Adventist Church Honors Laypersons in Cuba

Hundreds of Seventh-day Adventist laypersons recently gathered in churches across Cuba to be honored for their commitment to sharing the Gospel, learning new discipling methods, and doubling their efforts in preaching Jesus and His soon coming in their cities and communities. The ten-city celebration events, coined “Festivals of the Laity,” saw church leaders travel from Pinar del Rio in the western part of the island to Baracoa in the eastern part, on January 13–23, 2023.

Many traveled on foot, bicycle, horse carriage, trucks, or any available transport to be part of the festival and gain inspiration, motivation, and skills for spreading the gospel, said Pastor Aldo Pérez, president of the church in Cuba. Pérez was accompanied by union leaders who took the 1,200-kilometer road trip to meet in churches in Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, Villa Perla, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Santiago, Baracoa, and Guantanamo to celebrate thousands of active church members.

“It’s difficult to gather everyone together in one single location because the economic conditions are very limited, and it’s better for a smaller group of leaders to travel instead of mobilizing the membership,” said Anoldis Matos, Personal Ministries director for the Cuba Union. It was especially important to them because the last time festivals of the laity were held on the island was before the pandemic.

Better Equipped to Serve

The tireless work of more than 8,000 laypersons and the team of church pastors has made a difference across the island in the past three years, said Pérez.

“Our lay members are overjoyed to share the gospel and want to be better equipped to serve and fulfill the mission,” said Pérez. That dedication and commitment to soul-winning was evident in 2022, as the church reached 3,082 baptisms—the largest number of baptisms ever reached in a single year in Cuba, he added.

The enthusiasm for spreading the gospel in Cuba leaves anyone awestruck, said Pastor Melchor Ferreyra, Personal Ministries director for the Inter-American Division. “You can see their commitment, even with the shortage crisis they are living with, they are 100 percent committed—so passionate about the mission.”

The festivals, themed “Discipling Until the End,” provided time for laypersons to grasp the new vision of discipleship, which includes five phases: preparing, planting, cultivating, harvesting, and preserving, said Ferreyra.

Multiplying Disciples

“Discipleship is teaching others what you know how to do well,” said Ferreyra. “It’s about connecting the member with God and others, understanding who Jesus is, His teachings, equipping and helping others to also walk with God, and fulfill the mission.”

Pastor Ferreyra challenged laypersons across every city to more than double the number of new believers for this year. “If each one of you teaches one more to disciple others, then we are talking about not just adding but multiplying more members into the church,” he said. “We have a responsibility to inside and outside the church, and we must move forward in transforming Cuba with the message of hope we have in Jesus.”

Standing still with a timid smile was Concepcion Morales, age 67, a layperson from Guantanamo. Morales was crowned Cuba’s champion layperson for leading 50 new believers to baptism in 2022. She was awarded a top prize pin and received a centennial medal from the Inter-American Division. 

“God has given me the gift of sharing the Word of God for more than 24 years,” said Morales. She’s been able to disciple others with Christ’s method of reaching others, she added. “That method never fails.” She said the new members are placed in small groups for six months, where she continues to teach them before they are ready to disciple others. “I’ve not only baptized 50, but that number is going to keep multiplying.”

As the champion layperson, Morales received several prizes, including an electric bicycle for her to continue her ministry.

Leaving It All for the Mission

Yoan Rafael Paz, 33, was another one of the hundreds of laypersons who were recognized during the festivals. He is from the East Cuba Conference and has been active since he joined the Adventist Church in 2017. Before he converted, he owned his own business and had a government job, but he decided to leave it all.

“I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior, took on the challenge to share and serve Him with passion from that day that I got baptized, and I became a witness of the truth,” said Paz. Soon afterward, he created and distributed Bible study pamphlets, began a ministry of kindness with his church, sharing hope and food with orphans and more needy persons in the community, and created a ministry online for young people, offering Bible study courses. The initiative has seen 24 believers get baptized.

“I thank God for leading me to the Adventist Church and for giving me the strength and resources to reach others as God has directed me in the greatest, most successful enterprise in the world, where God is the owner and there is no chance of failure,” Paz said.

Paz was recognized for his commitment to discipling others and leading 15 persons to baptism in 2022. He and his family attend the Bocas Adventist Church in the East Cuba Conference.

Among the more than 200 laypersons specially recognized in Cuba, Victor Vargas, a district pastor, was recognized for discipling 120 new members into the Adventist Church in Tunas, in the East Cuba Conference.

“We didn’t want to pass up this opportunity here to thank Pastor Vargas and honor him for his dedication and drive in bringing the most souls to the feet of Jesus in 2022,” said Pérez.

The work of the laypersons is so important in our church today, said Ferreyra. “There’s an amazing difference I noticed, and that is how they minister and do so much with less. They are so committed to the missionary program and have a sense of responsibility to grow the church, even when there aren’t enough pastors for every congregation. There’s an incredible dedication towards discipleship growing in Cuba, and it’s [apparent] to see how the Lord continues to bless them in many ways.”

There are nearly 40,000 Seventh-day Adventists worshiping in 508 churches and congregations in Cuba. The church operates six conferences and missions, as well as a theological seminary affiliated with the Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary.

Melchor Ferreyra contributed to this report.

The original version of this story was posted by the Inter-American Division website.