Pastor Ronni Alain Pupo Pupo (coordinator of the SENDAS extension in Holguín, Cuba) and his wife, Yurisel Milagros Miranda Mulet (NMI president of the Cuba East District) graduated from SENDAS with Masters of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in Church Mission in 2011 and 2013 respectively. Currently they were enrolled in the Licenciatura in Administration of Church Resources with a Pastoral emphasis. Pastors Norma Suarez Niles and Yoneisi Cordoves Rodriguez were also enrolled in that program. 

These dear brothers and sisters along with 16 other Nazarene pastors, some of them students at the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Cuba (SETENAC), lost their lives when Cubana Airline flight 972 crashed after taking off from Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba, on May 18, at 12:08 PM local time. 

The entire SENDAS family of missionaries, professors, and administrative personnel has been deeply touched by this tragedy. A special time of tribute for those now resting with the Lord is being prepared for the next graduation in the fall. 

While we celebrate the victory we have in Christ and his resurrection, we continue praying for the families of all of the victims, especially for the 8 children (7 boys and 1 girl) and 2 teenagers all between the ages of 7 and 15 years, who are now left without parents. We pray as well for the adult children of those who have passed away and the churches who are coping with the loss of their pastors. 

We pray for God’s wisdom for Rev. Leonel Lopez, National President of the Church of the Nazarene in Cuba, that he will be able to give stability and spiritual help to all of those persons affected.

We invite all of our readers to continue interceding for Cuba!