Contributed
Nearly 20 years ago, the youth Sabbath School class at the Westminster, S.C., Church decided they wanted to start a mission project in Cuba. Since that first project in 1997, World Youth Group has grown into an established nonprofit corporation, and is a member of Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries. Today, it is one of the largest soul-winning ministries in Cuba, training the people there to be lay medical missionaries who can minister to their peers. So far, World Youth Group has trained 550 youth in Cuba, sending more than 60 of them into 32 Cuban cities where the Gospel has never been heard.
Although this group encounters many challenges when engaging with the government, they continue to hold true to their four main pillars of ministry. First, World Youth Group trains young Cubans (through a one-month medical missionary course) to relieve suffering in practical ways. Second, they send their course graduates to one of the 1,000 towns in Cuba that have never heard about the Adventist Church and its beliefs. Third, they bring in young missionaries from North America to hold evangelistic series in the newly reached cities. Finally, World Youth Group establishes a church or company in the town by purchasing a house and holding weekly meetings there. Because of their prior positive involvement in the various communities through medical work, the government is more willing to grant them permission to worship.
Throughout their ministry, World Youth Group has witnessed multiple miracles of both healing and soul-conversion. Last year, Rodolpho, a videographer for a communist television station in Cuba, took their medical missionary course. After becoming a trained medical missionary, he began sharing his experience and his love for Jesus. Each day he would have a conversation with his boss, focusing on his new Adventist beliefs, and finally gaining the courage to offer her Bible studies. She quickly agreed, and they began staying at the office an extra hour each evening to study God’s Word and discuss their findings. When World Youth Group conducted another medical missionary course earlier this year, Rodolpho’s boss took the course and was baptized. With such inspiring soul-winning stories happening on a regular basis, World Youth Group looks to the future with great anticipation.
As World Youth Group furthers their ministry in Cuba, they continue to witness God’s mercy and grace. Their goal is to send out 40 additional medical missionaries; therefore, they crave the prayers and assistance of the people in the Carolina Conference. If you would like more information about this ministry, please visit their website, www.worldyouthgroup.com.
Carolina | August 2017
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