Training and Equipping Pastors in Cuba

An update from Carlos Contreras, National Leader of SGC Mexico…

Just a few weeks ago I had the privilege of being part of the teaching team at a Preaching Workshop in La Habana, Cuba. As part of The Charles Simeon Trust, we get the opportunity to serve pastors throughout Latin America to train pastors in Expositional Preaching. Teaching this in Cuba was a truly humbling and inspiring experience.

For the last 6 years several pastors from SGC Mexico have been visiting the island nation twice a year to serve 3 local churches in Habana who want to be equipped to build per SG values and virtues. As a nation, we have adopted Cuba as our main global mission focus. All 3 pastors we serve were part of this workshop as well as more than 50 other pastors from different denominations and Cuban regions.

It was humbling and inspiring to see the dedication of so many young and old pastors with a deep desire to grow in faithfulness in Biblical exposition. They came with much sacrifice and in the midst of a severe crisis in their country due to a lack of fuel and energy throughout their country because of an extensive embargo imposed on their country. Pastors of certain areas were experiencing power blackouts that lasted several days. Others had significant problems with transportation and food supply. And yet they were committed to come and work on their progress and growth in faithful preaching of the Word of God for the benefit of their congregations. 

I was able to spend nights talking for long hours with young men desirous to ask questions about pastoral practice, theological applications and church planting. Their country is in severe crisis but their heart is focused on the pastoral mission that God has called them into. It was humbling to see their zeal and compare it to my own while I was so conscious of all the benefits and provision that I enjoy in Mexico. A couple of times I had to teach in the dark because of a power outage. And a day before I was scheduled to leave, the government announced the cancellation of foreign travel due to a lack of fuel. Some pastors didn't know how they were going to travel back to their homes. I was blessed that my airline did not cancel my flight back due to a special arrangement they made for their airplanes.

We are planning a trip to Cuba by the end of March in order to continue to help and encourage the churches we serve, as well as to take needed medical supplies and other essentials even though travel has become much more expensive because of the special circumstances. We pray that negotiations progress and the embargo will be lifted soon as their situation grows darker day by day.

Please pray for the church and people of Cuba. Pray that God will pour out His grace on them in multiple and diverse forms. Pray that the church remains strong and faithful and that He will open a way for us to serve them in this critical time. Pray that their love and joy will not diminish in spite of this severe crisis and that soon God will grant them the freedom that they have not had for decades of significant hardships.

I want to thank all in Sovereign Grace globally that partner with the Mexican churches to serve the wonderful churches in Cuba. Your prayers and generosity make it possible for us to serve and help our brothers and sisters in Cuba.