Cuban Fuel Crisis

At a time when many in Cuba are facing increasing hardship, we share this update from Bishop Ricardo Pereira, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church in Cuba, In recent months, the country has been experiencing severe fuel shortages—no oil has been imported since early January—resulting in repeated nationwide blackouts that have left communities without power for long stretches and placed added strain on daily life and essential services. His words offer a moving glimpse into these challenges and into the faithful, compassionate ministry of the Methodist Church in Cuba as it seeks to bring hope where there is despair. As a Connexion, we hold our Cuban family before God, trusting in God’s grace at work among them and renewing our commitment to walk alongside our global partners in prayer and solidarity.

Message from Bishop Pereira:

Dear friends,

Greetings and blessings from Havana.

Thank you for your concern and prayers for the Church and the people of Cuba.

The country's economic situation is deteriorating. So far this year, we have had five national power outages, which means everything comes to a standstill. Obtaining food and medicine is even more difficult, and this has brought about protests and crowd gatherings in some regions of the country.

In the Church, we have tried to maintain the general program we had planned for the year. The districts' efforts to hold meetings is enormous, paying ten times more for transportation (A litre of petrol costs $8 US Dollars). So far, all the district conferences scheduled for March have taken place, and tonight we finish in Pinar del Río, hoping for a large gathering.

The Church is redoubling its efforts, bringing food, medicine, and whatever else we can to those most in need, and giving hope in the midst of a people without hope.

Once again, our gratitude for your concern, prayers, and help.

May God continue to bless you,

Bishop Ricardo Pereira

Join us as we pray for Cuba, holding on to this scripture of hope:

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For our slight, momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure,  because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen, for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. (2 Corinthains 4: 16-18).

Let us pray:

Loving God, who knows all our needs before we even speak a word,

We lift up the people of Cuba before your throne of grace.

We pray for an end to the political impasse that is stopping the import of fuel into Cuba and affecting daily life.

We pray that US and Cuban government dialogue will result in opportunities for Cubans to flourish and reverse the sense of despair that is so prevalent in Cuba, turning it into hope.

We pray that food and healthcare support will arrive in Cuba, enabling the Cuban state, humanitarian organisations and faith-based organisations such as the Methodist Church in Cuba to offer emergency relief to local communities.

We pray for the Methodist Church in Cuba, asking you to grant Bishop Ricardo Pereira, District Superintendents and other church personnel wisdom and grace to lead the church through this momentary affliction.

We pray that your church in Cuba, Methodist and other, will not lose heart but continue to offer the eternal message of hope and salvation in Christ to their communities.

In Christ’s name we pray.

Amen

The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Church in Britain