"Go Therefore and Make Disciples of All Nations"
-Matthew 28:18-20
June Mission of the Month
Cuba Sister Church
Today, Cuba is in its worst conditions in 67 years. Words that are used to describe Cuba are hopelessness, fatigue, exhaustion and despair. Infrastructure that provides electricity, water, trash removal and other services has collapsed. Food insecurity, lack of medicine and all other items compound the misery. In Havana, uncollected trash and garbage is a breeding ground for insects and the disease they carry. Amid this, the church is a light in the darkness.
Amid the darkness in Cuba, the church is a light. Doctors do not send patients to the pharmacy or hospital for medicine; the local church is often referenced as a resource. People come to the church and find hope. Baptisms are happening by the hundreds and thousands in Cuba.
In the past year you have been extremely generous, providing hundreds of pounds of food, medicine and clothing. Friendship Circle provided a solar generator, and a generous couple provided a second solar generator. You have provided funds for a small construction project to further secure the church property. SCCUMC is the church that filled the back of a pickup truck with powdered milk.
This June, during mission of the month we have an opportunity to partner once again with our sister church. We can be the church that helps the church in Cuba bring the light of Christ to the darkness.
We remember, The Light Changes Everything!
A message from our sister church pastor:
I am Pastor Diosmany Rodríguez Sibadie, and together with my wife, Yusdelkis, we are very grateful to God for your lives. We are thankful for our sister church and Pastor Cynthia, whose generosity has made it possible for our church in San Luis, Santiago de Cuba, to receive many donations during the midst of this economic crisis our country is going through. Our church is very happy and grateful for your generosity. We have been able to distribute milk to children, the elderly, our church members, and others in our community. We have also been able to provided snacks for Sunday School. The joy on the children's faces is clear when they receive a toy, a glass of milk with oatmeal, or clothing from the donations you have sent.
Thank you for the lesson materials for the children. Thank you also for the generators, they are a great help to us. There is a great shortage of water, and when it rains, it is a blessing because we are able to collect water for domestic use. The available water is not of good quality, so we are grateful for the water purifier, which allows us to drink clean water. We have also been able to help church members and neighbors by sharing this purified water.
The medicines you have provided have been extremely helpful, especially considering the difficult conditions in our hospitals. In the midst of these difficult times, the church continues to advance in God's purpose and in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We were recently able to celebrate our 28th anniversary. The church is the light and shares its blessings.
God bless you. We love you always. Your sister church in San Luis is grateful for your prayers and your support.
Our Mission is to extend God’s Light, that all may know the love of Jesus and generously share it with the world.
The Light changes everything.
Our Vision: We are called to shine hope, peace and purpose across every generation, cultivating a thriving, diverse community by deepening connections with Jesus and one another.
We are a passionate congregation about reaching out in our local community as well as across the world with the love of Jesus Christ. We try to include an element of Missions in almost everything we do. We love traveling to places such as Africa, Peru, Cuba and many more as well as helping local missions such as the Fight Against Human Trafficking, Good Samaritan Mission, our UMC Children's Home and many more. Please consider getting involved in making a difference.
For more information about any of our mission ministries contact the church office at 813-634-2538
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Mission of the Month at The United Methodist Church of Sun City Center. As the Mission team, we are excited to learn more about your mission.
We receive many requests to become part of this program. We prayerfully read all applications with special consideration given to missions whose program is dedicated to making disciples of Jesus Christ and show a proven history of successful ministry. All missions accepted as Mission of the Month must support the mission and vision of The United Methodist Church of Sun City Center. Because we currently have many applications, not every mission that applies will be accepted this year.
We will closely study the goals of your mission, the actual percentage of your proposed budget that directly supports the slated mission, and your plans for documentation and ongoing evaluation and accountability. Should we support your mission, we will ask for a follow up at the end of the year, stating how the funds that you received were used.
Complete the application below. All 2026 submissions need to be completed by September 30th, 2025.
Blessings to you, and thank you for all that you do in moving forth in your mission to make a difference in our community and in God’s world.