I had longed to see this part of Cuba, but circumstances and the difficulty in arranging transportation and a suitable escort had prevented me from realizing that wish. Nevertheless, on many of my stays I had had the occasion to talk with Magalys Mas, a native of that city and the person charged as lay pastor to lead the congregation.

It seems to me that there had always been some level of conversation going on about securing a permanent place for the mission. In Cuba, a special verb is used to express ideas and desires that may or may not come to be. That verb is: Intentar, to intend. A permanent place for that mission fell into that category. Funds are difficult to find and even harder to fairly allocate. Decisions at this level need to be made at their Synod level, letting all the Cuban Presbyteries reflect and prioritize internally.

So, it was no surprise to me that the conversations regarding Camaguey came and went; but truthfully, I began to see that there was always some level of intention surrounding the subject. It was a matter of waiting and remaining in solidarity with the Cabaiguán church whose leaders had for years applied themselves and their young adults to the building and development of the mission.

And so it came to pass in November, 2007 at the Centennial celebration of the Cabaiguán church that its pastor, Mairolet Vega Comas, pulled me aside one evening and spoke quite seriously about the newest opportunity: a member of the Camaguey church wished to donate the house in which they had been meeting for years and make it a permanent mission. I agreed to bring the issue before Baltimore Presbytery’s task Force.

To do so fairly, I thought we needed to consider the history of the mission. Who began the work? How may people were involved?  Returning home, I wrote to Pastor Yolanda Alonso of the IPRC Church in Meneses whose husband, Javier Naranjo, had been integral in its inception and operation.

Yolanda’s history, redacted with the help of daughter and Pastor Miriam Naranjo of the church in Taguasco, Cuba captivated my imagination, so much so that I decided it was good for all of us to see just to what extent the pastors and youth of the Cuban Presbyterian Church are willing to go to share and live their faith.

The following story introduces the history as they themselves have told it. The translation is mine. I hope you enjoy the story.

Algunos datos históricos sobre Camagüey

Some historical facts about Camaguey.

La obra  misionera en Camagüey fue preocupación constante desde los primeros misioneros. En fecha tan temprana como el mes de julio de  1899, en una carta-informe  del Rev. Juan  G. Hall, pastor de Cárdenas, sobre la obra en Cuba, escribe que  entre  ¨ las  inmediatas necesidades de la misión en Cuba ¨  están las siguientes: ¨…tenemos que tener aquí, calculando por lo bajo, cinco hombres en el otoño: dos para Cárdenas, uno para  La Habana y dos para Camagüey.¨

The mission work in Camaguey was a constant concern from the time of the first missionaries. As early as July 1899, Rev. Juan G. Hall, pastor in Cardenas, wrote in a informational letter that:  Among the immediate necessities of mission in Cuba are the following…we need to have here, at minimum, five men by this fall: two for Cardenas, two for Havana, two for Camaguey.”  

En el informe que el Rev. J. Milton Green rinde a la iglesia Presbiteriana   de los Estados Unidos  en 1913, aparece una obra  evangelística   en  Camagüey, y entre las obras detalladas con sus pastores asignados, aparece el señor Salvador Cornejo encargado de Camagüey.

En nuestra búsqueda de datos sobre la obra encontramos  un período de silencio en el empeño de que en Camagüey. Existiera obra  presbiteriana.  Hubo períodos en los que el énfasis fue fortalecer los lugares que tenían ya obra  realizada. Se hizo mucho énfasis  en  la obra educativa. No aparecen datos sobre Camagüey en ese tiempo

In the report given by Rev. J. Milton Green to the Presbyterian Church USA in 1913, …there appears to be an evangelical mission in Camaguey (and among the other works detailed with their pastors assigned) apparently a Mr. Salvador Cornejo is charged with leading Camaguey.

In our search for that facts about this work we find a period of silence in the efforts in Camaguey. A Presbyterian work (effort) existed, (however) there were periods in which the emphasis was placed on fortifying the places already established. Much emphasis was given to education. There were no recorded facts concerning Camaguey at this time. (Meaning 1913-1959    JW)

En 1959 se producen cambios históricos en Cuba,  surgen nuevos retos para la obra  misionera.   A mediados de 1960, el Rev. Rafael Cepeda visita la antigua ciudad con el propósito de restablecer los contactos con antiguas familias que habían pertenecido a la obra. Con labor paciente se logra celebrar el primer culto de la Iglesia Presbiteriana en Camagüey, el 18 de diciembre de 1960.

!959 was a period of historical change in Cuba. New goals arose (surged forth) for missionary work. In mid 1960’s Rev. Rafeal Cepeda visited the historic city with the objective of reestablishing contacts with families long associated with the work. With patience, he was succeesful in celebrating the first worship service of the Presbyterian Church in Camaguey on December 18, 1960.

Al no poseer un local de la iglesia se celebró en el Centro de Detallistas que está situado en Cisneros entre Estrada Palma y General  Gómez. El mensaje de Navidad fue predicado por el Rev. Manuel Rodríguez, también participó en esa reunión el señor Agustín Pascual, Director del Colegio Presbiteriano de Cabaiguán. Se continúan los cultos, el pastor Cepeda continúa insistiendo  y aún estando ya de pastor en la iglesia  de Versalles en Matanzas y siendo el director del Plan de los Cinco Años, se compromete a continuar visitando Camagüey en alguna ocasión.

There not being a (permanent) place for the church, the service was celebrated in the Retail Center which is situated in Cisneros between Estrada Palma (Cuba’s figure head President at the time) and General Gomez (a famous General of the Second War of Independence against Spain…which became the Spanish American War when the Battleship Maine was blown up (probably by us) in Havana Harbor 1898.    JW) The Christmas message was preached by Rev. Manuel Rodriguez, Agustin Pascual also participating. Worship services continued, Pastor Cepeda remained adamant, and even though he was pastor of the church in Versalles in Matanzas as well as director of the five year plan, he committed himself to the continuing to visit Camaguey on occasion.

El Rev. Abí Castro  es nombrado pastor del circuito  Taguasco- Ciego de Ávila. Residiría en Taguasco y de allí viajaría a Ciego de Ávila y a Camagüey.  El  Rev. Abí Castro insistía en la necesidad de  darle mayor atención a estos campos.

Rev. Abi Castro (definitely a Galician.   JW) is named circuit pastor for Tagausco ~ Ciego de Avila. He would live in Taguasco and from there travel to Ciego de Avila and to Camaguey. He insisted in the necessity of concentrating a major effort there.

En nuestras iglesias cantamos un himno que dice : Va Dios mismo en nuestro caminar. En ese caminar de la  misión  de Camagüey, surge un nuevo encuentro con la obra de la Iglesia Presbiteriana en el año 1994.

In our churches we sing a hymn that goes:  “God himself goes with us in our journey”. As for Camaguey mission, a new encounter arose in the work of the Presbyterian Church in 1994.

Sucedió de una manera que  algunos pudieran llamar casualidad. Y nosotros decimos que fue obra del Espíritu Santo. Una  muchacha de  Camagüey, por motivos de estudio vino a residir en casa de una tía, perteneciente a la iglesia de Cabaiguán. La joven era católico romana y es ella quien al hacer amistad con uno de los jóvenes de Cabaiguán  lo invita a él y a un grupo de los entusiastas jóvenes de Cabaiguán a que fueran a su casa para que conocieran Camagüey.

It happened in a way that some might call “by chance”. We say it was the work of the Holy Spirit. A young girl, for reasons of study, came to live in the house of her aunt who belonged to the church in Cabaiguán. The girl was Roman Catholic, and it was she who through making friends with one of the Cabaiguán youth, invited him and a group of enthusiastic youth to come to her house so that they could learn something about Camaguey.

Aquellos jóvenes, ni tardos, ni perezosos , prepararon todo para hacer el viaje. Llegaron un  hermoso día a Camagüey. Allí los estaba esperando la mamá de la joven con su familia, ella era una  antigua miembro de la iglesia de Cabaiguán. Aquellos fueron días  gloriosos para la iglesia de Cabaiguán y para la  futura obra de Camagüey. Sin ningún tipo de prejuicio el grupo visitó la iglesia católico romana  del Cristo con las hijas de la hermana que asistían a la iglesia católica y  donde  oficiaba el Padre Cambra, un sacerdote de un carácter muy  especial .

Those youth, not slow to engage, nor lazy, prepared everything for the trip. One beautiful day they arrived in Camaguey. There the young lady’s mother was awaiting them with the family; she was a former member of the church in Cabaiguán. Those were the Glory Days for the church in Cabaiguán and for the work to come in Camaguey. Without any kind prejudice, (I like hesitation better…JW)  the group visited Christ Catholic Church with the daughters of the sister who attended the Catholic church, and where Father Cambra, a very special priest, officiated.

Los presbiterianos cantaron sus himnos y hasta el Obispo cuando lo supo, quiso conocerlos. Ante el Obispo también cantaron nuestros jóvenes. Hubo  un provechoso intercambio y nuestros jóvenes incorporaron a nuestra liturgia himnos que cantaban los  jóvenes católicos.

Las despedidas casi siempre son tristes, quizás por esa razón un joven católico dijo  a los presbiterianos.¨! Qué bueno sería que ustedes  los presbiterianos tuvieran una iglesia  aquí ¡¨  Los jóvenes preguntaron al Rev. Javier Naranjo, pastor de Cabaiguán si sería posible abrir una misión en Camagüey.

The Presbyterians sang their hymns and even the Bishop, when he found out (they were there) wanted to meet them. So they performed before the Bishop. There was a propitious interchange, our youth incorporated the Catholic hymns into our liturgy.

Goodbyes are almost always hard, and perhaps for that reason a Catholic youth said to his Presbyterian friends, “Wouldn’t it be great if you had a church here!”  Our youth asked Rev. Javier Naranjo, then pastor in Cabaiguán, if it would be possible to open a mission in Camaguey.

El pastor Naranjo los miró y les dijo:-¨¿ Por qué no?¨ . Entonces se comenzaron a hacer los  arreglos para poder celebrar los cultos en Camagüey. El primer problema que surgió fue la cuestión del local de reunión.  Los jóvenes comenzaron a orar por la obra de Camagüey, ellos contagiaron a toda la iglesia.  Hubo un  pequeño período  en espera de solución. Una mañana visitó la iglesia una hermana de Camagüey, ella expresó: ¨ Estamos orando para que se funde la iglesia presbiteriana en Camagüey.¨  

Pastor Naranjo looked at them and responded, “Why not?”   Then the arrangements were made to begin worship services in Camaguey. The first problem that arose was the issue of where to have them. The kids began to pray for this work, their enthusiasm was contagious and involved the whole church. Then there was a small waiting period. One morning a sister from Camaguey visited and she expressed, “ We’re praying for the Presbyterian Church to be founded in Camaguey.”

El pastor  Naranjo le dijo que sólo nos detenía, no tener un local.. La hermana dijo que ella conocía a una familia que estaba dispuesta a alquilar la casa.. La iglesia de Cabaiguán se comprometió a pagar el alquiler de la casa. Los jóvenes se responsabilizaron  con la atención de la obra. Cada semana irían dos jóvenes diferentes a predicar y visitar.

Pastor Baranjo said to her that we were only waiting to establish a place there. She said she knew a family that was disposed to renting a house. The Cabaiguán church committed to renting it and the youth were charged with the development of the work. Each week two different youth would go to visit and preach.

El primer culto de la nueva época se celebró en la casa de la hermana Ada García Blanco, fue el día 11 de noviembre del año 1994. Este es un día muy importante para todos los presbiterianos cubanos porque en él celebramos  El Día del Misionero , es una fecha en la que nos dedicamos no sólo a recordar la obra de los que nos precedieron, sino también  a renovar  el sentido y a hacer nuevos  planes para desarrollar la misión.

Al no ser posible el alquiler de la casa, el pastor Naranjo habló con el pastor episcopal Juan Antonio Rodríguez  Díaz para  utilizar el local del templo los domingos por la tarde

The first worship service in this new era was celebrated in the house of sister Ada Garcia Blanco on the 11th of November 994. This is a very special day for us Cubans because we celebrate the Day of the Missionaries, it’s the day not only to remember those who preceded us, but also to rejuvenate that energy and make new plans in the development of mission.

With renting the house being an impossibility, Pastor Naranjo spoke with the Episcopal Pastor, Juan Antonio Rodriguez Diaz to use that church on Sunday afternoons.

Los jóvenes comenzaron a viajar a Camagüey. Pasaban dos noches prácticamente sin dormir, pues iban en tren. Los hermanos de Camagüey se encargaban de reservarles los pasajes de regreso.  El viaje nunca fue excusa para que cada lunes los jóvenes asistieran normalmente a  sus clases o a sus  trabajos.

The youth began traveling to Camaguey. They spent two nights practically without sleep; well, they were going by train. The Camaguey youth would buy the return trip tickets. The trip was never an excuse to miss their regular Monday morning classes or work.

Durante un tiempo se fue manteniendo así la misión, El pastor Naranjo asistía  a Camagüey para  celebrar la eucaristía y bautizos. La hermana Yolanda Alonso, enviaba regularmente materiales de estudio  para que  no se dejaran de reunir y de estudiar la Palabra  . Cuando las dificultades de transporte aumentaron  se incorporaron a la lista de hermanos que iban a Camagüey algunos adultos.

And so for a while it went on a time this way. Pastor Naranjo went to celebrate communion and to do baptisms. Sister Yolanda regularly sent study materials in order that they wouldn’t lave off meeting and studying the Word. When transportation problems grew, adults were enlisted (incorporated) into the list of brothers who were going.

La obra ha permanecido durante todos estos años  gracias al trabajo de hermanos del propio Camagüey, como la hermana Ada García , la hermana Iris Martínez que es la tesorera  actual y fue de las que estuvo presente en aquel culto del año 1960  y de otras y otros. Durante algunos períodos hemos tenido también la ayuda de algunos obreros designados por el Presbiterio.

The work has endured during all these years thanks to the work of the brothers there as well as Ada Garcia and Iris Martinez, the Treasurer, who was present at the 1960 service, among many others. We’ve also received help from other workers designated by the Presbytery in some periods.

Actualmente nos reunimos en el hogar de la hermana Sonia  Ruíz.. La labor evangelística  la realiza la hermana Magaly Hernández Más, Presbítero Gobernante  de Cabaiguán  y que desde el 2001 reside en Camagüey con su familia. La pastora de los últimos años ha sido Mairolet Vega.

Today we meet in the house of Sonia Ruiz. Magaly Hernández Más, Elder from Cabaiguán, is in charge of evangelization, and who since 2001 resides in Camaguey with her family. Mairolet Vega Comas is the current pastor. 

Desde 1994 tenemos obra presbiteriana permanente en esta ciudad. Nos reunimos en casa de la hermana Sonia  para facilitar la asistencia de los hermanos y hermanas por el horario. Nuestro sueño es contar con un local propio en el que podamos realizar diferentes actividades. Para el que cree todo es posible, dice el Señor. Nosotros creemos que es posible  realizar en Camagüey el antiguo sueño de los primeros misioneros, estamos orando  y trabajando para que así sea. Amén

Since 1994 we’ve had a permanent mission in that city. We meet in the house of Sister Sonia to facilitate the timely attendance of the brothers and sisters. Our dream is to be able to count on our own place where we can hold different kinds of activities.  “For he who believes, everything is possible.” says the Lord. We relieve that it’s possible to realize the dream of the first Missionaries, we’re praying and working to this end.    Amen.

Datos tomados del libro : Apuntes para una historia   del Presbiterianismo en Cuba, del Rev. Rafael Cepeda.

Artículo de la revista Heraldo Cristiano. Año 2004. De Magaly Hernández Más.

Testimonios de  loa pastores Javier Naranjo, Yolanda Alonso, Miriam Naranjo  y Mairolet Vega.

Bibliography:

1. Facts taken from the book: Notes on the History of Presbyterianism in Cuba,   by Rafael Cepeda.

2. An article from the magazine:  Christian Herald  in 2004 by Magaly Mas

3. Testimony from Javier Naranjo, Yolanda Alonso, Miriam Naranjo, and Mairolet Vega.