Generations of Hope: Cuba’s Joyful Faith Amid Hardship

For over 60 years, Cubans have found hope in Christ through TWR broadcasts from Bonaire, and that work now continues through RTM Cuba—on the air, in house churches, and even via WhatsApp. Read on about Brent Campbell's recent visit to Havana, where he witnessed how God is raising up new leaders, joyful house churches, and a renewed ministry hub under the leadership of Moisés Pérez, RTM Cuba’s director.

A Mission of Hope from Bonaire to Cuba’s Shores

TWR Canada’s mission is to reach the world for Christ through mass media so that lasting fruit is produced. Cuba is one of the places where we see this mission lived out in remarkable ways. For decades, Spanish programs have crossed the Caribbean Sea from TWR’s powerful AM transmitter on Bonaire, bringing the gospel even when no local Christian radio could operate.

One Cuban listener told me how, as a girl, she and her grandmother tuned in every night to hear TWR’s programs. Today, in her sixties, she still treasures those evenings of teaching and worship. 

Pictures shared by a listener of her and her grandmother.

Stories like hers remind us how God’s Word has been faithfully shaping lives in Cuba for generations. The same programs—Messages of Faith and Hope and Our Home—are still on the air nightly, across the island.

Visiting Our Cuban Family

This spring my wife and I visited our RTM Cuba family. We spent time with Moisés Pérez, RTM Cuba’s new director, who is also a pastor and Vice President of the Southern Baptist Seminary in Havana. Along with his wife Kesia and their two daughters, Moisés welcomed us into their home with warmth and joy.

From left to right: TWR Canada President & CEO, Brent Campbell with wife Jessica, Kesia and RTM Cuba Director, Moisés Pérez and their daughters.

Just a year ago, Moisés received leadership from Alberto González, who guided the ministry for more than 60 years under communist rule. Alberto—now in his eighties—endured hardship but never stopped proclaiming “the Word of God is not chained.” Passing the baton to Moisés marks a beautiful moment of one generation entrusting the mission to the next.

Moisés spoke candidly about Cuba’s realities: inflation, shortages, and widespread emigration. Yet his outlook is full of hope. “Cuba continues to experience a harvest of souls surrendering to the Lord… God is answering our prayers in the midst of hardship,” he has said. And those very words echoed in my mind, as I saw the unshakable joy that defines Cuban believers—a joy rooted in Christ, not circumstances.

House Churches Filled with Joy

That joy was even more visible as we visited two house churches. In one simple shelter with folding chairs, a grandmother in her seventies start singing “Cómo Fiel es Dios” (“How Faithful God Is”). Her radiant gratitude, despite decades of scarcity and restrictions, was unforgettable. Nearby, a man shared how he had been encouraged by TWR’s radio programs and now felt blessed to serve in his church. “Christ is worth it,” he told me. “We want to feed His sheep here, no matter what.”

Left: Church building in Havana. Right: Church entrance with sign "Jesus is Lord".

Believers in Cuba often gather under makeshift shelters because traditional church buildings are restricted. Discipleship materials and Bibles can be scarce. Yet what we found was not despair, but overflowing hope. Even in a struggling society, new believers are coming to Christ and the Church is growing quietly but steadily.

Radio and Digital Outreach

Radio remains central to the ministry, but digital tools are opening new doors. In many Cuban cities, LED lighting interferes with AM radio reception. To bridge that gap, Moisés and his team are distributing TWR content through WhatsApp and other digital channels, reaching hundreds of people weekly with teaching and encouragement.

We’ve also provided portable media players loaded with Scripture, enabling believers to listen anytime—even when the power fails. A young Cuban told us receiving Christian content on his mobile device felt like “God Himself sent me a WhatsApp message.”

These digital connections are fueling discipleship too. A seminary student in Havana is piloting TWR Canada’s Discipleship Essentials (DE) program, a Bible study curriculum created in Canada and translated into Spanish. Soon, Cuban house church leaders will use it to equip believers across the island. What a joy to see Canadian resources strengthening God’s global Church.

A New Ministry Hub in Havana

We also visited the property being renovated as RTM Cuba’s new ministry hub—and the Pérez family’s home. When I first saw it, the roof leaked and walls crumbled. Today, repairs are almost finished: the roof is sealed, walls repainted, floors repaired, and mold cleared from what will soon be a recording studio again.

TWR RTM Cuba building and recording studio

As Moisés showed us around, he pointed to a guest room they plan to open for pastors or mission teams. “… and here is where we’ll welcome others,” he explained, smiling. This space will be more than a house, recording studio, and ministry space—it will be a lighthouse for the Gospel.

A Legacy of Joy and Gratitude

As I reflect on our time in Cuba, I am struck by the theme of joyful faithfulness. From the grandmother who sang with all her heart, to the young pastor preparing to shepherd Cuban believers, to Moisés and Kesia stepping forward with courage, to the enduring voice of the radio at night—God’s people in Cuba shine with a hope your partnership helps sustain.

To our dear supporters and partners: thank you. Your prayers and generosity make this ministry possible. Because of you, a little girl once heard about Jesus through Bonaire broadcasts—and decades later, her faith still endures. Because of you, house church leaders now have discipleship tools to guide believers. Because of you, a new generation like Moisés and Kesia can carry the mission forward with strength and hope in a hard and hostile place like Cuba.

My wife and I left Cuba with full hearts, knowing God is not done with this story. More lives will be reached, more believers discipled, and more joy shared. Thank you for standing with us to bring the gospel to Cuba—through radio, digital media, and the faithful presence of God’s people.