House church leaders in Cuba are expressing concern over new government directives issued in April that are set to come into effect this month. According to a September 15 report from Forum 18, the new legislation, Directive 43 and Resolution 46, requires all currently operating house churches to register with the authorities. In recent years, some leaders have attempted to register their house churches and have faced such restrictive complications that few have managed to complete the process. Under the new directives, if registration is refused, permission can never be granted to meet in that home. Church members can file an application to hold services in a different home within fifteen days of the refusal. The legislation restricts the number of house churches within a particular area and requires detailed reporting of all services and those in attendance. There can also be no signage advertising the church. Foreigners are prohibited from any involvement in house churches in mountainous regions, including simply attending services, without government approval. Authorities retain the right to supervise the services to ensure compliance. Those house churches failing to comply will be closed down and face fines up to $1200 CDN; the equivalent of 50 months' wages in Cuba. Click here for a full report of these new restrictions.
Pray for wisdom for church leaders who attempt to register and to plan for the new restrictions. Pray for the continued ministry of the Gospel in Cuba. Pray for the continued growth of the church there, despite government attempts to stifle it.
For more information on the difficulties facing the Church in Cuba, click here.
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