Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania, Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and one of the world’s last communist dictatorships. Home to widespread poverty, Cuba is a place where, at best, extended families live together in crumbling micro-sized apartments, often without modern amenities like hot water or appliances newer than 50 years old. At worst, people go without basic necessities like shoes, soap, and food. Some resort to prostitution. Cuba is also a source country for adults and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor. Fuel shortages and lack of modern machinery keep farmers inefficient and primitive—using horses and oxen to tend their fields.

“Cuba is a country where needs abound,” reported the leader of an indigenous ministry assisted by Christian Aid Mission. “It is the only country in the world where a doctor earns $30 a month, an engineer earns $20 a month, and is the only country in the world including Africa and Haiti where a missionary lives on less than $10 a month.”

The government has slowly incorporated some economic reforms, such as allowing some limited private ownership and enterprise, but Cubans still live in great need. In this bastion of scarcity, an indigenous ministry is building God’s kingdom, beginning with the nation’s youth. Indigenous missionaries are starting reproducing home groups among youth, who are evangelizing other young people. Despite their own poverty, these Christian youth are caring for the elderly, disabled, and others even less fortunate than themselves, buying and delivering food and medicine as the Lord provides, and helping them with household tasks while sharing the gospel with them.

As funding allows, the ministry meets the many needs of those around them. They installed a water pump to provide clean water to an entire community and also supplies needed over-the-counter medications. In addition, they provide rice, soap, medication, and some cash aid to disabled children. They request assistance to continue these humanitarian outreaches, along with their youth outreaches, and training for local believers. Nearly 75% of Cuba’s missionaries and pastors have no formal training. The ministry would like to equip these gospel workers with a solid foundation in God’s Word through their Bible training conferences.

Sources: CIA World Factbook, Joshua Project