I Prayed have prayed
Lord, we pray for Cuba and the religious leaders there! Would you protect all the Christians there and give them courage to continue to boldly follow Christ.

Four days after the mass protests in Cuba, many remain in detention. Among them are two evangelical pastors from the Matanzas region, Yéremi Blanco Ramírez and Yarián Sierra.

Despite widespread technical difficulties in accessing the internet or communications, as well as repeated power cuts, Spanish news website Protestante Digital has contacted Jatniel Pérez, director of the Carey Seminary where both pastors are tutors.

Pérez is carrying out an intense campaign to publicise the case of these pastors, so that international pressure can be effective and the two collaborators in God’s work can be released.

The threats of repression made by President Miguel Díaz-Canel have come true with the arrests, which could turn into long prison stays for many of the protesters.

Pérez, who is also a pastor at the Centro Bíblico Crecer (Growing Bible Center) in Velasco , fears that this repression will increase in the coming days, in the face of a situation “that has never been experienced in Cuba”.

The pastor insists on the importance of praying for the situation and spreading the word about what is happening. He hopes that media, social and international pressure can work for the good of the situation of the detainees.

Question. What is the current situation of these pastors?

Answer. Usually they keep you in detention for three days, and then they release you. But now they have been told that they will be detained for 14 days, which already violates many Cuban laws. They haven’t let them call the family, we found out where they were because of the international media coverage.

They are being held in a wing of the women’s prison, they had to bring them supplies for fourteen days. The fear we have is that there will be a punishment for all the people they arrested after the march. There are rumours that they could be sentenced to five or seven years in prison.

But when something like this happens, something this big, there is a punishment. That is why we are trying to put pressure so that this doesn’t happen and they can be released.

Q. Do you remember any other time when something similar happened in Cuba?

A. No, never. That is why we fear that they want to make an example and that some pastors might fall. We are denouncing on social media and with all the means we have so that they are released.

Q. How are the families of Yéremi and Yarián experiencing the situation?

A. It’s difficult. Yéremi has three children, two boys and a girl. Yarián has a child with mental problems. Both families depend on them, and in the midst of the pandemic, the getting sustenance, food and medicine has become even more complicated. It is very difficult, even more so with them missing, not knowing what is happening to them.

Q. How can international pressure work in this case? What can Christians outside Cuba do?

A. The first thing is to pray. And then, share as much as you can, the more the case of these detained pastors is commented on social media, even if it’s just a simple prayer on Facebook, that will fill the Internet and Cuba will see that there are more people and organisations concerned about this.

Q. What role can evangelicals play at this time?

A. In a way, the denominations in Cuba are playing into the hands of the government, saying: “Gentlemen, don’t do anything, let’s be calm, let’s trust in the Lord, don’t go out…”. I understand that we should not take arms or anything like that, that is not the call of the believer, but I understand that Cuba can’t take it any more.

They cut off our energy for 6 to 8 hours a day, there is no medicine, no food. We have to pay 60 or 80 dollars for three antibiotic pills. We should call for no war and no fighting, but we do need a change because we can’t go on living like this.

However, very few pastors are telling what is happening, because as soon as they do, the government does what it has done with these two brothers in Matanzas.

Q. We know that coronavirus is also hitting hard in Cuba. What is the current situation?

A. Between 6,000 or 7,000 new cases are coming out. Many people are dying. Hospitals are collapsing, there are no medicines. The father of Yéremi died four days ago because he couldn’t get any medicine. We know that in Matanzas there are many contagions, so that we are afraid that they could be infected while they are in prison.

Q. What do you think might happen in the coming days? Is there a way out in this situation?

A. I think that there will be repression by the government. I imagine that they are going to monitor the videos of the demonstrations and to arrest and to criminalise those who have participated. There will be a punishment for everyone. . . .

I think the demonstrations may continue, because if the arrests continue, the families are not going to stand by and do nothing. If there is government repression, there will be a reaction from the streets.

We need to pray for our brothers and sisters in Cuba! Write your prayers in the comments below. Share now!

(Excerpt from Evangelical Focus. Article written by Daniel Hofkamp. Photo by IStock)

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Noelle
July 23, 2021

Dear God, I declare freedom for the Cuban people now, the home of my forefathers. Freedom and the spirit of Joshua and Caleb, freedom from fear of repression, wise strategies and supernatural interventions to topple the giants of the regime, and that the Glory of the Lord would will fill the island. That the world would know Jesus did it, and that He emboldened His army of Hosts and bold human warriors to do it! Praise be the Lord of the Angel Armies!

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Vickie
July 22, 2021

Dear Lord, I pray for Your intervention in Cuba. Please protect the Christians there and give them boldness and encouragement to continue to follow Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.

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MN
July 22, 2021

Lord God,we ask for Your intervention in Cuba. Rescue the oppressed people. Bring the miracle of salvation and bring deliverance from tyranny. Lord we pray for a radical change of heart in those who oversee the nation of Cuba. We also pray for removal of evil people in Cuba who are willingly oppressing the citizens.
Please move in the hearts and minds of government leaders across the world to take action and help the Cuban people. We ask this in your name and we pray your name would be glorified. Amen.

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Deborah Stevens
July 22, 2021

Dear Lord, We boldly come to Your throne of Grace & we ask You to be their Deliverer, & their Protector in Jesus Name. Send them ministering angels. Send in the Rescue Squad. May no weapon formed against them prosper. Give them strength during their time of need. Send them words of encouragement to give them hope. Your word says that there is no trial that is ever so great but that You are greater still & will always provide a way of escape for whatever they may be forced to endure. Even as You delivered Daniel from the mouth of the hungry lions, & Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego from the fiery furnace, we ask You to do the same for these women & to deliver them from the situation that they find themselves in at this time, & to be with their families & to continue to provide for all their needs! Whatever it takes, Lord, be whatever they need, we pray in Jesus Name, Amen!

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Jeanie
July 22, 2021

I pray for the people of Cuba twice daily. I pray for their encouragement and sustenance in YHVH. He is the sustained of all the earth. Part of the issue is reliance on gov’t. And pharmacology rather than the Creator. There are natural foods and medicines growing in the earth. I pray for Divine inspiration and guidance to know how to be fed and healed when mankind and gov’t. fails.We all need to understand this more and more.

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    Cynthia
    July 22, 2021

    Amen, our heavenly Father has provided EVERYTHING we need!

    And, it seems, so much of what He has provided comes from the earth, that same earth from which He formed us, and called it “very good”!

    As Moses learned when he had only a rod in his hand, and as Jesus so clearly showed when He had only five loaves and two small fish in His hand, when we thank the Father for whatever He has already provided, He is more than able to multiply it to meet our need, “pressed down and running over.”

    Who is like our God!

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Diane Maron
July 22, 2021

We decree and declare Lord that you are a never present help in times of trouble and we declare this word true and effective over the people of Cuba. We stand with them for the God of miracles to intervene and move on their behalf. You Lord are their only hope and we know you cannot fail. Bring down the tyranny in this nation Lord. We will not relent in our prayers until we see your kingdom come your will be done in Cuba Amen

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Lisa
July 22, 2021

Father – words fail us at times like these. Evil is seemingly being allowed victory and Christians in the US are staying silent for the most part. We are not demanding our government intervene and help free Cubans from tyranny. Lord, I lift up the Cuban people, I pray for their freedom from communism and that many come to know true freedom that is only found in Christ. Lord, provide for their physical and daily needs. Give them continued courage and boldness…keep their eyes on Jesus. Again, Lord …. Words fail. I cannot imagine the pain, suffering and discouragement they must be enduring. Meet them Lord in their moment of need as only you can. Release them from the bonds of tyranny and evil…as only you can. May all praise, glory and honor be given to You!

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