Posted: 01/12/2015 at 12:57pm | IP Logged

Cuba, US on the Mend, But at What Price?

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Now that Cuba and the United States have unexpectedly decided to renew diplomatic relations, many are asking - what's next?

After five decades of cold war isolation, will the Cuban people experience new opportunities, including new religious freedoms?

The questions began after President Barack Obama's surprise announcement last December.

"Today the United States of America is changing its relationship with the people of Cuba," the president said.

"In the most significant changes in our policy in more than 50 years we will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests, and instead, we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries," he added.

The White House statement was matched by a similar announcement from Cuba's President Raul Castro, bringing new hope to many Cubans, and especially to the island's Christians.

The easing of travel restrictions for Americans could mean more Bible training for the Cuban church.

Youth Pastor Jonad Garcia said the news made him hopeful.

"For many years getting a visa has been complicated for foreigners, and specifically for North Americans, to come and…train groups of churches, pastors, missionaries," he said.

In an exclusive interview with CBN News, Dr. Teo Babun, CEO of Echo Cuba in Miami, said the U.S. policy change brings a new opportunity.

"We're quite excited about it and we believe this is a new paradigm for the Church and for religion in general in Cuba," Babun said.

"We think that the Church will now be challenged to emerge as one, independent, holy and passionate for Jesus Christ. So a smooth transition is possible and we've been praying for this for a long time," he added

But while some church leaders are optimistic, Babun says they are also concerned about unwanted imports, as happened in Eastern Europe.

He believes that one of the warnings for the church in Cuba is to "not to be drawn away with false theology, bad partnerships, bad associations, or bad covenants that may come because of the opening that may take place."

Babun says the changing relationship between the U.S. and Cuba also warrants a call to prayer, especially that the U.S. and the Cuban government will give priority to discussing religious freedom.

He believes that "if the U.S. puts pressure on the Cuban government and the Cuban government hears it, we will see an accelerated opening of religious opportunities for us to do everything from sending more bibles to sending more people to Cuba."

In that way, the return of the U.S. Embassy in Havana could promote a ripple of positive changes throughout the island.