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Cuban House Churches and Resource Centers
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You and I live in a sea of books. Our homes, our lives, our businesses are consumed with them. Those of us in some form of publishing can easily begin to take books for granted. And, you and I can buy them anywhere! Not so in Cuba! Indeed one Seminary Professor in Cuba told me: “ONE BOOK IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU HAVE SO FEW!” And, he said, “ONE BOOK IS READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS IT IS PASSED FROM PERSON TO PERSON.”
The House church Movement is flourishing in Cuba – and by all accounts is experiencing a revival! It is the house Church movement that is at the center of all we are doing.
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Rev. Moises, Pastor of the Methodist Church in Cienfuegos reports that “people find Christ in every service”. Nearly 3000 House Churches are firmly established and many more are being started.
Last January we went to Cuba believing that Resource Centers might be an answer to providing study materials for the growing number of pastors. Getting printed books into every church was financially impossible – and troublesome from a customs point of view.
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To help meet the tremendous demand for study materials for pastors, we are developing a pilot program of Resource Centers in 28 locations. These centers will be known as “Centros de Documentacion Biblica” and will be located in established churches. These centers will include an electronic Library (Biblioteca Electronica Caribe)contributed by Thomas Nelson Publishers, plus a print library of 10-15 carefully selected titles. We will also attempt to place one lap-top or desk top computer in every resource center. We have been working with several Christian leaders in Cuba, including the Council of Churches, to determine the books to be in the Pilot program. That list has been completed, the books have been purchased and will arrive in Cuba any day!
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Computers are still needed for the Resource Centers.
At least 10 at $600.00 each - $6000.00
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While in Cuba in January we sensed that an exhibit of Christian books in the Havana International Book Fair was highly desired and quite possible. Sandy and I were encouraged to return in February to attend the Book Fair and further investigate this possibility. We are encouraged to believe that this is possible and are taking the necessary steps to make this possible. We hope to exhibit at the next fair which is scheduled for February, 2008.
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