This week President Obama announced that the United States would begin to normalize relations with Cuba for the first time in more than 50 years. We still don’t know the full consequences of this decision, but they have the potential to open Cuba to fresh influences and could be a significant opportunity for the Christian Church here—which has been growing at an unprecedented rate. There are now one million active Catholics and 900,000 Protestants in Cuba. Some estimates show that the Protestant church has tripled in the past decade.

In the midst of change like this, God’s Word encourages us to pray. 1 Timothy 2: 1, 2 states, “ First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people;for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.” (GNTD)

We encourage you to pray with us in the coming weeks for peace in Cuba and for the well-being of its people. Here are five ways to direct your prayers.

1. Pray for the people of Cuba.
   Pray that each of its 11 million citizens will know God’s love for them. Pray that God will provide for their spiritual, physical, emotional and financial needs.
2. Pray for the government of Cuba.
   Pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Pray that all Cubans will experience increased personal security and stability.
3. Pray for the pastors of the churches of Cuba.
   Pray for provision, safety, and the courage to preach and teach the Good News of Jesus Christ faithfully and winsomely.
4. Pray for the 100 Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants who began training in 2014 as caregivers in Bible-based trauma healing.
   Pray that they can use their training to help people across the island encounter the hope, freedom, forgiveness and restoration that only God can bring.
5. Pray for the Cuban Bible Commission and its mission to serve the 69 active denominations in their country.
   Pray for the Million Bible Mission project supported by American Bible Society and the United Bible Societies to bring a million Bibles to this country over the next three years.

Learn more about how God is working in Cuba.