ABOUT US

The Cuba Partnership Mission Group began in 2000 as a mission of Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga. Working through the Alliance of Baptists in Washington, DC, and the Fraternity of Baptists in Cuba, Oakhurst formed a sister-church relationship with Iglesia Bautista de Alamar (The Baptist Church of Alamar), located in a suburb of Havana.

The Alamar church and Oakhurst share similar philosophies and concerns relating to what it means to follow Christ in the 21st century. Both are Christian churches, but each enjoys connecting with, and learning from, a variety of interfaith groups. As stated in its covenant, Oakhurst expresses itself by including—in its membership and among its leaders—people of various ages, races, sexual orientations, educational achievements, and financial statuses. You are invited to read a full version of the Oakhurst Covenant.

We seek to be one in Christ Jesus and, together, to take part in his ministry in the world. Because of its position on women in ministry, and because it has gays and lesbians in leadership roles within the church, between the years 1999 and 2001 Oakhurst was voted out of the Atlanta Baptist Association, the Georgia Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Oakhurst is now affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists in Washington, DC, and the American Baptist Churches (USA). Before Oakhurst became involved with the Alamar Baptist Church, Kairos, a small church fellowship that meets at Oakhurst, had already developed a sister-church relationship with Bethania Baptist Church in Perico, a small town in Matanzas Province approximately four hours southeast of Havana. Working with Oakhurst and Kairos, the Cuba Partnership Mission Group now maintains relationships with both churches in Cuba.

Oakhurst members, traveling under a license granted by the US Treasury Department, travel to Cuba each year to work with our sister churches.