Tony Fernández, Herald of Truth representative in Cuba
One important part of my work at Herald of Truth is the preparation of the radio program Lea La Biblia (Read the Bible). When recording a program, I don’t get to see any of the listeners; I just have to imagine them in my mind’s eye. One of the great things about traveling to other countries is that I get to meet some of those God has touched through the work I get to do.
One of the first people I met at the men’s conference was Vladimir Sedeño Díaz, from Camagüey, in the eastern part of the main island of Cuba. Vladimir was trained in telecommunications at the University of Kiev, then sent directly to the front in Angola. He fought in Zaire, the Congo, Namibia and South Africa, being wounded in battle more than once. He came home with lasting injuries, both physical and psychological. He gradually turned away from political ideology and sought Christ.
Vladimir heard the Herald of Truth Lea La Biblia radio program and called the Herald of Truth office in Matanzas. Tony Fernández, our representative there, contacted the preacher in Camagüey, who visited Vladimir, studied with him, and eventually baptized him.
Vladimir became a fervent promoter of the radio programs provided by the churches of Christ, including those by Herald of Truth and another produced by Christian Productions International out of Florida. Through Vladimir’s efforts, ten more people have been converted, and several new house churches have begun. God is doing great things!
Last June, when I made a quick trip to Cuba, I was able to speak briefly by phone with a brother from Punta de Maisí, the easternmost tip of the island of Cuba. At the conference last week, I finally got to meet this brother face to face.
In 2011, when we began broadcasting Lea La Biblia via Trans World Radio, this preacher began hosting a “listening club” for other Christians and their neighbors. Not everyone in his remote town has a radio, so they gather together to listen and discuss the program. When the churches of Christ began other programs months later, the club met at those times as well.
It was great for me to be able to connect a face with the voice on the phone.
Friday of last week, I was privileged to go with Tony Fernández to the post office to see the letters coming in to the Herald of Truth office. Tony hadn’t been able to go that week, so he thought there might be a lot. He was right!
In our ministry, we put a lot of emphasis on local follow-up. What’s the use of broadcasting somewhere if no one can follow up with the people that respond? Tony is one of the hardest working people I know, and he applies that hard work to following up on radio contacts. He was concerned that some of these people might have had to wait over a week for a response; his goal is to allows respond within seven days.
We’re currently getting over 100 letters per month, many of those requesting Bibles and Bible studies. As I said the other day, I dare not take any credit for any of this. If God has been able to use anything that I do, the glory is his. Herald of Truth has been around for 60 years, seeking to be a tool for God’s Kingdom.
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”
(Psalms 115:1)
Let me tell you more about my trip to Cuba last week. It was my eleventh trip to the island; I’ve found each successive trip to be that much more encouraging.
The conference this year was held in Matanzas, primarily at the Versalles congregation that I wrote about yesterday, and also at the Gumá congregation. There weren’t additional rooms for breakout classes, so that limited the number of speakers that could participate.
These conferences require a large outlay of time and money. Most of the money comes from American churches, in this case, the Mayfair Church of Christ in Huntsville, Alabama. We’re continuing to evaluate whether or not the expenditure is justified, but I can definitely say that it’s been a blessing to the Cuban church.
As someone pointed out the other day, the Kitchen was closed last week. I was on a trip to Cuba, on behalf of 
