Taking the Church Outside the Walls

Angel and Susana are examples of modern-day world changers. The couple was forced to leave Cuba after establishing a mobile outdoor theater ministry. Their ministry joined believers and unbelievers to dialogue about Cuba’s present and future. Their equipment was supplied by EchoCuba and with it they were able to show films like The Passion of Christ in Cuban communities. They adapted the films and topics presented, based on the need of each community.

 

The inspiration for this effort began when a group from the U.S. showcased a film in their church. The viewing made Angel and others start thinking about what they could do differently to reach the Cuban people.

Angel and Susana started a movement. Wherever they went and hosted an event, people gathered, received, and many lingered after to ask they about their ministry. With those who approached them, they shared the gospel. Otherwise, they kept the discussions and events secular to draw in as many people as possible. “The closer we became with someone involved, the more chances we had to evangelize to them and the more likely they were to accept Christ.”

To their surprise, house churches started forming in different communities as a result of their events. Angel and Susana had to start training leaders for the newborn churches. With their growing ministry, they were able to impact the lives of many marginalized people including orphans, youth, and the elderly.

The government found out about their thriving ministry and the evangelical and social themes promoted through the films they showed. They began pressuring Angel and Susana through the churches, which are under strong government control. Due to the pressures, the couple chose exile and entrusted the ministry to others.

Leaders like Angel and Susana, have given up their comfort, their lives, homes, family, to advance social change, just like the leaders of the early church. They have impacted the lives of many by taking the church out of the four walls and into the community. These are the kinds of leaders we support as followers of Christ and as an organization.

ANNUAL RESULTS REPORT 2017

 MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Our goal is to help educate church leaders, and to make a significant impact on the growth and health of Christianity in Cuba and the Americas.

The annual results summarizes the wide array of activities that took place through our programs during 2017. It acknowledges and celebrates the generous efforts of all of you who made our work possible.

MAJOR MILESTONES

• Delivered a total of 6 Million meals to people in need.
• 15,000 children received food in El Salvador.
• 3,500 families received meals.
• 40,000 persons received the gospel.
• 7,000 pastors and leaders trained.
• 225 partners the U.S. and abroad.
• Shipped $300,000 in hygiene kits and emergency baby products. 
• $30,000 used to help the local churches fix roofs and operate community hot meal kitchens after Hurricane Irma.
• $80,000 used to contract with shipping company to process 12 containers of emergency food valued at more than $1.5 million. 
• 13 urgently needed diesel generators valued at close to $1 million were shipped to Antigua and Dominica.

Creative Evangelism in Cuba

March 2018

Greetings and Blessings to you all!

Cubans are taking to the streets in creative waves of evangelism. Since the Communist government prohibits open evangelism and imposes unreasonable restrictions on evangelistic campaigns and churches, Cubans have to think differently to spread the Gospel.

Richer Perez, embodies these new forms of evangelism as he participates in the Marhabana-Maranatha pictured below. Perez won the marathon wearing a shirt that said, “When everything is dark, Jesus is the light!” Not only was he a billboard for the good news of Christ during the race, but he also knelt in worship after crossing the finish line. Joining him on this secular sports event were almost twenty evangelical pastors also wearing biblical messages. Their churches supported from the crowd, holding up signs of salvation, as bold, united, and involved as the church should be.

 In 2017, the Cuban evangelistic campaign “Poder para Transformar,” united 31 denominations, 362 churches, reached more than 46,000 people. The highly organized creative campaign counted on a committee of pastors and commissions of intercession, sports, culture, social work, and children’s work, areas that the Cuban church has creatively developed for years. Christians in Cuba are stretching the boundaries of evangelistic outreach, flooding the streets with booklets and organizing fun events for children and concerts for adults. They are determined to captivate in new ways.  

Richer Perez's story has showed us the power of one who goes into the world's secular platforms carrying the message of Christ.  Poder para Transformar has reminded us of the vigor and strength of the church coming together in strategic ways to reach the lost, whatever it takes.  The Cuban church, pressed but not crushed, has found outlets of creativity and freedom within, to advance the message of the cross personally and together.