By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
November 6, 2015
GREENSBORO – The man the Associated Press said had a “booming voice and ferocious onstage presence,” Rafael Cruz, was in Greensboro on Monday. Cruz, who is the father of presidential candidate, Ted Cruz, dropped in on member churches of the Baptist State Convention during their Annual Meeting. He said he had come in hopes of getting to know some key leaders in the state with whom he might talk and possibly network.
That led the 76 year-old Cuban immigrant who now hails from Dallas, Texas, to visit the booth of the Christian Action League, which was also at the Annual Meeting of the Baptist State Convention.
The elder Cruz sat down with Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the League and shared his many concerns for the country.
Cruz told Dr. Creech that although he was stumping for his son’s presidential campaign; his primary mission was traveling around the country speaking at pastors’ conferences and similar appearances, urging Christians to get involved in the civil affairs of their society. He said Christians needed to stop making excuses for their non-involvement in the nation’s political life.
Quoting Proverbs 29:2, Cruz said, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Because Christians don’t run for office…because they don’t study-up on the issues…because they don’t vote…what is left but wicked people being elected?”
Cruz cited George Barna’s research that recently revealed an estimated 12 million Christians are not registered to vote, still another 26 million are registered but didn’t cast a ballot in the 2012 presidential election.
Midway through the conversation, Dr. Creech seemed enraptured by Cruz’s remarks. “Mr. Cruz,” said Dr. Creech, “I am on cloud nine listening to your words. I’ve been taking essentially this same message to churches across our state for more than 16 years. And I think that churches are just starting to wake-up. I’m so very thankful to God you’re taking this word around the country.”
Cruz said that he also believed the church was waking-up. “The catalyst to stir the church out of its slumber occurred on June 26, when the United States Supreme Court imposed same-sex marriage on every state in the nation. That decision was a frontal attack on Christianity and it will only intensify,” he said.
“The sleeping giant, the church, is beginning to realize we’ve been complacent. Before the June 26 decision, people in the churches didn’t really think these things affected them. But now we can see it’s a direct attack on the family – the primary unit of society,” said Cruz.
Rafael Cruz’s own personal story is a compelling one that’s highlighted with points of tribulation and redemption. While a teen in the 1950s, he became disenchanted with Fulgencio Batista, Cuba’s dictator at the time.
When Fidel Castro appeared on the scene, Cruz, not knowing that Castro was a communist believed he would be Cuba’s savior. Cruz became a part of the resistance movement against the Batista government and was eventually jailed and beaten. When he was released, he wanted members of the underground to help him reach Castro. But it seemed too risky, and his parents convinced Cruz to escape to America.
With only the clothes on his back and a hundred dollars that his mother had sewn into his underwear, Cruz arrived in America on a ferry to Key West, Florida.
After taking a bus to Austin Texas, he got a job as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. He learned English and started making speeches for Cuba’s revolution. He returned to Cuba in 1959, however, only to become disillusioned with Castro’s regime.
At numerous speaking venues since his son began running for president, the elder Cruz has said the similarities between the policies once touted in Communist Cuba and the ones being touted in America today are striking.
During the late 1970s Cruz would make a decision to give his heart and life to Christ – a decision that also changed his political worldview. Since then, he’s been a strong advocate for freedom in Christ and a love for America and the Constitution.
He often tells audiences, “When I lost my freedom in Cuba, I had a place to come to [speaking of his escape to America]. If we lost our freedom here, where are we going to go?”
Cruz also said he wanted people in North Carolina to be aware of the “Rally for Religious Liberty,” taking place at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina on November 14th. The rally will be held from the hours of 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m., featuring a long roster of great speakers: Sen. Ted Cruz, Tony Perkins, the Benham Brothers, Dr. Michael Brown, Bishop E.W. Jackson, Pastor David Welch, and Coach Joe Kennedy.
“Churches should load up their buses and come,” said Cruz, “but they should RSVP as soon as possible at www.tedcruz.org/rsvp/rally.”
Cruz said that his son, Ted Cruz, had made religious freedom a centerpiece of his platform for the presidency. “Teddy is standing firm for religious freedom, the Constitution, and the rule of law. He fights against corruption in both parties, which he calls the Washington Cartel,” he said.
“It may be his son that’s on the ballot,” said Dr. Creech, “but, after meeting the elder Cruz, I’ve become convinced he has a lot to do with what makes his son tick.”
“I believe that God may be making his last call for the church to repent and engage our culture with His Word – to be involved in the political process from a strong Christian worldview. He’s sending us prophets like Rafael Cruz. We had better listen and obey or we are going to lose this country, our freedom, and liberty for our children and children’s children,” added Dr. Creech.
