Wednesday, April 5, 2017

                 International Christian Hospice   Newsletter    Spring 2017
Cuba Trip

We are so thankful for this newly opened door for ministry.  Thank you to Pastor Rob and Sandy White for your invitation for us to join you in ministry.  The Rob White Ministry organization has been going to Cuba for 17 years.  Rob is now a retired Pastor who serves with the S.C. Baptist Mission Board.   Through their faithful work and support of the Pastors and churches of Cuba in difficult times it was God’s perfect timing for ICH to bring our training program.  We felt as though we were stepping through a time portal into the past.  Socialism and communism have been a normal way of life in Cuba for 60+ years.    One new believer put it this way, “As I grew up and went to school everyone was taught that you do good things for the government.  There is no God.  We have been taught to live to serve the government.”   

The Church is beginning to grow in new ways.  Up until a few years ago, the government limited all gatherings to 25 people. Church groups were not allowed to own or build. However the body of Christ, His church, is alive and well!  God used these restrictions which caused amazing multiplication of hundreds of house churches.  We had the opportunity to visit with many of those “house churches”.  Whether they meet in an apartment, under a covered porch, or in a small wood and thatch building we experienced many warm embraces and heard testimonies of God’s presence and faithfulness.   

Our time in Cuba was divided between a rural, coastal region about 4 hours west of Havana and the city itself.  The people in this region are supported by agriculture and a fishing industry.  But unlike our free enterprise the crops are grown and sold to the government, and the fish and seafood as well.  In fact it is illegal to keep any food, or to sell it yourself.  It is harvested and trucked to Havana then products are redistributed to small government shops where individuals purchase their food.  Each family is given vouchers for a quantity for each month even down to the number of eggs.  Socialism and communism are a normal way of life.  But praise God the window of change is beginning to crack open.  Today, as in  the past 60+ years, people still only receive news via radio or TV that is government controlled.  Cell phones have arrived but there are no international calling options.  The internet has arrived but is very expensive and only available at “Hot Spots” in major cities.













We learned and interest
ing story about out accommodations in the “campo”.  An 80 year old Pastor Humberto applied to the government and was allowed to build a small conference center with guest rooms and meeting areas.  Over his 40 years as a Pastor life was very hard and he had to remain very quiet in his ministry.   Other Pastors were being imprisoned for preaching a philosophy different from the government.  But God allowed him to established 11 house churches in his region.  The conference center has been used by government groups or civic organizations for meetings and retreats.  Our mission team was the first Christian group to come to the area and use the buildings.  In thanks we were able to bless the kitchen workers and translators with small gift bags with a few simple items.  They were in tears with gratitude telling us that none of the groups had ever given them anything personal.  

Please enjoy the following pictures.    



The goal of our trip was to learn about Cuba and how we can be a part of bringing the Gospel of hope and peace in Christ to the Cuban people.  Regardless of the geographic location or the organized government under which these people live (both things we cannot change) Christ offers the gift of forgiveness, peace and His presence amid the stresses of life.  And He promises an eternal home with Him for those who trust Him in this life! 

Highlights of our trip

  • Presenting ICH workshops in 3 locations, with Pastors and leaders from 9 different churches.   
  • ICH home visits resulting in 3 new believers 
(A mother and her adult son received Christ after the recent death of her husband.  A mother with advanced liver cancer received Christ in her home.  Praise God!)

  • 80+ new believers through the team sharing the Gospel home to home and street evangelism
(No groups are allowed to gather in parks or public areas but we were free to stroll around Havana and share Gospel tracts and talk with individuals on the street or in parks.) 
  • Worshipping and studying God’s Word together with other believers  
  • Enjoying the beauty of this Caribbean Island, and historic city of Havana.  
  • Seeing the statue of Jesus standing over the city of Havana restored. During the Castro years the statue was broken with the head removed and one arm taken off. Now its very beautiful and stands as a figure of hope in a new era in Cuba.

Testimonies


Pastor Antonio shares that he has many people in his church who are sick.  “I have never had this information so that I can understand what they are going through.  I will teach this to my church leaders and we will be able to help people all around us in our town. Many are dying and they do not know Jesus!”

40 year old Carlos shares with us about his father’s death.  “My father had a heart condition and he was getting weaker.  In his final days he told my mother and me that he had become a believer in Jesus.  He died about one month ago.  Yes, today I will believe in Jesus too because you came to my house and because my father did!” 

Pastora Rebecca says, “This information is so important!  It is very difficult to talk to people who are sick and dying.  Thank you for coming to teach us and give us these booklets.  I feel like now we can understand and talk to people who are dying.  Now we can help them before it is too late.”   

We noticed that everywhere we went the people were like “sponges” and so hungry for information.  They were asking us when we can return and bring more literature to help them.  Time and again we saw how the decades of closed society has created a hunger for education, particularly among the believers who desire to learn how to reach others for Christ. 

Please continue to pray for the people of Cuba, and especially the new believers.  Please pray that the ICH training and materials we left with the people there will be used by God to bring hope and comfort to many more!   Pray with us about future opportunities to work in Cuba!

We pray that the power of the Cross and the Resurrection will be our message at Easter and every day until He returns! 

Serving Him together,
Ron and Susan                   


Tax deductible Donations received at:    ICH  c/o Banis    303 Madison Hts. Dr.  Marshall, NC 28753 

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