wfn.org | Cuba's Methodist Church sees membership grow in revival

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June 4, 2001 News media contact: Linda Green·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.
10-32-71BP{254}

NOTE: Photographs are available with this report.

By United Methodist News Service

The Methodist Church in Cuba is experiencing a revival through increased
ministry and a doubling of membership, according to an official of the World
Methodist Council.

The church has doubled in membership to 16,000 in the past two years, said
the Rev. H. Eddie Fox, world director of evangelism for the council. Fox,
based in Nashville, Tenn., visited Cuba May 15-22.

"The people called Methodist in Cuba are in the midst of a tremendous
revival and renewal," he said. "They are being sustained in power in
challenging and difficult situations, and they are confident that God has
opened a wide door to them."

This year is "the kairos moment in Cuba, by the grace of God," Fox said.
Three years ago, he could not get a visa to visit the Methodist Church in
Cuba, but today "we are witnessing a church which is totally open to the
power and presence of the Holy Spirit," he said.

Fox also attended the Second Congress on Evangelism for the church in Cuba
May 19-20. The congress brought together 323 missionary leaders,
evangelists, pastors and other guests. The first congress was held 23 years
ago.

Church leaders invited Fox and the Rev. Winston Worrell, with World
Methodist Evangelism in Atlanta, to preach and teach about faith sharing.
The program was based on World Evangelism's Faith-Sharing New Testament With
Psalms, in the New Revised Standard Version.

The Faith-Sharing New Testament is published in 30 languages, and the
Methodist Church in Mexico is publishing a Spanish version. World Methodist
Evangelism has committed to send 5,000 of the books to the Methodist Church
in Cuba because many people do not have the complete New Testament in their
language. 

"Christ Jesus for Cuba is at the heart of the good news of the Gospel
offered by the people called Methodists," Fox said. "And at the Congress on
Evangelism at Camp Canaan, the Methodist people have claimed the promises of
God and are determined to offer Cuba for Christ."

The Cuban church gained momentum throughout the 1990s, according to Bishop
Ricardo Periera, who leads the church. It had stagnated and membership had
fallen during the '60s, but resurgence began in the 1980s, after the people
began praying and seeking to be faithful and authentic Methodists, he said.

The membership increased from 5,000 in 1990 to 16,000 at the end of last
year. More than 65 percent of worshippers today are under 30 years old, Fox
said. Most of the pastors are also young in both age and faith.

In the past five years, the church has established 500 missionary
congregations or house churches headed by non-salaried lay missionary
leaders. The leaders need bicycles for transportation to the mission
stations, Fox said. World Methodist Evangelism has launched a project called
"EVANGEBICY" to buy 100 bicycles, at $115 each, for the missionaries. A
bicycle in Cuba is called "bicy." World Methodist Evangelism wants to
surpass 100 bicycles and provide transport for at least 400 missionaries.

The United Methodist Church's Florida Annual (regional) Conference has been
involved in a covenant agreement with the Methodist Church in Cuba for a few
years. Fox rejoiced in the strength that the covenant provides to both ends
of the connection. "Through the covenant, the churches in Cuba and Florida
share with one another what God has provided to each of them."

For more information on EVANGEBICY or the Faith-Sharing New Testament,
contact Fox at (615) 340-7541 or by e-mail at
worldevangelism@scarrittbennett.org.
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United Methodist News Service
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