Sunday, May 11
Thank you for praying for Cuba during these 50 days. But this is just the beginning of Cuban Baptists' plan to reach their country for Christ. Prayer is essential to that plan, and Cuban Baptists value your continued prayers. Pray the dreams of Cuban pastors and the visions of thousands of lay ministers will become a reality. Pray Cuba will indeed be won to Christ.
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May these 50 Days of Prayer be just the beginning of your prayer journey!
Day Forty-nine
Saturday, May 10
Rapid church growth requires strong leadership development. As Cuban Baptists seek to plant a church within walking distance of every person in Cuba, pray the Lord of the harvest will send more laborers into the harvest. Ask God specifically to call out more workers to reach children and youth, the future leaders of Cuban churches.
Rapid church growth requires strong leadership development. As Cuban Baptists seek to plant a church within walking distance of every person in Cuba, pray the Lord of the harvest will send more laborers into the harvest. Ask God specifically to call out more workers to reach children and youth, the future leaders of Cuban churches.
Day Forty-eight
Friday, May 9
Pray for Cuban Baptist children's leader Xiomar Acosta Blanco (see week 7 story) and others who are training Cuban children for future church leadership roles. Several children's house churches meet in Xiomar's town tonight. Pray that the children in these and other house churches will accept Christ early and become strong church leaders.
Pray for Cuban Baptist children's leader Xiomar Acosta Blanco (see week 7 story) and others who are training Cuban children for future church leadership roles. Several children's house churches meet in Xiomar's town tonight. Pray that the children in these and other house churches will accept Christ early and become strong church leaders.
Day Forty-seven
Thursday, May 8
Churches need many types of leaders such as pastoral, worship, children's, prayer and outreach. Pray God will call out leaders to fill these roles in churches across Cuba. Pray He will provide appropriate training for each need.
Churches need many types of leaders such as pastoral, worship, children's, prayer and outreach. Pray God will call out leaders to fill these roles in churches across Cuba. Pray He will provide appropriate training for each need.
Day Forty-six
Wednesday, May 7
Praise God for the more than 30 Lay Missionary Training Centers scattered across Cuba. These centers offer practical training to about 2,000 Cuban Baptist lay leaders. Pray for these leaders and their ministries.
Praise God for the more than 30 Lay Missionary Training Centers scattered across Cuba. These centers offer practical training to about 2,000 Cuban Baptist lay leaders. Pray for these leaders and their ministries.
Day Forty-five
Tuesday, May 6
Cuban Baptists have more than 5,000 churches, missions and outreach centers in Cuba but only 296 ordained pastors. Thousands of faithful lay ministers provide vital leadership to many of these congregations. Pray God will continue to call out lay leaders. Pray that ordained church leaders will empower them to carry out their ministries.
Cuban Baptists have more than 5,000 churches, missions and outreach centers in Cuba but only 296 ordained pastors. Thousands of faithful lay ministers provide vital leadership to many of these congregations. Pray God will continue to call out lay leaders. Pray that ordained church leaders will empower them to carry out their ministries.
Day Forty-four
Monday, May 5
On the first Monday of the month, Cuban Baptists observe a day of prayer and fasting for God to bless their nation. Join them in this time of concentrated prayer, asking God to help Cuban Baptists find creative ways to train believers for church leadership. Pray for Cuban Baptists José Enrique Pérez and Daniel González Garcia (see week 7 story) and other leaders involved in training Cuban believers for ministry.
On the first Monday of the month, Cuban Baptists observe a day of prayer and fasting for God to bless their nation. Join them in this time of concentrated prayer, asking God to help Cuban Baptists find creative ways to train believers for church leadership. Pray for Cuban Baptists José Enrique Pérez and Daniel González Garcia (see week 7 story) and other leaders involved in training Cuban believers for ministry.
Week Seven
Looking toward the future
"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams" (Acts 2:17, NIV).
During these past 42 days, you've been praying weekly about Cuban Baptists' dreams to reach a million Cubans for Christ and to start 100,000 new churches by the end of 2010. Looking toward those goals, Cuban Baptists are already experiencing one of the most rapid rates of church growth in the world.
As a result of that growth, one of the major issues facing Cuban Baptists is a vast need for more church leaders. "For many years our work has been larger than the leadership," says Pastor José Enrique Pérez, a Cuban Baptist missions leader. "We've been trying to repair the situation."
One way Cuban Baptists are trying to do that is by moving theological education closer to the local churches to equip lay people to assume major church leadership roles. At his church José Enrique coordinates a training center that makes it possible for students to receive theological education without having to leave their ministry to attend seminary. "Every church should be a center of theological training in order to prepare the thousands of leaders that we will need," he says.
Besides this emphasis, some Cuban Baptist leaders are trying to get churches to enlarge their staff to include missions ministers able to motivate the church to strategically accomplish its mission. Cuban Baptist seminary professor and pastor Daniel González Garcia leads a missions-study track at his seminary that prepares students for such a role. "We understand that nothing will happen in Cuba-speaking spiritually-without the church fulfilling its mission," Daniel says.
Cuban Baptists are also training children to become future church leaders. One church not only reaches out to children through traditional church programs but also has started nearly a dozen house churches for children. In these house churches, children learn how to lead worship and study the Bible. Their teachers share the Gospel with the children but also try to reach their parents and extended family.
"We establish a relationship with the parents and don't let it go," says Cuban Baptist children's leader Xiomar Acosta Blanco. "We follow them until they come to know God."
A focus on the family is central to the development of the church in Cuba, says Daniel. "The best training for us as pastors is our family and our extended family," he says. "The success of a pastor here will not be to deliver a great sermon to a large gathering, but rather to communicate sincerely in one small group truths that can be told in another and another."
As Cuban Baptists look toward the future, "We're not thinking as much about a city with large churches but communities saturated with (house) churches," Daniel says. "The home is where the real test of spiritual disciplines lies-of patience, self-control, forgiveness. The home is basic and simple."
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Sunday, May 4 - Day Forty-Three
The rapid rate of church growth in Cuba has created a huge need for practical leadership in the churches. Pray God will raise up enough leaders to disciple the thousands of Cubans who are being won to Christ.
"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams" (Acts 2:17, NIV).
During these past 42 days, you've been praying weekly about Cuban Baptists' dreams to reach a million Cubans for Christ and to start 100,000 new churches by the end of 2010. Looking toward those goals, Cuban Baptists are already experiencing one of the most rapid rates of church growth in the world.
As a result of that growth, one of the major issues facing Cuban Baptists is a vast need for more church leaders. "For many years our work has been larger than the leadership," says Pastor José Enrique Pérez, a Cuban Baptist missions leader. "We've been trying to repair the situation."
One way Cuban Baptists are trying to do that is by moving theological education closer to the local churches to equip lay people to assume major church leadership roles. At his church José Enrique coordinates a training center that makes it possible for students to receive theological education without having to leave their ministry to attend seminary. "Every church should be a center of theological training in order to prepare the thousands of leaders that we will need," he says.
Besides this emphasis, some Cuban Baptist leaders are trying to get churches to enlarge their staff to include missions ministers able to motivate the church to strategically accomplish its mission. Cuban Baptist seminary professor and pastor Daniel González Garcia leads a missions-study track at his seminary that prepares students for such a role. "We understand that nothing will happen in Cuba-speaking spiritually-without the church fulfilling its mission," Daniel says.
Cuban Baptists are also training children to become future church leaders. One church not only reaches out to children through traditional church programs but also has started nearly a dozen house churches for children. In these house churches, children learn how to lead worship and study the Bible. Their teachers share the Gospel with the children but also try to reach their parents and extended family.
"We establish a relationship with the parents and don't let it go," says Cuban Baptist children's leader Xiomar Acosta Blanco. "We follow them until they come to know God."
A focus on the family is central to the development of the church in Cuba, says Daniel. "The best training for us as pastors is our family and our extended family," he says. "The success of a pastor here will not be to deliver a great sermon to a large gathering, but rather to communicate sincerely in one small group truths that can be told in another and another."
As Cuban Baptists look toward the future, "We're not thinking as much about a city with large churches but communities saturated with (house) churches," Daniel says. "The home is where the real test of spiritual disciplines lies-of patience, self-control, forgiveness. The home is basic and simple."
___________________
Sunday, May 4 - Day Forty-Three
The rapid rate of church growth in Cuba has created a huge need for practical leadership in the churches. Pray God will raise up enough leaders to disciple the thousands of Cubans who are being won to Christ.
Day Forty-two
Saturday, May 3
Pray for the three Baptist seminaries in Cuba and their nine extension centers. Ask God to anoint the teaching of the faculty members. Pray that those they train will help the church grow even more in Cuba. Pray these students will be part of starting a church within walking distance of every person in Cuba during the next three years.
Pray for the three Baptist seminaries in Cuba and their nine extension centers. Ask God to anoint the teaching of the faculty members. Pray that those they train will help the church grow even more in Cuba. Pray these students will be part of starting a church within walking distance of every person in Cuba during the next three years.
Day Forty-one
Friday, May 2
Pray for leaders of the Baptist conventions in Cuba. Each convention faces its own unique challenges because of the exponential growth of Cuban Baptist churches during the past 15 years. Ask God to give Cuban Baptist leaders wisdom to make decisions that will allow the continued movement of God across Cuba. Pray Cuban Baptists will reach a million Cubans with the Gospel by the end of 2010.
Pray for leaders of the Baptist conventions in Cuba. Each convention faces its own unique challenges because of the exponential growth of Cuban Baptist churches during the past 15 years. Ask God to give Cuban Baptist leaders wisdom to make decisions that will allow the continued movement of God across Cuba. Pray Cuban Baptists will reach a million Cubans with the Gospel by the end of 2010.
Day Forty
Thursday, May 1
Cubans are known around the world as superb athletes. Their passion for athletics is a natural bridge for sharing the Gospel. Pray for the many sports evangelism ministries in Cuba. Ask God to give creativity and boldness to believers using sports to win young Cubans to Christ. Pray that many Cubans will find the Lord through sports evangelism.
Cubans are known around the world as superb athletes. Their passion for athletics is a natural bridge for sharing the Gospel. Pray for the many sports evangelism ministries in Cuba. Ask God to give creativity and boldness to believers using sports to win young Cubans to Christ. Pray that many Cubans will find the Lord through sports evangelism.
Day Thirty-nine
Wednesday, April 30
Ask God to bless the New Dawn Ministry, a Cuban Baptist outreach to disabled people in Cuba. Believers involved in this ministry share Christ with the blind, the Deaf and others who are physically or emotionally handicapped. These believers hope not only to win the disabled to Christ but also to empower them to take the Gospel to others who share their unique challenges. Pray, too, for the group's outreach to families of disabled Cubans.
Ask God to bless the New Dawn Ministry, a Cuban Baptist outreach to disabled people in Cuba. Believers involved in this ministry share Christ with the blind, the Deaf and others who are physically or emotionally handicapped. These believers hope not only to win the disabled to Christ but also to empower them to take the Gospel to others who share their unique challenges. Pray, too, for the group's outreach to families of disabled Cubans.
Day Thirty-eight
Tuesday, April 29
In the one-car garage of an apartment in Havana tonight, Cuban Baptist Abel Hernández (see week 6 story) will lead a group of street people to pray that God will help them break free from drugs, prostitution and delinquency. They will hear Christians share testimonies of how the Holy Spirit is transforming their lives. Together they will learn songs about Jesus and hear a Bible story about life in Christ. Ask God to make His message very clear.
In the one-car garage of an apartment in Havana tonight, Cuban Baptist Abel Hernández (see week 6 story) will lead a group of street people to pray that God will help them break free from drugs, prostitution and delinquency. They will hear Christians share testimonies of how the Holy Spirit is transforming their lives. Together they will learn songs about Jesus and hear a Bible story about life in Christ. Ask God to make His message very clear.
Day Thirty-seven
Monday, April 28
More than half of Cuba's population practices Santería, a mixture of African traditional religions and the worship of saints. Practitioners try to manipulate their circumstances by appeasing the many different spirits they believe control their daily lives. Pray for followers of Santería, asking God to open their eyes to their need for a personal relationship with Christ. Pray they will find true rest and freedom through the liberating power of the Holy Spirit.
More than half of Cuba's population practices Santería, a mixture of African traditional religions and the worship of saints. Practitioners try to manipulate their circumstances by appeasing the many different spirits they believe control their daily lives. Pray for followers of Santería, asking God to open their eyes to their need for a personal relationship with Christ. Pray they will find true rest and freedom through the liberating power of the Holy Spirit.
Week Six
Light for the darkness
"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life'" (John 8:12, NASB).
Abel Hernández will never forget the day he came home to find a crowd in the street near his home in Havana, Cuba. Soon he learned what all the commotion was about. Pablito, a young man in the neighborhood, had committed suicide after struggling with a drug addiction.
God used that tragedy to call Abel to minister to Cuban youth hooked on drugs and alcohol. Now a pastor, Abel has a vision to reach these young people and others struggling to survive on the streets.
"When we began acting on the vision, we understood that a young person who comes from the streets needs to return to the streets. He comes hurt and returns transformed to a new life by the Holy Spirit," Abel says.
Several nights a week Abel opens a small garage and invites people from the streets to come in for worship. Concerned about taking the Gospel to the streets, Christian young people from local churches also join the group. Together the group forms the link joining the church with the streets, Abel says.
The garage soon becomes standing room only as more young people gather to worship before going out to witness to street people. Sharing Abel's vision, these young people learn to love the outcasts of their city. "Once they have the vision, they go out on the street and also begin winning others to Christ-others who are suffering or have no purpose in life. That's how we do it," Abel explains.
After worship, Abel and his group hit the streets around midnight and stay out until about 4 a.m., sharing Christ with street people in downtown Havana and in city parks.
"We say here that the cockroaches and rats come out at night. Since that's the kind of person we're looking for, we only go out at the time they're emerging," Abel says.
As they go out to shine Christ's light into the darkness, these young believers depend upon prayer. "We're praying because we know there are people suffering in all our cities-drug addicts and prostitutes. So we're preparing ourselves to go out," says Abel.
Abel knows firsthand why that preparation is critical. Earlier in his life, "I, too, was involved in drugs and delinquency," he says. "The Lord took me out of that and called me to reach others. God is looking for others who want to honor Him."
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Sunday, April 27 - Day 36
Pray for Cuban Baptist Abel Hernández (see week 6 story) and Cuban believers who share Christ with people in the streets of Havana. Pray lost people will see there is something different about these believers. Ask the Holy Spirit to draw these street people to Christ. Ask the Lord to transform their lives and use them to bring many others to the Savior.
"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life'" (John 8:12, NASB).
Abel Hernández will never forget the day he came home to find a crowd in the street near his home in Havana, Cuba. Soon he learned what all the commotion was about. Pablito, a young man in the neighborhood, had committed suicide after struggling with a drug addiction.
God used that tragedy to call Abel to minister to Cuban youth hooked on drugs and alcohol. Now a pastor, Abel has a vision to reach these young people and others struggling to survive on the streets.
"When we began acting on the vision, we understood that a young person who comes from the streets needs to return to the streets. He comes hurt and returns transformed to a new life by the Holy Spirit," Abel says.
Several nights a week Abel opens a small garage and invites people from the streets to come in for worship. Concerned about taking the Gospel to the streets, Christian young people from local churches also join the group. Together the group forms the link joining the church with the streets, Abel says.
The garage soon becomes standing room only as more young people gather to worship before going out to witness to street people. Sharing Abel's vision, these young people learn to love the outcasts of their city. "Once they have the vision, they go out on the street and also begin winning others to Christ-others who are suffering or have no purpose in life. That's how we do it," Abel explains.
After worship, Abel and his group hit the streets around midnight and stay out until about 4 a.m., sharing Christ with street people in downtown Havana and in city parks.
"We say here that the cockroaches and rats come out at night. Since that's the kind of person we're looking for, we only go out at the time they're emerging," Abel says.
As they go out to shine Christ's light into the darkness, these young believers depend upon prayer. "We're praying because we know there are people suffering in all our cities-drug addicts and prostitutes. So we're preparing ourselves to go out," says Abel.
Abel knows firsthand why that preparation is critical. Earlier in his life, "I, too, was involved in drugs and delinquency," he says. "The Lord took me out of that and called me to reach others. God is looking for others who want to honor Him."
________________
Sunday, April 27 - Day 36
Pray for Cuban Baptist Abel Hernández (see week 6 story) and Cuban believers who share Christ with people in the streets of Havana. Pray lost people will see there is something different about these believers. Ask the Holy Spirit to draw these street people to Christ. Ask the Lord to transform their lives and use them to bring many others to the Savior.
Day Thirty-five
Saturday, April 26
Today, Cuban believers Osvier Acosta Ferrero, Ricardo Tadeo Soria Perez, Rosaida Camacho and Claribel Morales (see week 5 story) will pray with others from their church before they all go out as teams to share the Gospel in rural Cuba. Ask the Lord to prepare the hearts of the lost people these teams will visit. Pray that Cubans who need the Savior will be willing to commit their lives to Him.
Today, Cuban believers Osvier Acosta Ferrero, Ricardo Tadeo Soria Perez, Rosaida Camacho and Claribel Morales (see week 5 story) will pray with others from their church before they all go out as teams to share the Gospel in rural Cuba. Ask the Lord to prepare the hearts of the lost people these teams will visit. Pray that Cubans who need the Savior will be willing to commit their lives to Him.
Day Thirty-four
Friday, April 25
Pray for stamina, good health and safety for Cuban believers who go to remote areas of Cuba to spread the Gospel. Pray for their protection as they travel at night over unlit trails and roads. Continue to pray that a million Cubans across the island nation will accept Christ as their Savior by the end of 2010.
Pray for stamina, good health and safety for Cuban believers who go to remote areas of Cuba to spread the Gospel. Pray for their protection as they travel at night over unlit trails and roads. Continue to pray that a million Cubans across the island nation will accept Christ as their Savior by the end of 2010.
Day Thirty-three
Thursday, April 24
Christians in Cuba make many sacrifices to share Christ and to disciple believers. One sacrifice is leaving the comforts of home and going where the people are. Few church leaders have a vehicle, so most walk, take public transportation-where available-or ride bikes, horses or donkeys. Ask God to help Cuban believers reach the places they serve.
Christians in Cuba make many sacrifices to share Christ and to disciple believers. One sacrifice is leaving the comforts of home and going where the people are. Few church leaders have a vehicle, so most walk, take public transportation-where available-or ride bikes, horses or donkeys. Ask God to help Cuban believers reach the places they serve.
Day Thirty-two
Wednesday, April 23
Pray that many new churches will be started in rural Cuba. Ask God to call out and provide training for believers to lead these congregations. Pray that Cuban Baptists will realize their goal of starting 100,000 new churches-a church within walking distance of every person in Cuba-during the next three years.
Pray that many new churches will be started in rural Cuba. Ask God to call out and provide training for believers to lead these congregations. Pray that Cuban Baptists will realize their goal of starting 100,000 new churches-a church within walking distance of every person in Cuba-during the next three years.
Day Thirty-one
Tuesday, April 22
Praise God for the changes Cuban believers Rosaida Camacho and Claribel Morales (see week 5 story) have seen in one rural neighborhood where they prayerwalk and witness. Pray that God will allow these women to prayerwalk and share the Gospel in many other parts of Cuba's countryside. Ask Him to provide transportation to places too far to walk.
Praise God for the changes Cuban believers Rosaida Camacho and Claribel Morales (see week 5 story) have seen in one rural neighborhood where they prayerwalk and witness. Pray that God will allow these women to prayerwalk and share the Gospel in many other parts of Cuba's countryside. Ask Him to provide transportation to places too far to walk.
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