Written by Ashley Milne
The island of Cuba, geographically, is situated directly under the nose of North America, some ninety miles south of Florida, in the Caribbean. It is 759 miles long and 115 miles wide at the broadest point. Cuba is home to over eleven million people and is the most populous island nation in the Caribbean, as well as the largest by area. However, the population density is lower than in most Caribbean countries. Sadly, however, there be few that find it in their hearts to enquire much about Cuba these days. Since January, 1959, when the Batista regime was ousted and a young lawyer, Fidel Castro, seized control, Cuba has been largely forgotten. Very limited contact has continued since 1959.
Once a thriving Gospel work, it is now an abandoned and forgotten island of the sea. So near, yet in every aspect, so far away. It begs the question, what has changed? Is it the ruling regime on the island, or have we in the homeland changed, as far as our interest and exercise is concerned, since all foreign workers have left? Today, in the Socialist Republic of Cuba, there is freedom to gather together for meetings. People pass by on the street and look in and listen. Nothing is done behind closed doors. Cuba is experiencing major changes today.
Yesterday's Servants, Before the Revolution
In 1959, the Cuban people's hope for a return to democratic government and a cleanup of the corruption in the country, proved not to be true,as Castro declared himself to be a Marxist-Leninist. The country's business and industrial sectors were completely nationalized and its economy came under the control of the state. All political activity, in opposition to the regime, was terminated.
Assembly work in Cuba began in 1938 when Thomas & Jean Smith, commended from the U.K., settled in the city of La Havana. They distributed thousands of tracts, engaged in house-to-house visitation and saw some blessing. At first the work was hindered by the lack of a Hall but eventually a Gospel Hall was built in the city of Havana, in 1940.
My wife, Jean, and I had the privilege of visiting the little assembly that meet in this very hall, during a visit to La Havana in December 2012. It is located in a residential area, known as El Vedado and is only blocks away from Revolution Square where Fidel Castro gave one of his longest speeches on record - six hours. The Smith's laboured for the Lord in La Havana and saw this assembly established, which continues to this day. They retired in 1961.
In 1941, Arnold & Kathleen Adams, commended from the U.K., settled in the city of Pinar del Rio, two hours drive away. However, because of the political situation in the country, they were forced to leave in 1960. During the same period, David & Agnes Adams were commended from Canada, in 1946. They took up the work in the area of Pinar del Rio. Many professed to be saved and an assembly was formed, which continues to this day.
David was also in charge of a printing press work, distributing thousands of Gospel tracts every year, not only for use within the country but many thousands were exported to the Spanish-speaking countries in the area. It is reported that 15,000,000 tracts and 200,000 booklets were printed. This work also continued until they were forced to leave Cuba in 1961.
Another couple, contemporary with David & Agnes Adams, were Robert & Euphemia Leighton, commended from Scotland to the Bahamas in 1938, then transferred to Cuba in 1942. They visited most of the towns in the province of Pinar del Rio, sowing the Gospel seed in many places. When forced to leave Cuba in 1961, they transferred to serve the Lord in Puerto Rico.
Edward Doherty, commended from N.I. in 1951, visited many areas where there were no assembly workers, distributing gospel literature and selling Bibles and new Testaments. Conditions at the time were very difficult and, twice in one week, he was attacked at gunpoint by the army, hunting down rebels.
Another couple commended from Canada, who arrived in Cuba in April, 1948, was Vernon & Ada Markle. They spent five years in La Havana and later moved to Holguin in 1953. For several years he had eighteen meetings a week but they were forced to leave on September 30, 1960. In later years, from August 1989, until January 1998, they served the Lord in El Salvador.
Douglas & Kathleen Reid also served the Lord in Pinar del Rio, from 1956 until 1961. They continue to serve the Lord today in Costa Rica.
What I am about to share with you reminds me of the Biblical account of the history of the nation of Israel in captivity, in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. I think you will see what I mean when I tell you of a recent experience we had on our first visit to Cuba.
Assemblies all over the country suffered the adverse loss and in many places the numbers were literally reduced to two or three. In some places the halls lay idle for years, the termites destroying the wooden windows and doors, including the frames around them. The two halls we visited in December, 2012, in the capital, La Havana, must have been beautiful buildings in the forties - very ornate in the architecture of the forties and fifties.
The old cliche, "The Lord buries His workmen but carries on His work," is true of Cuba. In a certain way, just as in was in the days of Ezra, the Lord raised up a king who facilitated the rebuilding of the temple and the walls, as well as the gates and doors. In a most remarkable way, this is happening in Cuba today.
With no help, that I am aware of, from neighbouring countries in either North, Central, or South America, or the U.K., for that matter, perhaps due in part to a lack of information, interest in Cuba has vanished and replaced with the mistaken thought that "this was yesterday's work" and of no concern to us today. This is far from the truth, as we discovered.
Another generation has arisen who, at the time of the revolution in 1959, were infants or not even born yet, have taken on the task of rebuilding and repairing the ruins of many Salas Evangelicas, (Gospel Halls), with no help from assemblies in North America or the U.K. In a truly sacrificial way, it is remarkable what they have accomplished.
We were able to make contact with a dear brother who lived and grew up in the assembly in Pinar del Rio. At the time of the revolution he was not even born, as he is now forty-six years of age, married and has three children. His father was in the assembly in Pinar del Rio, during the years before the revolution. The Lord put it in the heart of Luis to try and help a handful of believers left in an assembly in La Vereda, a district of the city of La Havana. This assembly had survived the revolution but was reduced to three Christians and had never closed its doors, even in the midst of the most difficult times. The last one in that assembly to pass away, from that former generation, was an eighty-seven-year-old brother who died just a few years ago. Brother Luis had an exercise to help this remnant in the capital, La Havana and, for a year-and-a-half, from 1991, travelled two hours in each direction every Lord's Day, from Pinar del Rio in the west of Cuba, to La Havana, to help and build up this work.
In order to make a living, this dear brother drives a nine-passenger van. Many items that we take for granted are very hard to get in Cuba. A monthly ration system is in place for such things as eggs, oil, soap, rice and other staples. However, the crime rate is the lowest of all Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas. Tipping is generally not practiced but permitted in resort areas. Trying to bribe a government official can land you in much trouble. From speaking to the Christians, the streets are very safe, compared to Central and South America.
The people are extremely friendly and, generally speaking, the whole country is very clean. We did not see litter, either in the capital or in towns and countryside as we travelled two hours east of La Havana, where we spent most of the time.
In 1994, in fellowship with the assembly in Pinar del Rio, Luis moved to La Havana with his wife Lizel and family. His exercise was to help build up the two little assemblies. An apartment was built next to the hall, where they now live. The Lord blessed their exercise as the Gospel Hall, located very near to Revolution Square, now has over thirty in fellowship. The other assembly has a similar number and, as is often the case in many Latin American countries, the sisters out-number the brethren.
It was a delightful experience for Jean and I to visit both of these assemblies on Lord's day, December 1st. We arrived the day before, having taken the local bus and a coach into the capital, a four-hour journey. As we stepped off the bus in La Havana, brother Luis met us and took us to his house, which is behind the Sala Evangelica. We talked for hours, as he walked us through the history of the work, speaking of the different ones who brought the Gospel to Cuba, such as brethren like Robert Layton and Thomas Smith and in the forties and fifties, brethren such as Arnold Adams, David Adams, Vern Markle and Doug & Kathleen Reid.
The next morning we gathered at 10.30 a.m. to remember the Lord. One brother after another gave out a hymn, prayed, read different portions from the Word of God, with the doors open to the street. In fact, an army general lives next to the hall and, as we arrived, he was sitting outside his house, with others. Not knowing who he was, I waved and he waved back. When we entered the hall, brother Luis said that he listens to much of what is said and, considering we were the first visitors from North America, since 1994, it was best that, when I get up to speak, I say that I come from Canada and bring greetings, etc. Under no circumstances was I to mention anything about the government.
When the morning meeting ended and the announcements were made, it is their practice to greet one another. No one leaves the circle before each one greets everyone else. No long chats but moving quickly from one person to the next. A very interesting practice.
There is complete liberty today to gather as an established local church that was already there before the revolution. They are free to continue religious practices. However, they are not allowed to have any outside gatherings, or mass distribution of literature. One-on-one handing out tracts is not an issue, so long as it does not look like distribution.
Following the Santa Cena (Breaking of Bread), the Gospel meeting took place. They sing praises to the Lord for about twenty minutes and then the Gospel is preached. A public address system is used to get the message out to the neighbours. After lunch, we drove to another suburb of the city, called La Vivera. The Hall was built in the forties and inaugurated by brother David Adams. Following the revolution, this Hall lay totally abandoned for over nine years, until 1992 when brother Luis began to work the district again. Today a new assembly is there with around thirty in fellowship. This Gospel Hall is located in Old Havana, which is very dilapidated - old mansions of beautiful colonial Spanish design, over one-hundred-years-old and crumbling away. They must have been magnificent in their day, yet, in the midst of this rubble, there is a Gospel Hall with the original sign outside which reads, "Hermanos congregados en el Nombre de nuestro Senor Jesucristo," that is: Christians Gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus.
The breaking of bread meeting in La Vivera began at 4:00 p.m., followed by the Gospel meeting for one hour. This is to allow brother Luis to help at both assemblies. He has been instrumental in rekindling the flame of testimony - the assembly in La Vereda, in the morning and the assembly in La Vivera in the afternoon. In addition to the meetings on Lord's day, they have two meetings during the week - Prayer and Bible Reading or Ministry.
Brother Luis has an ongoing problem with a detached retina and is slowly recovering from a recent operation. Please pray for a full recovery and that the work there will continue to flourish.
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