The medical supplies donated by Christ Church parishioners and community members in Exeter are stacked in careful piles in the basement of the Rev. Mark Pendleton’s home.
“This year’s trip to Cuba is on – God willing,” he says. “Only eight of us will go in March. Because of safety concerns, we’re not able to visit our companion parish, so we’ll stay in Havana on a shortened itinerary. But the supplies we’re bringing will make a real difference as Cuba faces a deepening crisis.”
Leslie Pendleton and Dr. Claudia McQueen, Christ Church in Exeter parishioners, sort donated medical supplies for Cuba.
The U.S. embargo and severe oil shortages are hitting the island nation hard. Recent news reports describe a failing electrical grid, prolonged fuel shortages, limited sanitation services, hospital closures, food scarcity, and rising disease. “It’s bad,” Rev. Mark says quietly. “The humanitarian conditions are severe.”
For the past twelve years, Christ Church in Exeter has made pilgrimages to Cuba. Why? Because local and global ministry are inseparable.
More than forty parishioners – including many young people – have traveled to Cuba through this partnership. When high school student Andrew Hodson returned from a youth service mission, he told the congregation:
“It was obvious that God touched everyone in Cuba because of their spirit—and in the end, touched us all. As I entered the homes of the Cuban people, I experienced a feeling of sanctuary unlike anything I have experienced. The only time I’ve ever felt that welcome is in my own home.”
On one trip, the group filled their suitcases with water filtration systems to assemble upon arrival. Teenager Tess Hayes reflected:
“Water is the one thing we all take for granted. I frequently fill up my water glass at the kitchen sink without questioning its cleanliness. Many people in this world do not have access to clean drinking water, or they must travel long distances to get it. Our companion parish in Cuba can now provide free, accessible drinking water to anyone who needs it.”
Rev. Mark sees transformation not only in Cuba, but at home.
“The youth group’s eyes are opened to human need,” he says. “When they return, they look at everything differently. There’s a renewed commitment to ask: What can we do here? And how can we continue supporting our partner parish? The ripple effects of global ministry are vast.”
The Christ Church group departs March 14, 2026. We all pray for safe travel and meaningful connection as parishioners take time away from their own lives to accompany others in crisis.
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Parishioners from St. Andrews in New London on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2023, where efforts to engage both Palestinians and Israelis leads to a better understanding of the challenges to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.
A Broader Call to Global Mission
Christ Church’s partnership with Cuba is just one example of how Episcopal churches in New Hampshire are cultivating long-term, reciprocal relationships with parishes across the globe.
The Episcopal Church has long embraced global mission. In fact, its original 1835 name was the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. That legacy continues today.
In New Hampshire, the call to global engagement has taken on renewed urgency in light of federal funding reductions to international aid programs. In response, the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire established the Global Missions Committee in 2025 to strengthen and support parish partnerships with international dioceses and ministries.
The Rev. Canon Gail Avery, who chairs the committee, emphasizes a guiding principle:
“We’ve found that even a small amount of money can have far-reaching impact. The key is listening to what our partners want – not imposing what we think they need.”
She continues: “We want to inspire, educate, and encourage Episcopalians to step into this global work. The relationships transform us. We witness deep faith in communities with limited resources, and it’s profoundly moving. But this work requires long-term commitment. Being able to support a community financially – without controlling – allows us to serve Christ in all people. We’re all connected.”
Last year, the committee awarded $21,900 in grants supporting initiatives in Cuba, Angola, and Haiti.
In Angola, where prolonged drought has contributed to acute malnutrition, funds supported nutrition training initiatives. In Cuba, grants have helped provide solar lighting and medical supplies amid widespread infrastructure and political challenges.
In Haiti – one of the world’s most economically fragile nations, facing natural disasters and ongoing violence – donations contributed to the construction of a bathroom at a school for children with physical disabilities and helped increase salaries at another Episcopal school.
The NH Episcopal Church also supports the Diocese of Jerusalem, encouraging parishes to donate through a church-wide Good Friday offering campaign in an effort to find peace and justice for both Palestinians and Israelis. A photo of St. Andrews mission in the Holy Land is pictured above.
At St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Concord, a 25-year relationship with the people of Chantilly, Jamaica has created a friendship, mutual respect and shared faith. The Rev. John Beniste recently visited Jamaica with three others from St Paul’s to reevaluate the partnership:
“We have learned that mission is not about going to “help” but about walking alongside one another, listening, learning, praying, and recognizing that we are bound together as one body in Christ.”
The Rev. Jean Beniste on a recent mission to the Chantilly Primary School in Jamaica.
Bishop Rob, who has accompanied some of the missions during his tenure, reflects:
“While this work is not new, the Global Missions Committee helps us extend our vision beyond our borders and remember that we are woven into a global vine of prayer, love, and concern.”
Are you interested in deepening your faith? The invitation is simple: learn, listen, and consider how you or your parish might participate in this shared, inspiring work.
This spring, members of the Global Missions Committee will hold a diocesan-wide Zoom call to answer questions, share stories, and help congregations explore or deepen global partnerships. Watch for the Zoom sign-up in our future newsletters! In March, the Committee will solicit grant applications.
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Basic information and a list of Global Mission Committee members can be found here.
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