After spending the morning looking all over Holguin for laundry detergent (which we didn’t find), we headed for Kairos Baptist Church in Bayamo located in Granma Province. Kairos meets in Elia’s home (her bed is behind me in the photo). Elia, who is well in to her 80’s, was a founding member in 1993. Most of the members are retirees, quite a few were medical professionals.

As people trickle in for our gathering, the conversation centers on the cholera epidemic which is a growing problem in the province. A retired doctor reminds us to boil water, wash hands & produce, avoid buying from street vendors, and to educate our family & neighbors.

 

I’ve come to Kairos to learn about a church that is unique because it has been run almost entirely by lay leaders. As I am warmly embraced by this kindly, energetic group of mostly seniors, I feel their joy at being together, I experience their vulnerability after years without pastoral care, I sense their fear of congregational death as they age. It is an experience that many of us in US churches know all too well.

 

As I dialogue with the group, we focus on their concern for congregational growth. From their perspective, a congregation is only healthy and growing if there are kids. I am flabbergasted because just moments before they had shared about the medical support they offer to seniors, their personal visitation ministries, and the seniors in their community that lack the care and sense of family that Kairos offers them.

 

In my mind the most natural outreach strategy would be to focus on ministry to seniors by seniors but it’s not a model that’s seen too often in Cuba. When I point out that their gifts seem to lead them towards ministry to seniors, the entire group looks at me like I am out of my mind! Senior ministry to them means caring for people even older than themselves who are probably sick. I observe that there are plenty of retirees like themselves who are energetic and but need a place to find love, support, and to become involved. I share some examples of successful senior ministry models that can generate growth. Finally, they capture the idea that a church that focuses on people like themselves can be vibrant and could multiply what they most love about Kairos. Then, ideas started tumbling out. It turns out that addition to the doctors and nurses, one woman takes arts and crafts classes, another knits, and several are professional musicians. In their minds, all of these, they tell me, can be put to use in ministry to seniors. It appears that through our encounter we have shared a kairos moment: “the appointed time in the purpose of God”.

 

Thank you for your prayers and support as I am blessed to accompany, serve, and encourage our brothers and sisters in Cuba.

 

Kim