Cuban Ministry

Cuba Mission Trip: April 28th – May 5th

Our Goal

There are 4 main goals for our Cuba missions ministry:

• to prepare and equip the team members so that they are able and eager to share their testimony and the Gospel message of Jesus Christ whether on mission to Cuba or among family, friends and divine appointments that God puts in our path.
• to share the love of Christ and His saving grace with the lost people of the Fomento, Cuba area and lead them to a saving knowledge of Jesus and a personal relationship with God
• to encourage, uplift and model discipleship for the believers in the Fomento Baptist Church and the outlying house churches so that they may grow and make disciples of Jesus Christ
• to support the Fomento Baptist Church in their ministry, expansion and humanitarian needs

Our Mission Team

Wendy Ebright – Team nurse and Children’s ministry
Kathy Blevins – Team Security and Children’s ministry
Beverly Frost – Women’s ministry
Vince Amato – Team translator
Debbie Hill – Team Historian and Women’s ministry
Debby DeSimio – Children’s ministry Leader
Sharon Walters – Women’s ministry Leader
Gordon Caldwell – Team leader

Our Experience

Team preparation lasted 12 weeks for 2 hours per week.  We learned Cuban culture, a little Spanish, how to share our salvation testimony, how to share the Gospel, what to pack and how to interact with the Cuban people as ambassadors for Christ.  Because of an early Friday flight to Havana we stayed at a Tampa Hotel the night before our departure.  We arrived on time, moved quickly through customs and met our support team waiting for us at the airport.  We had a dedicated bus driver, water purification man and a translator assigned to our team for the duration of the trip.  The ride to Fomento, Cuba was about 4 ½ hours long.  Many were there to greet us when we arrived. 

On Saturday we began with children’s and student’s ministries and an evening program.  The theme for the children for the week was the life of Joseph and his abiding relationship with God.  On Sunday morning there were 7 baptisms, a message and a feeding for all in attendance.  On Sunday evening there was another message.

On Monday we started the Women’s Bible Study at 9 am and 2 pm.  Monday night was movie night.  We showed the Jesus Film.  Tuesday we were surprised with a beautiful cake thanking the 8 of us for our ministry to them.  There was the Women’s Bible study in the morning and afternoon as well as a message in the evening.  Wednesday was our last full day there.  We had a special combined farewell service with the Children, Students and Adults.

On Thursday we returned to Havana, stayed at the Baptist Seminary, took the city tour and enjoyed a Cuban meal in Old Havana.  On Friday morning we went to the market, had lunch and went to the airport.  The flight home was smooth and we quickly navigated customs and reached our cars before dark.  We arrived at Murdock Baptist Church about 9:30 pm safe and praising God for using us, protecting us and blessing us.

Our Success

All team members shared their testimonies which made for open doors for us to share the Gospel.  We saw 20 adults accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior as well as 15 students aged 12 and up.  There were at least 30 children who prayed to receive salvation.  We made 4 house Church trips during which we encouraged them, prayed over the sick and needy, and led 17 of them to faith in Jesus Christ.

Each team member played an important and additive part in the success of this mission trip.  They endured the living conditions with grace and thankfulness.  They each said that they certainly felt the hand of God upon them – and the Holy Spirit working through them to change lives during this mission.