Pastor and Politician: Bridging Faith and City Hall with Fernando Cabrera

In this powerful episode of "What Are You Thinking," hosts Ron Lewis and his son Nathan Lewis dive deep into the transformative power of faith and public service with their esteemed guest, Fernando Cabrera. A unique figure in New York City, Fernando masterfully balances his roles as a dedicated pastor and a long-serving New York City Council member. Listen in as he recounts his journey into politics, sparked by a personal encounter with gun violence in his community and a calling to enact change where absent elected officials failed.Fernando shares gripping stories, including his peaceful arrest while advocating for churches' right to rent public school spaces- a fight that went all the way to the Supreme Court and ultimately led to policy change benefiting countless congregations. He reveals the remarkable success of his initiatives in the Bronx, where he dramatically reduced crime by 66% through innovative programs like Cure Violence and strategic investments in security cameras.A key focus of his work, and a powerful takeaway from this episode, is his unwavering belief in addressing fatherlessness as a root cause of societal issues, advocating for mentorship and stronger male figures in young men's lives. This episode is a testament to how unwavering faith, coupled with strategic action, can bring about profound, lasting change in even the most challenging urban landscapes.