Faith and Hope Amid Bleakness: What is Happening in Cuba and How Christians Can Respond

Moises Pérez Padrón records Faith and Hope in the RTM Cuba studio. Photo courtesy of RTM Cuba.

The director of Radio Trans Mundial (TWR in Spanish) Cuba is asking believers everywhere to pray as his nation faces “very difficult” conditions.

With fuel scarce, transportation is crippled, communications are deteriorating and crime is on the rise, said Moisés Pérez Padrón. Power outages have lasted as long as 12-14 hours, although in recent days six-hour outages have been more typical.

Yet RTM Cuba continues to provide a voice of faith, insisting that prayer can serve as a beacon illuminating the way toward a better future.

Communications are compromised and the country faces the prospect of a “general blackout like the one we had in 2024,” Padrón said. But RTM Cuba is still broadcasting its five‑minute Faith and Hope micro‑program via the WhatsApp social media site. This initiative remains an accessible resource for those who, despite energy limitations, need a ray of light. TWR also broadcasts programs of hope and truth to Cuba from its transmitting station on the island of Bonaire. 

Padrón warned that “the increase in criminality resulting from scarcity” is an escalating threat. The shortage of fuel and electricity, coupled with limited transportation, creates an environment conducive to theft and violent acts.

Most Cuban citizens long for a change in their nation, Padrón said, yet they are wary of the potential consequences of a transition. He laid bare the harsh reality and the urgent need to unite in prayer.

He has three specific prayer requests:

1. “May the Lord keep us safe from any damage to our property amid the rising crime that stems from scarcity.”
2. “May we continue to reach people in these difficult times with a message of hope and faith.”
3. “May the Lord sustain us in the midst of this crisis.”