Venezuela (MNN) — Amid allegations of voter fraud, Hugo Chavez has won another six-year term in office with 54% of the vote. According to reports, many Venezuelans in the United States are disappointed by the news. They claim their candidate Henriques Capriles lost despite exit polls showing otherwise. Typically Venezuelan elections are announced the following day, but this election was announced within hours of the polls closing.
Executive Director of Spanish World Ministries (SWM) Daniel Sandoval says, "Among the true believers, there is a sense of disappointment. There's a sense of fear about what will happen in the next few years. But, we are certain that God is in charge of whoever is president in Venezuela."
The fear is understandable. In 2006 Chavez forced many expatriate missionaries from the tribal areas of the country. This time around, however, Chavez is sending mixed signals. What kind of mixed signals?
Sandoval says before it was announced that Chavez had cancer, he was condemning Israel. "When he came back from Cuba after the surgeries, or therapies that he had in Cuba, he came back with the idea that he needed Jesus in his life. So Chavez all of a sudden, within the last month, has become a more religious person."
That doesn't mean his socialistic ideas have changed, however. Even those issues haven't worked, though. Sandoval says, "Poor people remain poor people, and the rich people are deciding to move to other countries, or they're deciding not to invest their money in Venezuela."
While the so-called injustices haven't been fixed in Venezuela, Sandoval says those issues can only be fixed completely as Venezuelans come to Christ. He's challenging Christians. "Christians have to stand firm in their convictions and have boldness to reach the unsaved with the Gospel. Certainly there will be more obstacles in Venezuela. We don't know the socialist agenda, but the truth is the Great Commission remains the same."
That's why SWM continues broadcasting radio programs in the country. Sandoval says Christians have the authority through Christ alone. "There are still people who need to be saved in [Venezuela] just as in the rest of Latin America where are programs are reaching so many people."
You can be a part of their ministry without having to leave your home. "With $15," Sandoval says, "a believer who is committed to the Great Commission can help Spanish World Ministries reach 28 people with the Gospel." That will help SWM continue broadcasting more than 12,000 times a week in Latin America.
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By the way, Mission Network News can be viewed in Spanish. Share this link with a Spanish speaking friend, http://www.noticiasmisioncristiana.org.
