Finally, back to Cuba for 24 wonderful days!
Free Baptist training and covid
The last time I was in Cuba was the day before the country shut down for covid. This was the last church I trained, but due to covid they never got off the ground in developing the system. Now I went back to help them start again. Miguel again told me that he was 100% in belief in the church growth system and wanted to see it go throughout his whole denomination. A Restoration Movement is taking place. I believe that what God has given me over the years is
a Biblical system void of any denominational/American foundations. That is what this preacher told me as well as 5 other denominational leaders.
Training Christian Church preachers
Thanks to the work of Reggie Thomas, New Testament churches were again restarted in Cuba. After his death, unfortunately, there was a division between those who want to be officially recognized and those who do not want to be legalized. At Global, our policy is not to take sides, but to offer anyone training in the Church Growth System. I was able to hold a 4-day in-depth training on the Global Church Growth System at the Cuba Bible Institute (CBI) in Havana. What is great is that Global, CBI (led by Don Ott), and the newly founded Cuba Christian Mission, are all working together to establish and train the Christian church in Cuba. I was informed that there is evidence of a legally registered Christian church in existence before 1958 and that may help the official forming of the Christian church in Cuba which is in process. If a church was registered before 1958, it could be recognized and have the privilege to operate officially in Cuba, which provides a number of benefits. Please keep this in your prayers.
Training in the Middle
After the classes in Havana, my interpreter, Alberto, and I joined others in the team in the center of the country. The first stop was with Miguel Paz and others I have trained. This was a follow-up and initial training for a couple of new preachers. At the meeting was Jose. I went up to Jose and said, “I think I have met you” and he said yes, “I was in your last training.” Then I had 1 member, now I have 35 and growing, thanks to your system.
We went to another town where I trained one congregation with 5 other church leaders in attendance. The church was called “the good news church.” I really like that name. Again, it was a blessing to see the excitement of those who were in attendance. The global team will revisit each of those churches to do further follow-up and training.
Follow-up and training in the East
My plan was to return to Cuba in December and work in Havana and the 
middle of the country and return in March to just work in the east of the country, but I was delayed twice and so I had to do both trips in this one trip. I was privileged to be joined by Georges Carillet who has become a partner with us at Global. We first visited some churches that were trained before. In each case, they have continued to grow under the System and all testified that the training and system helped them keep their church together under covid.
One church we trained was an Assemblies of God in
Mansinilla (Manzanilla). The preacher/pastor is the overseer of 20 churches in his area and all the preachers from those churches were in attendance. After the training, the overseer told me he was going to replace his denominational program with the system I taught them. Praise the Lord.
Travel problems and the condition of Cuba
I have been traveling to Cuba since 2012. Cuba has always been a 
challenge. In the past, I have used every type of transportation except the train. This time it was so difficult and expensive. Except in Havana, there is no regular public transportation all over the country because there is very little gas and no parts available to fix the broken buses. That means one must use expensive private sources to go from place to place. Although gas prices are nominal, it makes no difference if you cannot get any gas. We passed three “out of gas” stations traveling across the nation, and when we found one with gas, we were in line for 2 hours. Medicine is almost nonexistent. Bread lines are long, milk is almost nonexistent, and if you can find it, it is in powdered form and only sold for those 5 and under. If you can find a restaurant open, it may or may not have anything to drink and have few items that are listed on the menu, and most Cubans cannot afford restaurants. Please pray for the brethren and for those who will/might follow the Lord.
Beach Baptism and grandchildren
When you help a person follow Jesus as a disciple, 
that person becomes your child in the faith. When your children in the faith bring others to faith, then you get grandchildren in the faith. It is having grandchildren and great-grandchildren that show that evangelism and discipleship are being effective. I was excited to help in baptizing 5 new grandchildren into the faith. To see the baptisms in the ocean please visit our Facebook at global church growth. (Georges called it holy hilarity – see why.)
Training plans for fall
My plan now is to return in October to train more churches. Two 
situations comprise leaders who have 20 churches each under their
supervision. I believe one will open up the opportunity to train over
2,000 churches across the nation. Again, a restoration movement.
Global team members in Cuba!!
We have two new team members who will be following up and training new churches. Alberto from Bayamo pictured right, has been primarily my translator. He will now be working with Jose Hernendez to work with
the churches in the east. Pablo is our newest member pictured far left. Pablo is a veteran worker for the Lord and will make a great addition to follow-up with churches in the middle and west of the country. The coordinators in each country Global serves are the lifeblood and reason the work stays successful. They will carry on the work and that is as it should be.
THEREFORE, I need your help to monthly support them. I do not support preachers to follow the system, but I do need to support those who travel and continue to follow-up and train the churches that do. Please email if you are interested in learning more.
Other plans and news!
God continues to open doors. I am in the planning stages of having zoom training on the Global System in India and Myanmar. We already have two languages translated in both countries, and hope to set up training there this year. My hope is also to return to Poland this year to revisit some churches I have worked with and to attend the world convention this summer. Plus, there is a need to return to Brazil, and in 2023, Lord willing, return to Colombia. Following is a letter from a preacher in Myanmar that I have trained and worked with on my last trip. We are raising funds to have these books printed.
“Your book (The Most Valuable Treasure in the World) is great and precious as
its name and is also so valuable. It is simple and powerful that simple men could understand easily. I have never seen such a good book in my life. It is best for changing man’s life, leading men to Jesus and growing and nurturing the spiritual life of believers. If we can publish (5,000 copies) and when the book reaches to pastors, evangelists, missionaries and to every minister of God, it will be great blessings for our country if they use it for training and teaching. 10 Steps to Spiritual growth by Dr. Householder is needed too. These books are Most needed for Myanmar” -Your friend in Christ, Richard Khum
Please consider partnering with us prayerfully and financially to help make disciples that make disciples. For more info, and to partner with us, contact:
Global Church Growth PO Box 188 Seymour, TN 37865
Please pray for George and his wife. She has a fatal, debilitating disease.
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