Cuba Partnership
Timeline of FBC-Cuban Partnership
1995 – Letter from Stan Hastey (Director, Alliance of Baptists) acknowledging interest from Doug Berky, Ann Quattlebaum, and other members of FBC-Greenville about FBC partnering with a Cuban congregation
1996 – Stan and Adalberto (Director, Fraternity of Cuban Baptist Churches- FIBAC) at FBC for meeting to discuss possible partnership
1997 (Summer) – Team from FBC to Cuba with Stan to visit various churches within FIBAC- financial support from FBC for Jordan Baptist Church renovations, theological education of Cuban pastors and lay leaders; decision that FBC was “too big” for 1:1 partnership with Cuban congregation-consider partnership with FIBAC
1997-2003 – Financial support through AOB for FIBAC and theological education continues
2003-2004 (Christmas/New Year’s) – Team of six from FBC visit Cuba- decide to support organic gardens/provide seeds; continue support of theological education; recommendation to move toward 1:1 congregational partnership
Team members: Ralph Bouton, Jerry Kerns, Cathy McCall, Marilyn Nelson, Kathy Sharp, Louise Stanford
2005 (November) – Jerry Kerns, Kathy Sharp, and Laura Shelley visit Cuba with Stan to meet congregation of Iglesia Bautista del Camino (Baptist Church of the Way) in Guanajay – discussions of what both churches desired from partnership, overview of Patio Project – draft of partnership covenant developed
2006 (Spring) – Javier Perez (Pastor, Church of the Way) attends AOB Convocation in Birmingham and visits Greenville as guest of FBC
2006 – Applied for and received religious travel license for FBC valid January 2007- January 2009; sponsored initial phase of Patio Project $10,980
2007 – Team of twelve prepares for December/January experience in Guanajay
2007-2008 (Christmas/New Year’s) – team in Cuba for First Congregational Exchange- “EarthHeart Together”—“Tierra y Corazon Juntos”
Team members: Ralph Bouton, Anne Garner, Seth Harrison, Kathy Hughes, Bryce McClendon, Michelle McClendon, Cara Mathis, Louis Mathis, Kathy Sharp, Laura Shelley, Mary Stone, Sara Stone
2008 (May) – Team of six to Guanajay for second exchange
Team members: Jerry Kerns, Brenda League, Cathy McCall, Rod McClendon, Mark Stone, TJ Williams
(December 2008/January 2009) – Team of nine to Guanajay for third exchange
Team members: Trevor Barton, Lisa Davis, Herlane Edwards, Anne Garner, Bill George, Ellen Mundy, Elaine Sarratt, Sally Sarratt, Virgil Story
2010
(April) – Javier Perez and Santiago Delgado visit Greenville as guests of FBC for fourth exchange. During their 3 weeks here, they had many opportunities to share what they are doing in Guanajay and around Cuba. They also attended an Alliance of Baptists Gathering in Nashville, TN.
2011
(January) – Team of six to Cuba for fifth exchange
This visit to Cuba included a tour of the island to see how the Patio Project has grown across the country over the past few years.
Team members: Robin Barton, Bootie Cothran, Anne Garner, Kathy Sharp, Laura Shelley, Nancy Strange
2012
(May-July) – Javier Perez and Santiago Delgado visit Greenville for sixth exchange. They were both here for the month of May. Santiago stayed through the month of July to attend Agape English Language Institute for an English immersion class.
2013
(April) – Team of seven to Guanajay for seventh exchange.
Team members: Trevor Barton, Pat Booker-Christy, Bootie Cothran, Jack Dennis, Christina Devon, Ellen Mundy, Ricky Powers
(May) – Team of two to Gunajay for eighth exchange. Anne Garner and Kathy Sharp went to Guanajay on behalf of FBC-Greenville to celebrate the 20th anniversary of La Iglesia Bautista del Camino.
(November/December) – Javier Perez visits Greenville for ninth exchange. During this trip, he was able to meet with different groups and people.
2015 (November)
Team of twelve to Guanajay for tenth exchange. Ordination service of Kathy Sharp took place on this trip.
Team members: Jim Dant, Anne Garner, Mason Garner, Brenda League, Chuck Major, Harriet Major, Rolyn Rollins, Gabriela Rueda, Camila Rueda Torres, Kathy Sharp, Mark Strange, Manuel Torres
2017
(April) Javier Perez Perez, Lisette Brito Moreno and Eddy Marcos Stanchiu visit Greenville for eleventh exchange. Attended the Alliance of Baptists Annual Gathering in Raleigh, NC with members from First Baptist Greenville.
2019
(February) Team of twelve to Guanajay for twelfth exchange.
Team members: Becky Bouton, Anne Clark, Jennifer Craig, Creagh Cross, Gayla Day, Anne Garner, Christina Devon Garrett, Sara Herbert, Angeli Leal, Matt Rollins, Kathy Sharp, Don Thompson
2024
(May) – Team of eight to Guanajay for thirteenth exchange. Participation in the Ordination Service of Javier Perez.
Team members: Jennifer Craig, Mike Fuller, Anne Garner, Brenda League, Matt Rollins, Gabriela Rueda Alford, Camila Rueda Torres, Kathy Sharp
Covenant of Partnership Between Iglesia Bautista del Camino Guanajay, Havana and First Baptist Greenville, South Carolina
Both congregations will bless the partnership.
Our congregations will exchange history, culture, traditions, and language through the nurture of individual relationships.
Our congregations will maintain communication as a sign of solidarity and will share information including prayer requests, updates on mission projects, etc.
Our congregations will have public prayer for one another on a regular basis.
Our congregations will exchange liturgical symbols.
Our congregations will foster communication among our members to diminish the stereotypes about Cuba/USA.
As able, members of our congregation will have a presence with one another.
Our congregations will collaborate to support the Patio Project for families in Guanajay.
Our congregations will review our covenant annually and revise as needed.