By Xiomara Reboyras

The Fraternity of Baptist Churches of Cuba (FIBAC), an organization that CBF Florida has had a missional covenant with since 2016, held their annual assembly from February 23 to 25 in Matanzas, Cuba. Through these years, Ruben Ortiz, CBF Latino Field Coordinator, has worked closely with FIBAC, facilitating their relationship with CBF and CBF Florida in the region that includes and serves Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. 

Tammy Snyder, CBF Florida Coordinator, and Xiomara Reboyras, CBF Associate Coordinator, visited Cuba for the assembly. The first event was a dinner in a restaurant in Matanzas, where 13 regional and denominational leaders of FIBAC shared the challenges and dreams they have for their respective areas of work.

The Assembly began on Friday, February 23, and was held at the Theological Seminary of Matanzas, Cuba.  Pastors and three delegates from the 54 churches of FIBAC attended the gathering. Buses with dozens of passengers from the different provinces of Cuba started to arrive since noon.  Some of these buses had broken down on the way to Matanzas, and the journey for many became a two day “adventure”.  When they arrived at the Seminary and as they got out of the buses with their luggage, they were welcomed to the happy sound of the guitar and the singing of all those already present who crowded to sing, “Welcome my friend, welcome my brother, now I can hug you, you are welcome in this place.”

With the characteristic mood and joy of the family gathering after a long time, the opening service began with praises and thanksgivings. The assembly was an event full of surprises and unexpected possibilities. One of these surprises was sharing in the assembly with colleagues from the Baptist World Alliance and Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Saturday was a busy day of many decisions for the Assembly.  Tammy Snyder, preached in the afternoon with Xiomara’s translation. In her message, she encouraged FIBAC’s family to keep their eyes and hope fixed on God, who is also God of the waves that threaten our boat and our lives and because he is God of all, is also the only one who can rescue us from the storm.

After the election of a new board of directors, the closing worship and commissioning of the new board was celebrated.  The evening sermon was given by Marsha Scipio of BWA, who was assisted in translating it by Xiomara.  In a direct and emphatic message, Marsha encouraged the brothers and sisters of the Cuban church not to lose hope because “for Christians, hope is not just waiting for something good to happen. True hope is not the resurrection isolated from the cross; it is the resurrection made necessary and possible by the cross.”

To close the annual meeting, six women celebrated and served communion to the assembly. The closing service was very moving.  Although the brothers and sisters said goodbye with smiles on their lips, the sadness and concern for the realities of Cuban people was evident.  Before bidding farewell to the Assembly, each of the 54 FIBAC pastors and some denominational leaders received a financial offering from CBF Florida and CBF Global Missions.  In addition to this gift, Tammy and Xiomara were able to distribute medicine to each of the FIBAC churches.

The amount of 12 suitcases of medicines were provided and transported to Cuba by Harold Phillips; former Regional Coordinator of CBF Oklahoma and his team of visitors of the “Let’s Cuba” Initiative; who were visiting Cuba for the first time; trip facilitated and coordinated by Ruben Ortiz. 

Before saying goodbye to Matanzas and FIBAC; Tammy and Xiomara invited the new board to a coffee to celebrate their appointments, get to know them better and discuss the immediate future of the missional covenant between the two organizations.

Among the many reasons for celebration during the assembly, was the welcoming of the new Remberto Ortiz church.  This church was born as part of the ministry of Camp Betania in Santa Clara. Xiomara Reboyras, Ruben Ortiz and Asdrubal Forte visited the camp and the new church a few days after the assembly, to learn about the self-sustainable agricultural project that this congregation is working so hard on.

The surprises and possibilities for collaboration did not end with the Assembly.  Once they returned to Havana, Xiomara was invited to participate in a historic meeting at the FIBAC offices at Camp Molino Verde. The presidents and directors of the four Cuban Baptist bodies; members of the Baptist World Alliance; FIBAC; Bautistas Libres de Cuba; La Convención Bautista de Cuba Oriental and La Convención Bautista de Cuba Occidental met for the first time with Tomas Mackey and Marsha Scipio. The objective of this historic dialogue was to look and explore together to the future in favor of the Baptist family in Cuba. As a symbol of this meeting, the denominational leaders planted a tree, in the hope of seeing their efforts grow and bear fruit.

To conclude a busy and fruitful visit to Cuba, the FIBAC leaders, the leaders of the Baptist World Alliance and Xiomara of CBF Florida, held a protocol dialogue in a private meeting at the Office of Religious Affairs of the Cuban government. During the dialogue, they talked about the Baptist work in Cuba and the possibilities of strengthening it.

CBF family, let us pray for our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean Island, let us pray that the God who calls and sustains us may also give us the strength and will to be an instrument of love and blessing for a country that is facing one of the most difficult moments in its history.