We're bringing the churches of Cuba and
Alberta a bit closer together; facilitating
stronger ties between our two christian
comunities, communicating our faith openly
with each other and our neighborhoods,
sharing our ministry ideas, and forging
ahead by opening doors and bridging
cultures.
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Our Purpose |
The Committee's mission is to nurture a
partnership between la Iglesia Cristiana Reformada
en Cuba and Classis Alberta North of the Christian
Reformed Church in North America.
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Opening doors, Bridging cultures |
From The Report to Classis,
Spring 2008: |
| Many people are to be thanked for the continued
work of the committee. First to be mentioned are
those who believe that the Churches of Cuba need to
be kept abreast of the happenings within the
Christian Reformed Church of North America, not only
for the future of Cuba but for the brothers and
sisters there right now; those who long to partici
pate in the bigger affairs of missions. Second to be
mentioned are those who see the Cuban church as the
model on which to structure other missions in Latin
America; as an avenue through which we can recog
nize our southern brothers and sisters as true
brothers and sisters in Christ, not just as mission
recipients. |
| This past year, the
committee was able to send a full shipping container
of goods to Cuba. These goods, including Sunday
school supplies, office supplies, paper, medical
equipment, men’s, ladies’, and children’s clothes
and shoes as well as thirty-eight bicycles and
thirty-nine sewing machines, complete with replace
ment parts. (942 cu. ft., 14,000 lb.) All this was
donated by our community in the space of less than
ten weeks. Wisely, our Cuban brothers recommended
that these goods be distributed through several
agencies. By inviting the national ecumenical
organization of churches in Cuba and specific
ministries in government this very large pool of
goods was quickly distributed. The success of this
effort once it got moving was extremely encouraging.
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| The coming year brings both old and new challenges.
Initiatives will need reinvigorating. Repeating the
success of the container project is also on the
agenda. Moreover, but not mentioned yet, are our
efforts to foster person to person contact by
hosting pastor delegates from Cuba in our community. |
| Finally, this past year we have been made privy
to the overall mission plan of the Christian
Reformed Church in Cuba. Through Christian Reformed
World Missions and with the blessing of our brothers
and sisters in Cuba we can now participate in their
efforts with full knowledge of intent. The operative
word, here, is ‘disclosure’. That word is wonderful
sign for the future. |
