Blockades and Blackouts: The Cuban Crisis

Cuba is facing a crisis.

For the last three months, Cuba has been experiencing power blackouts, food shortages and lack of access to medical supplies. The island’s already strained and ageing electrical infrastructure was heavily dependent on Venezuelan oil, but following American intervention in that country and a blockade on fuel tankers, the flow of oil has stopped.

This blockade is impacting the whole nation. In March it was recorded that more than 10 million people in Cuba had lost power to their homes and businesses after the country's national electrical grid collapsed. In recent weeks, a Russian tanker was allowed to deliver oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons – but this ship carried barely more than a week’s worth of fuel, and the situation remains grave.

Despite these mounting challenges, The Methodist Church in Cuba (Iglesia Metodista En Cuba) continues to grow and flourish, bringing the light and hope of Jesus to those around them. At the recent Santiago de Cuba District Conference, over 3,000 people gathered, proclaiming that even in the midst of difficult times, Cuba is for Christ. 

The church is not only gathering together to worship, give thanks and pray for their nation but they are also serving their people, in hospitals, in nursing homes, in the parks. Cuban Methodists are showing the love of Christ not just in words, but in actions, assisting with food, medicines and resources, serving all those that God allows them to reach.

The wider world church has joined with them in solidarity. International church leaders, including from the World Methodist Council, visited Havana on Palm Sunday. Time was spent meeting with churches, ecumenical partners, and community leaders; visiting local congregations and health services; witnessing first-hand the difficult realities faced by Cuban communities.

Please join us in praying for the Methodist Church in Cuba, we pray that a way forward will be found, thanking God for their resilience and steadfastness in Christ.

The full prayer an accompanying images are available to download here:

Thank you for your continued prayer and support for our world church family, it makes a real difference!