Since 2009, TWR has been working with RTM Cuba to further spread the good news of Jesus Christ across their country. The internet in Cuba is hard to access and is expensive and slow. Therefore, an outside media source such as TWR is effective in reaching the country with the gospel.
Every evening from 8pm to 11pm, Shine 800 AM reaches Cuba from Bonaire with Spanish programmes like Thru the Bible, Women of Hope, Haven Today and RTM Cuba director Pastor Alberto’s own Messages of Faith and Hope.
At the beginning of November 2019, RTM Cuba’s new programme Our Home began to air from the Bonaire transmitter. This programme invites listeners to reflect and learn about building healthy relationships in the family and teaches listeners how to deal with difficult situations faced at home. The programme covers topics such as a lack of communication between family members, divorce, parenting, care for older parents, depression and infidelity.
“People are confused”, explains Alberto. “In Cuba, there is a pressing need for a programme that deals with topics such as divorce, addictions and loneliness. I receive many questions from listeners who need counsel. I expect this programme will also attract many non-Christian listeners.”
Annabel Torrealba, TWR’s director for North/Central Latin America and the Caribbean adds, “This programme will touch the hearts of the Cuban listeners deeply, who for years have been at the mercy of communist teachings far removed from God’s plan for human beings.”
Our Home airs every Friday night at 10 p.m. on Shine 800 AM, and can also be heard in Venezuela, Mexico and the southern part of the United States.
In addition to this radio programme, RTM Cuba has begun corresponding via letters and telephone calls with 25 prisoners in four prisons. There is a well-organised ministry of chaplains who visit the prisons in Cuba. Alberto connected with the director of this ministry and has provided him with literature to give to the prisoners. In some of these prisons the prisoners can have their own radios and have the freedom to listen to broadcasts every night. The chaplains have taught the prisoners how to listen toMessages of Faith and Hope and other programmes. These prisoners have been so impacted by the programming that they have shared their relatives’ contact information with RTM Cuba, requesting that literature be sent to them along with an invitation to listen to the broadcasts from Bonaire.
On December 3, 2019, Alberto fell and injured his leg, requiring surgery the following day. He was on bed rest for more than a month, but as of the middle of January 2020, he started walking again. Alberto is receiving physical therapy three times a day and is on his way to full recovery.
Prior to starting therapy, he shared with us: “I have been totally pain-free! God has been merciful with me. I have also received much love from my family and brothers and sisters in Christ, thousands of telephone calls, letters, and messages. It has been unbelievable and unexpected for me and very comforting.”
This encouragement has lifted Alberto up and shown him how many people care about him and is evidence of the impact Alberto is having in Cuba.
Due to the measures put in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, no one can currently visit the office or send any letters. Alberto now works from home for a few hours each day answering telephone calls from listeners and writing new programme scripts.
“Our hope,” says Alberto, “is that the measures of social isolation continue to bring the number of cases down and that we will be able to start working from the office again soon. We foresee very difficult times will come with the economy and food shortages. Something very sad during this time has been the amount of people lining up in front of the stores waiting to be able to buy food. Nevertheless, the Lord has supplied for us our daily needs. We have trust and faith that as always, God will supply at the right moment.”
Join us as we thank God for the impact the Our Home programme is having in Cuba and beyond. We pray for the producers as they continue to develop the programme and ask that God will bless all those who hear it, in particular those who are in prison. We also lift up Pastor Alberto in prayer as he continues to recover from surgery and lead the ministry in Cuba during this challenging time.
