District Superintendent from Cuba tours Louisiana Conference
October 12, 2015
Rev. José Ramon Ruiz-Perez, district superintendent from Sancto Spiritus District of Cuba, recently concluded his visit to Louisiana Conference congregations. Those churches included St. Andrew's , Amite UMC, University and Broadmoor UMCs in Baton Rouge; Northwood and Louisiana Ave. UMCs in Lafayette; St. Luke-Simpson UMC in Lake Charles; and Live Oak UMC in Watson. Pictured with Pastor Jose, right, are Revs. Lee and Ginny Allen who hosted him in their home during his Baton Rouge visit.
Pastor Jose has led the start of seven new Methodist Churches in a district that had none only two years ago; there are five more churches ready to be planted. "In Cuba, land cannot be purchased for the purpose of building a church; so a home is purchased as a parsonage and home meetings take place throughout the house. As the congregation grows, expansions are made to the home until the pastor needs to move into another location," said Rev. Ginny Allen, who helped to coordinate Jose' tour of the Louisiana Conference. Rev. Ann Sutton, Rev. Mark Martin and Pete Aguila also helped with coordination of the visit, Rev. Martin booking the visits and Aguila serving as an interpreter.
While in the U.S., José also visited United Methodists in Pennsylvania and Florida, building covenant relationships with individual congregations.
Pastor Jose has led the start of seven new Methodist Churches in a district that had none only two years ago; there are five more churches ready to be planted. "In Cuba, land cannot be purchased for the purpose of building a church; so a home is purchased as a parsonage and home meetings take place throughout the house. As the congregation grows, expansions are made to the home until the pastor needs to move into another location," said Rev. Ginny Allen, who helped to coordinate Jose' tour of the Louisiana Conference. Rev. Ann Sutton, Rev. Mark Martin and Pete Aguila also helped with coordination of the visit, Rev. Martin booking the visits and Aguila serving as an interpreter.
While in the U.S., José also visited United Methodists in Pennsylvania and Florida, building covenant relationships with individual congregations.
