Good News - April 2020

PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH Pastor Alain Toledano Valiente was born in 1962 in Santiago de Cuba, where he is based. He is a leader of the Apostolic Movement, a network of indepen- dent churches across the country which the Cuban government refuses to register and has publicly vowed to eradicate. His family home has twice been targeted and demolished by the government, he and his family were left homeless after the last demolition. Pastor Toledano responded to the gov- ernment’s attack by establishing scores of house churches across the city. Over the past decade, Pastor Toledano has been repeatedly detained at the airport and summoned by state security in Santiago and threatened with arrest. His wife Marilin is his partner in ministry. They have two daughters and twin grandsons. His “crime” is preaching the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and extending care and sup- port to vulnerable communities. In Cuba, religious freedom is suppressed and any attempt by church- es to address social problems is diminished and blocked by the government. ,+*)(%*$#%$("!+ * %$! * ! # +!* "% * “Our children are constantly attacked at school, where they send people to talk to them, among them teachers who question their faith, the truth is that they have always made our life impossible. Other leaders of the Apos- tolic Movement are incarcerated without procedural and subject to many forms of torture (mostly psycho- logical) leading some to commit suicide. Please pray against these vicious acts against God and His Church and denounce them before international authorities and the rest of the world.” Pastor Toledano continues to serve the com- munities in eastern Cuba, preaching mostly in public parks, often attracting thousands of mostly marginalized persons in the greater Santiago de Cuba area and coordinating services in more than 100 house churches that are part of his ministry. He also defends freedom of religion and promotes inter-religious dialogue. # #+$ *$)#* #*! * # ( (! %* ( % * )( )* acts as the government’s religious police, falsely charged Pastor Toledano with the crime of re- # $ ( +* * ("# * # +# * *$)#* ! # +"#+$*! * Cuba as “the receiving, buying, hiding, or conceal- ment of a criminal activity”). EchoCuba is helping by providing Bibles and hu- manitarian aid. Please pray for the pastor and his family. EchoCuba is a ministry of Outreach Aid to the Americas, Inc. P.O. Box 546135, Miami, Florida 33154 www.oaausa.org / (305) 884 0441 Pastor Alain Toledano in one of his church services in Santiago de Cuba. In our backyard!