Church in Cuba Ramps Up Youth Leadership Training Amid Pastoral Exodus
21 February 2024 |
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cuba is intensifying its training programs for young leaders in response to a notable increase in the emigration of pastors and church leaders, according to a recent article by the Inter-American Division. This trend, exacerbated since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a significant reduction in the church’s leadership at various levels.
Pastor Aldo Pérez, president of the Cuban Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, reported a dramatic rise in the departure of pastoral families from Cuba, particularly between 2021 and 2023. He noted that the broader migration crisis on the island has directly impacted the church, with 29 pastoral families leaving in 2023 and a total of 44 since 2021. This represents a third of the church’s leadership across the union, conferences, missions, and local churches.
The situation has prompted the church to adopt what they describe as an emergency program for leadership development, focusing on equipping younger members for leadership roles. The initiative aims to train 7,000 young individuals, including 3,500 new Master Guides and 3,500 Adventist Youth (AY) leaders throughout the island.
Ray Frometa, the youth ministries director of the Cuba Union, outlined the strategy as an effort to quickly develop skilled and motivated leaders to offset the impact of emigration. This plan is part of a broader vision to continuously foster leadership within the church.
To address the leadership vacuum, the church has organized training for 300 young people in 2023 to become instructors in each conference. This includes the appointment of a Master Guide and AY leader in each district, the provision of a youth ministries institute online, and the training of local church leaders to become youth mentors.
The training effort is seen as an essential measure to ensure the continuity and advancement of the church’s mission work amidst challenges. It includes recent initiatives such as a training session in Holguin for over 500 youth leaders and Public Campus Ministries students, aimed at preparing them to contribute effectively to the church’s work.
The church has also assigned pastors to each of the 20 AY Federations across the country to oversee the recruitment and training of new AY leaders and Master Guides, emphasizing the importance of youth involvement in leadership roles.
This strategic focus on youth leadership training is part of the church’s ongoing efforts to adapt to the current challenges and ensure the continued growth and impact of its mission in Cuba.
