You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
A recent Open Doors visit shows the truth of life for followers of Jesus
For three days, Felipe* attended workshops, worship services, and met with church leaders across five provinces in Cuba.
"I heard the testimonies of about 10 pastors and leaders," he says. "What I saw was both inspiring and heartbreaking—a passionate, living faith co-existing with poverty, fear and repression."
"Inspiring and heartbreaking" ... these are the words that describe the situation of Cuban believers following Jesus in a country ranked No. 26 on Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List, the annual list of the 50 places where faith costs the most.
Felipe and Laura* were in Cuba as members of an Open Doors team from Latin America. They were there to see firsthand the situation in Cuba. What they encountered was a stark reality: systemic poverty, pervasive surveillance, and churches clinging to faith in the face of hardship.
"You have to choose between buying food or buying a Bible."
Ana*, Cuban believer
The capital city of Havana painted a grim picture. Streets were filled with garbage. Buildings were crumbling. Public services were largely nonfunctional. "If this is Havana," Felipe wondered, "what conditions are people facing in more remote areas?"
In central Havana, Laura noted a jarring contrast during her small tour: high-end restaurants catering to tourists and elites, surrounded by neighborhoods where people waited in long lines just to obtain basic food rations. "It's not just an economic paradox," she says. "It's moral and political. Some eat in luxury while others live in despair."
For her, a simple look into the eyes of the Cuban people revealed the reality: "When you see people on the street, you see hopelessness—faces that tell stories of daily struggle, broken promises, and dreams deferred for generations."
This was even more evident among Havana's children. "You see kids playing in the streets, not because they have free time, but because school's cancelled—again—due to power outages," Laura says. "They do not play by choice; they play because it is the only thing they can do."
Power outages are a constant reality in Havana, leaving entire neighborhoods in darkness for hours—or even days. During Laura's week in Cuba, the electricity went out three times, affecting everything from daily life to church services. "We often have to cancel planned activities," says Angela*, a local pastor.
Food shortages are another harsh reality. According to Cubanoticias360, the average monthly wage is now around $16 USD. Dependence on government distribution has grown, with people lining up for hours to receive rationed food supplies.
"The situation shook me to the core," Felipe recalls.
He remembers one pastor telling him that the modest meal—just rice, chicken and salad—provided during an Open Doors church event was the best plate of food many attendees had eaten in months. "What we consider basic, they see as a luxury," Felipe says.
The healthcare system is also in crisis. By late 2024, Cuban authorities admitted that 70% of the nation's essential drugs were either unavailable or in short supply. Out of 651 critical medications, 461 were scarce.
This, combined with people's low incomes, makes healthcare nearly impossible to access. "My salary doesn't even cover what my diabetic wife needs," said Raul*, a Christian leader Laura interviewed. "We live in constant uncertainty."
In Cuba, the challenges facing Christians are not only economic (which affect all Cubans)—they're also political. The state closely monitors religious activity, imposing bureaucratic restrictions, controlling speech and punishing unregistered or "uncooperative" churches.
Churches are allowed to meet, but always under watch. "At worship services, you'll hear people pray for hardship and need, but never name the people responsible," Felipe noted. "That silence speaks volumes about the fear Christians live with."
Persecution in Cuba is rarely violent but remains systematic. Church leaders are surveilled, discriminated against, and subjected to legal harassment. Independent churches—particularly those that grow or operate outside official structures—are prime targets.
During their visit, Felipe and Laura spoke with several Christian leaders and witnessed firsthand the restrictions many pastors face in their ministry and social outreach. For instance, Alicia and Aarón*, a pastoral couple who run children's programs and food distributions, have been summoned by Cuba's religious affairs office after they were photographed by a stranger.
"I worry something will happen to my husband," Alicia said, reflecting on the intense level of surveillance—and the emotional toll of serving God under constant scrutiny.
Even getting to church is a challenge. Public transportation is limited outside major cities, and many Christians do not own a vehicle. Even if they do, the gas supply allowed per person by the government is not enough.
This requires anyone who needs a car to get gasoline on the black market, which has a sharp markup from the regular gas prices. "The government's gas allotment doesn't go far," said Richar*, a Christian who helped Laura as a driver. "If I'm not working as driver, I ride a bike. Driving's too expensive."
The situation turns simple actions like going to church into a difficult journey. One pastor told Felipe how his small motorcycle—bought with help from relatives abroad—carries him, his wife and two children to church. "It's not ideal, but it's how we manage," he said. What might seem extraordinary elsewhere is simply everyday life for many Cubans.
There's also a growing shortage of Christian resources. Bibles are difficult to obtain and costly, so many churches hand out only New Testaments to new believers. "You have to choose between buying food or buying a Bible," says Ana*, a Cuban believer. "That's how it works."
The economic, political and spiritual desperation are massive. "You can't grasp the magnitude of this crisis unless you live it," Felipe says. "What people say about Cuba is never as serious as what is actually being lived."
Even with the scarcity, censorship, and surveillance, the Cuban church endures. In fact, adversity seems to strengthen its resolve. Without microphones, lights, or even ventilation, believers gather to praise God with joy and a faith that surpasses all hope.
"Despite everything, the Cuban church is vibrant and active," Felipe says. "Their faith is unwavering. They've learned to worship without resources, to teach without books and to pray in silence."
And churches continue serving. "[The government] doesn't help—and they don't want us to help either," says Pastor Raul. "But we're the only ones supporting the community." His words expose both the government's failure to offer solutions and the resilience of a church determined to serve its people.
During her trip, Laura traveled to a rural area three hours from Havana to meet Christian families involved in Open Doors' support programs. She described the trip as life-changing.
"The landscape didn't impact me as much as the people," she said. "The more need I saw, the stronger their faith seemed to be."
A prayer for Cuba:
Heavenly Father, we lift up the church leaders and believers in Cuba. Surround them with Your protection, fill them with Your strength, and guide them with Your wisdom. May Your presence bring hope and courage as they stand firm in their faith, Amen.