Steve Shantz of Trans World Radio spoke to us last September about this predicted transition. More recently, he filled us in on what took place last Wednesday.

A New President for Cuba

“Miguel Diaz-Canal has been voted in as the new president of Cuba. They had a secret ballot,” he says.

In fact, only one vote among hundreds cast by Cuban lawmakers went against Diaz-Canel. On Thursday, Diaz-Canel was sworn in as president. Shantz says given his political stance and placement by the Communist Party, it’s not likely that much will change under his leadership.

“He did say in his inaugural address—his acceptance address– that there’s ‘no room for those who strive for the restoration of capitalism.’ So, it’s quite clear that this is a really stay-the-course type of a government—very much supporting the revolution, and that the revolution of Cuba continues to march forward under his leadership.”

Meanwhile, we can’t forget that Raul Castro is still in the picture. Shantz says he will be the head of the Communist Party for at least the next two years.

Therefore, he says, “I don’t think we’re looking at radical changes happening in Cuba anytime soon.”

In the same way, Shantz doesn’t believe much will change with the Church, either.

The Cuban Church

“What we are aware of from our ministry to Cuba by radio is that the Church in Cuba continues to grow and that the Church in Cuba is able to practice their faith and evangelize people with the Gospel. So, that’s a very good thing.

“And, I don’t see that really things are going to change radically in terms of suddenly, Cuba being opened up to missionary visas from people overseas to be able to pour in and do mission work in Cuba. Cuba will still remain a very difficult place to go and do ministry in terms of obtaining visas and such.”

Either way, he says the Gospel is going forward. God has been faithful to this island nation.

“I also recently heard that the Bible Society is about to have a big celebration in Cuba concerning the printing of one million Bibles inside the country. So, this is certainly a wonderful sign for the Church there in Cuba because one of the things that has been lacking are Bibles, and there will be more Bibles available for people—for Christians—in Cuba.”

Havana, Cuba (Photo Courtesy of Pedro Szekely via Flickr https://flic.kr/p/YMaBko)

But because ministries from the outside do not usually have access to Cuba, there’s a lack of pastoral training, too. This is why TWR’s work is so very important to the Cuban people. Not only do many people first hear the Gospel in their programming, but it’s helping Christians mature in their faith. And, pastors are even using this content to help them write their sermons. It’s an incredible resource for spiritual growth.

“Trans World Radio has a big impact in Cuba. And Cuba is a very important part of our ministry portfolio. One of the things about Cuba is that the Church has really grown and the Gospel has exploded.”

Recently, TWR powered up their transmitter from 100,000 watts to 450,000 watts. This means their programs are coming in clearer than ever.

“This has put a local-radio sounding signal right across the country, from end-to-end.”

Even in the city areas, people are reporting great sounding radio. But this isn’t the only resource TWR is able to offer to Cuban Christians.

Shantz says when he visited Cuba a couple of years ago, he visited some of the bigger cities. And he saw something encouraging: “In the city squares, there’s kind of a metropolitan area Wi-Fi. And people can purchase an access code at a local store, at a shop, and then they can use that code to get online. So, the city square in the evening is kind of glowing blue from the multiple mobile phone screens and laptop screens.”

TWR 360 is an online platform that provides biblical content by TWR and cooperating partners. Content is available in hundreds of languages with the goal of helping Christians grow in their faith.

“All of this is available on TWR 360. And so, Cuba is starting to use the internet more and more. So, we feel, in the future, as that grows, that TWR 360 will be a very good online resource for people in Cuba to be able to download and listen to programming.”

A Heart for Cuba

As this transition is completed, you might be wondering how you can respond. Shantz says it begins with prayer, and it begins in your heart.

“I think it would be great if Christians across the United States could really get a heart for Cuba,” he says.

(Photo courtesy of TWR Bonaire)

The United States and Cuba have a long history of animosity between them. Because of this, Shantz expected an unfriendly welcome on his trip to Cuba.

“I found a real openness and a real love by the Cuban people when they thought that I was an American. I’m Canadian, but they didn’t know that I wasn’t American. And, I asked also how they feel about American people. And, they said, ‘We love Americans.’

“And so, if we could get a love for the people of Cuba, realize that the Gospel has really had a big setback there, and just really pray for that island– that there would be a groundswell of God moving across that island, and that many more people would come to know Christ, that the Church would continue to grow strong.”

Additionally, he says we can be praying for the Cuban government to continue to allow the free practice and sharing of faith. Pray that believers would be allowed to build churches to gather together. Ask God to help the government see the Gospel and Christians as a good influence in their nation.

To support TWR financially, click here.

(Header photo courtesy of GovernmentZA via Flickr)

(Photo courtesy Presidencia El Salvador via Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/HQfbhz)

Steve Shantz of Trans World Radio says that since Raul took over for his older brother, Fidel, the nation has been suspended in a sort of transition already.

“There’s been a lot of questions as to what’s going to happen politically, what’s going to happen with the government, what’s going to happen with the Church in Cuba,” he says.

The current serving Castro is 86 years old. But this is not the end of his political career. In fact, in some minds, he might be ramping it up to the next level. Raul Castro will remain the head of the Communist Party. This means he will retain his influence, and maybe even increase it.

“So Raul is still going to be in power, and it’d just be a different president. So, it may be more of the same. It could be that there’s going to be more crackdowns, or it could be that there’s going to be … and continually more freedom. But nobody really knows.”

Over the next few months, people will begin voting on representatives on local and national levels. At the end of the five months, the voting will end with the election of the next president.

However, this isn’t exactly a normal election, Shantz says. That’s because in the end, unless something drastic happens, it will be one party vying for the position—the Communist Party.

“There’s going to be some dissidents and some opposition groups who will try and run for power, but they will probably not get too far because the Communist Party will dominate,” Shantz says.

And the individual expected to win is current First Vice President, Miguel Diaz-Canel. Because of the Communist Party’s strength, the election is seen, by many, as a pointless exercise. And while the future of Cuba and the government’s policy is technically up in the air, it doesn’t really seem that freedom will grow.

“Miguel Diaz-Canel has been heard to say some pretty hard-lined things against [dissidence] and against opposition groups. So, he may be a hardliner,” Shantz says.

According to the Associated Press, Diaz-Canel promotes the silencing of independent media as well as a crackdown on entrepreneurs and those in the opposition party trying to gain political influence.

But underneath the concern about the nation as a whole is a concern for those who are so often the targets of persecution under communism.

“As we think of the outcome, we think, of course, of the Church and the believers that are in the country and the people that the Church is trying to reach out to and bring into a relationship with Christ. And so, how much freedom will the Church have to do that—to spread its message? And how much freedom will the Church have to grow and to set up church buildings and to grow their congregations?”

These questions, Shantz says, should fuel our prayers. He says we can be praying that the Church in Cuba would continue to flourish, be strong, and that evangelical believers would be looked upon with favor by authorities.

“The Church in Cuba is growing at an amazing rate. There’s a lot of people coming to Christ.”

Trans World Radio is supporting believers in Cuba through their radio programs broadcasted from the Island of Bonaire.

“We have a very powerful medium wave transmitter there that we broadcast every day into Cuba.”

The current signal is 100,000 watts strong and covers the entire country. They recently installed a new antennae system that focuses more energy on the country for improved reception. But soon, they’ll be updating the signal to 450,000 watts.

“[To] a lot of people, that doesn’t mean anything. It’s just—that’s a lot of power. In fact, it’s going to be the strongest radio station in the western hemisphere and every evening we’re focusing our signal on Cuba,” Shantz says.

Praise God for this ministry which so many Cuban believers rely upon for spiritual growth and discipleship. If you’d like to support TWR’s ministry financially, click here.

(Photo courtesy of Vision Beyond Borders)

Although Castro seemingly embodied Cuba and vice versa, it could be argued that under his leadership, the rise of an age of persecution began.  A decade ago, Fidel Castro handed power to his brother, Raul.  What followed was a beginning age of austerity, mainly to try and get the country back on track economically.

There was some freedom of religion, with the Roman Catholic Church as the largest denomination.  However, the Voice of the Martyrs notes there has not been a Christian bookstore on the island for 53 years, and Bibles are only imported through churches that are members of the Ecumenical Council (an association of churches that collaborates with the government and includes only 10 percent of all churches).

Meanwhile, VOM contacts say the government has begun seizing church buildings in a crackdown that involves over 1,600 religious freedom violations.  Many church leaders have been subjected to arbitrary detainment, harassment, and the confiscation or destruction of their church and personal property.

Vision Beyond Borders’ Dyann Romeijn says, “There’s apparently a list of about one thousand churches slated to be destroyed.  Some have already been destroyed. It’s very, very difficult to get permission to build a new church or anything like that. It’s kind of not allowing the churches to grow. It’s difficult to get Bibles and religious supplies.”

(Image courtesy of Vision Beyond Borders)

Romeijn advises people not to put too much stock in the speculation of immediate change.  “There was some speculation that Raul may have wanted to do more opening of relations and things like that, and was afraid to do much — that it would upset his brother — so, some of that might actually take place now.”

It has become very difficult to register evangelical churches and obtain building permits.  House churches are regulated and aren’t allowed to be within two kilometers of another house church, which is hard to comply with in congested cities.

VBB Director Patrick Klein shared this story recently:

“A man came to one of our friends in #Cuba recently and was in tears as he explained the government was going to destroy his church that week. He then explained that despite the increasing persecution, ‘We will continue to praise God no matter what! We can serve Him without a church building!’”

Then Klein asked this question:

“If #persecution increases in America after this upcoming election, will we rise and serve our Lord faithfully like our brothers and sisters in Cuba? Will the Church in America stand fiercely against all evil and stand up for His truth? “

While teams continue traveling with VBB, one fact remains the same: no matter the change that might arise, Christians are still restricted in their belief and worship of Jesus Christ.  And yet, despite the depravity they endure and the persecution faced, Christianity is thriving and the Gospel being proclaimed.

The believers are resilient, she adds.  “There are a lot of churches that are growing there, fairly rapidly.  It’s difficult for them to get Bibles, so [we’re] bringing in a lot of Bibles and then just supporting the pastors there with the Pastors’ Sponsorship Program.”

(Photo courtesy of Vision Beyond Borders)

What does the Pastors’ Sponsorship program do?  Romeijn explains, “A person in Cuba makes about $25 per month, and so it doesn’t go very far.  They have very limited rations and things.  If we can come along and sponsor with the Pastors’ Sponsorship Program, it allows them to concentrate on full-time ministry.”

She’s asking others to pray that the believers of this country will not fear government reprisal, but live in unconditional surrender to the Lordship of Christ.  “It’s encouraging to the Christians there to know people in America are praying for them and helping to support them.”

Ask God to provide wisdom to Cuba’s church leaders, specifically requesting that they will exemplify grace toward all governmental authorities while remaining bold in their presentation of the Gospel.  Pray, too, for the salvation of the current governmental leader, Raúl Castro, as well as those who work under his leadership.

Global Baseball is a ministry that's dedicated to using baseball as a way to spread the Gospel and plant churches around the world. Cuba is one country in which Global Baseball is having an eternal impact.

President of Global Baseball Jeff Siegel says baseball is growing in popularity around the world. "Actually, in some countries it's like the king in their country. For example, in Cuba, baseball is the king."

Siegel thinks he knows why. "The people don't really have much hope outside of the Gospel message. And one of the things that gives them a little enjoyment is sports. For whatever reason, baseball is just something that really brings people together and brings a little happiness to them."

Global Baseball is designed to do a couple of things, says Siegel. "One of the things we really focus on is being able to do free baseball schools or clinics for children in countries where they would never get this kind of instruction."

While baseball is the tool, Siegel says, "We do it through the local churches so we make sure that when people get saved, there's going to be follow-up."

Global Baseball brings more than sports. "We bring humanitarian aid, and we bring baseball equipment that we leave in the churches so we can begin baseball programs and tie that to the church."

Global Baseball has been going into Cuba for several years. Siegal says, "A famous national team player named Raul Valdez got saved. Now we were going from 4 house churches to 8, 8 to 16, and 16 to 20, and he introduced me to the second-youngest son of Fidel Castro."

This son eventually came to Christ, which opened doors to meet people across the Cuban government. As relationships have blossomed, Siegel says, "We earned the government's respect in Cuba where I can bring in Christian colleges, Christian baseball teams, Christian singing groups, and humanitarian aid. They give me religious visas now in Cuba."

The only thing Global Baseball needs now is a partner who can provide aid silently. Siegel says he already has permission from the Cuban leadership. They told him, "When you're ready, give me the trail numbers of the planes, and we'll make sure they get in and go where they need to go."

This program has been hugely successful, not just in terms of baseball but in terms of lives changed. "Castro's son came to the Lord. Chinese Cubans are getting saved. People right around Castro's inner circle are getting saved."

Siegel is praying that God will encourage more baseball teams to go to Cuba for outreach. Cornerstone University is planning to send their baseball team to Cuba in the next couple of years. Siegel is praying that God will allow him eventually to share Christ with Fidel Castro himself.

If you'd like more information about Global Baseball, click here.

Voice of the Martyrs' USA Director Tom White was captured by Cuban authorities after the plane from which he was dropping Christian leaflets crash-landed there. He was tortured and sentenced to 24 years but served 17 months before he was released.

White is not impressed with the potential new leader: "Castro's brother, Raul, is the one who would shoot prisoners in the head with a 45 pistol if they weren't altogether dead. So that's the kind of person, perhaps, who would be inheriting the transfer of power there."

While communism still reigns, White says, "There are thousands of house churches that have broken open. [There are] hundreds of people worshiping in them, which the government can not stop. They passed a resolution outlawing house churches [not] to be within a certain number of miles from each other, but no one has obeyed this law."

White doesn't believe Castro's resignation will inspire a revolution of sorts because Cuba is now allied with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. "Chavez has unlimited fiscal resources to aid the Cuban government. When the Russians pulled out of Cuba, Castro was furious because he lost between 17 to 21 million dollars a day. Now, their 'sugar daddy' is Chavez in Venezuela."

While communism isn't expected to leave Cuba, White believes Christians will be left alone, relatively. "Cubans noticed how the Romanian revolution was begun by a Lutheran priest, and it really shook them up, and they pulled way back. In my opinion, it would cause a total revolution on the entire island if they started smashing up the poor Christians."

In the meantime, prayer is needed. "Pray that [Christians] continue to exhibit the same kind of courage in their poverty. They knock the walls out of their houses and convert them into little house churches. Pray that they continue to be inspired and have creativity," says White.

He's also asking Christians not to pray for safety. "Most Christians in these nations don't pray that the oppression stops, just that they'll have more courage to be people of faith. So pray that God will strengthen the people of Cuba."

Voice of the Martyrs continues to help believers in Cuba. If you'd like to help VOM, click here.

The 81-year-old leader has not made a
public appearance in over a year, when he temporarily ceded his powers to his
younger brother Raul 16 months ago. The
move followed an emergency intestinal surgery. To observers, the greater surprise was that he
did not immediately resume his powers. In fact, he has not said when — or even if — he will permanently step
aside.

His thoughts about power and making way
for younger leaders echo pre-surgery speeches.  Castro officially
remains the country's head of government, as president of Cuba's Council of
State.

Initially, he set up Cuba as an atheist
state, but in 1992, the constitution was
changed to call it a "secular" state that guaranteed freedom of
religion.  

That did not necessarily mean full freedom in actual practice. Freedom of
religious worship was officially recognized ahead of a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1998. In 1999
evangelistic crusades were held for the first time since 1959.

This, in addition to the relaxation of
some of the religious restrictions, sparks hope. Global Advance's David Shibley: "There are operations of many ministries
already in Cuba. We are holding, at Global Advance, a forum, where we are
hosting seven ministries involved in ministry in Cuba, at our headquarters in
Dallas, in January, to look at the potential for a national strategy for the
evangelization of that nation." 

Evangelical Christians, whose numbers are growing rapidly throughout the
country, have already felt the benefits. Yet, Shibley cautions, "Persecution
and security continues to be a problem for the church. But there's something
that the enemies of the Cross of Christ do not understand, and that is, that
persecution and threat only tend to increase the strength of the church in
many nations."

While religious restrictions in Cuba do not
warrant the designation as a "CPC" (Country of Particular Concern), the
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom says the country
remains on the Watch List because of violations of religious freedoms either
tolerated or instigated by the government.

Pray
that the church in Cuba will continue to reach out with the news of God's
grace, despite the opposition from the government. Pray that freedom of religion will truly
become a reality in Cuba.