By Len LeRoy
Churches in the Diocese of Virginia continue to support global partners in a variety of ways, including connecting with other Virginia churches engaged in similar partnerships. If you or your church are active with global partners, contact diocesan Global Mission Advocate, Diane Wright to get involved.
Save the date for the Diocese of Virginia’s inaugural Virtual Prayer Service for Global Mission on Monday, October 7 from 7:30-8:00 pm on Zoom. Participants will be invited to share their church and their global partners in the prayers of the people. Additional details coming soon.
Pictured Left to Right: The Rev. James Hughes, Supply Priest, Diocese of Virginia; The Rev. Halbert Pons Santana, Yeleny Belo Marrero, San Juan Bautista, Palma Soriano; and the Rev. Vaughn Vigil, Deacon, Diocese of Maryland.
St. Barnabas, Annandale, Shares Ministry of Hospitality with San Juan Bautista, Palma Soriano, Cuba
St. Barnabas, Annandale’s partnered ministry with San Juan Bautista, in Palma Soriano, Cuba, began in 2011. Each time St. Barnabas’ mission team arrived in the city of Santiago de Cuba, they were greeted by the Rev. Halbert Pons Santana and his wife, Yeleny Belo Marrero from San Juan Bautista. The host community extended warm hospitality through transportation and accommodations, while members of the two churches built relationships and worked on projects of shared ministry.
This July, Father Halbert and Yeleny traveled to the U.S. for The Episcopal Church’s General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, allowing St. Barnabas to reciprocate the hospitality they received from San Juan Bautista. Len LeRoy, member of St. Barnabas, was volunteering at the Convention and picked up the Cuban delegation from the airport, helping them get settled and oriented.
After the Convention, Father Halbert and Yeleny traveled to Northern Virginia as guests of St. Barnabas. Father Halbert preached at a joint service on Sunday morning, which was followed by a reception where members of St. Barnabas met and fellowshiped with their Cuban partners in ministry.
Building relationships with siblings in Christ, both near and far, is at the heart of mission. While previously, only members of St. Barnabas who traveled experienced this firsthand, this time as a mission host community allowed the entirety of St. Barnabas to share in this experience.