The Church of the Nazarene is partnering with the American Bible Society’s “Million Bible Mission” for Cuba by collecting an offering December 11.

While the literacy rate in Cuba is nearly 100 percent, Bibles are in short supply. Through the Cuban Bible project, school-aged children, teens and college-age youth, new believers, prisoners, and seminary students and clergy receive Bibles, some for the first time.

Christianity is growing 15 percent each year in Cuba, according to the Cuban Biblical Commission.

“In recent years, the Cuban Church has grown noticeably, and because of this, demand for Bibles has increased, too,” said Alain Montano, general secretary of the Cuban Biblical Commission.

The annual Bible Society Offering is traditionally received on the second Sunday of December, as laid out in the Church of the Nazarene Manual ¶ 902.3 (2) Offering for Bible Societies: “Resolved, That the Church of the Nazarene designate the second Sunday of December of each year as a special time for the presentation of this important matter and the taking of an offering for each nation’s Bible society.”

Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International has led the denomination’s partnership with the American Bible Society for many years, including for the last five years through Engage the Word, an online daily Bible reading emphasis available in multiple languages thanks to the American Bible Society, SDMI, and Nazarene Publishing House.

The offering is a 10 percent project. To receive credit, USA/Canada Region churches should send donations to the Global Ministry Center, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66220, USA.

--Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International