Just a few days ago, a week before Easter Sunday, an encouraging and curious email popped into my inbox from friends at the Buenas Nuevas (Good News) church in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba…

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From: Giovani y Fanny

To: John Northrup john@gospelrelief.org

Hello John, If you only knew how many times God has reminded us of your father Paul recently; prayers that he prayed are being answered—promises that God gave him are being fulfilled today in Cuba! The revival that God is pouring out today was promised to your dad. We believe those promises are ours and will see them come true because they are God’s heart for us. Opposition continues; but greater opposition brings greater blessing. We will have an open-air concert in the Cultural Plaza here in Sancti Spiritus on April 5th. All of the churches in our city will join together to worship God—that is revival in Cuba!

Giovani & Fanny

(Worship leaders, Buenas Nuevas Church, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba)

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Certainly an encouraging message because of how these friends remembered Dad so warmly, but curious too because of three words: “open-air concert”.  Cuba does not allow churches to hold outdoor events that might draw large crowds, those events are reserved only for government-sponsored rallies; at least until now.

The worship concert on April 5, 2015 Sancti Spiritus, Cuba

The worship concert on April 5, 2015 Sancti Spiritus, Cuba

Truly God “…is able to do far more than we ever dare to ask or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20. A new article appearing in the upcoming May 2nd edition of WORLD Magazine, tells the story of the open-air worship concert that did indeed take place in the city of Sancti Spiritus this past Easter Sunday. And it is also a tribute to the lasting work of the Gospel that began with those promises that God gave my parents, Paul and Vera, over 60 years ago. Click on this link to view the full article about the open-air concert in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba WLD9cuba.

This week I travel to Southern California with the Superintendent of the Buenas Nuevas Churches, Pastor Juan Carlos, to visit several churches, friends and family. This is a critical time for Cuba—please don’t stop praying!

Thank you for your financial support of GRM. You are vital to supporting and equipping our Christian family in Cuba and Mexico.

God bless you!

John

PS: Here is the story on the WORLD Magazine website: http://www.worldmag.com/2015/04/building_on_a_legacy/page1