Opening doors, Bridging cultures
Our Mandate:To nurture a partnership between Ia Iglesia Cristiana Reformada en Cuba and Classis Alberta North.
The partnership between Classis Alberta North and the CR church in Cuba began at the request of the Cuban church, when our brothers and sisters in Cuba were very isolated. We have been in mutual communication since the early 1990’s and have been blessed to visit the CR church in Cuba many times, with the most recent visit in March 2016. Representatives from the Cuban CR church have also visited Classis Alberta North in November of 2011 and 2015! We have more visits planned, to strengthen relationships through prayer and mutual encouragement.
Classis Alberta North seeks to provide material and financial support where appropriate.
-Providing financial sponsorship for CR pastors in Cuba, to supplement their $15/month salary.
-Raising $20,000 in the year 2000 to buy a van (which they still use today!)
-Raising $25,000 in 2014-15 to rebuild a pastor’s home and build a diagonal ministry centre
-Sending several large containers with a variety of goods, from bicycles to computers
History of committee relationship with Cuban CRC:
◦ Regular communication since the early 1990s – now by email
◦ Many visits– most recent March 2016; Cuban visits here – Nov. 2011 & Nov. 2015
◦ Financial sponsorship for pastors in Cuba---they get only $15 per month salary
◦ Several large containers of a variety of goods from bicycles to computers
◦ $20,000 in our Classis in 2000 to buy a van---still in use today.
◦ $25,000+ raised in 2014-15 to rebuild a pastor’s home and diaconal ministry centre
◦ Container of a great variety of goods shipped again in 2016
◦ More visits planned – ongoing communication, prayer & encouragement
Background on the Cuban Christian Reformed Church
· 14 Christian Reformed Church congregations in west-central Cuba; 9 or more house churches
· Established in the 1950s before the Revolution
· Relationship with Classis Alberta North since the early 1990s
· Major programs by every church to feed seniors twice a day, five times a week
· Lacking in most resources: clothes, bicycles, parts, over-the-counter medication, food, etc.
· Tourist areas not a real indication of daily life: utter dependence on outside help in a country where Christians are marginalized, salaries are bizarrely low & everything is owned and run by government---except the church, which is completely on its own - by gov’t permission.
BACKGROUND TO CUBA
Key issues for Cuba overall include an aging population, no incoming immigration and a net outflow of the most productive members of society as the island nation continues to languish economically. There is an almost uniform level of poverty with most owning little, using and reusing beat-up bicycles and the few mostly ancient vehicles they do own, a lot of horse carts and not a lot of personal possessions. Beans and rice are staples. Luxuries are rare. Homes are plain “concrete bunkers” or tumble-down wooden structures with a lot of cracks, holes and wire holding them together, or bleak Soviet-era apartments. Over-the-counter medication is rare and expensive.
Outside of main highways, infrastructure is crumbling and power outages common. The $18 per month salary doesn’t go far, and the food ration cards run out at the middle of the month. Everyone does something “on the side” to make ends meet. As Cubans like to joke, “Welcome to socialism.” They continue to be a largely warm and friendly people, inured to their economic condition, resourceful, well educated, literate, articulate and enjoying musical and visual arts, which are government supported. But their churches lack for simple things like soccer balls for youth programs, new instruments for worship teams---even simple guitar strings are rare and expensive. There is no government support whatever for churches, pastors or church programs, though many aspects of church life we take for granted are strictly government controlled, like real estate or even renting a building for a house church, or any construction projects. Visitors to the Cuban CRC even require religious visas if they are engaged in meetings or will speak at churches (not if simply attending a church service however).
Nothing much has come out of the warming relations with Cuba begun by U.S. President Obama, who even visited the country. The new American government is in fact rolling back or stalling any further changes in its dealings with Cuba. Canadians are still deeply appreciated and welcomed everywhere as our nation was one of the handful to never abandon Cuba and our mining interests and tourist dollars provide a primary source of income. Almost one million Canadians visit Cuba every year, one of the largest cohorts to do so. It is very difficult for Americans to get permission to do so, but some come through other countries.
The Cuba Connection Committee:
John Strikwerda, Trinity CRC (Chair)
Ron Prins, Woodynook CRC
Rick Abma, Lacombe
Chris Toornstra, Maranatha CRC
Dan VanKeeken, Bethel CRC
Rev. Jim Dekker, founder & consultant & occasional translator for the committee
Key issues for Cuba overall include an aging population, no incoming immigration and a net outflow of the most productive members of society as the island nation continues to languish economically. There is an almost uniform level of poverty with most owning little, using and reusing beat-up bicycles and the few mostly ancient vehicles they do own, a lot of horse carts and not a lot of personal possessions. Beans and rice are staples. Luxuries are rare. Homes are plain “concrete bunkers” or tumble-down wooden structures with a lot of cracks, holes and wire holding them together, or bleak Soviet-era apartments. Over-the-counter medication is rare and expensive.
Outside of main highways, infrastructure is crumbling and power outages common. The $18 per month salary doesn’t go far, and the food ration cards run out at the middle of the month. Everyone does something “on the side” to make ends meet. As Cubans like to joke, “Welcome to socialism.” They continue to be a largely warm and friendly people, inured to their economic condition, resourceful, well educated, literate, articulate and enjoying musical and visual arts, which are government supported. But their churches lack for simple things like soccer balls for youth programs, new instruments for worship teams---even simple guitar strings are rare and expensive. There is no government support whatever for churches, pastors or church programs, though many aspects of church life we take for granted are strictly government controlled, like real estate or even renting a building for a house church, or any construction projects. Visitors to the Cuban CRC even require religious visas if they are engaged in meetings or will speak at churches (not if simply attending a church service however).
Nothing much has come out of the warming relations with Cuba begun by U.S. President Obama, who even visited the country. The new American government is in fact rolling back or stalling any further changes in its dealings with Cuba. Canadians are still deeply appreciated and welcomed everywhere as our nation was one of the handful to never abandon Cuba and our mining interests and tourist dollars provide a primary source of income. Almost one million Canadians visit Cuba every year, one of the largest cohorts to do so. It is very difficult for Americans to get permission to do so, but some come through other countries.
The Cuba Connection Committee:
John Strikwerda, Trinity CRC (Chair)
Ron Prins, Woodynook CRC
Rick Abma, Lacombe
Chris Toornstra, Maranatha CRC
Dan VanKeeken, Bethel CRC
Rev. Jim Dekker, founder & consultant & occasional translator for the committee
