Get this:

after he and his family boarded the plane and after the

plane took off, Abner and Lesvia had no earthly idea what

would happen. They knew no one in Spain. No one knew they

were coming. They had no money to put themselves up for a

night or two. How would you like to be crossing the

Atlantic with that sort of scenario? Husband and wife,

four sons and one daughter. How do you like those

mangoes?

Oh yes, I

forgot! Abner and Lesvia did leave Cuba with one other

possession: unfailing trust in the God of Jesus Christ.

The rest of the story will be shared Sunday morning,

October 17, at River's Edge Community Church.

Now, Abner

and Lesvia serve as ministers to the Spanish speaking

community under the authority of River's Edge Community

Church. There's more: his next-to-youngest son, Rev.

Samuel Calleiro, serves our church as Senior Associate

Pastor. The youngest son-born in the USA-is a

successful businessman who also plays in his own

Christian rock band. Another son, Ruben, is a successful

builder of houses I can only dream of and he leads the

Mission's Programs of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro.

Tony, the oldest son, pastors a Spanish speaking church.

One son,

Abner Jr., is still in progress. The daughter and her

husband (who serves as deacon in an Auburn, Alabama

church) serve the Lord with gladness and effectiveness.

So, can you

see the Godly wisdom exercised by this man and woman of

God in getting their family out?

The other

day, my 15-year-old daughter, Anna, remarked, "I

believe Pastor Abner would be a good one to talk to when

you need help and direction." Bingo! Another thing

that my wonderful, beautiful, intelligent daughter is

right about!

The Rev. Dr. John

Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in

Fayetteville.

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