Cuba

Capital: Havana

Major Language: Spanish

Area: 109,884 km2

Population: 11.3 million

HDI Rank: 70 of 189

Major Religion:

Catholic: 6.5 million (56%)

Other Religions:

Protestant: 1 million (9%)

Other: 4 million (35%)

General Information:

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea. Spain claimed the island as a Spanish territory in 1511. American forces helped drive the Spanish out of Cuba in 1898, and by 1902, Cuba had won its independence. Cubans are a mixture of native, African and European. Fidel Castro, who adopted Communism, was the Cuban president for nearly five decades. Cuba has the highest literacy rate and the highest doctor-to-patient ratio in the world. It is the biggest exporter of tobacco, and is known for its fine cigars. Most popular sports are baseball and boxing.

Religious Background:

Cuba has different religious groups reflecting the diversity in the country. Catholicism is the dominant religion having been introduced by the Spanish colonialists. After the revolution, the state controlled the religious activities and the Catholic Church witnessed serious decline. Cuba has been an atheistic state since the 1950s, but turned secular in 2010. Since then, the state has relaxed its control and monitoring of religious activities and eventually allowing greater freedom. Atheism is significant, accounting for about 23% of the total population.

Catholic background:

The first religious to set foot on Cuban soil was a Mercedarian friar. During the 15th century Dominican friars and Franciscans established religious communities in Cuba, and were joined later by the Society of Jesus and other orders. After the 1959 revolution, Cuba officially embraced atheism. Catholics were viewed with suspicion and discriminated. Santeria, a blend of African traditional practices and Catholicism make up about 12% of the Cuban population. The Church is composed of 3 archdioceses, 8 dioceses and 290 parishes. Patron saint: Our Lady of Charity.

Prayer Points

1. Cubans to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior

Pray that everyone will get an opportunity to hear the gospel and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2. Catholics to know Christ

Pray for the salvation of 6.5 million Catholics in Cuba.
Catholicism in Cuba is rife with syncretism. Pray for freedom from all deception, and instead they will come to a true and living relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will create an interest among the Catholics to know about Jesus and the true gospel.
Pray for Catholics to understand the gospel of grace, and that they will not strive to earn salvation through their own merits.
Pray for all the Catholics attending the 290 parishes to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Pray for the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, 299 priests, 152 brothers and 650 sisters.
Ask Jesus to reveal Himself to those Catholics who do not know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

3. Evangelicals to grow and multiply

Cuba has seen a phenomenal church growth over the years. Due to this rapid church growth, half the believers do not own a Bible, with many sharing one Bible between them in a Bible study group. Pray for the church growth to continue, and for Bibles to be available to every believer. Pray that God would send workers to bring the message of salvation to the Cubans.

4. Social evils and issues in the country

Deep poverty led to black market, widespread crime, drugs, and prostitution. Religious persecution still continues and a strict control is maintained on people’s lives. Pray for liberty and freedom from every crime, vice, addiction and bondage.

5. Other Religions

Jews, Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the other religious groups found in the island are religions of African origin, spiritualism, and Santeria. Pray that they would trust Christ, and know Him as their Lord and Savior.