I've just returned from Cuba where Insight for Living Canada sponsored four Church Leaders Conferences and I'm pleased to report everything went very well.
Carlos Zazueta, the voice of Vision Para Vivir, the Spanish ministry of Insight for Living, spoke 17 times in four Cuban provinces to approximately 1,000 Cuban pastors and church leaders. He spoke on three topics relevant to church leaders: passion, purity, and perseverance. The response to Carlos and the Insight for Living resources was one of heartfelt gratitude and praise to the Lord. As these church leaders and pastors return to their congregations so many other lives will be impacted as well.
The week of conferences began with a morning church service on Sunday, December 4 in Iglesia Bautista McCall. There we were witness to a church Bible–learning contest. Our team marvelled at the children's knowledge as they were quizzed about Bible stories and memory work. It spoke of the hunger that the Cuban people have for the truth of God's Word and how seriously they take it. The knowledge these children possess puts many Christian adults in North America to shame. After the contest Carlos spoke. In all the service was about three hours long.
After the service we met with Pastor Daniel Gonzalez. He is an avid Chuck Swindoll fan and has been since the 80s. For the past year, Pastor Daniel has used the God's Masterwork series study guides we shipped in earlier as a church-wide curriculum. Every week for a year, close to 600 people were involved through Sunday school material, personal devotions, small groups, and preaching. It is encouraging to hear the books we shipped are being used in this way!
In the evening we attended Iglesia Evangelica Libre, the church pastored by Marcial Hernandez who is president of the Cuban Church Council. Approximately 300 pastors were in attendance.
On Monday morning we set out for San Jose' de las Lajas in the province of Mayabeque. Two years ago, when we first took Carlos to Cuba, we went to the Baptist Seminary. There we met Pastor Dariel. He also loves Chuck and had visited Dallas Seminary and got to know Carlos there. Prior to arriving in Cuba, Pastor Dariel had emailed Carlos to ask if he could come and speak in his church when in Cuba. Carlos didn't think it would be possible due to his other commitments but as God would have it, the church in San Jose' de las Lajas originally booked for the conference was changed. The church we ended up holding the conference in was Pastor Dariel's church and Carlos got to speak there after all!
Through the rest of the week, we travelled to Pinar Del Rio, Cienfuegos, and then two days in Havana for Thursday and Friday. In every place, Carlos spoke God's Word with power and the impact was evident as afterwards pastors and leaders crowded him to share and ask questions. They are so hungry to grow in the knowledge of God and His Word. The books we gave out were eagerly received with many requests for more for spouses and others in their church.
When the travelling and speaking were done, we sat down and reviewed how things had gone. We saw how God had superintended, guided, provided, and blessed. We also made plans for the next set of conferences on the same theme, to be held in the eastern part of Cuba. Lord willing those conferences will take place the last week of May. We're calling it Cuba: The Leadership Project, Phase Three.
To that end we need your ongoing prayer and financial support. Please partner with us as we continue to help equip leaders and reach Cuba for Christ.
By Steve Johnson
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