My Name Is Leader

by Sarah Fletcher

Throughout the world, Free Will Baptist women play an integral role in worship, service, and leadership. In both Cuba and Panama, organized national women’s networks encourage fellowship and allow women opportunities for growth in each of these areas. Two leaders from these mission fields offer you a glimpse into their lives, their ministry roles, and their passion for the Lord.

Marilyn Velásquez (pictured top left) of Panama became a believer in Christ at age 22, along with her husband Uriel. The couple began attending the Las Tablas Church at the invitation of a man they met while vending clothes at a sporting event. Marilyn and Uriel kept coming and participated in pre-discipleship classes for nearly three months until one day, during a special service with missionary Steve Lytle, they both went forward and received Christ as Savior. They’ve been serving the Lord since. Marilyn says, “Knowing Christ has been the very best thing that’s happened in our lives.”

Although the 30-minute drive to Las Tablas took time away from their business, the couple faithfully attended every service. Uriel first began teaching a class. Later, the church appointed him as deacon and eventually called him as pastor. Sensing God’s leading, he sold his business and entered the ministry. Marilyn’s role changed from church member to church leader.

During a 15-year pastorate at Las Tablas, and then at Paritas, where they ministered even longer, Marilyn championed women’s ministry in her local church and actively involved herself in the Sociadad de Damas, Panama’s WNAC’s affiliate organization. She has served as national president three times, and has also filled roles as secretary and treasurer. Since 2013, she has worked at the Chame Seminary.

Marilyn and other Panamanian women’s leaders emphasize the importance of helping within the local church, whether that help means equipping a church kitchen, visiting the sick, showering new mothers with gifts, or participating in prayer ministry.

Women in Panama do not take prayer lightly. Women’s groups in at least two churches fast weekly and pray together every Tuesday morning as people phone in their requests. Two women from each church comprise a national prayer team. This team maintains a prayer chain, linking women in prayer for specific needs in churches throughout the country. Over the years they have witnessed many miracles through prayer.

As International Missions officially exits this year, entrusting all Free Will Baptist work into the hands of Panamanians, Marilyn senses that women are ready and willing to take on new roles and responsibilities. One goal they hope to accomplish involves a provision closet of household goods and school supplies for the growing number of Panamanian missionaries.

She invites women from the U.S. to visit and attend one of their annual retreats. Most of all, as a leader, she desires prayer for unity so the Sociadad de Damas can continue to carry out God’s work in harmony and with full cooperation from Free Will Baptist women in Panama.

Ciraida Sanchez (pronounced See-DIE-dah; pictured top right) has a rich Free Will Baptist heritage. Her grandparents worked with pioneer missionaries Tom and Mabel Willey in Cuba. Grandparents on both her mother’s side and father’s side founded churches. Ciraida’s father planted a church in Havana. She notes humorously that she was going to church before she was ever born. Ciraida accepted Christ at an early age, and faith kept her from faltering after her father died when she was only 11. Ciraida told the Lord that since he took her father, He would have to be her Father. Since that day, she’s wholeheartedly served the Lord.

At age 18, Ciraida married Amato Sanchez, and the two began ministry life together. Three years later, God called them to work in the Free Will Baptist seminary at Pinar del Río, where they remained for ten years. Amato studied at the seminary during those years, but at that time, seminary classes were not open to women.

Ciraida studied theology through another denomination and earned her degree while juggling school and home responsibilities—including the birth of their first child. That’s when she became actively involved in the Departamento de Damas (Cuba’s Free Will Baptist organization for women). She worked in a church near the seminary, holding Bible clubs and discipling new Christians.

Ciraida’s ministry experience includes working with young people (teens to young adults), children, and women. Her spiritual gifts involve service. However, in her husband’s last year of seminary study, as a pastor’s wife in a small church, she had to take on more leadership responsibility—going beyond her ministry areas and out of her comfort zone.

Going above and beyond in ministry is not unusual in this country where women account for 80% of Free Will Baptist church membership. The revolution left men without jobs, sent pastors and many Christian families to the states, and created a void in leadership. Since that time, women have risen to the challenge, pioneering mission works, helping establish congregations, and assisting pastors every way possible.

Ciraida is hopeful a new generation of believers will turn things around. More men are stepping up to the plate, receiving training at the seminary, and participating in a growing Departamento de Caballos (Free Will Baptist men’s ministry). Their goal is to involve many more men in the work of the Lord.

Until this happens, women continue to serve in leadership support roles. Every church has a women’s group and all groups network together within the Departamentos de Damas. Currently, Ciraida’s sister-in-law, Ana Margarita Sanchez, leads the organization. Ciraida serves as national vice-treasurer. Women meet together at least twice a year—in July during the Cuban FWB National Convention and in February at the annual women’s meeting.

Last year, the group helped sponsor a couples’ retreat and held a women’s meeting on the eastern side of the island where Free Will Baptist work continues to expand. Their current project involves securing sewing machines, one for each church. These will enable women to make new clothes or refashion used items and possibly start small businesses as a means for supporting themselves and missionary families.

Ciraida welcomes both prayers and assistance in this and other ministry ventures, specifically putting Spanish devotional books into the hands of Christian women. She requests prayer for Cuba’s women who work in everything. “They work with the children; they open new churches, and lead Bible studies in homes,” Ciraida acknowledges, then adds, “Pray for me. There’s lots of work to do in the church.”

About the Writer: Sarah Fletcher is editor and designer of Treasure Study Guide and other WNAC publications, including the annual Program and Plan Book. She is a pastor’s wife who currently works remotely from her home in southern Illinois. Learn more at www.wnac.org.