As someone pointed out the other day, the Kitchen was closed last week. I was on a trip to Cuba, on behalf of Herald of Truth.

Many of you know that Cuba is one of my favorite places to work, not so much because of the place itself, but because of what the Christians are doing there. I’ve been troubled over the last few years by the number of brothers here in the States that want to take credit for what’s going on in Cuba; if I ever seem to be doing that, let me know.

Herald of Truth has a representative in Cuba named Tony Fernández. He is one of the hardest-working ministers I know. The church that Tony works with in Matanzas was hosting the National Preachers Conference. The week before my arrival, Tony would stay up all night one night, sleep on night, then stay up the next. The first two nights that I was there, Tony didn’t sleep. I don’t know how he does it.

I arrived on Saturday, June 26. Wednesday of that week, Tony had totaled his car (no, not because he fell asleep!). He came upon an unmarked highway construction site at night and didn’t see the concrete barriers that had been turned sideways. He was unhurt, but his car is a mess. I say it’s totaled, but looking at the other cars on the road, I have to admit the Cubans may be able to get it running again.

I was privileged to speak at the Versalles church on Sunday morning. There was a full crowd, and we had a great service. Twelve people came forward to be baptized. That may sound like a lot, but it’s fairly normal for a church that baptizes about 200 people a year (including many who meet in smaller churches throughout the province, churches started by this congregation).

They wanted me to do the baptizing, but I have tried to put in practice what Paul wrote:

“I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:14–17)

I firmly believe that the local Christians should do the baptizing. While I was there, they asked a man who has made many trips to Cuba how many people he has baptized there; he replied that it was about 700. I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that the statement made it sound like he was responsible for those conversions. I’m not saying that he was saying it that way, but I think it’s best to avoid all confusion.

I’ll tell you some more about the week over the next few days. It was great to be there and great to be back.