Open Doors Youth, PO Box 6, Witney, Oxon, UK, OX29 6WG
We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are, beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.
Cuba
World Watch List ranking: 24
How many Christians?
6.9 million (61.3%)
Leader
President Miguel Diaz-Canel
SUMMARY
Monitoring of Christians is becoming tighter, with the state compiling a database of pastors considered ‘counter- revolutionaries’. Christian leaders face harassment or even arrest. The authorities generally refuse to register new places of worship. Believers forced to meet in unregistered house churches can be heavily fined and have their church shut down.
Main threats
EVERY £8
Could provide a young person from Central Asia with a Bible in their own language
EVERY £26
Could provide trauma care for a victim of violent persecution
Three Christians who serve as church leaders in Vietnam have been falsely arrested in a region which is a hotspot for persecution. Hung*, Long* and Viet* – who are siblings – also saw their homes destroyed, their animals taken away and their harvest confiscated by police
Cuba’s communist regime is not tolerant of dissenting voices or any other institutions gaining influence or power. The church falls into both of these camps and, as a result, Christians experience persecution from the authorities.
Christian activists or church leaders speaking out against corruption or political issues can be arrested and imprisoned. Others face smear campaigns against them and harassment or violence from the authorities and their sympathisers. The authorities compile a database of churches and pastors considered ‘counter-revolutionaries’, which these Christians fear will be another way to monitor and control them.
The state does not allow Christians freedom of conscience on social issues. For instance, if the state passes new legislation on marriage, churches will be forced to comply. If they don’t, church leaders are likely to be monitored and threatened by the state security agency. Government measures include arrests, abductions, arbitrary fines, close surveillance, denials of licenses and religious visas and physical and mental abuse.
Meet ‘Pastor Luiz’
“There is not even the possibility of legally registering our church.”
– PASTOR LUIZ, A CUBAN MISSIONARY WHOSE CHURCH IS DENIED AUTHORISATION
Cuba’s communist regime is not tolerant of dissenting voices or any other institutions gaining influence or power. The church falls into both of these camps and, as a result, Christians experience persecution from the authorities.
Christian activists or church leaders speaking out against corruption or political issues can be arrested and imprisoned. Others face smear campaigns against them and harassment or violence from the authorities and their sympathisers. The authorities compile a database of churches and pastors considered ‘counter-revolutionaries’, which these Christians fear will be another way to monitor and control them.
The state does not allow Christians freedom of conscience on social issues. For instance, if the state passes new legislation on marriage, churches will be forced to comply. If they don’t, church leaders are likely to be monitored and threatened by the state security agency. Government measures include arrests, abductions, arbitrary fines, close surveillance, denials of licenses and religious visas and physical and mental abuse.
Get your free interactive map to learn where Christians are counting the cost for their faith in Jesus. This year’s map features some impossible folds to help you connect with the impossible faith of the persecuted church.
Order Now...
Get a free download of a youth session outline to help you learn more and pray for the places where Christians are counting the cost of following Jesus!
ORDER NOW...
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION: