News
Church of the Nazarene mourns the loss of Cuba's first district superintendent
Cuba
Friday, February 22, 2008
Pedro Hildo Morejón of Cuba passed away Wednesday evening, February 20. He was known as a great pioneer and leader in the Church of the Nazarene in Cuba.
According to Cuban District Superintendent Leonel López Ortiz, "Rev. Morejón was the first superintendent of our church in Cuba. He served this position for 25 years with high honor and integrity in the most difficult times of our church."
A country barber in 1947, Morejón contracted tuberculosis and was sent to a hospital in Havana. There he was visited by members of the infant Church of the Nazarene, who led him to Christ.
After returning home, Morejón led his family and neighbors to Christ, and soon invited two missionaries, Lyle and Grace Prescott, to his hometown to begin the work of the Church of the Nazarene there. With a donation of land from his own family and a gift of $100 (U.S.) from the Southwest Oklahoma District, a chapel that seated 100 people was built. This chapel became the mother church for many other Cuban churches.
When Fidel Castro came into power, all Nazarene missionary efforts on the island ceased, and the early missionaries left. Founder of Spanish Publications for the Church of the Nazarene H.T. Reza wrote, "All that was left was a number of confused Nazarenes." But one stalwart, Morejón, remained and he was named to head the executive committee to handle the Church of the Nazarene affairs. He was, in effect, the district superintendent, and he served in that capacity for the next 25 years.
"The work of the Church of the Nazarene—truly a modern-day holiness movement of church growth—will always be indebted to the life and ministry of Rev. Pedro Hildo Morejón," said Caribbean Regional Director John Smee. "He was a preacher who stood tall, spoke the Word clearly, and had a passion for the lost. His determination to see the Church of the Nazarene established, no matter what difficulties there might be, has resulted in a dynamic, growing church. His wisdom, judgment, and prayers will be missed.
"He leaves behind an extended family;" Smee added, "the Morejón family [was] indeed the 'first family' of the Cuba Church of the Nazarene. And today, literally thousands are living the holiness life and sharing that hope with others daily on the great island of Cuba. The people of the Caribbean will miss him, but rejoice in his life and home going."
General Superintendent Paul G. Cunningham added, "From the first day that Pedro Morejón surrendered his life to Christ, he was headed in one direction. He was on a path to make heaven his eternal home and to tell as many people as possible that this great hope was for everyone. Little did he know in those early days what significant responsibilities God had for him and his life.
"When given the mandate to be the Cuba District superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in those formative years of our church," Cunningham continued, "he took the challenge. In his later years he would testify that during the 25 years of superintendency, he often simply waited on God to give the direction and then moved forward. The result can be seen in the dynamic Cuba Church of the Nazarene today. We rejoice that brother Morejón has reached his eternal home."
"Let's pray for his family," Lopez added.
Funeral services were held Thursday, February 21.
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