Cuba - Omar and Kenia Gude Perez - Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Your letters and cards are making a difference in Cuba

The wife of a persecuted Cuban pastor has told CSW how the letters she has received from CSW supporters have made an impact on the Cuban authorities, as well as encouraging the family.

Pastor Omar Gude Pérez was sentenced to six years in prison on fabricated charges, and the authorities have threatened to confiscate the family home. The government is becoming increasingly desperate in its attempts to justify the charges, and disturbed by the huge quantities of encouraging letters and cards the family has received!

Pastor Gude Pérez received his prison sentence despite credible claims that he was falsely charged due to his leadership role in a fast-growing Christian organisation. The sentencing includes the confiscation of the family home. Pastor Gude Pérez’s wife Kenia asked CSW supporters to keep sending her cards and letters, to show the Cuban authorities that the case is still receiving international attention. Your cards have already made a huge impact!

State prosecutors initially attempted to charge Pastor Gude Pérez with ‘Human Trafficking’, but even though these charges were dropped in March 2009 after a court in Camaguey ruled there was no evidence, Pastor Gude Pérez was still not released from prison.

In April new charges of ‘falsification of documents and illicit economic activities’ were filed. In the court brief, government officials said that Pastor Gude Pérez had ‘counter-revolutionary conduct and attitudes’.

According to Kenia, false documents and testimonies were presented in court. We have also received reliable information indicating that more than thirty other church leaders were temporarily arrested and threatened in May and June. Some were detained just before Pastor Gude Pérez’s court hearing – a possible attempt by the authorities to prevent a show of support for him at the hearing. Another church leader from the same church network was arrested in July and is still in prison.

For months prior to his detention, Pastor Gude Pérez and his family were threatened by government officials and warned to curtail their religious activities. A number of other members of their religious group have also been harassed by the authorities.

Good news

In the midst of our concerns for the safety of Pastor Gude Pérez and his family, we are pleased to note that the EU is monitoring his case. Following letters from CSW supporters to MEPs about his case, Kenia has received regular phone calls from EU representatives in Havana.

In addition, his family has received hundreds of letters from CSW supporters and has said that they feel supported by their church family in the UK, and are encouraged to know that there are people who care for them.

Pray

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Show solidarity

Show solidarity to Pastor Gude Pérez and his wife Kenia by sending a letter/card of encouragement using Connect & Encourage.
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Case background

Prior to his imprisonment, Pastor Gude Pérez and his wife, Kenia, were working with another couple to start a small Bible school. As part of their ministry, Pastor Gude Pérez and Kenia oversaw several pastors and leaders across Cuba and have been training more leaders in order to expand the ministry.

There are strong indications, however, that Pastor Gude Pérez has actually been targeted because of his leadership role in the ‘Apostolic Reformation’, a fast-growing Christian organisation. This group is comprised of independent, self-governing, non-denominational churches, and is viewed with suspicion by the Cuban government because it is not linked to traditionally and officially-recognised denominations.

When asked what we could pray for, Kenia replied, “What we most need is for God to open the doors in Cuba. We know this is all because of the Apostolic Movement but of course the authorities are charging Omar with criminal acts so as not to look ridiculous to the rest of the world despite the fact that there is very real religious persecution here.”