USA East Music BULLETIN - SPRING 2019 - ISSUE 2 | Page 9

PENDEL CUBA MISSION TRIP
By Gavin Whitehouse, Divisional Music Director, EPA
In 2016, a connection was made with the
Salvationists in Cuba, and it was a dream
for our Divisional Commander, Lt. Colonel
Stephen Banfield, to take the Pendel Music
and Arts groups on a mission trip to Cuba. In
February 2017, a small group of Salvationists
from the Pendel Division, led by Lt.-Colonel
Stephen Banfield traveled in mission to
Havana, Cuba. While there, the group helped
to complete the renovation of a new Guest
House for the Cuba Division to be used by The
Salvation Army to raise desperately needed
income to support their local ministries. The
team also shared their music and drama
gifts to provide a day of training for young
Salvationists. Sunday brought opportunity
for Celebration and Praise with Salvationists
Brass group in Cuba.
T H E S A LVAT I O N A R M Y U S A E A S T
throughout Havana.
Now in May 2019, it is time to return. The
door of ministry has opened once again, this
time for the Pendel Divisional Music and Arts
Team to travel to this historic island to support,
encourage and celebrate with Salvationists
in Cuba (May 24 – 28). While in Cuba, the
group will provide a day of music and arts
training with the Salvationists, paint two
corps facilities, present a concert in Havana,
join in worship with the Salvationists in the
region and engage in evangelism through an
outdoor block party in the neighborhood of
the William Booth Elder Home. We will also
visit two other corps and the Officer Training
School to learn more about the Salvation
Army’s ministry in Cuba.
The Salvationists in Cuba joyfully praise
the Lord with the limited resources that they
have. In 2017 as part of the music and arts
training that took place, beginning lessons
on brass were given and six instruments
were left in Cuba. In February, 2019, when an
advance team visited, a fledgling brass group
played for the first time in worship, led by two
young men who are Salvationists from the
Congo studying in Cuba! When the groups
travel in May, more instruments will be left to
help this ministry.
Please pray for the ministry of the Pendel
Music and Arts group as they embark on this
life-changing trip. ■
Worship during junior soldier enrollment.
S P R I N G 2019 | USA EAST MUSIC BULLETIN • 9