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photos by Libna Stevensation SkillsLeft: PRESENTATION: Abel Márquez, associatecommunication director for the church inInter-America, presents a seminar at La VíboraAdventist Church, Havana, Cuba, July 1, 2011.Right: CONGREGATION: Participants in worshipservice July 2, 2011, during the communicationseminar at La Víbora Seventh-day AdventistChurch.ous area belonging to the newly organized mission in theeastern part of the island, hopes to soon find ways to bettercommunicate in his region. A former journalist, hedreams of one day using a camera to capture images ofwhat is taking place in the churches he oversees. Hereports on the progress of his region to his fellow communicatorsfrom a used-up notebook and holds photographprints of activities and stories that took place severalmonths ago.“These photos were taken by a member who sharedthem with me,” said Franco. He admits his news is not“fresh,” but it’s the only way he can share it now.Most communicators like Franco do not possess a camera.García is one of the few who do; a church membergave her a 7.2-megapixel digital camera years ago beforethat member left the island. Many of her colleagues havenot been so fortunate.Dayami Rodríguez understands the challenges her communicatorsface. She too struggles to produce materialswith limited equipment. Her small studio staff endeavorsto work with a broken-down video camera, a used donatedhome-video camera, an old CD burning machine, and acomputer. “It’s what we can work with as we produce audioand video programs for our membership,” said Rodríguez.Yet she points out that the work of spreading the messageof hope and communicating activities and events is stillmultiplying and not limiting the church.Rodríguez, who also heads the community’s Art andCulture Department, recently organized a island-wideactivity where dozens of Adventist artists displayed theirpaintings and works. She plans to organize a photographycompetition to involve church members across the islandwith whatever cameras they have at hand.“We will continue to work the best we can to sharehope,” said Rodríguez. “Our communicators will sharetheir learned knowledge in this conference with theirrespective churches and territories.”Rodríguez, just like her fellow communicators, dreamsof when online access will be available on the island to satisfytheir hunger to learn of what is taking place in theAdventist Church surrounding Cuba and around theworld. For now, they hope for a better tomorrow and workhard to network together.Aldo Pérez, president of the church in Cuba, firmlyshares the vision of communication on the island. With agrowing membership of more than 31,000 members, heand his fellow administrators see the greater impact communicatorscan have on the island.“Now, more than ever, we see the importance of communicatingmore love and hope, and believe in the workthey are doing,” he adds. “We have grown rapidly from10,000 members in 1990 to 31,179 this year and believe therole of the communication department is invaluable.”“We know how crucial it is to have an informed churchmembership and hope that our administrators and leadersin each of our four fields capture the vision of how communicationcan aid in the integrated evangelism strategy ofsharing the message of truth,” said Pérez.“The leadership of the union communication departmentand the administration during the event allowed meto see the commitment they have to sharing love by usingall available means,” he added.The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cuba was establishedin 1905. The church oversees three conferences, onemission, a seminary, and more than 280 churches andcongregations. nOctober 2011 | Adventist World 7