Update, Friday, November 22, 2019, 1 pm ET: Since the publication of this article we received questions regarding Councilman Fernando Cabrera’s stand on a couple of issues based on previous news stories. It was an opportunity to research and reach out and ask him directly. Which we did.

To clarify, Councilman Cabrera, and the church which he pastors, believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. Also, he is not in agreement with AOC that President Trump should be impeached. Instead, he prays that truth and the hidden things will be revealed.

View Comments (49)

Please continue to pray for Councilman Cabrera as he has an opportunity to change the face of New York, and that he will have courage as he continues in this battle and takes a bold stand for righteousness.

This incident is a good reminder for all of us that we live in a time in which we must be discerning. Wise as serpents, harmless as doves.

As an organization, it is our desire to always print accurate information. That being said, there are times we may miss it and appreciate hearing from you if there is ever a question. We stand together in our desire to pray over America, those running for office, and the issues facing us in this hour.

Update, Thursday, 11/21/2019, 11 am ET: There is more to this story. Readers have alerted us to disconcerting articles that present Cabrera as in favor of LGBTQ laws, and other issues that IFA does not support. It is interesting that this did not come out in his interview with Karen Hardin. We will be updating again soon. This highlights the vital importance of thoroughly vetting candidates in 2020.

Councilman Fernando Cabrera (R-NY) is pastor of New Life Church in the Bronx and a Spirit-filled Christian. He’s got plenty on his plate already. So, his decision to run against ultra-liberal socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the seat in New York’s 14^th congressional district was probably unexpected even to Cabrera himself.

So why did he do it?

Cabrera has been a councilman since 2010. Unlike Ocasio-Cortez, who stepped into the position with no experience, Cabrera not only has experience, but he and his staff have been instrumental in transformational results in his district.

“When I got here, we had the highest unemployment rate in New York at 23.5%. Now it is down to 5.7%. I have also been able to bring over $200,000,000 in funds to my district in the last ten years.”

(It is also significant to note, that it was Ocasio-Cortez’s rhetoric behind the reason that Amazon decided to pull out of the district which they had slated for one of their warehouses. That move cost the district 25,000 jobs.)

Cabrera also had a huge victory in the area of education. “Our high school graduation rate was 99% this past year!,” he told me when sharing about the successes that have transpired under his leadership.

Half-Puerto Rican and half-Dominican, Cabrera understands the people in his community. He’s been living and working among them for years.

“They are largely conservative people,” he explained. “It is something AOC is not. I am running on family, faith, and values. I am concerned with the trajectory of socialism in which she is trying to take our country. My grandmother lived in Venezuela. I went there many times growing up–when it was a prosperous country. I have seen what socialism does.”

(Since Venezuela’s turn to socialism, three million people have left the country to escape the tyranny. Of those that remain, many have reported going to be hungry and there has been an average weight loss of twenty-four pounds each because there isn’t enough food to feed them. )

“Before I decided to enter this race, I really prayed. Did I want to go through this? But at the end of the day there was no one else. No one else running who has these values. Nobody else has been willing to step up. So, I decided to step up to the challenge for the sake of the future of our nation.”

“I’ve been serving the Lord for thirty-eight years,” he continued. “I’ve been pastoring a church thirty-two years, which we started here in the Bronx. I understand what it is going to take to win this battle. It is the “miracle factor”–the divine favor of God. That’s what I’m praying for.

How can we join Councilman Cabrera in prayer? These are his prayer requests:

• Divine favor (Lk 2:52).
• Doors of opportunity to open (Is 22:22).
• Strength for his campaigners (Is 40:29-31).
• For an army of volunteers to rise up.
• Guidance as they move forward and for their schedule to be ordered by the Lord. “That He would empower us to complete what we have started.” (Prv 16:9).
• Finances needed to execute the campaign plan God has given them. (Phil 4:19).

Editor’s note: IFA does not endorse or oppose political candidates. However, we are passionate about letting you know about Christians who are running for office, especially when they are responding in obedience to God. We encourage you to pray for Christians to run for office, so it is always an answer for prayer when a Christian does.

Would you like to share a message of encouragement or a prayer for Councilman Cabrera? Leave a comment.

Karen Hardin is an intercessor, author, minister, and literary agent. Her work has appeared on USA Today, World Net Daily, Intercessors for America, Charisma, CBN.com, The Elijah List, etc. For additional information, you can contact her at www.prioritypr.org or www.karenhardin.com.