And Hope Never Fails
Ron Apol
I have noticed over the past six months that several articles have been published about Hillside’s lengthy involvement with the Cuban Christian Reformed Church (CCRC). In January 2024, an article about Win Gritter’s life in missions included references to her thirty-year ministry to the CCRC. Her ministry includes teaching in the CCRC seminary, developing Christian education materials, supplying food, medicine, books, etc., and providing opportunities for Hillside’s members to engage in a foreign mission experience. In October and November 2023, Bob DeWeerd and Adriann Hulst wrote about their experiences with the Summer Music Academy in July. Last year, this ministry celebrated 20 years of Hillside’s efforts to supply instruments, train students in playing these instruments, and empower these students to lead CCRCs in praise and worship of God. Last January, I attended the church in Havana and was deeply moved by the singing and playing of the five-member praise band, all graduates of the Music Academy.
Reading these three articles prompted me to write another article on the ESL (English as a Second Language) team’s visit to Cuba in late January 2024. This ministry began in 2011 and provides another opportunity for Hillside members to participate in a foreign mission experience. The year that this ministry began, I was in the process of retiring so I included this ministry in my list of things that I wanted to experience now that I had the time. I find it interesting that twelve years later I have not gotten to the rest of my list.
This year, Win and I were the only two Hillside members who attended the ESL camp. However, Daniel, Felicia, and Zea Bud (former Hillside pastor and family), along with four members from Cragmor CRC, joined us in Miami, and we were able to travel together to Jaguey. What a blessing it was to spend a week with the Buds and to develop new friendships with the other four members from Cragmor. It is amazing how quickly one gets to know people when you share one bathroom and sleep (try to) three feet from the person in the bunk below and three feet from the person in the bunk next to you. The Buds asked that I give their fond regards to all their friends at Hillside. Felicia stated that she is deeply involved with Cragmor’s women’s ministry. Zea is living in Cleveland where she is working with a team to develop a blood test for diagnosing stroke victims. Daniel spent the week with Cuban pastors, evangelists, and church planters introducing them to various ministry tools such as Alpha, Christianity Explored, and the Public Reading of Scripture.
Most notable in my ten visits to Cuba is the continuing collapse of Cuba’s economy and infrastructure. A Cuban friend told me that 2-3 buildings in Havana collapse every day and over the past five years, Cuba has lost 20-30% of its population. He added that if Cube were not an island, they would all be gone. Food and fuel have become scarce and expensive. Currently, Cubans are required to schedule an appointment and then wait in line for fuel. Another example of the desperate conditions occurred on Sunday when we decided to take horses and buggies to a church not far from Jaguey. When our transportation failed to appear, we discovered that the government had mandated all horses and buggies to pick up garbage.
Despite the increasingly difficult and deteriorating conditions in Cuba, God has continued to bless the CCRC. The church in the heart of Havana is thriving and being pastored by a young dynamic seminarian. The Pastor’s home is located a thirty-minute drive from the church, and while it may appear to be a problem due to lack of transportation, God has a plan. The pastor and evangelists started a house church in the parsonage basement, which has grown to the point of needing a larger place to worship. The mission in Cardenas is also experiencing a growth that requires additional worship space. Due to so many Cubans desiring to leave Cuba, property owners have reduced the price of their homes in an attempt to liquidate their assets. After clases ended on Friday, we were able to visit available properties in the cities of Cardenas and Santa Marta. In discussing the situation with Jesus Rivero, President of the CCRC, and other church leaders, they firmly believe that God is using this collapse of the Cuban economy to provide opportunities for church growth and evangelism.
Over the ten years that I have visited Cuba, I always leave with a profound sense of awe and humility after witnessing how the Cuban Christians fully rely on God’s providence and their ability to find so much joy and contentment in their suffering. Since returning home, I have had discussions with members of the Cuba committee of LaGrave CRC, Hillside’s Mission Support Team, and Cragmor CRC to encourage collaborative efforts in raising $15,000-$20,000 to assist the CCRC in expanding the ministries of the churches in Cardenas and Havana. Not all of us are able to go to Cuba, but all of us are able, through our prayers and financial support, to assist them in sharing the good news of the gospel with people who are desperately in need of hope.