Tuesday July 5, 2011 'Spiritual Spring

The church we are staying at for youth camp was closed for 19 years due to communism. An elderly couple tried to keep the church open. The old woman came by to water the sole plant that was left in the churchyard. The government almost threw her husband in jail for trying to open the church on Sunday. But, they prayed and prayed and prayed and hoped that one day, they would be able to worship again freely.

Lately, with the Cuban government starting to relax its control over the church, it is starting to grow again. The pastor explains that much like a spiritual spring, how there’s a consistent 20-person congregation now and they just baptized 6 members this past Sunday. Today, Seth preached to a full house of 65 people, so much that it became standing room only. One woman arrived, went home and came back with her own chair for service. Just like there is no longer a sole plant, but a garden blooming full of flowers, so also is the church in Cuba.

I can’t help but wonder if this tiny spiritual revival started because God heard the prayers of an old couple in rural Cuba and decided to answer by allowing all the kids sitting in this room to openly experience the gospel.

Oscar’s story as told by Esther