Cuba witnessing Christianity boom as Bible copies pour into communist-ruled country

Christian Today ^ | 08/15/2015 | Monica Cantilero

[SeekAndFind]

Christianity is booming in communist-ruled Cuba, and one indication of this is the continuing inflow of tens of thousands of Bibles which are distributed to the faithful in the country's more than 1,000 churches.

Last month, some 83,000 copies of the Bible poured into the country courtesy of the International Missions Board. The copies of the Bible are distributed by the Baptist Convention in Cuba.

The American Bible Society, which claims to have "strong relations with Cuban churches, both Catholic and Protestant," also started its "Million Bible Mission" last year. About 60,000 Bibles were imported and distributed to the faithful last year with the permission of the Cuban government.

"With a population of 11 million, a literacy rate of nearly 100 percent and an unprecedented growth in Christianity thanks to social, economic and political reforms, many Cubans are seeking guidance and hope found in God's Word," the American Bible Society said in a statement. "As a result of this unprecedented spiritual and cultural shift, demand for Bibles has outpaced supply. In addition, many Cubans cannot afford to import high-quality Bibles."

Bibles have been off the shelves in Cuban bookstores for more than half a century. They can only be accessed by people at churches.

Churches, in turn, depend on donations of Bibles. Church sources they have been having difficulty in meeting the demand given the increasing number of believers.

The number of traditional churches in Cuba broke the 1,000-mark this year while house churches increased to nearly 8,000.

This year also saw the restoration of relations between Cuba and the United States, brokered by Pope Francis himself, BBC wrote.

The secret negotiations, carried out in the Vatican, ended more than five decades of enmity between the two countries.

Pope Francis is set to visit Cuba on his way to the US in September.

Last March, more than 6,000 Cubans visited the first week of a 21-day exhibition in Havana showing Bible manuscripts and artefacts like the Dead Sea scrolls and Jewish Torah scrolls.

"There are some really exciting artefacts here that tell not only the history of how we got the Bible, but the impact that Spain and Latin America had on the history of the Bible," said Norman Conrad, co-curator of the Christian Heritage Museum.

[Cowboy Bob]

I think in the long run, Obama and the democrats are going to regret re establishing ties with Cuba. Cuba is going to turn to capitalism and once again become the shining star of the Caribbean.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Cuba is going to turn to capitalism and once again become the shining star of the Caribbean.

Isn’t that what all conservatives want to see?

[sauropod]

This is God moving.

Praise God!

[Cowboy Bob]

Actually, I am for the opening of Cuba. Politically, it’s been impossible. I have mixed emotions about Obama doing it at this time. He is doing it because he believes it will help his Marxist brothers...but I suspect that it will unleash forces that Obama and Castro can’t control.

I would much rather have seen the people of Cuba rise up and overthrow the Castro regime, but I think in 10 years we will see the same result.

Luxury hotels will open up, McDonald’s will be everywhere, the nightclubs and casinos will reopen.

It will be interesting to see Cuban-Americans return and get involved with the opportunities there. In the near term, the will be prevented from doing so, but once Castro is dead, and Cruz is in office (as either President or Vice President, things will change)

[Sacajaweau]

Dear Cuba...You will soon be told that the bible means nothing and you have to bake a cake.

[metmom]

This is most certainly true.

I know a local church here that is very involved and responsible for many of those Bibles entering Cuba.

With the co-operation of the government.

[Fred Hayek]

The Holy Spirit is indeed moving in Cuba. The church I attend is involved with some of the house churches. While Christians in Cuba still can not build churches, they are turning their own houses into churches. Walls are getting torn down inside houses to make more room yet there is still not enough room inside the house churches, people are standing outside to hear the Lord’s Word. And there is NOTHING that Castro can do about it.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I find it interesting that fifty years after American Independence we were a capitalist economic powerhouse.

Fifty years after the Cuban Revolution and with a communist economic system they still can’t make “La Revo-loo-sion” work.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: With the co-operation of the government.

Now THAT in itself is incredible.

[Salvation]

I checked their site.

I didn’t see any Catholic Bibles. Even in the translations menu. Hmmm

http://www.churchsource.com/bibles?language=123&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2-bibles&utm_term=American%20Bible%20Society

[Springfield Reformer]

Apparently, a number of ABS versions are approved for “private use and study:”

http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations/

Peace,

SR

[metmom]

So what?

Then get your church on the ball and get the Cubans their own *Catholic* Bibles.

[metmom]

Nobody it obligated to carry Catholic Bibles for anyone.

Can’t your church provide its own through its own resources to its own people?

[metmom]

Nobody is obligated to carry Catholic Bibles for anyone.

Can’t your church provide its own through its own resources to its own people?

[Salvation]

Thanks for the information....Strange however, that I didn’t see these on the ABS website. It appears only one is the complete Bible.

Contemporary English Version - New Testament, First Edition, American Bible Society

Contemporary English Version - Book of Psalms, American Bible Society

Contemporary English Version - Book of Proverbs, American Bible Society

Today’s English Version, Second Edition, American Bible Society

Translation for Early Youth, A Translation of the New Testament for Children, Contemporary English Version, American Bible Society

[Rodamala]

Mark my words... 0bama gave Lurch a conex box full of Qur’ans to pass out.

[Rodamala]

Catholic. Bibles.

Pardon my ignorance... but the Bible is the Bible.

[Larry Lucido]

What do you mean by “Hmmmm”? What nefarious thing are you seeing in this?

[Lazamataz]

Finally. One little bit of good news in an otherwise horrific decade.