PRAYER FOR OUR CUBAN FRIENDS

Hurricane Sandy Devastates Eastern Cuba

Early Thursday morning Hurricane Sandy struck eastern Cuba with  vengeance.   Reports say that it was far worse than expected.   The Cuban government reports that at one mountain monitoring station winds were recorded in excess of 150 miles per hour before the station was knocked out.

Just last week. as President of Calvary Road Ministries, 1  I led a team of 11 Canadians (Team Canada) to this very area to conduct a first of its kind Pastor's and Wives Conference.    We had brought 106 Cuban Pastors and Wives to Club Amigo, Guardalavaca.  This had never been done before and it took us many months of negotiations with the Cuban government in order for it to happen.

Here in North America,  October is Pastor Appreciation Month.   Pastors and their families labour under great hardship and sacrifice in Cuba but there is no Pastor Appreciation Month for them.  The average Pastor makes $ 15-20 per month.   They live in houses attached to the church and they are too poor to go on vacation so there is no opportunity for Rest and Relaxation.   Our goal in the Conference was to encourage their hearts and strengthen them for ministry and give them a time of refreshment.   I will write more about this conference and the lasting impact it will have on Cuba in a future post.   Right now,  I want to ask you to pray for our brothers and sisters in Cuba.

Last Thursday,  my wife and I and all these Pastors and their wives were comfortably sleeping in our beds at the resort.   This week,  the resort is in ruins as is much of eastern Cuba as a result of Hurricane Sandy.   Reports out of Cuba are suggesting it is the worst they have seen.    These people live in deep poverty and the destruction caused by this hurricane will only create more misery.

Through Calvary Road Minsitries I have been working with Pastors and Churches in Cuba for
about 10-11 years.    All of the Pastors we work with live in the affected area of the Hurricane.   I cannot not tell you strongly enough the burden of my heart knowing that these dear servants of God with whom I just spent an excting spirutally supercharged week are now facing this devastation.   They are mighty servants and I know that they are out there helping the people in their communities.

 Eleven people are reported dead including three in Palma Soriano the city in which my Cuban partner in ministry lives.    I have not been able to contact him because power and telephone lines are down.   I am concerned.    It is reported that Palma is one of the hardest hit areas.   In addition, we left three team members behind to vist some ministry areas and bring encouragement and support to church planters in the San Luis area.   It too is reported to be one of the hardest hit areas and we are concerned about them as we are unable to contact them.


I have been in touch with my friend who is the President of the Baptist Convention of Eastern Cuba.   He reports wide spread distruction including churches and homes. 2    It will be some time before we receive a clear picture of how the churches have been effective.    With the power out,  many people cannot cook their food and the churches in the Santiago de Cuba and Palma Soriano area are cooking and providing food for believers and unbelievers alike.

I have hundreds of friends in Cuba and many more aquaintences.   I am not only concerned for them, but also for all the people of eastern Cuba.   Their lives are already difficult and this destruction will only make it worse. 3  

The purpose of this blog is to call you to pray for the Church and for the people of  Cuba.   There are people in many countries around the world who read this blog every month and I'd like to ask you to join me in prayer for Cuba.

Here's what I'd like to ask you to pray for.

• That even in the midst of the destruction,  God would be glorified
• That God would bring comfort and strength to those whos homes have been damaged or destoryed.
• Pray that our friends and ministry partners, Pastors and church planters and their families would all be safe.   Especially my partner and Cuban Director of Calvary Road,  Josue and his family in Palma Soriano.
• Pray for our three Canadian team members who are presently in the very heart of one of the hardest hit areas.   Pray that they would be safe and that God would use them to bring comfort and aid to the people around them.
• Ask God to help the churches respond with love and charity to their neighbours
• Pray that these hardships might turn people to God and that there would be an evangelistic harvest as a result of these difficult times.
• Pray specifically for the 106 Pastors and Wives that we met with last week.   Pray that the spiritual refreshment they received last week would not be drained by this disaster.   Pray rather that the strength they received would motivate them and energize them to help those around them.

Thank You For Praying


1. Calvary Road Gospel Association was founded in 1980 as a radio ministry but went on to be involved in training pastors and church planters throughout Latin America.   In these past 11 years we have been working in Cuba supporting churchs, pastors,  and church planters.    If you wish more information about Calvary Road e-mail me a  calvaryroad@rogers.com 

2.  Some of the report from Joel Dupont, President of the Baptist Convention of Eastern Cuba.

- House phones are not working. Santiago is destroyed. Many peo...

ple lost their homes. Many have lost their roof. There is no electricity and I don't know how they will cook their food. Churches in Santiago are cooking for people in need, believers or non believers.

How terrible it is to be powerless. .. 6:00 am received a call from a friend, ... preliminary reports about Hurricane Sandy. It reportedly entered Green Sea beach, about 14 km from Santiago. A tour by pastors and leaders of the Eastern Cuba Baptist Convention, (reports) several temples(churches) affected and several houses collapsed. My house was damaged. I still can not get to talk to my family.
Please, I beg your prayers, for our families, for THE BROTHERS OF FAITH AND all the Cuban people. This is time to pray... We need all the grace and mercy of God. Psalm 121. Seeing us helpless before the reality of a disaster, pray, and help.

3  I will write another blog in the near future to help you understand the condition underwhich people live and churches minister.   For now,  you need to underesand that before the hurricane it was difficult enough to survive each day.