Around the World
70th Anniversary Celebration of Open Bible in Cuba
From January 21-24, 2020, Open Bible Churches of Cuba celebrated 70 years of ministry. The event was hosted by Templo Evangelico de la Biblia Abierta, an Open Bible church in Guanajay, Cuba, with hosts David and Rebecca Moreno, our Cuba field directors and pastors of the host church.
The theme for the celebration was Nuevo Comienzo (New Beginning) and included a reenactment of the founding of the Open Bible Church in Cuba with young people and children playing the parts of the first Open Bible missionaries. Participants were treated to worship with a dance team and guest musicians as well as several training seminars. Meals were served throughout the conference for all 800-850 participants, a major expense and logistical challenge for the church, with preparations that began last October.
Special guests included Open Bible President Randall A. Bach and Barbara, his wife; Global Missions Executive Director Vince McCarty and Lois, his wife; D.J. Smith, the son of Don and Margaret Smith, and Cammy, his wife; and other guests from Mexico and Puerto Rico.
President Randall Bach said, “The work the church desires to do in Cuba demands faith, resourcefulness, and hard work. Rather than being discouraged by the immense challenges they face to grow the work in Cuba, the Open Bible people exhibit a seasoned resolve and faith-filled anticipation of God’s favor. They respect and are compliant with all governmental rules and regulations. They are good neighbors. Their love for people is consistently apparent. Their testimony is established in the eyes of Cubans. They are a wonderful representation of Open Bible Churches to their nation.”
The Open Bible work in Cuba was founded by Paul and LaVon Hartman, now in heaven, who were followed by missionaries Don (in heaven) and Margaret Smith. After the revolution occurred in 1959, American missionaries had to flee the country. Nonetheless, the church continued to grow. Open Bible now has 121 churches, including “mission churches,” that are being launched plus about 1,000 cell groups throughout the island which are started with the idea of one day combining several cell groups in an area to plant a new church.
When asked what he credits the success of Open Bible Churches in Cuba to, Vince McCarty responded: “Our founding missionaries did a great job training and giving our Cuban brothers and sisters such a wonderful example of what a disciple of Christ should do and how they should live. Second, they left behind a Bible school that continued to train up pastors and leaders. Now INSTE is the main training and teaching program for preparing future ministers and leaders. Third, is how resilient the people of Cuba are even in difficult circumstances.”
He added, “The faith of our Open Bible people in Cuba is amazing; they can teach us so much. They literally depend upon the Holy Spirit for direction and guidance. They have seen miracles of healing, provision, and so much more. They are proof that it doesn’t matter whatever circumstance you may face, if you trust and believe in the Lord you will see signs, wonders, and people getting saved. The same Lord who is at work in Cuba is at work in the U.S. We just need to believe and act, using our faith, and God will do the rest.”
In parts of Nigeria today, land is no longer just a livelihood – it’s a battleground. In search of increasingly scarce water and grazing land, semi-nomadic Muslim herdsmen are moving their flocks south into areas already inhabited by Christian farmers. This encroachment has intensified conflict, resulting in thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions, increased kidnappings, and deepening ethnic tensions. This is the environment in which Open Bible’s ministry continues day after day.
Despite these challenges, the Gospel is advancing.
Okon Obot, Open Bible’s Superintendent in Nigeria, shared the following story with me:
Recently we held an evangelistic crusade in one of the affected regions. Despite security concerns, people came looking for hope and peace. Evangelistic crusades remain a powerful and effective way to share the Gospel in village communities where fear and uncertainty are a part of daily life.
The theme of the crusade was “Arise and Shine,” and over 300 people gathered. By the end, sixteen people had given their lives to Jesus and fifteen were immediately baptized and welcomed into the church, each a testimony to God’s faithfulness.
A high point of the crusade was the reconciliation of a family of brothers divided for five years. Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God was shared, they chose forgiveness and were restored to one another. They returned to their homes with joy and peace.
In response to God’s work in their lives, the brothers donated a large piece of property in their village, Mbabuu, for the construction of a church building.
This is where the 2026 Global Harvest Offering, “Build Hope for Africa,” comes in. When we reach our goal of $200,000, Nigeria will be one of the recipients. Open Bible will partner directly with Pastor Okon to build a new church building in a place like the village Mbabuu.
This is more than a construction project – it is the next step of what God is doing. Despite hardship, churches in Nigeria are growing and new buildings are needed to serve expanding congregations and reach their communities.
Your gift to “Build Hope for Africa” can help provide a visible witness of Jesus in a region marked by instability and equip local leaders like pastor Okon to continue evangelizing where the need is great.
In a place where land is fought over, God continues to build His Church!
Snapshots of the vibrant ministry happening in Nigeria:
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Have you ever wondered, What in the world are our Open Bible missionaries doing now? We wish we could visit every church or sit down over coffee and share what God is doing where we serve—but that isn’t always possible.
So this month, we’ve gathered brief notes from missionaries around the world. As you’ve read these updates from around the world, we invite you to pray for our missionaries—their families, their ministries, and the communities they serve. Please also share these stories with your church so others can join in prayer.
Use the interactive map below to see the updates:
Trouble seeing the map? Click HERE
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Ask Open Bible pastors in Africa what the biggest problem in their church is and most reply with one word: REVIVAL! Just as Saul once ravaged the early church in Acts 8, our African brothers today face similar conditions: harassment, arrest, and even death for following Christ. But in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations. They’re calling for our help, not to alleviate the suffering, but to build new church facilities to serve their expanding congregations and communities.
The Global Harvest Offering of 2026 is “Building Hope in Africa,” and it is our opportunity to participate in this revival. In this initiative, we will partner with our missionaries and national directors to fund thirteen new church building projects across the continent. God is using faithful missionaries and nationals to plant churches, raise leaders, and reach communities with the hope only found in Jesus!
… in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations.
Our missionary partners are many: the Godwins, the Kopps, the Parkers, Okon Obot, Peter Mahoye, the Moores, the Welches, and our brothers and sisters throughout the Antioch Network.
Thirteen churches.
Thirteen countries.
One goal:
to raise the $200,000 needed to
cover the costs for all thirteen projects.
With over 230 Open Bible churches in the United States, we can meet the financial goal of the Global Harvest Offering if each church gives $875. Alternatively, just 2,000 people giving $100 this year would meet the goal. Your support in this effort helps build more than walls; it builds hope, community and the Kingdom of God. Look for the QR code or this link to give to Building Hope in Africa today. Thank you for your partnership to build hope for Africa.
