Pastor Dizzis Ramos’ public ministry has made him a target of government officials in his atheistic Communist country. He serves his local community through construction projects for elderly people in need. Earlier this month, he and another pastor were charged for allegedly falsifying receipts after they legally purchased cement for a construction project. Pastor Ramos was placed under house arrest and the other pastor taken into custody. They are also unable to reach the lawyer who has been handling their case.
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Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba’s communist revolution, died in 2016. But has Castro’s death changed the level of Christian persecution in Cuba? “No difference at all,” Pastor Mateo, a church leader in Cuba, says emphatically. The Cuban government attempts to restrain the gospel in many ways. Yet despite persecution, the church in Cuba is growing—stretching beyond buildings and homes and gathering on the streets and in open fields to pray and worship and share the gospel. Listen as Pastor Mateo shares the many restrictions Cuba’s communist leaders enforce on pastors, church buildings, ministry efforts and families. Even pastors’ children become targets for persecution because of their parents’ ministry. But government efforts to curtail church growth are failing as the church continues to multiply. Large events in Cuba are bringing together thousands of believers for prayer and fellowship. Mateo reminds us, “In Matthew 16, Jesus says, ‘the gates of hell will not prevail against the church.’” Cuban Christians are experiencing the reality of Jesus’ promise. “You will never be able to stop the movements of the church.” Mateo says. Today, he encourages young pastors to remain faithful and never renounce Jesus, even as they encounter government threats. Listen also for ways you can pray specifically for Mateo and persecuted Christians in Cuba to remain strong in the Lord as they face hostility and persecution. VOM Radio host Todd Nettleton will also give a recap of the recent I Am N Virtual Event. If you missed the event, it is now available for viewing on demand. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast. Or you can listen each week—and get daily prayer reminders—in the VOM App for your smartphone or tablet.
Read MoreThe atheistic Communist government in Cuba has enacted a new law intended to control the online spread of misinformation, especially that which is related to the country’s reputation, national security, revolution, government leaders and ideology. Christians in Cuba have reported concerns about the law’s enforcement as the government has defined “misinformation” broadly and indicated that it will prosecute violators with heavy scrutiny. Some have reported instances of government prosecution simply for sharing Bible verses in social media posts, which the government then interpreted as a threat to the regime.
Read MoreIn Cuba, Bibles are precious and sometimes scarce. Even when Bibles are available, they can cost a third of a worker’s monthly income. But Christians in Cuba are hungry for God’s Word and are finding creative solutions to the limited access.
Read MorePastor David Walter Fis leads a Baptist church in Cuba that has experienced ongoing harassment from government authorities. First, state security officials demolished their church building. When the congregation continued gathering, officials placed restraining orders on Pastor Fis and the congregation.
Read MoreRobert is a Christian and independent news reporter who has spoken out against the Communist government’s treatment of Christians in Cuba. Because of his bold witness, government officials beat him and imprisoned him for a year.
Read MoreCuban authorities are pressuring a prominent pastor to silence his Christian witness. The pastor and his church have made firm statements supporting biblical principles in opposition to the Cuban government’s policies.
Read MoreA house church of 1,000 members has been banned from gathering for services by the Cuban government.
Read MoreFront-line workers in Cuba recently celebrated the baptism of more than 100 believers as part of how God’s kingdom continues to advance amid adversity and opposition.
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Cubans have borne the weight of communism for more than half a century. In the last years of Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s life, however, the country’s strict communistic and atheistic ideals appeared to be eroding. Then, in 2014, the waning spirit of the communist revolution was suddenly revived, and pressure on Christians rose sharply. Evangelical leaders were regularly interrogated by the Religious Affairs Committee and pressured to stop their Christian work. As the communist spirit continued to grow, Christians experienced a renewed passion to evangelize. Amid this environment, Christian leaders from various denominations jointly launched an evangelistic campaign in Havana called the “Power to Transform.” The campaign’s objective was simple: Church members would go to bars, cafes and parks and share Jesus. When Communist officials heard about the campaign, the church leaders from all denominations were summoned for interrogation. But since the campaign had no central leader and received no foreign support, Cuban authorities had no one to arrest and no way of stopping the campaign. So Christians throughout Havana continued to share their faith with confidence. When a church member was confronted by a man asking who had given him the authority to evangelize in a public park, the
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