Cuba

Services

SUNDAY  9 AM CONTEMPORARY SERVICE  10:10 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL  11 AM TRADITIONAL SERVICE




angel tree for cuba

Our brothers and sisters in Cuba are enduring severe hardships in the wake of Hurricane Melissa — widespread food shortages, prolonged daily power outages exceeding 15 hours, limited fuel at extremely high costs, and a lack of basic necessities. Despite these challenges, their steadfast faith in God remains a source of hope.

In January, we will send care packages to each of our four partner churches in Cuba. We invite you to prayerfully consider participating in this mission.

Ways to Contribute:

  • Amazon Wish List: Use the link below to purchase items by January 1, 2026.
  • Cuban Angel Tree: Select a paper ornament from the tree located in the Wesley Center or the sanctuary, purchase the listed item, and return it to the church by January 4, 2026.
  • QR Code: Scan the code above to access the Amazon Wish List quickly and easily.

At this time, we can accept only the items requested.  Questions may be directed to Kerri Gould through the church office.

Thank you for your generosity and for helping us share Christ’s love with those in need! 

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3FWHSAGFI437L?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ggr-subnav-share_B5G03X6CWFFPJH6XZNHG


Hurricane recovery Updates

Belic

Congregation Attendance

  • Faithful Attendance: Approximately 120 members attend services regularly.
  • Home Ministry: Around 30 individuals are ministered to in their homes due to health-related

               circumstances.

Current Projects

  • Expansion of Facilities: The congregation is working to enlarge the meeting space, as the

               current location is too small to accommodate the growing number of attendees.

Community Outreach

  • Food Ministry: Meals are prepared on weekends for both the congregation and members of

               the Belic community who are in significant need.

  • Medical Assistance: Support with medications is provided when possible, as the community

               has been affected by various illnesses-especially dengue fever from mosquitos.

Financial Report

  • Use of Tithes: Contributions are primarily directed toward the purchase of food for the church.
  • Financial Challenges: Rising prices have made it difficult to cover all needs despite faithful

               giving.

Challenges Faced

  • Power Outages: The community continues to experience extended blackouts.

Faithful Response: Despite these difficulties, the Belic congregation remains steadfast in

prayer and trust in God.

Upcoming Events

  • Christmas Celebration: Preparations are underway for a church-wide Christmas dinner.
  • Epiphany (Day of the Kings): A special children’s activity is planned for January 6.

Conclusion

The Belic congregation continues to trust in God’s goodness and provision. Through prayer, service,

and faith, the church remains united and committed to supporting one another and the wider

community.


Palma de la Cruz

Membership

  • Approximately 150 members.

Current Focus

  • Construction of the worship space and kitchen is on hold due to a food crisis.
  • Resources have been redirected to provide weekly meals for over 100 individuals, including elders and vulnerable community                    members.

Financial Allocation

  • Tithes and offerings previously funded construction; they now support food preparation, fuel for transportation and to run the                  generator so they can worship during power outages.

Community Support & Prayer Requests

  • The church aims to serve both spiritually and materially, acting as “the hands of Jesus” to assist those in need.

Challenges

  • Severe resource limitations in Cuba continue to impact efforts.


Marea de Belic

Attendance: Average of 41 members per service.

Key Projects:

o Expansion of the church building.

o Purchase of a refrigerator.

o Construction of sanitary toilets for the parsonage and congregation-currently have

outhouses.

o Installation of a water storage tank for drinking water.

o Financial support for children’s ministry workers.

o Provision of Sunday lunches for children or the entire congregation.

Financial Notes: $100 from tithes was used to purchase tires; remaining funds will support the

Christmas dinner.


Cabo Cruz

Attendance: Average of 45 active church member.

Key Projects

o Expand the church and building up keep-painting, cleaning.

o Increase tithes to help those most in need with food, medicine, and transportation.

o Seeks success for ongoing work and upcoming Christmas celebrations.

Methodists United in Prayer

  • Methodists United in Prayer is the covenant between The United Methodist Church in Cuba and the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. It is the largest and most successful mission of the Florida Conference.
  • There are about 400 United Methodist churches in Cuba with about 800 mission churches.
  • The financial burden on the shoulders of the United Methodist Cuban pastors is overwhelming with their limited resources. They earn about $20 a month and must sustain their own families, maintain their churches, help maintain their mission pastors and mission churches, often feed dozens of church goers weekly, and tend to those most in need. This is about half the salary of the average Cuban family since pastor’s wives are very involved in the church and do not have a second income.
  • FUMC Plant City is one of 214 churches in the Florida Conference to have one or more sister churches to help face and ease that burden.
  • We proudly participate in the Adopt a Pastor Program and sponsor four churches and their families in the Granma province.  Our sister churches are Belic, Palma de la Cruz, Cabo Cruz, and a mission.
  • Our Cuba Mission Team has traveled to Belic numerous times carrying much needed supplies, such as personal hygiene and clothing, Spanish language Bibles, a sound system for the church, and even a water pump.

Our sister churches in Cuba need our support, both spiritually and financially, to exist and grow in a difficult and challenging socio-political environment. Our mission trips are essential for creating and maintaining relationships through personal contact and fellowship, and joyful worship of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our United Methodist Cuban brothers and sisters say our visits are “a breath of fresh air.”

If you would like to join us and see what God is doing in Cuba or to volunteer to go to Cuba, please contact Kerri Gould or Nancy Wisgerhof through the church office.