Spiritual Gifts

Cuba Mission

Gibara

Purpose of this mission

To help strengthen the Methodist Church in Cuba and to support the sharing of the gospel message to the Cuban people in Gibara

 

Gibara Update

 

Goals for 2008

Summer Bible School in Gibara

Our sister church in Gibara is currently holding their summer bible school for children. According to Pastor Isel, "the objective is to reach children for Jesus and through them to reach their parents. Most of the children are not attending the Church currently."

Things to know if you are sensing God’s call to participate in a future mission trip:
What to expect on a trip to Cuba
(772k PDF)


News from Holguin

Last November, all the churches of this province gathered together to celabrate the biggest baptism party under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, through the charisma of our dear bishop Ricardo Pereira and dynamic superintendent of the two districts in Holguin. Four hundred brothers and sisters came to the waters of the beautiful ocean at Guardalavaca beach to commit their lives, publicly, as new members of the Methodist church of Cuba!

Click here to see faith in action

 

Cuba Mission Update

Cuba Mission trip planned for November

The next mission team visit to Cuba is planned for November 29 - December 6 of this year. Our team is Pastor Melissa, Debra Jones, Diana Masker, and Ralph Masker. Please pray that God will open the door for our team to visit our sister church. At the current time the Cuban government is not approving Religious Visas for Methodist caravans. We are hopeful that the Bishop in Cuba will be able to work with the Cuban government to resolve. Later this year we will begin to collect items of need to carry down. Please be watching for ways you may be able to help in this mission opportunity. And most importantly, please remember to pray for the ministry and outreach of our sister Church!

If you are sensing God's call to participate as part of a team or get involved in other ways with this mission opportunity, or just want to know more about what's happening with the Methodist church in Cuba, please plan to attend this meeting. This years team membership needs to be finalized by the end of June. If you are unable to attend and would like more information about what our church is doing in Cuba please contact Ralph or Diana Masker.

 

News from Gibara (excerpts from a recent letter)

Pastor Isel reports that the church celebrated a very blessed summer Bible school and the church keeps growing in number thanks to God!!!  They celebrate the food outreach programs every Sunday, and it is making the church grow!!!! Pastor Isel is so happy for the results.

Next Monday the doctors will set Elisaray`s (Isel and Liset's young daughter) surgery date. She's doing well but she needs the surgery anyways. They appreciate your prayers.

Pastor Isel is sad because the whole sound system got broken and they need it badly.

Isel and Liset send their love and greetings for everyone there. Receive a hug from them.  Please keep our brothers and sisters in Cuba in your prayers.

 

2007 Cuba Mission Trip Report

For the third year in a row a mission team from First Melbourne traveled to Gibara, Cuba to visit our sister church. This year’s team members were Karen Hoffman, Diana Masker and Ralph Masker. Jackie DeMeulenaere from First Cocoa was also a part of the team and made Cocoa’s first contact with their sister church in Portorillo. The trip occurred the week of April 21 – 28, 2007. The purpose of this visit was to continue the relationship begun in 2005 during our first visit, and share encouragement with local congregations of believers.

We are happy to report that the trip was a wonderful success; praise God! We truly felt God’s presence and blessing of comfort and safety. The church in Gibara is growing with approximately 200 persons attending worship on a weekly basis. As part of the visit we were able to deliver many provisions of clothing, eye glasses, medical and health supplies, sewing supplies, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School supplies, toys for children and many other much needed items. At the first Sunday morning worship we presented two beautiful silk banners (hand-made by a member of our church) to the congregation in Gibara on behalf of our congregation. The gifts were greatly appreciated in all cases and seemed to be exactly what was needed most.

Eglisia Mehodista Gibera

Another important aspect of the trip was to provide funds for key ministry needs. Our church has once again obtained approval from the US Treasury to legally provide assistance to our sister church. Some of the monies that were provided on this trip will be used to repair and extend a sidewalk around the perimeter of the church. The current walkways are uneven and dangerous. This project will also include making the church handicap accessible, by adding a new door entry to the church that does not involve steps. The church is planning to start a new ministry that is targeted towards persons with handicaps and special needs.

This year we continued the practice of providing monthly gifts of support for four missionary pastors and one additional church worker. Gibara church is also now able to immediately begin providing lunch every Sunday to worshippers following the service. This is a tremendous outreach tool and blessing to members which Pastor Isel was very grateful to be able to provide. We also left funds to purchase three bicycles for missionary pastors to travel out to their mission churches.

Together with our brothers and sisters in Cuba we give all the glory to God for his faithfulness and provision and thank him for providing all of these items for this trip. Gratitude also goes to the members of First Church for their faithfulness in heading God’s call to help.

During our visit we traveled to many rural locations where the poverty is extreme. There were many hardships, physical and emotional pain. But everywhere we went we found believers in Jesus Christ who were experiencing his joy. We were encouraged in our faith that God is always good. And that his best and greatest blessings are not material in nature. Simply having a loving relationship with him is enough.

The Cuban Methodist church is experiencing a revival after years of official government opposition and persecution. Today 75% of the members of the Cuban church are 30 years or younger. 90% of the members have joined the church in the last twenty years. In order to support this continued growth, Bishop Ricardo Pereira of Cuba, has identified the reconstruction of church buildings and parsonages as key project needs for the church. Our church has already begun participating in this effort by supporting the repair of the Gibara churches’ main roof, and repairing a parameter fence.

Gibera Mission

The next important project for the current church facility is the construction of a new parsonage and Sunday School classrooms. The current pastors’ residence, connected to the church, is two bedrooms, small sitting area, kitchen, and bathroom. The bedrooms are built into the side of a small hill and remain damp much of the time, causing health concerns for the entire family. The parsonage in general is in very poor condition. The new parsonage will be added as a second floor addition on top of the existing rooms. We agreed with Pastor Isel that this project should be our next major area of help. Our monetary help is one way we can participate in the continued growth of the church in Cuba. For persons interested in making a financial contribution please submit gifts to the church office designated for “Cuba Mission.”

In addition, below is a list of items specifically mentioned that can be used in the church ministry. During this next year we will be collecting these items for our next visit. Items marked with an asterisk will need to be purchased in country. The approximate purchase amount is in parentheses. If anyone feels led to provide funds for these items simply designate your gift accordingly. If you have any questions about this list please contact a member of this year’s team.

On numerous occasions we were reminded how the Gibara church is praying for the brothers and sisters in Melbourne. Several mornings a week members gather at 5:00 AM for prayer. Many individuals shared with us how they continually lift up the ministry of First Melbourne to the Lord. Our Cuban brothers and sisters are very interested in the ministry that takes place in Melbourne and want to be a part of it through their prayers. Through our prayers for each other we are united in doing the will of God.

These are exciting times in Cuba and it is very evident that God is at work on the island. Please be in prayer for the members and ministry of Gibara Methodist Church. Thank you again for everyone’s gracious support and prayers during the most recent trip. Remember, as a church we are truly blessed to be a blessing.

 

Letter Ministry

One of the ways we can encourage our brothers and sisters in Cuba is corresponding through letters. Email is not an option and they love receiving letters or postcards from the United States. Below are the addresses of Pastor Isel and the four missionary pastors associated with the Gibara Church. The missionary churches are made up of a small group of believers who live in very rural and remote locations such that it is impractical for them to attend Sunday services in Gibara. These missionary pastors travel out of the town to lead services at great personal sacrifice. A letter of encouragement, pictures of our church life, stories about yourself and family, testimonies of the goodness of God are all appropriate for these correspondences. The believers in Cuba are anxious to know that there are believers in the United States who know the work that they are doing and are praying for them.

Rev. Isel Acanda Reyes (Wife: Liset)
Calle Cuba #23
Gibara - Holguin
CUBA C.P. 82100

Clara Leal Teruel
Maximo Gomez #3
Cuba y J. Aquero
Gibara – Holguin
CUBA C.P. 82100

Amaury Sanchez Velazquez
Maceo #25F
Justo Aguilera y Callejon del Carmen
Gibara – Holgiun
CUBA C.P. 82100

Maritza Yopez Diez
Calle Cuba #31A
Gibara – Holguin
CUBA C.P. 82100

Edilberto Garrido
Calle Cuba #23
Gibara - Holguin
CUBA C.P. 82100

Photos

 

GiberaGibera