Good News - August 2021

As people seek freedom from the communist regime in Cuba, the uprising is impacting all of us as many in Cuba are without food and starving. Here in South Florida we see public demonstrations, and we all have friends, family or co-workers with roots in Cuba. Good News Wants to Know... What are your feelings and how is this situation personally impacting you? I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, which has become socialist/communist under Chavez and Maduro. We have family and friends that live there still, and we have friends who came fromCuba and lost everything when they had to leave their homeland. I find it very troublesome that our current administration has said they will not allow the people of Cuba to come to the U.S. The United States is and al- ways has been a beacon of Hope and Freedom - Free Enterprise and theAmerican Dream. We the Church need to wake up and get involved in STANDING for truth and STOP the political ignorance. It’s Impossible to compartmentalize your Faith and your Civic Duty, so We the Church Must engage so that we can continue to give people Hope and continue to be that shining city on the Hill. Sue Trombino, Founder, Women Impacting the Nation The situation in Cuba is dire, and I hear from my Cuban friends how serious it is. Today’s young Cubans have internet access, so they can read and interact with people who are free, and they can see the opportunities that freedom affords. The government crackdown is a stark reminder to me and to us all of how blessed we are to live in America and how evil and destructive socialism/communism is. We must resist the push by big government to take over at all costs. William “Bill” C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott, PA Like a lot of local white kids that grew up in South Florida, I’m detached from the real pain of Cuba but catch glimpses of it through the lens of my Cuban friends. I’m not smart enough to come up with any real solutions for the problem, but when my friends are sad, I’m sad with them. When they’re angry, I’m angry with them. Bob Denison, President, Denison Yachting Freedom isn't free, and it won’t happen in Cuba without our help. This means the United States should be helping. The current withdrawal from Afghanistan serves as an appropriate contrast to what we’ve been doing somewhat unsuccess- fully around the world vs. what we should be doing right now 90 miles south of Florida. While Afghanis and Iraqis generally failed to embrace freedom given an opportunity, I have little doubt that the average Cuban would appreciate freedom more than the averageAmerican currently. Additionally, with China and Russia hav- ing footholds in Cuba, it's a matter of long-term US national security interest. Brian Mudd, Program Director \ Host of The Morning Rush & The Brian Mudd Show , iHeartMedia Having been in Russia many times and serving on a Christian ministry team for a summer in a closed city there – right after Perestroika – I've personally wit- nessed and wept over the poverty, repression and devastation of Communism. My heart and prayers are also with those from Cuba and Venezuela who are members of the Hispanic church I was blessed to help start in Boca as they share their stories. They serve as a wake-up call to help us realize how privileged we are to live in a still-free nation and that we must fight to retain so there's a place of refuge, as well as hope, in the world. Deborah Cusick, FAU Campus Volunteer, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship The pandemic did not create the Cuban citizens’ hate for being oppressed by the government, it revealed it. As we work alongside those with Cuban connections, we are once again reminded to pray for the innocent people of Cuba ruled by a government that does not care for their citizens but wishes to rule them by force. Don Campion , President, Banyan Air Service, Inc. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:1, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days." Jesus told us in Luke 21:28, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Inasmuch as there is a very real need for freedom from tyranny in our world and we should be doing what we can to facilitate that need, the Gospel is the only answer that will ever bring the real freedom that is needed for humanity. We're truly living in the end times. Fidel Gomez, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Hollywood We all know the stories; we have dear friends in Cuba and among the Cuban diaspora. We share their pains, remembering the exhortation of the Apostle Paul to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15b). We pray with the Cuban com- munity and anticipate the day when we will “rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15a). Gene L. Green, PhD, Dean, Trinity International University - Florida We feel for all people throughout all countries who are impacted by political in- justice. It’s a sad and dire situation that impacts so many families, especially here in South Florida. Gregg Wallick, President, Best Roofing, Inc. The civilian upheaval in Cuba has been coming for many years. Once again it is the young people, the new generation who are the Freedom Fighters! I speak from experience as my parents were also Freedom Fighters during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Socialism/Communism is pure evil!! Everything is promised to the people but slowly taken away until the country is too weak to fight back. Poverty, religious freedom, freedom of speech etc. are part of the big picture of Control. There is NO freedom! My heart goes out to our Cuban brothers and sisters who are suffering. They are only 90 miles away. We need to find a way to help them!!!! America is still free, and we are their only hope. God loves the Cuban people, and I pray He shows us how to help them in a positive way. We all need to pray for wisdom for those in our government. Helen Wayner P.A., Century 21 Hansen Realty Several of my friends are of Cuban descent and the situation intimately affects them, and I hope to attend a protest with one of them as well. Personally I see this as a wake-up call to every American. Cuba is an easy case study in how tyranny and oppression takes root and enslaves a free and prosperous people. Some of the things that Castro said in his rise to power are some of the same buzz words and talking points of the 2020 election and the issues of that year in general. Edu- William “Bill” C. Davell Bob Denison Brian Mudd Deborah Cusick Don Campion Fidel Gomez Wants to Know… Sue Trombino