Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: February 19, 2022
'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ (Matthew 11:28)
What a wonderful invitation from Jesus: to come and rest. Today we pray this verse over Christians in Cuba, as a number of church leaders have recently been brought in for interrogation. Many of you have been praying and campaigning for Pastor Lorenzo, but he’s far from the only church leader who has experienced injustice.
This is Reverend Yordanys Díaz Arteaga’s story.
‘Consequences and repercussions’
Reverend Díaz Arteaga is the denominational president of the Christian Reformed Church of Cuba. He became a target after the denomination decided to leave the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC), an umbrella organisation which has close ties with the government.
On 4 January 2021 the pastor was threatened that leaving the CCC would have ‘consequences and repercussions for him in his leadership.’ Later that month, he received four anonymous phone calls in one day – ultimately warning him that if he did not change his ways, ‘he would see what would happen to him.’
Searched by State Security
Just over two weeks ago, State Security officers raided Reverend Díaz Arteaga’s home and seized some items belonging to his church. The pastor was then detained and threatened with charges of ‘receiving illegal goods’ – even though the confiscated items had been obtained legally.
After being taken into custody and interrogated at an unknown location, the pastor was released at 2am. He is now effectively under house arrest, alongside his family, with communications cut off.
Please join us in praying:
- For an end to the campaign of harassment and intimidation against Reverend Díaz Arteaga and his family.
- That all charges against the pastor will be dropped and for all communications to be restored.
- For peace, protection and support to surround all church leaders in Cuba – especially those who have recently been interrogated.