Cuba's Methodist Church sees membership grow in revival
6/4/2001
NOTE: Photographs are available with this report.
By United Methodist News Service
The Methodist Church in Cuba is experiencing a revival through increased ministry and a doubling of membership, according to an official of the World Methodist Council.
The church has doubled in membership to 16,000 in the past two years, said the Rev. H. Eddie Fox, world director of evangelism for the council. Fox, based in Nashville, Tenn., visited Cuba May 15-22.
"The people called Methodist in Cuba are in the midst of a tremendous revival and renewal," he said. "They are being sustained in power in challenging and difficult situations, and they are confident that God has opened a wide door to them."
This year is "the kairos moment in Cuba, by the grace of God," Fox said. Three years ago, he could not get a visa to visit the Methodist Church in Cuba, but today "we are witnessing a church which is totally open to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit," he said.
Fox also attended the Second Congress on Evangelism for the church in Cuba May 19-20. The congress brought together 323 missionary leaders, evangelists, pastors and other guests. The first congress was held 23 years ago.
Church leaders invited Fox and the Rev. Winston Worrell, with World Methodist Evangelism in Atlanta, to preach and teach about faith sharing. The program was based on World Evangelism's Faith-Sharing New Testament With Psalms, in the New Revised Standard Version.
The Faith-Sharing New Testament is published in 30 languages, and the Methodist Church in Mexico is publishing a Spanish version. World Methodist Evangelism has committed to send 5,000 of the books to the Methodist Church in Cuba because many people do not have the complete New Testament in their language.
"Christ Jesus for Cuba is at the heart of the good news of the Gospel offered by the people called Methodists," Fox said. "And at the Congress on Evangelism at Camp Canaan, the Methodist people have claimed the promises of God and are determined to offer Cuba for Christ."
The Cuban church gained momentum throughout the 1990s, according to Bishop Ricardo Periera, who leads the church. It had stagnated and membership had fallen during the '60s, but resurgence began in the 1980s, after the people began praying and seeking to be faithful and authentic Methodists, he said.
The membership increased from 5,000 in 1990 to 16,000 at the end of last year. More than 65 percent of worshippers today are under 30 years old, Fox said. Most of the pastors are also young in both age and faith.
In the past five years, the church has established 500 missionary congregations or house churches headed by non-salaried lay missionary leaders. The leaders need bicycles for transportation to the mission stations, Fox said. World Methodist Evangelism has launched a project called "EVANGEBICY" to buy 100 bicycles, at $115 each, for the missionaries. A bicycle in Cuba is called "bicy." World Methodist Evangelism wants to surpass 100 bicycles and provide transport for at least 400 missionaries.
The United Methodist Church's Florida Annual (regional) Conference has been involved in a covenant agreement with the Methodist Church in Cuba for a few years. Fox rejoiced in the strength that the covenant provides to both ends of the connection. "Through the covenant, the churches in Cuba and Florida share with one another what God has provided to each of them."
For more information on EVANGEBICY or the Faith-Sharing New Testament, contact Fox at (615) 340-7541 or by e-mail at worldevangelism@scarrittbennett.org. # # #
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