The Ordination of Anabel Cervantes

By Aileen Mitchell Lawrimore 

The day of Anabel Cervantes’ ordination had arrived. Volunteer cooks prepared an afternoon feast; early guests ready to help wherever they were needed came from down the road and around the corner; and Anabel’s mother Sila Reyna, the founding pastor of Rios de Agua Viva Iglesia in La Vallita, Cuba, greeted them with warm hugs and a chorus of “Te quiero! Te quiero!” (I love you! I love you!). Sila suffers from diabetes complications and cognitive decline. Still, she is a towering presence in the community—even though she would have to stand on a stool to reach five feet. 

Right on time, a bright blue electric trike pulled up, signaling the arrival of local clergy there to participate in the day’s events. The women unfolded from their makeshift seats, swiping dust from their clothes and sweat from their brows. Somehow, despite their cramped accommodations and the long, arduous ride, they conveyed only joyful anticipation.  

Our team of three—Litzy, a 19 year old from Ecclesia Baptist where I serve, along with my husband and me—travelled from Asheville, North Carolina to attend the day’s events (Rios de Agua Viva and Ecclesia have been sister churches for nearly twenty years). Ecclesia, an open and  affirming church with a woman pastor, is unique among Baptist churches in the South. In fact, when Baptist ministers in my region of North Carolina gather, females are a scant minority  presence. And most of those women serve as church staff focusing on specific tasks such as youth ministry or music direction; only three of us are preachers in the traditional sense. But that day in La Vallita, I was one of many.  

Rios de Agua Viva and the other churches represented there are a part of FIBAC, the fraternity of progressive Baptists in Cuba. Revs. Stan Dotson and Kim Christman, ministers living and working in Cuba with FIBAC and dear friends of both Ecclesia and Rios de Agua Viva, helped  arrange our trip and served as our guides while we were there. Stan and Kim also took the lead  on designing the service, following FIBAC’s guidelines and incorporating the wishes of Anabel and Sila.  

Family and friends crowded into the church—sitting shoulder to shoulder around the room, always managing to scoot a little closer to make space for one more. Happy voices blended with the hum of rechargeable fans working to provide a breeze. It was time. 

The celebration began with a processional then a reading by Anabel’s daughters, Lisy and Rut Vivian, accompanied by Litzy. We sang hymns that Stan played on his guitar. I preached and Kim Christman translated. Then, each of the visiting clergy stood and addressed Anabel and the congregation.  

It was then that I felt Holy Spirit awareness wash over me. No one—not one person—showed any surprise that over 90% of the pastors in the room were women. In Cuba, because FIBAC has intentionally encouraged and nurtured women called to the gospel ministry, this scenario is  commonplace, completely unremarkable.

Individually, the pastoras offered blessings, issued challenges, or presented gifts to honor the occasion. As they spoke, the words of Matthew 27:28-29 came to my mind.  

Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as their scribes. (NRSVUE) 

These godly women taught as ones having authority. Their voices, affirmed and celebrated, rang with confident conviction. Clearly, they had been welcomed into pastoral leadership without the tiresome scrutiny Baptist women in the US often face. As a result, the brand-new reverend received blessings from seasoned pastors who traveled Cuba’s harsh roads to lay their hands on her and say, “Welcome. You belong here. You are not alone. We trust your story.” The beauty of it took my breath away. 

And just like that, I saw the Kingdom of God, on earth as it is in heaven. A tune wafted up from childhood memories and into my awareness: a song I learned in the churches that raised me, churches that sadly would not now honor my ordination. No matter. Here, surrounded by sister pastors, I too belonged. 

There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, 

And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord; 

There are sweet expressions on each face, 

And I know that it’s the presence of the Lord. 

Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly dove, 

Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love; 

And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise 

Without a doubt we know that we’ll have been revived, 

When we shall leave this place. 

To God be the Glory!