CUBA COMMITMENT

A Missionary named Paul Northrup went to Cuba 50 years ago. Last week he raised his hands and shouted “Alelujah!” A congregation of more than 1,000 Cubans echoed back. The small church that Northrup planted in central Cuba 50 years ago has grown and thrived since he left in 1959. And so has many others that we have learned about and seen with our own eyes. “They told us when we left, the work would fail,” Northrup said. "There were seven churches then. Now there are 53.” For Northrup, perhaps the best thing about the 50th anniversary ceremony was realizing he was not really needed for the church to develop. This concept is not yet hit home to many American Pastors and Missionaries. Most of us feel that without the help and constant control of an authority that all will fail! What we fail to realize in all of this that the ultimate authority of any true Church is Jesus Christ himself. Matthew 16:18 says it well when Christ spoke to Peter and said “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. It is His Church and we are His stewards. A key concept in missions has always been validated by scriptural principles and that is eventually the missionary has to let go and let the native take charge. Better yet have the native in charge from the beginning. It is vital we understand that the Lord will preserve His Church as He wills just as He has preserved our Bible. We must though protect the doctrines and teachings that have been laid before us so many times. These Pastors, Teachers, and Missionaries in Cuba now need your prayers and your help in continuing their training. Too many of these men have not had the training needed and Biblically based teaching that they need so desperately. In your intercession this week please remember to praise the Lord for His infinite wisdom and reign in our Churches. Then would you remember to thank Him for all the Churches that have survived the last 50 years in Cuba. Finally would you pray that those there could have the true Biblically based training needed to carry on for Christ’s glory?

In HIS Service,

Travis A. Jones

Travis A. Jones

Metropolitan Baptist Church

6051 Azle Ave.

Ft Worth, TX 76135

www.metrobc.org