Authorities target the church to gain social and political control.
bottom"We meet in my house's garage and in homes around different neighbourhoods, because to this day we do not have a building, not even the possibility of legally registering our church."
– Pastor Luiz*
The Communist Party has governed Cuba for over 60 years, seeking to control the church. New churches are often denied registration, forcing many churches to operate illegally. If caught, illegal churches can receive heavy fines or have their property closed and demolished.
The government controls all media and restricts access from the outside world, making it hard for Christians to have contact or fellowship with other believers.
Authorities view anyone who speaks against the regime as a threat. Church leaders and Christian activists are faced with arrest, closure of their churches or businesses, prison sentences, and harassment. These threats have increased over the last year.
The COVID-19 crisis has been used as an opportunity to further restrict church and community activities, monitor church leaders, make arbitrary arrests, confiscate private property, and impose extortion fees.
– Pray for resilience and wisdom for church leaders as they shepherd their congregations.
– Pray over Cuba’s political leaders and authorities. Pray that God will move through them.
– Pray that God would open doors for local partners to serve persecuted Christians.
