Although restrictions on travel to the country of Cuba have lessened in recent years, Cuba still has a communist government. One of the core ideas of communism is that religion is its enemy. Communist leaders are atheists, which means they do not believe in God, and therefore, they do not allow the people to worship God. For decades, under the rule of their communist leader, Fidel Castro, the Cuban church was not allowed to exist legally. If Christians were found meeting and worshipping, they were often arrested, mistreated, and persecuted. However, over the past two to three decades, Christianity has spread throughout Cuba in spite of the threats, demonstrating the power of God and the work of the Spirit in this country. Restrictions are lessening and the church is continuing to grow. But it is not growing in a traditional way. Because so many of the churches were destroyed during the height of communism in Cuba, the church is meeting in “house churches”. As a result, more people are coming to faith in Christ than ever before.
The growth of the church mentioned above and the spread of the Gospel is creating another problem……. a Bible shortage problem. People want Bibles but don’t have access to them.
One ministry is doing something to meet the need of providing new Bibles for the growing church in Cuba. The American Bible Society has begun a ministry focus called, “Cuba: Million Bible Mission”.
For more information, visit:
http://www.americanbible.org/cuba-million-bible-mission
The goal is to provide one million Bibles to Cuba. The cost? $5.40 per Bible. That’s it. $5.40. We suggest challenging EVERY SINGLE STUDENT in your group to provide at least one Bible for a believer in Cuba. Challenge the students to give from their personal resources. And if they don’t have any money, encourage students to look for jobs to perform during the week at home or in their neighborhoods to raise that money.
The 5-4-0 Campaign.
Hold up five fingers on your right hand, followed by 4 fingers on your left hand, closing to make a zero on your left hand. Repeat. Have students join you and repeat.
Allow this to serve as a memory device to remind students to do all they can do to earn $5.40 to provide a Bible for a Cuban believer.
One Bible in the hand of a devoted follower of Christ can change a nation. Imagine 50. Or 100. Or more. The power of partnership can make a difference!
In a short one-week focus, our kids brought in enough money to provide 65 Bibles to Cuba! What can your group do?
#harnessthepowerofcommunity