Photo: CSW UK
In the early hours of October 31st, Alejandro Hernández Cepero, who serves as the pastor of an independent church in Cuba, was taken from his home by state security officers and detained. Another pastor, Luis Eugenio Maldonado Calvo, had been summoned to appear before the authorities that same day, and was subsequently also taken into custody.
Both pastors were instrumental in organizing roundtable meetings in various parts of the island nation for the purpose of discussing religious freedom. These meetings were to include representatives from a wide variety of religious and ethnic groups. The first session was held on October 3rd in Havana and Santiago de Cuba. The second session was scheduled to take place the day the two Christian leaders happened to be unexpectedly detained.
The two pastors were reportedly released later that day, after the time had passed for the scheduled meeting in which they were both supposed to participate. For more reports on the persecution of Christians in Cuba, go to our country report.
While we can praise God that these two pastors have thankfully been released from custody, please pray for their ongoing efforts to encourage religious freedom in this Communist nation. May the Lord continue to equip church congregations throughout the country in their endeavours to faithfully fulfil Christ's Great Commission by proclaiming the Gospel message. Pray that those in Cuba who are opposed to Christianity will eventually come to understand that acknowledging Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour is the only way to receive God's provision of eternal life.
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