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SEOUL, KOREA (ANS) -- One of New York's most well-known pastors, Dr. Ricardo Reyes, has issued an appeal to Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez, to give his life back to Jesus Christ and take his country in a new "Jesus direction."
Dr. Reyes, who was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York City during his childhood, made his urgent appeal to Chavez during an interview during the 26th anniversary celebrations of the 100,000-member Manmin Central Church in Seoul, Korea, which he was attending.
He began by explaining his relationship with Chavez.
"I ministered to Hugo Chavez in the beginning of his appearance as the president of Venezuela," said Reyes. "I was working spiritually in Venezuela because we've got churches over there. He sent for me to prophesy and minister to him, so I did so, and he accepted Jesus into his life and I then prayed for him and anointed him. I also gave him advice to run the country as a Christian believer and not as a politician.
"Since that time, I've seen a big change in him. He's not the same man he was when he began back in 1998. He's gone in another direction. Venezuela is a very advanced country and God is doing great things with the country. God is working in Venezuela and the pastors of that country are reaching out to many by taking them into the Kingdom of God.
"But if the government stays the same way it is at this time, it's taking Venezuela out of the Kingdom. I respect Chavez, but he got to see the government of Jesus Christ established there because he made a deal with Jesus in front of me when he said, 'If I betray Jesus or my country, I'd rather be dead.'
"I believe that he should follow Jesus and not the way he is going at the moment."
I asked Dr. Reyes, if he was standing in front of Hugo Chavez, what he would say to him.
"I would like to say to him to not be a democrat, or a socialist, or a dictator, but I would tell him, 'Chavez, you have got to have a government under the rule of Jesus Christ, the Lord. You got to have a government that follows the precepts of Jesus, which is love and respect and be open wide to everybody who has needs."
Ricardo Reyes was born in Barahona, which is located in the south of the Dominican Republic in 1952. During his childhood he moved to the United States with his family, whom were the first supporters that helped him accomplish many of his dreams including the fact of seeing God's purpose fulfilled in his life.
At a very early age, he felt attracted to the arts and sports - something that pushed him to take advantage of his time by studying and working simultaneously.
At the age of 10 years, he migrated to Puerto Rico along with his family and two years later he moved to New York where he attended high school. He began to develop his journalistic career at the age of 16 writing for "Hoy", a well known Hispanic newspaper.
He wrote eight plays that were successfully displayed throughout the most important colleges and universities of the city of New York.
In 1967 he converted to Christ and started studying acting. In 1971, he developed his acting career with a talented crew of relevant international actors and actresses at "Teatro San Juan" in Broadway, New York. Reyes also interpreted stellar characters in more than 40 Off-Broadway and Broadway shows.
As theater director, he directed about 26 plays. Also, he became the protagonist of one of the most-known and most box office hit films in the Hispanic Film history in New York and the United States called "Yeyo." His participation in "Prohibido Amar en Nueva York" with Charityn Goico, Julio Aleman, Frank Moro, Julissa, Freddy Veras Goico and "Natas es Satán" with Miguel Angel Alvarez "El Man", Frank Moro and Pearl Faith marked his professional career as cinematographic actor in a great way as well.
In 1968 he broke into television in a show which he shared with José Ignacio Lanza, Mirta Silva, Miguelito Valdez and Gaspar Plumarejo on channel 47. He was also one of the initiators of Channel 41 in Gilda Miro's show: "Cuadro de Comedia."
He is founder of the Pastors Association of Queens County and also of the English-Spanish El Elyon Christian Center in Queens, New York, and also of the Alerta Hoy Newspaper and the Alerta TV Channel which reaches into 196 countries in Spanish.
Note: I would like to thank Robin Frost for transcribing this interview.
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Dan Wooding, 67, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma of 45 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS); and US Bureau Chief for the Missionaries News Service (www.missionariesnews.tv) and Safe Worlds IPTV's Christian News Services. He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. Wooding He is also the author of some 42 books.
Used by permission Assist News Service www.assistnews.net
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