Jorge’s smile says it all: God’s Word is alive and flourishing in Cuba. After decades of a severe Scripture shortage, a new generation of Cubans and their families are now engaging with Scripture and rediscovering the God of the Bible.
Our financial partners’ generous support of the Million Bible Mission brought more than 1 million new Bibles to the island of Cuba between 2013 and 2019. Jorge, a leader in the Methodist church, finally has Bibles for his congregation – and a reason to hope for the future.
THE CUBAN PEOPLE NEEDED BIBLES
Jorge remembers growing up in Havana during a time when only two out of every five Cubans owned a Bible. “I used my grandmother’s Bible,” he recalls. “So it was like using something borrowed, but of course it was something that meant a lot to me.”
At the time, Bibles like the one belonging to Jorge’s grandmother were nothing short of a miracle. Back in 1959, the new Communist government clamped down on religion in Cuba. Many Christian leaders were sent to work camps. Church-run schools were shut down. Believers were forced underground. By the time restrictions began to loosen 30 years later, the few Bibles remaining in Cuba were either worn out or damaged by the island’s humidity.
ONE MILLION NEW BIBLES FLOODED CUBA
With restrictions eased, church leaders in Cuba were anxious to see the Cuban people reading God’s Word again. But with limited resources, it would be hard to make a dent in the need. The years of Scripture drought could only be reversed through a large influx of Bibles.
And generous friends like you made that dream a reality! On June 2, 2018, the Million Bible Mission concluded with an unforgettable day of celebration and worship in Havana. Jorge attended the celebration with his family. Cubans from 62 denominations queued up to receive a Bible. Jorge, who also picked up a new Bible, called it “a great treasure” that changes lives.
“It’s like a gem that you look after,” he says. “Something to help you live each day.”
As a representative on the Cuban Council of Churches, Jorge wants God’s Word to influence all Cubans – not just the 60 percent or so who profess faith. For that to happen, more Bibles are needed. A second phase of the Million Bible Mission will bring another 1 million Bibles to Cuba by the end of 2022 with the help of partners like you.
JORGE SAYS “THANK YOU!”
In the meantime, Pastor Jorge and his fellow Cubans will continue to smile whenever they think of the generous friends who brought them the treasure of God’s Word. “[I want] to profusely and eternally thank everyone at the Bible Society, wherever they are, for supporting this project,” Jorge says. “My gratitude to them is endless.”