an addition to Upper Room Baptist Mission. Already they are filled to capacity; and they are beginning another mission point in a different home in the area! We were also blessed to support the “senior adult” ministry for the next year of outreach in that facility. Oh precious brothers and sisters, I write these things to say that YOU are a part of every one of these blessed opportunities, which are all given toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission in eastern Cuba! God is bringing forth much eternal fruit through your “labor of love” with this tremendous “open door”.

Bro. Garry and I have been invited to teach a conference at the Seminary next February. That conference will be attended by all of the seminary professors; all of the professors at the 20 biblical teaching centers, which are located all over eastern Cuba; all of the seminary students; as well as many church planters! We will also be returning to Holguin next year, Lord willing, to teach a conference on “The Holy Spirit”. Please continue to pray for all of these church planters, who are truly fulfilling God’s great mission in the eastern half of this nation.