The last thing I want to comment on from our trip was our time with Juan Antonio Monroy. Juan has been a well-known speaker for many years, especially in Latin America. He has written many books; he has been doing radio for over 40 years; he preaches numerous evangelistic campaigns every year. Like most popular figures, Monroy has his detractors. But nobody can take away from what he has done in Cuba.

Since Monroy got permission to visit Cuba from Fidel Castro himself, he has been visiting the island several times a year. When he began going to the island in the mid-1980s, there were scattered groups of Christians across the island that met as the Church of Christ, numbering possibly 150 active members. There are now thousands of members, and the church is growing steadily.

Two years ago, Juan published a book in Spain about Frank País, who was a leader in Castro’s revolution. País was a faithful Baptist, and Monroy writes about País’ faith in his book.. The book was republished this year by a publishing house owned by the Cuban government, the first time since the revolution that a book by a religious author has been legally published in Cuba.

Juan Monroy was in Cuba at the time we were. He gave two main addresses at the IX Annual National Preachers Meeting in Havana. As always, it was a pleasure to get to see Juan again.