Maduro’s Capture And A Gospel Moment
The upheaval in Venezuela has the world watching, and one Christian voice says the U.S. move to detain Nicolás Maduro could open doors for renewal. This is not just geopolitics for him; it is a potential hinge moment for faith, freedom, and the persecuted church. The implications are big and messy, and they matter to people on the ground who have suffered for years.
“My first reaction was, ‘What an incredible job of the American military to pull this off with no U.S. casualties,’” Col. (Ret.) Gregory Thompson, professor of criminal justice at Cedarville University, reacted to the Trump administration’s move. He followed that thought quickly with spiritual concerns about the church and ministry inside Venezuela. Christians who have labored there know how hard the last two decades have been.
Beyond the tactical praise, Thompson said faith leaders in Venezuela have been under pressure for years. “But, more importantly to me as a Christian, I’m thinking of just the incredible joy because I have friends that work with pastors in Venezuela, and it’s been difficult, as you probably know,” he said. “When Hugo Chavez took over Venezuela, he kicked out all mission organizations, so that was significant, and the pastors there are being salt and light.”
There is cautious optimism mixed with big unknowns about what comes next for Venezuelans and for those who have been denied religious freedom. “My general sense is I’m excited for maybe a hopeful future for Venezuela — one that’s free, particularly free for the free exercise and the spread of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ,” he said. That hope is tethered to the reality that rebuilding civic life and churches will take hard work and prayer.
Thompson did not sugarcoat the damage left by Maduro and his predecessor. “They pretty much wrecked the economy,” he said. Inflation and corruption, coupled with attacks on free speech and truth, have left a nation hollowed out.
The conversation quickly turned to the strategic logic behind the operation and the mix of motives involved. Thompson acknowledged oil plays a role but insisted it is not the only factor in play, and perhaps not the primary one. Geopolitics, narcotics, and the influence of hostile actors made Venezuela a national security concern.
“I think with President Trump’s concerns when he came into office, this is like the perfect storm,” he said. “Illegal immigration was highly coming from Venezuela … they’re leaving because they want to live in a free country. They want to pursue a place where they can live in freedom and democracy, and so they’re coming to America, but illegally, of course, and in droves. So that’s one issue.”
Thompson pointed to the presence of Iran, Hezbollah, and even Russian and Chinese influence as reasons the hemisphere could not tolerate a malign foothold. Those alliances, he argued, turned local dysfunction into a regional threat. The move to remove Maduro reverberates beyond borders and hits at networks that have fed instability and terror financing.
Senator Marco Rubio articulated a blunt geopolitical view that mirrors this concern. “It’s very simple, OK? In the 21st century, under the Trump administration, we are not going to have a country like Venezuela in our own hemisphere, in the sphere of control and the crossroads for Hezbollah, for Iran and for every other malign influence in the world,” he said. “That’s just not gonna exist.”
Drug trafficking was another thread Thompson stressed as part of the justification. “To be fair, much of the drugs coming in the U.S. are coming from Colombia and Mexico, but there is significant amount of drug flow,” he said. The narcoterrorism claims against Maduro helped build a legal and moral case for action in the minds of his supporters.
For Christians watching, the capture is seen through spiritual lenses: liberation for the church, opportunities for gospel advance, and an urgent need for compassionate rebuilding. “Talk about an interesting situation,” he said. “Iran has really lost a significant amount of power in the region. Based on the stealth bomber strikes, the Israeli action, the 12-day war, the dismantling Hezbollah and Hamas, this is yet another blow to Iran for certain.”
Where do believers go from here?
First, prayer for protection and wise leadership.
Second, practical support for pastors and ministries who will be the front line of restoration as Venezuela seeks spiritual and civic renewal.