Minister urges U.S. church members to keep making mission trips to the Caribbean island.
By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle
MATANZAS, Cuba — This might seem like a bad time for Americans to visit Cuba.
Tony Fernandez thinks it’s the perfect time.
The longtime minister for the Versalles Church of Christ — a growing congregation in this provincial capital in west-central Cuba — welcomed a U.S. mission team this past weekend.
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“A lot of people from the States who used to come to Cuba have decided not to come anymore, and that really discourages Christians here,” lamented Fernandez, who has helped start more than 50 congregations in his native Cuba.
“A lot of brothers and sisters have the idea that if they send money to Cuba, that’s enough,” he added. “But even though there are a lot of needs here in Cuba, the most important thing is the presence of brothers and sisters who care about you.”
The U.S. State Department urges Americans to exercise increased caution in traveling to the Caribbean island nation — just 90 miles south of Florida — because of crime and unreliable electrical power.
Americans cannot visit Cuba for general tourism but can obtain special visas, including travel for religious purposes.
“I really want people in the U.S. to know that Cuba is a safe place,” Fernandez said. “There are scarcities, but it’s safe to come here.”
This story appears in the online edition of The Christian Chronicle.
Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.
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