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A Cuban Pastor's Call into the Ministry

 

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.  Matthew 4:18-22 (NIV) 

 

 

Carlos Perez is now a retired pastor of the Cuban Methodist Church. Alma and I first met him when he was the District Superintendent of the Cienfuegos District and the pastor of the Methodist Church in Abreus, Cuba. We stayed in his home with his wife Isobel.

 

While visiting in the US, Carlos was asked about his call into the ministry and this is his story of his call into the ministry.

"I was asleep and in a dream, I found myself walking down a well-lit street in Cuba. There were people everywhere on the road heading towards a well-lighted building which, as I grew closer, I realized was a church.

 

All around the church, there were people standing. As I walked up to a window on the side of the church, I saw that the church was filled with people. This was unusual in this early time of the Methodist Church. The government was not supportive!

 

I eagerly looked through the window to see who was preaching. It was someone very familiar and then I realized that the person who was preaching was me, Carlos Perez!

 

When I awoke, I knew in my heart that God was calling me into the ministry."

 

I served for four years on the North Central District Committee on Ministry and heard a number of pastors speak of their call. But never have I heard such a clear and dramatic call into the ministry as the story told by Carlos. God is at work in the Cuban Methodist Church and in the hearts of Cuban pastors.

 

Prayer: O holy one, you are the source of all love that inspires us into your service. Grant that we also may respond to your love and serve you with all our hearts and talents. Amen.

 

Sanford Mayo

Contact Sanford Here


 

Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Ave | Gainesville, FL 32653
352.376.6615
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Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | Friday, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm