CUBA

“Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.”
– Psalm 2:8

It has been stated that Cuban missions “is not for the faint of heart!” RTBC members have been traveling to Cuba for well over fifteen years. The trips that have been planned and travelled are remembered by situations or circumstances that have always shown us the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence as He led and sustained our teams.

On numerous occasions, Pastor Gray has spoken of his trip to eastern Cuba in November, 2008. It was a “survey trip” to seek knowledge about where RTBC could be of service to our Christian brothers and sisters in Cuba. Each encounter with Cuban pastors and missionaries visited during that trip echoed a common theme. They needed teaching and preaching resources. They needed training. Many pastors had only their Bible for preaching preparation. Some did not even have a Bible of their own. After a late night time of prayer, Pastor Gray felt led by God to send a shipping container full of pastoral resources to Cuba. Despite the fact that such a thing had never been done, and that both the Cuban and US authorities expressed doubts, the church persevered and was successful.

Though it took almost three years to work through the regulations both in Cuba and the US, the need for pastoral training materials was finally met when 300 pastoral libraries of 10 books each was shipped from the Port of Baltimore to the Port of Havana. An RTBC team traveled to Cuba three months after the books were received in Cuba. They then traveled to 5 major Cuban cites, meeting with pastors in every city and giving them a library free of charge. After distributing the libraries, the team spent a day in each city, teaching the pastors how to use the books. When the trip was over, all 300 libraries had been placed in the hands of a pastor in Cuba. One pastor, upon receiving his library commented, “I had heard these books existed, but never dreamed I would own even one of them, much less ten!” Another said to a team member, “I have been in ministry for 25 years. This is the best gift I have ever received.”

Over the years RTBC has developed a very diverse ministry in Cuba. We have led VBS and Sports Camps, Women’s and Men’s ministry training events, Pastoral Training events, and numerous building trips for both church buildings and pastor’s homes. We currently are focused on helping the growing Cuban church support new church plants and train and develop their pastors. Along the way we have ministered to the physical needs of thousands of Cuban nationals by providing medicines, clothing and other difficult to obtain items.

As one door seemed shut in Eastern Cuba, our Lord certainly opened another in the Havana. One team member put it this way. “It was just like approaching the door at a Walmart, the door opens even before you get there, and there is guy with a green vest there welcoming you and asking how can he help!”

RTBC’s work in Cuba is not limited to Baptist churches. Over the years we have developed relationships with many different evangelical denominations and seminaries by supplying them with needed resources and supplies. As the political relationships between the US and Cuba change, RTBC is positioned to greatly expand its ministry in Cuba, building on the foundation of over fifteen years of ministry and personal relationships. Together with the Cuban church, we anticipate being instrumental in bringing thousands of the Cuban people into a saving relationship with Christ.

CUBA

SUNDAYS AT 9:30 A.M.