‘I’LL BUY YOUR DENOMINATION’

The church in Cuba faces huge challenges as doors with the US re-open.

Recent news concerning Cuba appears to be unreservedly positive. President Obama visited earlier in the year – the first such visit by a sitting US president since 1928. This follows the renewal of diplomatic relations in December 2014, a deal brokered by the Pope. American cruise ships have begun to arrive. In April, residents of the capital Havana were thrilled by the first filming of some scenes for the Hollywood action film Fast & Furious 8.

Rocked by change?

Yet, with such positive changes, there are big potential dangers for the country, not least for the church. Experience in other countries across the world suggests that when there is substantial and rapid change, the church can equally be rocked and not always for the good.

This is not a political statement. It is possible for countries to open up economically to the rest of the world without a change in political leadership, but still find that the sudden influx of people – and especially money – can do great damage, including to the church.

If there is ever a country ripe for such perils, it is Cuba, just 90 miles from the Florida Keys. Cuba is relatively small (11 million people) compared to the behemoth of 300 million in the US. It is certainly poor, with average wages US$25 per month, although this is not easily comparable with the US, given the different cost of living.

It doesn’t take much imagination to think of the dangers of large, well-funded church or parachurch movements in the US arriving in Cuba and seeking out workers for whatever particular strand of Christianity they are promoting (or any other religion for that matter – already there is a noted growth of Islam in Cuba, due in part to the number of Arab students studying medicine).

Conversation of love and wisdom

It is for this reason that Cuba para Cristo has begun what we call an ‘international conversation’, seeking to bring together those who have a heart for generous and wise love for Cuba, to help us speak with the Cuban church and be more aware of the dangers.

In a recent visit to Cuba, I shared this vision with a number of denominational leaders in personal meetings. There was a unanimous positive response and a concern to be involved.

One president of a denomination shocked me with his personal testimony. He’d recently had a visit from someone from the US, who was offering to ‘buy his denomination’. What this visitor wanted was to be able to say that this denomination was ‘his’ – so being able to boast of several seminaries, umpteen churches and many more pastors and gospel workers. He was offering to pay the annual cost of the denomination in its entirety – some US$350,000. Just before showing him the door, the president asked him: ‘Where were you these last 55 years? We’ve been faithfully serving the Lord Jesus all this time. Where were you when we needed you?’ The issue of respect for the local church is foundational to our international conversation.

Equally important is the desire to help the church in a generous and sacrificial way, without undermining their ministry. This is something Cuba para Cristo has been committed to, in terms of training Cubans to serve the Cuban church in Cuba, for many years.

We welcome individuals and organisations to join this conversation, especially if you have experience from other countries of how mistakes have been made, or avoided. Please write to: generouslove4cuba@gmail.com

The spiritual scene in Cuba is tremendously exciting, from a Christian perspective. There is real hunger for truth and the church is active in making Jesus known. Church planting, church growth, ministry training – all are on the increase. At such times we do well to echo the words from the Prayer Book that we should be ‘godly and quietly governed’, lest in the turbulence of change (much of it good) much damage is done.