Several congregations sent a delegation to Havana Presbytery in November 2012. They were: Clarendon Hills Community Presbyterian Church, St. Luke in Downers Grove, Oak Park United, the Presbyterian Church of Western Springs, and Hope Presbyterian Church in Wheaton. This presentation was created by participants from Hope Presbyterian Church in Wheaton.

1. Cuba 101
November 11-19, 2012

2. The Cuba delegation
The whole group with
Hopers Pastor Muriel Miller

3. Hope Church participants
• Pastor Kevin Holley
• Lee and Merikay Huszagh
• Kurt Parent
• Carol Urban

4. Presbyterians in Cuba
• In 1890, a Cuban couple (Evaristo and
Magdalena Collazo) began a school in their
home. Bible was taught daily; there was Sunday
school on Sunday mornings and preaching on
Sunday evenings. They contacted the
Presbyterian Church U.S., and thus began the
relationship between Cuban and U.S.
Presbyterians.
• The Presbytery of Cuba was part of the Synod of
New Jersey for many years until the church
became autonomous in 1967.

5. History
• The Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba has
maintained a visible presence and a strong
witness throughout its history. It suffered loss
and hardship for over thirty years as roughly
half of the pastors and lay leaders emigrated
and the Marxist government stigmatized
religious practice.
• Since 1990 the government has become more
tolerant of religion, and all the Christian
churches have been growing.

6. • Currently there are 9 churches in the Havana
Presbytery and 37 Presbyterian churches in all of
Cuba. Both the heritage and the current practice of
Presbyterianism in Cuba reflect a strong ecumenical
commitment. A whole new generation of seminary
students and recently-ordained pastors, both men
and women, has arisen.
• The Evangelical Theological Seminary of
Matanzas, where all the Presbyterian pastors are
trained is jointly owned and operated by the
Episcopal and Presbyterian churches in Cuba.

7. • U.S. Presbyterians were instrumental in the
establishment of numerous Presbyterian schools in
Cuba. These schools were nationalized in 1961.
• One mission worker of the United Presbyterian
Church, Lois Kroehler, chose to stay in Cuba and
served Cuba from 1949 until her retirement in 1992.
• In 1985 the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba
and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) adopted a
Mutual Mission Agreement. The two churches work
together in mission in many ways, including:

8. Mutual Mission Agreement
• Presbytery and congregational partnerships
• International Peacemaking Program
• Seminary exchanges
• Mission to the U.S.A. Program
• Cuba travel-study seminars
• Caribbean and North American Council for
Mission
• Seeking normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations
• Prayer, study, and dialogue

9. Mission Statement
• “We affirm that we share in one mission of
Jesus Christ in Cuba, the U.S.A., and the
world. That we are called to be
peacemakers, creating bonds of friendship
and understanding between our peoples.”

10. U.S./Cuba Relations: A Timeline
• 1950’s -- U.S. interests owned an estimated 68 percent of Cuba’s land.
• 1960 -- Cuba nationalized U.S. corporate assets. Sanctions and a partial
embargo were imposed on Cuba.
• 1961 -- The Kennedy administration ordered an invasion of Cuba by CIA-
trained Cuban exiles. The Bay of Pigs fiasco was followed by a total embargo
of Cuba. Castro announced that the revolution would be founded on Marxist-
Leninist principles.
• 1962 -- Cuban missile crisis ensued when Kennedy announced that the Soviet
Union had placed missiles in Cuba.
• 1980 -- Cuba eased emigration restrictions, resulting in a massive migration of
125,0000 Cubans to the United States.
• 1992 -- The Torricelli Bill (Cuban Democracy Act) prohibited transactions
between U.S. foreign subsidiaries and Cuba.
• 1996 -- The Cuba Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act (Helms-Burton Act)
imposed penalties on foreign companies doing business in Cuba, permitted
U.S. citizens to sue foreign investors making use of American-owned property
seized by the Cuban government, and denied entry into the U.S. to such
foreign investors.

11. U.S./Cuba Relations
• 2002 -- President Bush announced an “Initiative for a New Cuba,” increasing
economic pressure on the island nation.
• 2003 -- Both houses of Congress voted to end enforcement of travel restrictions
but removed the provision from an appropriations bill after Mr. Bush threatened
to veto it. For the 12th consecutive year, the U.N. General Assembly called on the
United States to end its embargo on Cuba.
• 2004 -- The Bush administration announced a comprehensive new Cuba policy to
undermine the survival strategies of the Castro regime and contribute to
conditions that will help the Cuban people hasten the dictatorship’s end.” As a
result, increased restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba were implemented.
• Current -- President Obama has relaxed restrictions on travel to Cuba and the
Cuban government has recently allowed Cubans (including doctors) to travel
abroad and subsequently to return to Cuba. Fidel Castro’s health has been
deteriorating and his brother, Raul Castro, is in charge. The embargo continues.

12. Presbyterian-Reformed Church, Luyano
Pastor Daniel Izquierdo

13. Permanent Presbytery of Havana Office, Luyano, Marlen Donado
Cruz (front center) is Presbytery administrative assistant

14. These two individuals made our delicious meals and
made our stay comfortable
Sylvia Yalelley

15. Our accommodations
The women’s dormitory The cabana in Luyano’s courtyard

16. Our bus

17. First Presbyterian-Reformed
Church, Havana
Sanctuary, flags of partnership
Front of building churches

18. First Church, Havana
Pastor Hector Mendez Prayer Group meets weekly

19. Presbyterian-Reformed Church, La Fernanda Church
Pastor Alberto Padin
The church Pastor Holley and Pastor Padin

20. La Fernanda
The English learners’ choir The youth choir

21. La Fernanda Presbyterian-Reformed
Church
Pastor Holley preached with translator Nancy
Pastor Padin welcomes us Palacio, Havana University professor

22. Pepe and Charity, two members of La
Fernanda we visited in their homes

23. Old Havana

25. Revolution Square

27. Old Havana, in very good Havana residential area, in very
condition poor condition

30. Cars in Cuba

31. Catholic Churches
Now a museum, St Francis of
Assisi

32. Matanzas Theological Seminary

33. Church at Matanzas Seminary and the
town of Matanzas

36. Veradero Beach

37. Veradero Beach Oil well on the way to Veradero

39. Three beach bums with their
Cuban cigars Tony, our bus driver, and wife

40. Presbyterian-Reformed
Church, Guines
Pastor Abel Mirabel

41. Pastor Ismael Madruga and friends
Pastor Ismael Madruga, Pastor Padin, and Pepita
who kept the La Fernanda Church going during and
after the revolution Ismael and his wife, Isabel

42. Plaque honoring Pastor Ismael
Pastor Ismael’s home in Guines

43. Guines, farming community

44. Apartment building Bus

45. Presbyterian-Reformed Church, Guanabacoa
Seminarian Yoelkis Sierra
Christian Rock Band with Pastor Abel Mirabal
(current Guines pastor) playing electric guitar

46. Presbyterian-Reformed Church,
San Nicolas
Pastor Holley preaching with Seminarian Dargel y Yailen and his
Pastor Magruda translating wife

47. Presbyterian-Reformed Church, San
Antonio de Banos
San Antonio de Banos Church Living Water ceremony

48. Presbyterian-Reformed Church, Los Palos
Pastor Isset Sama

49. One pastor’s car

50. Presbyterian-Reformed Church, Nueva Paz
Pastor Maricela Gonzales
Youth conference in session The church

52. Join us!