In Cuba, leaders encouraged by Baptists’ perseverance, vibrance

The perseverance of Cuban Baptists — and their vibrance — was seen by Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, in visiting Cuba with John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention and other leaders from the state convention. Among the stops: Western Cuba Baptist Convention Seminary from which two Southern Baptist missionaries were taken to prison in 1965, falsely accused of being CIA operatives. “Their sacrifices were incredible,” Ezell said of the two missionaries and 53 Cuban pastors and lay leaders who were imprisoned at the time.