In yesterday's blog, I shared the story of a pastor I met in Cuba named Manuel who is fearless in the face of persecution. Here is another story he shared with me.

"Once I learned of a church that the government had turned into a mattress factory. I did some research and then I wrote to Castro about it. I was very indignant. I cited the laws that made this illegal.

Imagine my amazement when, upon receiving the letter, Castro issued an order that the mattress factory be emptied and returned to a church in 10 days!

The factory owners came to me and begged for more time!

Manuel's sons have inherited his passion. Three are pastors. One, Saul, committed the unheard of crime of building a church without government permits.

When the government official saw what he had done, he exclaimed, "Saul, you can't do this. Now we have to tear it down!"

Saul was undeterred: "Go ahead. You're the one who'll be hurt. I completed the application over a year ago, and it has sat on your desk ever since. You're the one at fault!" So the government official brought another official to try to reason with him. Saul was just as emphatic with her, "Look - the people need this church. That's why we built it."

The woman turned to the colleague who had brought her. "You know, he's right; we should leave them alone!" The official had to back down. The fruit is evident for all to see: now the church is packed much of the week with believers.

In this era of calculated risk, Manuel's bold stand against tyranny looks anachronistic. But it was on such boldness that Jesus said He would build His church. Somewhere between the concern over pension funds and the viewing of yet another TV program, we have lost our way. We need to look at Manuel's example and repent.

Let me ask a pointed question: When was the last time you decided to stand up against an increasingly godless society? We are too defensive! We need to boldly lay claim to those things God has already given us. We have ceded too much to a weaker foe. Manuel knew this and stood his ground."