CUBA

 

“Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.” - Psalm 2:8

 

It has been stated that Cuban missions “is not for the faint of heart!” RTBC members have been traveling to Cuba for well over ten years. Each trip that has been planned and travelled is usually remembered by some situation or circumstance that always shows us the evidence of the Holy Spirit being with the team, either leading or sustaining the team

 

On numerous occasions, Pastor Gray has spoken of his trip to eastern Cuba in November, 2008. It was a “survey trip” to seek knowledge about where RTBC could be of service to our Christian brothers and sisters in Cuba. Each encounter with Cuban pastors and missionaries visited during that trip echoed a common theme. They needed teaching and preaching resources. They needed training. Many pastors had only their bible for preaching preparation. Some did not even have a bible of their own. Pastor Gray’s prayers for how get teaching and learning resources in the hands of pastors and missionaries are being answered

 

In August, RTBC Cuba mission trip was cancelled because Religious visas were not issued by the Cuban government in time for the trip. The original trip consisted of two parts: the entire team to visit Bayamo, Cuba in the east, and meetings with government officials in the west (Havana). Our hope of some type of meeting in Havana became our primary intention. Our hope not only became a reality, but once again showed each team member that the Lord is in charge. The “hoped for meeting” became a series of three meetings, occurring in 30 hours. Meeting with the Religious Affairs official, resulted in understanding the humanitarian needs of the Cuban people

 

This official met with the team on her vacation day and made a call to enable the team to meet with other government officials on short notice. In less than 24 hours, the team was in the office of the Foreign Trade Commissioner for North America. On his vacation day, he spent time explaining “how” we could ship a container to Cuba. He was extremely helpful. An hour after that meeting, we were in the office of the Director of the Council of Churches of Cuba. Though not a governmental agency, it is charged with overseeing the quality and integrity of all religious materials arriving in Cuba. Our intention was to leave a sample of the Pastor books with him for review. To our great surprise and delight, his inspection of our books revealed that each of them had already been approved by the Council. On his vacation day, in his office, he was very informative about how books can be shipped directly to the Council of Churches, bypassing conventional Cuban customs.

 

As one door seemed shut in Eastern Cuba, our Lord certainly opened another in the Havana. One team member put it this way. “It was just like approaching the door at a Walmart, the door opens even before you get there, and there is guy with a green vest there welcoming you and asking how can he help!”

 

RTBC is thrilled to pursue this God given opportunity to equip pastors all over the island of Cuba with pastoral books and training tools that will greatly enhance the teaching and preaching of God’s word over the entire island. It is pure joy to partner with our Cuban brothers and sisters for the sharing of the gospel over all of their beautiful country.

 

RTBC will be filling a large shipping container full of teaching materials and other supplies to support, encourage, and equip our Cuban brethren. Each pastoral library shipped to Cuba costs between $250-$300, and will have an eternal impact. It is exciting to watch God work in powerful ways, and to see His kingdom advance exponentially.