"Go Therefore and Make Disciples of All Nations"
-Matthew 28:18-20
June Missions of the Month
Cuba Sister Church: San Luis UMC de Cuba
The Mission of the Month for June 2023, is continued support for our Sister Church in Santiago de Cuba. The story of this Church’s Witness Ministry in the name of Jesus Christ is nothing short of amazing. In 1997, The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church began major efforts to re-establish relationships between churches in Florida and Cuba. The Sun City Center UMC joined with the San Luis UMC in Santiago de Cuba in 2012. In the name of Christ, we continue to help our sister church grow.
Simple items like toilet paper, detergent, deodorant, toothpaste, and bath soap are still very limited and shelves continue to go empty. Food and medicines are also very hard to find. A few items can be found on the street’s black market, but the prices are extremely inflated since they do not have the “price gouging” laws we have in the US to protect them.
The one water purification system has been paid off and is waiting in Ft. Myers for a good way to transport the system to Cuba. It has been explained that the city water is full of parasites and diseases. The only purified water they have is bottled water, which is too expensive to buy. Cuban people have to decide between not drinking the water or living with the diseases. We know this because, as Americans visiting Cuba, we require and pay for bottled water for ourselves, including cooking our food. Once the water purification system is installed, this clean, fresh water will be available for all to use. People will get clean, fresh water outside, but inside the church, they can receive the Living Water of Jesus Christ! We would love to send a second water purification system if we are able.
In 2023 our San Luis brothers and sisters in Christ need our help more than ever. Pastor Diosmany Rodriguez and his wife Yusdelkis continue to stay in communication with our church and we assist as we can. A total of $845.00 was sent for pastoral support and District support for Santiago de Cuba. $55.00 was sent for mobile phone minutes. We also supplement Pastor Rodriguez’s salary with $300 annually (he makes the equivalent of $25 a month!) Mission gifts support the purchase of office supplies and medications. We also keep funds available for emergencies, such as hurricane relief.
Many Cuban Methodist churches do not have Sister Church sponsors. Their pastors are in need of pastoral salary supplement support. For $200-$300 a year, you can help provide a reasonable living wage for a pastor. A small group or individual can take this on through a one-time donation, or annual support, and give a blessing to their families as they do God's work in Cuba. Please let us know if you would like to help with an on-line donation.
It has come to our attention that the piano they currently use is in terrible condition. They have stated there is water damage and that many of the keys do not work. It is our hope with your above and beyond giving during the month of June will be able to send them enough money to replace their piano.
The San Luis congregation thanks our Sun City Center UMC congregation for their generosity! They are celebrating their 23rd Anniversary!
Thank you for your prayers and support for our Sister Church family! You can follow them and see more photos on their Facebook page: Iglesia Metodista Cristo Viene.
If you have any questions, or you are interested in becoming a volunteer for this mission please do not hesitate to contact David W. Cutshall at: djsteelers@gmail.com
We are a passionate congregation about reaching out in our local community as well as across the world with the love of Jesus Christ. We try to include an element of Missions in almost everything we do. We love traveling to places such as Africa, Peru, Cuba and many more as well as helping local missions such as the Fight Against Human Trafficking, Good Samaritan Mission, our UMC Children's Home and many more. Please consider getting involved in making a difference.
For more information about any of our mission ministries contact the church office at 813-634-2538
The Disaster Response Team helps those who have been impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or other disastrous situations. We respond both locally and beyond our community to provide help. The Disaster Response Team’s mission is
“To provide a caring Christian presence in the
aftermath of disaster”.
For further information regarding this mission ministry, please click the the button below:
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Mission of the Month at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center. As the Mission team, we are excited to learn more about your mission.
We receive many requests to become part of this program. We prayerfully read all applications with special consideration given to missions whose program is dedicated to making disciples of Jesus Christ and show a proven history of successful ministry. All missions accepted as Mission of the Month must support the mission and vision of the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center. Because we currently have many applications, not every mission that applies will be accepted this year.
We will closely study the goals of your mission, the actual percentage of your proposed budget that directly supports the slated mission, and your plans for documentation and ongoing evaluation and accountability. Should we support your mission, we will ask for a follow up at the end of the year, stating how the funds that you received were used.
Please complete the enclosed application and return it to:
The United Methodist Church of Sun City Center
Attention: Missions Team
1971 Haverford Ave.
Sun City Center, FL 33573-5224
Blessings to you, and thank you for all that you do in moving forth in your mission to make a difference in our community and in God’s world.