COMMUNITY NEWS
Home Churches In Cuba
After Decades of Atheism, Places to Worship Sprout Up
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By Edita McQuary
n these Covid pandemic times, it is good to remember that we are a community that cares about people locally, nationally, and internationally. Several local organizations such as Santa Cruz al Salvador; Limitless Horizons Ixil, Guatemala; and Guy Routley’s Cowboy Church visits to China have been connecting with and helping people for a number of years. Before last year’s lockdown, Pastor Kevin Stottrup and Elder Ted Parsons of Aromas Bible Church went on a mission trip to Cuba. An organization called CUPA (“Cuidado Pastoral” i.e., Helping Pastors or Pastoral Care), started by a Cuban national, Pastor Alexis Hernandez, in collaboration with U.S. pastors and missionaries, Eric and Carol Smith, issued the invitation. The Smiths had been traveling to Cuba for several years to provide training and resources for Cuban pastors in Pastor Hernandez’ leadership conferences. His
Pastor Alexis, his wife Judy, Raul, Elder Ted and Pastor Kevin in front of their tour taxi — a 1950 Chevy Deluxe Styleline convertible, driven by Figaro — in Havana, Cuba. vision to create an organization that pastors in Cuba could look to “for support,
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encouragement and accountability” was presented to the Smiths and they agreed to serve as representatives in the U.S. CUPA, actively working with pastors for over five years, provides Christian training material, humanitarian aid to relieve human suffering, as well as financial aid. They have expanded into 10 of Cuba’s 15 provinces and represent approximately 160 churches. Eric said, “To our knowledge, there are no American missionaries living as permanent residents in Cuba. Entrance to Cuba by visiting missionaries requires a mandatory religious visa that is good for
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Pastor Kevin getting a Cubano haircut.
two months. There is no open evangelism permitted, only in churches is the gospel shared or by personal invitation to one’s home.” According to the Smiths, there are now hundreds of “Home Churches” throughout Cuba. The average church ranges from 30 to 100 people. As a result of the lessening of religious restrictions, the Protestant population of Cuba is now estimated at 11%. Officially, Cuba has been an atheist state for most of the Castro era. In 1962, Fidel Castro’s government seized and shut down more than 400 Catholic churches and schools. In 1991, however, the Communist Party lifted its prohibition and in 1992 the constitution was amended to characterize the state as “secular” instead of “atheist.” The current leader, Raul Castro, after a recent visit with Pope Francis, has stated he has considered returning to the Catholic Church. As his brother, Fidel, grew older, he spent more time with Russian Orthodox bishops. Because Raul Castro is less authoritarian, some people speculate that religious freedom will continue to grow. Pastor Kevin and Elder Ted had an adventure just getting through Cuban customs. Their bags were scanned, searched, re-scanned for money and “contraband.” “Cuba Churches” page 8
