For Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

I am a Jehovah's Witness and I will be traveling to Cuba on a secular vacation. I would like to contact the local congregation closest to Varadero, but I don't know how. Also, as Cuba is a communist country, would this be a good idea? Are Witnesses banned or under persecution there? I have been to Cuba before but couldn't find out how to contact the congregation. I wil only be there a week, so I don't want to cause any trouble for anyone.

Answer 1

I found the following from a WT article from 1976 about Jehovah's Witnesses in Cuba. Hope this helps you:

"Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cuba find themselves in a new set of circumstances. Although not yet officially registered, the Witnesses are now able to share their Bible hope with fellow countrymen openly. Recently the government of Cuba expressed serious interest in allowing various religious groups to function freely. President Castro has publicly mentioned Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious group with which the Cuban government now enjoys an improved relationship.

"This new situation has opened “a large door that leads to activity” for the Witnesses. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses recently opened an office in Cuba, which helps them to coordinate their preaching work in that country. More than 65,000 Witnesses are helping people to study and understand the Bible. They use Bible literature, such as the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. Many righteously inclined Cubans are benefiting from studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

"The Witnesses are also holding regular meetings in small groups throughout the island. Sometimes they even enjoy the privilege of holding larger assemblies in groups of some 150. They truly appreciate the permission they have received from the Cuban authorities, which gives them the opportunity of gathering with their spiritual brothers and sisters, singing praises to God, and praying together.

"Recently the “Godly Fear” District Convention was held more than 1,000 times during the course of just three weekends. One report states that “order, discipline, and peace” were evident at every convention. The authorities congratulated the Witnesses on this point."

Answer 2

At this time, Jehovah's Witnesses are quietly tolerated by the Cuban government; Witnesses constitute from 1% to 2% of the island-nation's population. Most Cuban cab-drivers are able to direct a tourist to a local meeting place of Jehovah's Witnesses, or "Testigos de Jehova".

The worldwide report published by Jehovah's Witnesses now includes a line-item with their statistics for Cuba. In 2006, Cuba saw 187,217 associate themselves with Jehovah's Witnesses' Memorial commemoration; there are 88,498 active Jehovah's Witnesses who preach each month in Cuba.

According to the USA State Department, Jehovah's Witnesses are "officially recognized" in Cuba, and are even tolerated when they "proselytize quietly door-to-door". The State Dept continues to note reports of occasional harassment and discrimination in schools against Witnesses.

Technically, bibles and religious literature can only be distributed through approved channels. Anecdotally, government agents rarely enforce this regulation.

Answer 3

Cuba is a Athiest state. If you try to go against these teachings, I think you may be persecuted. As you said, the government is communist, and we all know how communist nations have those... oppressions... of non Marxist or non-government ideas.