FT. LAUDERDALE — As Florida Conference churches continue to build relationships with sister congregations in Cuba, Ft. Lauderdale’s Christ Church United Methodist is perfecting the art of learning how to live in one another’s worlds.

Ever since one of the church’s associate pastors and several lay members traveled to the town of de Harradura in the province of Pinar del Rio, Christ Church has continued to take supplies to its sister church and allow the church’s pastor, Mario Ramirez, to spend quality time in Ft. Lauderdale. Ramirez leads Iglesia Metodista Maranatha, formerly called Iglesia Metodista de Harradura and located a half-hour from Havana.

“We’re very blessed to have him,” said Christ Church member Blanca Hermida, a native of Cuba who, along with her husband Verano, was part of the church’s inaugural December 1999 trip to Pinar del Rio. “Not only is he incredibly spiritual, but he has a really good insight into the country. We spend a lot of time talking about things. We’ve learned from each other.”

Cuban Christians who sense a call to the pastoral ministry usually are assigned a church before they attend an American theological school or Cuba’s only seminary. Being accepted at a Cuban school can take years because of long waiting lists and requires governmental approval. Through the partnership with Christ Church, Ramirez annually flies to Chicago to attend classes at Garrett Theological Seminary. The Ft. Lauderdale church has committed to support the duration of the Cuban pastor’s education.

Ramirez also visits Fort Lauderdale during his time in the United States, usually preaching a sermon at Christ Church and offering an informational session during which people can talk to him through an interpreter. The pastor also visits the church’s home groups, known as Wesley Groups, and has also visited Christ Church’s homeless ministry, The Shepherd’s Way.

“He always brings his experiences,” Hermida said. “Last summer there was a Bible study for high school boys near here. He did such a great job doing the study with them. We organize things for him to do. We keep him pretty in touch with what’s going on.”

The Rev. Deborah McLeod, the new superintendent of the Broward-Palm Beach District, was the associate pastor who led the first trip to Cuba in December 1999. “When Debbie first told me about this, I said, ‘I’m not doing this,’ ” Hermida recalled. “Everybody that knew me said, ‘She’ll never do this.’ I just think that God kept tugging, saying this is a good thing. It was really a calling to do this at that time in my life. Every excuse in the world kind of fell.”

Christ Church’s senior pastor, the Rev. Dick Wills, and others have made several trips since then. Patty Anderson, the church’s director of children’s ministries, visited last year and took with her such resources as puppets that are being utilized to teach children in Cuban churches.

Hermida herself has not returned to her native land since the 1999 trip. “I do look forward to going back again. Every time that we talk about or start planning a trip to Cuba, there’s a certain element of hesitation and pain, because it’s not something I can do very easily.† I really believe the true way of building bridges with this country—especially when there’s been so much controversy over economic sanctions and all that—is through Christ.