Biblical teaching pastors in Cuba

Biblical teaching for pastors in Cuba

Context 
The living conditions in Cuba are tough and difficult, but the Church in Cuba is growing and longing for education. Despite poverty, ruined churches, and power outages, praise continues in Cuba! Watch the video below at the bottom to see it for yourself! During a training session in Santiago de Cuba, NET has spoken to a pastor of the church in Antiga and Barbuda, an island state in the Caribbean Sea. He heard ‘by chance’ about the conference and was so grateful for the lessons he could attend!

‘This training has blessed my life. I was discouraged, but this has brought my ministry back to God. I thank Him for sending you with this refreshing Biblical message. It has pointed us in the right direction in a time and context in which we are quickly influenced by forms and methods that are not based on the Bible. Thank you for your practical teaching on the Word. God bless your ministry.’ – Pastor from Antiga and Barbuda island 

Mission
This pastor’s response shows that the courses offered by NET are highly appreciated: he has been confirmed in his calling as a pastor, full of gratitude to God, and has been encouraged by the Biblical teaching that NET allows to teach there. The conference has been a blessing to this pastor who has been called, but did receive little education and training. This is how NET Foundation is working on her mission – to equip lay pastors and evangelists worldwide. So that they will be able to receive Biblical and theological knowledge, will be able to learn practical skills and will be able to do their work with ‘head, heart and hands’ by an inner conviction.

Physical and online education
NET runs in Cuba 12 Study Centers with a small number of staff people. They are in charge to organize the small-scale conferences with about 25 attendees. During those conferences lay pastors receive biblical based education. Through the NET Study Centers, also online training is being facilitated. In addition, NET also helps theological institutions in Cuba setting up a curriculum for flexible distance learning. For many low-educated pastors, this is a great opportunity! These Bible schools are allowed to use the NET Curriculum and its online learning platform, which is of course beneficial for both parties involved.

Partnerships
NET Foundation strongly believes in partnerships with other christian biblical institutes to further multiply its efforts. Therefore, NET is also collaborating in Cuba with Apoyo, a Cuban organization dedicated to train pastors and church leaders. NET also works together with Pastor Lemuel, who provides with others physical conferences at five different locations. For online education NET is partnering in Cuba with three Bible schools. They receive guidance, training and support in implementing online theological education and developing online courses

‘The NET courses are very useful because of the easy, immediately applicable examples, just as Jesus Himself did through the parables.’ – participant conference led by pastor Lemuel, Cuba

Budget
Running the NET Study Centers including organizing various conferences, and facilitating 3 partners schools with online theological training, the total budget for a 3-years period of 2024-2026 is an amount of USD 218,400, which means USD 72,400 per year. NET Foundation is raising 50% of this budget through its own supporter base; they have asked MissionInvest USA to raise the remaining 50%, which means USD 36,400 per year.

MissionInvest USA is excited about this project in Cuba since it will contribute substantially to the growth of the Church in Cuba that has suffered for decades. MissionInvest USA is looking for grants for in total USD 109,200 to finance this great project for the whole project period 2024-2026.

Impact
Through the NET Study Centers, 300 pastors are being trained in a three-year program. Each of them serves a small congregation of 45 people on average. Indirectly, these 300 pastors impact 13,500 congregation members. Through the partner schools, 150 students are trained over a 3-year period; they impact an average of 30 people in their congregation, which means in total 4,500 people.

In summary, 450 pastors are trained in Cuba over a 3-year period and together they impact 18,000 members in their small congregations across the country. Your donation will certainly have lasting impact to better serve the Lords Kingdom in Cuba!