The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher

Last week I went to Tepic, Mexico, along with the pastor and wife for River's Edge's Spanish Ministries. Abner and Lesvia Calleiro are delightful traveling companions. The week-long mission and ministry trip was an overwhelming victory for many reasons. The eight days gave Pastor Abner and me an opportunity we had never had: two hours of uninterrupted conversation. I asked him to share with me the details of leaving Cuba as Castro was gobbling freedoms and businesses left and right.

It was in 1963 that Abner—with family clutching him—boarded an airplane with a one-way ticket to Madrid, Spain. Just the clothes on their backs. Maybe a couple of suitcases. A life of ease and success and freely serving Jesus Christ had come to an abrupt end.

Abner's choice: remain in Cuba and let his children be raised by godless communism or flee—leaving every possession behind as a bribe to Castro. He couldn't fly to the U.S.A. But Castro permitted flights to Spain.

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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