Report on Cuba #3

My main mission in Cuba is to teach pastors and missionarios. All the Protetant denominations in Cuba are growing at an incredible rate. The Methodist Church is doubling its membership every two years, and that does not count the people involved who have not formally united with their congregations. Persons as young as fourteen are being called into ministry and beginning house churches. They have very little to no training in Bible, theology, and leadership. That is where I come in. Approximately 40 pastors and missionarios from across the Isle of Youth met with me in the town of Nueva Gerona for three days of instruction in two different courses: Christian Apologetics and Biblical Hermeneutics.

When a person believes he or she is called to ministry in the Cuban Methodist Church, his or her first task is not to read something or discuss something, but to go out and start a house church. Once that house church has started, the person is referred to as a missionario. When that congregation has 25 members, the missionario is then given the title of pastor.

Some students as they are taking a break from class.

Here is photo of the group I taught. I am the one down front and in the middle. I actually started with twice as many students, but public transportation in Cuba is very unreliable. The bus broke down in the town of Santa Fe, some eight miles away, stranding many of the students.

Our Christian Education Director, Joyce Williams, led a women's conference one afternoon. Women came from all over the island to take part.As you can see, many women participated.

I will have more to say in the next and final report. It is such a joy to be able to offer something to these faithful and courageous church leaders!