Cuban pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo was released from prison before completing his eight-year sentence for peacefully protesting in 2021, joining several others who were freed after the United States government removed Cuba from a key terror list.

Rosales Fajardo, who had been serving a sentence linked to Cuba’s 2021 protests, was released on Friday from Mar Verde prison as part of a mass amnesty, the United Kingdom-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide announced.

He was one of 553 political prisoners chosen to be released, alongside Afro-Cuban Yoruba religious leader Donaida Pérez Paseiro, who had also been behind bars. Pérez Paseiro’s husband, ethnic Yoruba leader Loreto Hernández García, was not freed.

The mass amnesty occurred after the U.S. announced it would remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move criticized by both Democrats and Republicans who allege that Cuba is complicit in enabling Hamas, Hezbollah and other “terrorist enemies” of the U.S.

Pastor Rosales Fajardo was first taken into custody on July 11, 2021, in Palma Soriano, along with hundreds of others who participated in peaceful demonstrations across the island. In a June 2024 statement, the eight-country International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance said authorities “beat him and treated him in a violent and humiliating manner” following his arrest.

His detention, due to his religious leadership and involvement in nonviolent gatherings, was seen as politically motivated. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed his detention “arbitrary.”

The pastor was prosecuted in December 2021 on charges that included disrespect, assault, criminal incitement and public disorder. The number of political prisoners in Cuba increased five-fold in 2021 as the government cracked down on protesters demonstrating for various reasons, including a shortage of medicine and food during the pandemic, according to the Madrid-based watchdog Prisoners Defenders.

The demonstrations represented the largest protest against Cuba’s Communist dictatorship since 1959, the year Fidel Castro took power.

The pastor was initially placed in Boniato Maximum Security Prison. In early 2023, his relatives confirmed that he was transferred to a lower-security facility closer to home.

Pastor Rosales Fajardo was “singled out for humiliation” in detention, according to The IRFBA, with prison guards speaking disparagingly about his faith. He was placed in a “punishment cell” in 2022 when he refused to halt sharing his religious teachings inside the prison.

Family members had repeatedly expressed concern over his treatment and the conditions of confinement.

During appellate proceedings, only prosecutors were permitted to introduce evidence, which included the testimony of a dozen police officers, while the pastor’s lawyer allegedly faced restrictions in accessing case files.

CSW cites a document from the Permanent Mission of Cuba in Geneva to the United Nations that first referred to an eight-year sentence, then mentioned a revised term of seven years without a clear explanation.

CSW’s Director of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl says the pastor and Yoruba leader have endured “abusive treatment.”

“We call on the Cuban government to immediately release Loreto Hernández García, and to ensure that Pastor Rosales Fajardo and all political prisoners and their families are free to enjoy their freedom without any further harassment,” Strangl said.
Sources:Christian Post

http://theendtimeradio.com

In contemporary Christian teaching, the concept of generosity has often replaced the traditional idea of tithing — giving 10% of one’s income to the church. While many people embrace this shift, it’s important to recognize that biblical generosity, as outlined in the New Testament, far exceeds the Old Testament’s tithe.

In fact, true generosity, as taught by Jesus and the apostles, involves more than just giving a portion of our surplus. It requires a heart transformed by sacrificial giving, often giving not out of abundance, but out of need.

Moving beyond the tithe: A new covenant mandate

The concept of tithing originates in the Old Testament, where the Israelites were commanded to give a tenth of their income to support the Levites, the poor, and the temple services (Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21). However, the New Testament moves beyond the tithe, introducing a radical form of generosity that reflects the heart of the Gospel itself — complete surrender to God.

One of the clearest examples of this principle is found in the story of the widow’s offering, recounted in Mark 12:41-44. Jesus praises the widow not for the size of her gift, but for the heart behind it. She gave “all she had to live on,” in stark contrast to the rich who gave out of their surplus. Jesus highlights that true generosity is not measured by how much we give, but by how sacrificially we give.

Tithing as a minimum standard

In understanding the relationship between tithing and generosity in the New Testament, we can also consider the principle that “whatever the New Testament has not abrogated from the Old Testament, it is assumed to still stand.” Following this, many argue that since the New Testament does not explicitly revoke the tithe as part of the moral or ethical law, it still holds as a standard for giving. While ceremonial laws, such as animal sacrifices and circumcision, were clearly abrogated in the New Testament for salvation, tithing remains an ethical principle and has never been abolished.

In this sense, tithing can be seen as the minimum standard of giving under the New Covenant, a foundational principle for Christian giving. However, the call to generosity in the New Testament ramps up this standard. The tithe may remain a baseline, but as defined by Christ and the apostles, generosity demands much more than 10%. Jesus’ teachings make it clear that we are to give up everything to follow Him, indicating that our financial giving should go beyond the tithe to reflect a heart of total surrender and sacrificial generosity.

Giving everything: Jesus’ call to radical discipleship

Jesus extends this idea of radical giving even further in His teaching on discipleship. In Luke 14:26, Jesus declares, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, even their own life — such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple … Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”

The call to give up everything — possessions, relationships, and even one’s life — demands a level of generosity far exceeding the 10% tithe.

The apostle Paul provides another powerful example of New Testament generosity in 2 Corinthians 8, where he commends the Macedonian churches for their extraordinary generosity in which they gave financially out of their “extreme poverty, even beyond their ability.”

Hence, these believers are a model of the kind of generosity the New Testament advocates — giving that flows not from abundance but out of significant sacrifice.

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul builds on this principle by explaining the spiritual law of sowing and reaping. He writes, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Paul emphasizes that generous giving leads to an abundant spiritual harvest.

One of the most striking illustrations of the cost of following Jesus and the call to radical generosity is found in the story of the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-22). When the young man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus eventually tells him, “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.” The young man left dejected because he had great wealth and was unwilling to give it up.

This story reveals the heart of Jesus’ message about wealth and generosity. Jesus wasn’t just concerned with whether this man followed the commandments or gave a tithe. He was calling him to a life of total surrender and generosity, where his treasure would no longer be in earthly possessions but in Heaven.

Many today misunderstand “generosity” as merely giving a portion of one’s surplus. However, the New Testament calls us to a far more profound form of generosity — giving not just what is convenient but giving sacrificially, sometimes out of our need.

In conclusion, while the tithe was a guideline under the Old Testament, the New Testament elevates the call to generosity far beyond 10%. It calls us to a life of total surrender, where we give not just a portion but our whole lives, our resources, and our hearts to God. True generosity is sacrificial, rooted in faith, and grounded in the desire to glorify God with all we have.

Here are five key takeaways from the teaching on generosity:

Generosity exceeds the Old Testament tithe

While tithing was a foundational principle in the Old Testament, the New Testament calls believers to a higher standard of sacrificial giving. Generosity is not confined to a specific percentage but involves giving with a heart of total surrender to God.

True Generosity is measured by sacrifice, not amount

The widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44) exemplifies that generosity is not about the size of the gift but the level of sacrifice. Giving out of need, rather than surplus, reflects a deeper trust in God’s provision.

Generosity reflects radical discipleship

Jesus’ call to “give up everything” (Luke 14:26) highlights that true generosity is integral to following Him. It’s not just about giving possessions but surrendering one’s entire life to God’s will.

Generosity demonstrates faith in God’s provision

The Macedonian churches (2 Corinthians 8) modeled how giving, even in extreme poverty, reflects reliance on God. Generosity becomes an act of worship and faith, trusting that God will supply all needs and bless the giver spiritually.

Generosity leads to spiritual abundance

Paul’s teaching on sowing and reaping (2 Corinthians 9) reminds believers that generous giving results in spiritual rewards. It’s not about material gain but about experiencing the joy, growth, and deeper relationship with God that comes from living a generous life.

These principles emphasize that generosity is not merely an act of giving but a posture of the heart, rooted in faith, sacrifice, and the desire to glorify God.
Sources:Christian Post

http://theendtimeradio.com

Global — A Bible app is growing in popularity around the world, including in countries where Christians face persecution.

Downloads of the popular YouVersion Bible App hit a record high on Jan. 5, with 798,000 installs in one day. It’s the most single-day downloads the app has experienced since it launched in 2008. This is occurring despite the reality stated in a new report from Open Doors that “more than 380 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith” worldwide.

Bobby Gruenewald, founder of the app, told the Christian Post in an interview that “this year’s increase is even higher than this same time last year, and it’s a trend [they’re] seeing globally.”

The regions with the highest concentration of downloads were in various parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Installations increased by 94% in Egypt, 48% in Pakistan, and 166% overall in the Middle East.

Earlier this month, International Christian Concern released its annual report, the 2024 Global Persecution Index (GPI), detailing Christian persecution worldwide. Egypt and Pakistan were both listed in the report for egregious acts of persecution. In both nations, radical Islamic extremism and blasphemy laws contribute to the gross mistreatment of Christians.

According to the GPI, “Christians continue to experience persecution from radical Muslims” in Egypt. In Pakistan, Christ followers “are increasingly targeted through the weaponizing of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which angry Muslim mobs enforce.”

The European Centre for Law and Justice in 2024 also reported on the abuses Christians face in Egypt. The report explains that Christ followers are routinely harassed and bullied, often with little help or protection from local authorities, and women are “especially targeted.”

“Christian women are especially targeted and harassed,” the report stated. “In rural regions of Egypt, Christian women have been kidnapped, held for ransom, forced to convert, and marry Muslim men.”

In Pakistan, Christians face daily hardships, discrimination, and even imprisonment simply for following Christ and are often recruited for sewer cleaning and street sweeping jobs. Women face particularly grievous mistreatment. According to the GPI, “civil society groups working in the country” report that, like Egypt, “many women and girls are abducted, married off, and forced to convert to Islam.”

Although many new Christians may be exposed to persecution in various regions around the world if they accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, they’re willing to risk it to know him more personally. The surge in Bible installations is a testament to the longing of human hearts for Jesus.
Sources:persecution

http://theendtimeradio.com