Exciting Report from the Dominican Republic

March 15th, 2026

Here is a collection of Facebook Posts that were made by Dr. Jim and Rosemary Garlow from the Dominican Republic.

At the IberoAmerican (Latin America, the Caribbean & Spain) Congress for Life and the Family in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, starting off in the National Assembly (Capital Building), with 17 nations represented. Our second one attended after last year in Uruguay. I spoke on Friday. You would be so encouraged. A strong movement to protect true marriage and life in the womb. And a strong pro life, pro marriage movement among youth too.

I gave the Spanish version of REVERSED (in Spanish, title is “Sal Del Engaña” or “Don’t Be Deceived”) to the President of the Dominican Republic.

Well, she is really the Vice President, but since President Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona is out of the country, in Chile, Vice President Raquel Peña Rodríguez is the “Acting President.”

Her speech on defending life and marriage was awesome.

Of the flags of nearly 200 countries in the world, only one - the Dominican Republic - has an open Bible on it … open to “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” Thirty other flags have Christian symbols, but only one has the Bible.

The elected officials, and even the youth here in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic at the IberoAmerican Congress for Life and Family, chant “the Bible is at the center!” How refreshing.

Speaking at the IberoAmerican (Latin America, the Caribbean Islands & Spain - 33 countries) Congress on Life and the Family.

Many elected senators, deputies (representatives), other officials, and faith leaders gathered in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which is the only nation in the world to have an open Bible in the middle of its flag (“you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”), thus the theme of the conference is “With the Bible in the Center.”

Christopher Columbus never set foot on what is now called the United States. He first landed in what is today called the Bahamas. However, his first established settlement was in what is today called the Dominican Republic, in late 1492.

So important was the worship of the Lord, that by the next year, 1493, they had built their first little church called Ermita (pictured).

By 1504 they had enough artisans to begin to work on a cathedral (pictured) which they completed 1530, a rather stunning accomplishment.

Now… I bet (well I don’t bet) that you never knew the following:
1) Thus the first church ever built in the “New World” - the Americas - was in the Dominican Republic.

2) The first cathedral ever built in the New World was in the Dominican Republic.

3)The first university in the New World was in the Dominican Republic.

4) The first monastery in the New World was in the Dominican Republic.

5) The Dominican Republic is the only country in the world which has an open Bible on its flag. It is open to the Gospel of John where it says “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."

6) The Dominican Republic had the first ever military fort anywhere in the New World.

7) The Dominican Republic had the first ever paved street, and that was in the early 1500s.

8) And the Dominican Republic was the only country during World War II to open their arms to the Jewish people.

What a legacy!

Life in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

View the videos here: Video 1 and Video 2.

View the videos here: Video 3 and Video 4.

Christopher Columbus died in 1506. The Cathedral of Seville in Spain claims they have his remains. However, when he died in Spain, he wanted his remains to be in the New World.

Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic also claims they have his remains. No one is for certain.

He was not a “bad guy “as the historical revisionists try to claim, as they try to stamp out any remembrance of him on Columbus Day. Everyone knows that he was searching for a new route to go to Asia. When he arrived in the New World, he thought he was in Asia. But that’s only part of the story. There is more. Much more.

He was actually a Jew, looking for a place where the Jews could find refuge. We all know the story of him being sent by the King and Queen of Spain, which is true. But he was of Jewish descent and knew the Jews needed to find someplace to escape.

Ironically, or maybe providentially, the Dominican Republic was the only nation to open their arms to the Jews during World War II four and a half centuries later. Here was his home in the Dominican Republic.

This is the remarkable Congresswoman Milagros Aguayo, and her brilliant strategist husband Guillermo, both pastors in Peru. This power couple, working as a team, have caused Milagros to be able to write, sponsor and get passed a staggering 60 pieces of great pro-life, pro-family legislation through the Peruvian Congress.

She was one of many members of Congress from the 27 represented nations who spoke at the IberoAmerican Congress on Life and the Family in the Dominican Republic, where I also had the privilege of speaking on Friday.

This young couple from Peru is in their 20s and is rallying other 20somethings to get politically-governmentally involved, with a scriptural foundation.

This woman with the flag of Venezuela is standing firm for biblical governance in her country. She has devoured REVERSED and wanted WELL VERSED.

The young man with us is a newly elected Congressman from Costa Rica and is our Well Versed representative in that country. He was so excited to get my books.

This young mother is a social media influencer from the Dominican Republic who is passionate on helping young adults know biblically based governance. Click the picture above or watch the Facebook video here.

The IberoAmerican Conference on Life and the Family with 27 nations represented, meeting in the Dominican Republic, was filled with people like this.

I am preaching this morning at Shekinah Church in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, pastored by Rafael Cruz (pictured with wife; not the same person as Senator Ted Cruz’s father who shares the same name), on my favorite topic “The Blood Covenant,” translated by Harim Nabi.

You can view my sermon from a place I previously preached it HERE.

When Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World, in what is now called the Dominican Republic, he discovered cacao, or chocolate.

He wrote in his journal, “The trip was worth it just for the chocolate!”

Okay, he didn’t really write that. I admit it, I made it up. But that is what I would have written in my journal had I been him!

A highlight of our trip to the Dominican Republic was a visit to the KAHKOW Chocolate factory and store, which included free samples. Yes!

Hey, they taught us that chocolate (well, at least dark chocolate) is healthy!

We hope you enjoyed all these individual Facebook posts from Dr. Garlow, posted over the course of the last few days, from Wednesday until today (even though a couple things shared were stated more than once).

The Garlows will arrive home tonight.

Thank you for supporting Well Versed as they “bring biblical principles of governance to government leaders.”

While in the Caribbean, political, governmental and faith leaders invited them to come to Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Peru and other countries.

Your faithful monthly support is what makes it possible for them to have an impact among the nations.

Thank you so much.

WOULD YOU PARTNER WITH US FINANCIALLY SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO TRIPS LIKE THIS? GIVE NOW

Consider giving a tax-deductible donation to Well Versed, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, to continue bringing biblical principles of governance to government leaders and YOU!