Presbyterian Cuba Partners Network

We are blessed to be in partnership with Central Presbyterian Reformed Church in Matanzas, Cuba. Churches in the US and Cuba have enjoyed similar partnerships for close to 40 years under the umbrella of the wider Presbyterian Cuba Partners Network. FPCN has sent delegations to visit our partner church, and their two pastors, Rev. Ary Fernandez Alban and Rev. Beidy Casas Aragon have been in Naples to visit us, most recently in August of 2023. Your Missions Committee supports the outreach work being done by Central Presbyterian in Matanzas, specifically a senior feeding program, a special needs program for children who otherwise would not be receiving any services at all, and enriched Christian Education for the children and youth of the congregation. Through your generosity, our Mission Committee supports these programs financially as well as the purchase of desperately needed supplies like medications, vitamins, food, hygiene products, educational books, office items, etc. These donations are taken by our delegations when we are able to travel to Cuba to participate in the ministry work there.

The partnership between our congregations is based on a mutual exchange of ideas, resources, prayers, activities, studies, culture and collegiality, all in the service of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Our three-year partnership was renewed in May of 2023. In addition, our Presbytery has renewed a partnership with the Matanzas Presbytery, solidifying multiple church to church relationships in the region.

Camotàn, Guatemala

Church members Yancey Brame and Mark Speake MD travelled to Camotàn, Guatemala on a medical mission trip in April. The team also consisted of two physicians in training, Dr. Laura Muller and Dr. Angelina Brown from the NCH Internal Medicine Residency program as well as Dr. Teresa Liccardi, local nephrologist and fellow in Palliative Care at NCH and Dr. Steve Stahl from Denver, Colorado. They were joined by Dr. Jovita Toledo, a dentist from Guatemala City, as well as a team of nurses, two medical students from Guatemala and medical translators. 

The team was able to care for 590 patients over 4 days. Our church provided the medications that were distributed to the people in the mountains of Camotàn. The team ran out of children's multivitamins but were able to supply ample prenatal vitamins to our pregnant and breastfeeding patients. 

In addition, we were able to supply the midwife affiliated with the free clinic in Camotàn with prenatal vitamins. Dr. Speake is looking forward to returning again with another team in October. His first trip was in 2006. Donations of children's chewable, adult and prenatal multivitamins are always welcome. Most of all, thank you for your prayer support!