wfn.org | Cubans prepare for first Walk to Emmaus

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Sept. 8, 1998	Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
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By Michael Wacht*
	
LAKELAND, Fla. (UMNS) -- In October, 40 Cuban Methodists will attend the
first two Walk to Emmaus events in their country as part of an effort to
strengthen ministry throughout the island.

The Camanitas de Emmaus experience will be "the most significant
programming event in the Methodist Church this year," Cuba Methodist
Bishop Gustavo Cruz told the 1998 Cuban annual conference. 
	
"They (Cuban Christians) have great faith," said Russ Montgomery, a
member of the Cuba Florida Covenant Task Force and coordinator of the
two retreat weekends. "But now they will have greater accountability for
what they do with that faith."
	
The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program designed to develop
Christian leaders, according to International Walk to Emmaus in
Nashville, Tenn. Participants have opportunities to experience Christ's
love through the leadership team's witness, conversations, prayer,
worship and letters of love and encouragement from family and friends.
	
"The main thrust is what you do with your life after the weekend,"
Montgomery said. "They might not know the person next to them in church.
Then they attend Emmaus, get involved with Bible study and get to know
others in the church. Then they can ask, 'What are you doing with your
faith ... with witnessing for Christ?' "
	
Eight Cuban Methodists who attended an Emmaus Walk in Leesburg, Fla.,
last January are sponsoring the 20 men and 20 women from the greater
Havana area who will attend the walks in Matanzas, Cuba. 

"The Cubans who have experienced Emmaus said it's what they need,"
Montgomery said.

A team of 22 American and Mexican United Methodists will lead the two
retreats. A walk for men will be held Oct. 1-4, followed by a women's
walk Oct. 8-11.

The Cubans who attend the events will lead future walks, along with
international teams scheduled for the next few retreats. The goal is to
create a strong, self-supporting community in Havana that will be able
to spread the ministry to the entire island and share it with other
denominations there.
	
"They [the Cubans] will be able to continue on their own," Montgomery
said. "We'll continue with prayer support."
	
Montgomery said the idea for the Cuban Emmaus Walks was born during a
mission trip to the island three years ago. The retreats are an example
of how the Florida and Cuba annual conferences are working together to
strengthen each other's ministries. However, the events are not directly
connected with the Cuba Florida Covenant, approved by both conferences
in 1997 to re-establish a relationship of shared ministry.
	
"Americans get to spend time with Cubans, and Cubans get to spend time
with Americans. Real bonds are formed because of that," Montgomery said.
"We covet the prayers and support from persons around the world. Emmaus
is an international program, and God's love is spoken
in any language."

# # #

*Wacht is the assistant editor of the Florida Conference's edition of
the United Methodist Review. This story first appeared in that
publication.

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