CAMAGÜEY- Esther Sofía Quintero Labrada deeply touches everyone by her frankness, by her evident faith, by the strength with which she values people and her work. Having just turned 95, she continues to tear down walls with Christ and Cuba as banners, “there is still much to do for the place of women within the Church. "I'm in the 120-year-old club, so there's still time ahead," this Cuban and Christian, with easy tenderness and exact words, confides with a laugh.

“I was born in Los Guayos, near Holguín, it belongs to Omaja, which was the small town where the court, the pharmacy, the school, the main location of the train line were located: it was pure countryside where few families lived, all of them humble.

“I remember my childhood and youth with great affection. Even today I feel in my memory the fragrance of my native village, the sensations of the roots. My parents, Miguel Ángel Quintero and Cándida Labrada, he was an agricultural worker and she was a housewife, they educated us in values for life and for the home.

“You can say that I was privileged in terms of education, because since it was a very humble little town, the teachers lived in my house because they did not have the conditions to be in the community, in addition to receiving a very low salary. So, I could take advantage and study with them at home outside of academic hours.

“I had Mambí’s grandparents and other relatives who acted as couriers for Antonio Maceo, imagine the patriotic atmosphere that always surrounded us, listening to those stories we grew up and that made us understand the true meaning of patriotism. Furthermore, my father read a lot, and at night we all sat around a carbide device to listen to him, so I learned about Don Quixote, for example, long before I went to school.

“Dad was a carter in the harvest and in his spare time he made grafts, especially citrus trees, he talked about everything, he was very advanced, if he had been born in this time who knows how far he could have gone with all the opportunities at his disposal.”

“The Church has two fundamental objectives, one is the proclamation of the Gospel and the other is its diaconal service. The Revolution has always worked on that second line.”

— You are a reverend of the Orthodox Church of God. How has the journey been until today?

—My first studies happened in Los Guayos, then I went to preparatory school for normal school but I didn't get a scholarship and I went to the Bible Institute in Santa Clara, with the aim of preparing as a pastor of the Pentecostal Church. There I believe my definitive conversion to ecumenism occurred. Ecumenism is wonderful, you learn to respect others with their differences, and you understand that even when in some aspects they do not think like you, they also serve the Lord and their lives are incredible testimonies.

“However, since I was little I had lived in that spirit. I am the third generation of Pentecostals and in my town there was no church but a spiritualist center and its owners lent the premises for Sunday worship. Then, 50 years ago, my grandmother donated a piece of land and the temple that is still standing was built there. I grew in that respect and understanding. When I was little I got very involved with the community, I worked with children and I have very fond memories.

“When I graduated in December 1955 I had the honor of preaching for women, the main graduation theme was messengers of hope. From my studies I had the experience of, in the beginning, having taught Spanish classes for students who had difficulties. Also, so you can see how things are, the faculty was made up of North American missionaries, and my Cuban roots were not shaken one bit.

“In 1956, I went as a missionary to Puerto Padre, I was with another companion, but she got sick and I was left alone. In this little fishing village the congregation was very small, but very nice work was done, the humility of the people was palpable and their sincerity and affection as well. Service was essential, we were motivated to help those in need.

“In 1957 the church in Camagüey asked the presbytery for a missionary to serve as assistant pastor and they chose me. In Horca No.364 my work began with a Mexican pastor.

“I lived here the January 1^st 1959, a milestone in our history and in the church. All the foreign missionaries left, and we felt our prayers were heard that the torture and persecution of the dictatorship would end. Inside the church we had members of the July 26th Movement, when the Revolution triumphs, a tremendous joy, a dawn of hope begins for everyone.

“If the revolution brought to the people the rescue of human dignity, respect and love of neighbor, all evangelical principles, that was also our place”

“The contradictions began after the declaration of socialist character, so many Cuban pastors also left the country, including the one I worked with. Since the government of the Pentecostal Church is congregational, they met and decided that I would take over as pastor, and although there was some resistance due to my youth, it was at that time, 1961, that my pastorate began."

—You begin that experience in a country that was undergoing a social transformation.

— God is everywhere, no matter the type of politics or economy. The Church has two fundamental objectives: one is the proclamation of the Gospel and the other is its diaconal service. The Revolution has always worked on that second line, so there could not be a discrepancy, and with the study of the Bible we confirmed it and renewed many consciences with our actions.

“I never saw differences between the revolutionary process and the evangelical faith, and that was a scandal for many,” she confesses while a half smile appears on her face. They did not understand that there were members of the congregation who were CDR’s members, FMC’s members... and even less did they expect that a pastor would plant a truck at the door of the church and go out with her community to cut cane for the town's harvest. That was tremendous!

“Faith leads you to look for a way to always be useful in any situation, there were those who thought that secular work limited my faith, quite the opposite! It has become stronger to the extent that I have more contact with the town. And this is the most beautiful town in the world, and the best place to live Christianity”

“Many militiamen who were part of the congregation and who were present in the defense of the homeland were present in the Escambray cleanup. When the October Crisis, in preparations for the worst, I participated in the evacuation of the sick in the provincial hospital, I was taking out sick people until the gasoline ran out, other members of the church helped as much as they could as well. We were part of the population and although for many it seemed strange, it was just an act of faith based on the Gospel and I said it publicly and I did not hide from anyone, I wanted to live as I was without hiding what I thought.

"When they asked me for an account, I only said that if before there were Batista supporters in the temple, why would I close the doors now to the revolutionaries, the militiamen... Furthermore, since the Bible there was no theological basis that told us that we could not be there" next to the people, that we would not rejoice at the changes that were being experienced; if the Revolution brought the people the rescue of human dignity, respect and love of neighbor, all evangelical principles, that was also our place.

Esther's story is on the walls of her living room. On one side of the wall her loves, family and friends, on the other the recognitions received in her work within the Church and in her secular work; on another wall are photos of her various meetings with Fidel and Raúl, and right at the entrance, a painting that describes her faith: “a river of living water.”

— I once heard you say that a pastor does not need a pulpit to serve. You are a living example of that maxim.

—The pulpit is on the street, next to the people. Faith is not lived within the walls of the church but outside. This is how I have lived.

“I have never abandoned my faith, nor my convictions as a Christian and Protestant, before and now I had my biblical basis to demonstrate that the insertion of the congregation into the life of the country was not only possible but correct. You cannot live a faith isolated from everyday life, faith is a work and that is done alongside people.

“Faith has to be practical, for the benefit of human beings, that is its best manifestation. So, how could I be against everything that was being experienced for the first time: the efforts to give health to the people, education... today I meet doctors, teachers, engineers, professionals who are the result of those changes... I couldn't be apart from that, I had to be part of that reality, it was my way of expressing faith. Christ ate with the most humble, taught them, lived alongside them... that is real faith.

 “I have never abandoned my faith, nor my convictions as a Christian or a Protestant, before and now I had my biblical basis to demonstrate that the insertion of the congregation into the life of the country was not only possible but correct. “You cannot live a faith isolated from everyday life, faith is a work and that is done alongside the people.”

“In the midst of those conflicts, for the Church we were communists and for some revolutionaries we were suspicious, but in the midst of that struggle I always knew how to discern that one thing is the actions of men and another was the essence of the Revolution.

“I have never forgotten what Fidel once said, a theological thought of his that has become my mantra, 'to betray the poor is to betray Christ', and he never betrayed Christ, that is why I cannot help but identify with the Revolution as a Cuban and as a Christian.

“Even at that time, the leaders who disagreed with me were respectful, and I have always had the affection of my brothers and the pastors. “Life taught everyone that my position was correct.”

—What happened later in your life?

— I worked with the Council of Churches of Cuba through the ecumenical organization Acción Social Evangélica Latinoamericana, I also held various functions there, I was vice president, director of the women's area, secretary of minutes.

“In addition, I spent 20 years, until I retired, at the Julio Antonio Mella provincial library, in the library extension department. I have wonderful memories of the mobile library, a bus full of books with which we went to the municipalities and visited rural schools. Now I meet professionals who remember me from those years.

“After retirement I did not retire from the Council. In the '90s we promoted the Girón Conference, through the Study Center, which was nationally directed by Sergio Arce, a wonderful theologian, they were work spaces in production, in the field, in a dairy, and after contributing to the country. We studied the Bible, we looked for the necessary support in those difficult times to deepen our knowledge and our convictions, we helped each other grow spiritually. This also strengthened the ecumenical movement, which here in Camagüey was already very strong since the '60s.

“There were those who were afraid of ecumenism, but people evolve, and it is not with force but with example that they can be convinced. Thus, many realized how good it is to live faith in respect for diversity and what strengthens being a community united in Christ, regardless of religion.

“The sessions served to strengthen us as believers. We not only analyzed theological issues, but we looked in the Bible for the answer to what we were experiencing. It was a dialogue where we helped each other clarify many doubts, or analyze the things that we had been taught up to that moment.

“For example, we had never before considered what apoliticalism was, and its effects. We settled our questions in those spaces, which was creating a very good ecumenism because we established points that would help us unite for more effective work, and that brought us closer as a community.

“That strengthened us for the future, to face complex situations like the Special Period. At that time in the Episcopal Church we were motivated by the search for hope, to accompany the people, and a text from the apostle Saint Paul became everyday life that points out: 'we have learned to live with what I have.'"

—You also had an active life within Popular Power.

— Time is a gift from God, it is always at my disposal and never ends, but that does not mean that I waste it, that is why you have to be active, serving. When they came from the Federation to find out if I accepted the nomination for delegate to the Provincial Assembly of People's Power, I only said, if you think I'm going to be useful there, count on me.

“For 15 years I had the honor of belonging to the Health and Education commission, there I learned a lot, I met valuable people. I felt like family, I was very loved, listened to and respected. There I left my contribution, from the committed work, for improvements for the population. It was an experience where I felt better as a woman and as a Christian. “I am excited that, as a result of that dedication, I have been distinguished with the City Shield and with the status of Adopted Daughter.”

—In 1990 you participated in a historic meeting that the Commander in Chief had with more than 70 religious leaders. Your participation was also marked by the fact that you represented the voice of religious women. How do you remember that fact in light of more than 30 years?

—Reverend Raúl Suárez, who was the president of the Council, as well as Arce and Reverend Pablo Odén Marichal, an unforgettable teacher who in faith and in Fidel found the path of his life and his service as a Cuban; all of them were fundamental to the realization of that event.

“That was tremendous. They called us urgently to be in Havana, there we learned that we were going to meet with Fidel. Seeing him arrive was impressive, his height was impressive, his green uniform; however, there was also sweetness in him, in his manner, in his capacity for dialogue and to recognize unity in the midst of differences.

“It was a fundamental meeting for the future. There it became clear that, just as there were those who freely did not support the Revolution, there were Christians who corresponded to the call to serve the people, the essence of the Church.

“It was my turn to speak on behalf of the women and I can assure you that it was a frank exchange, they talked about the doubts, the Gospel, the discrimination suffered by some pastors or their families. Fidel did not cover the sun with a finger and recognized the mistakes that had been made, the Church also made mistakes, and everything was said like that, without mincing words.

“Since then, a new stage has opened in the Church-State relationship and the dialogue is becoming more and more transparent. Once again, we could see that the problems that arose did not stem from the essence of the Revolution but from misinterpretations of revolutionary thought.

“Now we are living one of the most beautiful moments that both the Cuban church and the ecumenical movement have had. The Church-State relationship has been strengthened, our religious activities are carried out without any impediment, all within the laws and legality, of what is established, but always with complete freedom."

—Cuba and Christ are the two constants of your life. Bringing that message to the world was not easy either at the beginning of the Revolution.

- In addition. I remember one night in Canada when we were explaining everything we did in Cuba as pastors and a very surprised young man asked me how long had we been Christians; they had the idea that it was impossible to believe here. In Ecuador, Argentina, Costa Rica the same thing happened to me, they wondered if they were really seeing a Christian who was Cuban.

“In each case we started a very animated conversation because yes, we had, just like today, problems and we had made mistakes, but everything beautiful we have and the country in which we live is so great. In the first years we had to explain a lot about what the Revolution was, that space has now been won, and as a religious community, united in the Council of Churches of Cuba, we are very respected.”

At 95 years old, Esther's smile is still musical and sweet, her hugs are strong, like those of a mother, and the door of her house is always open to talk about faith and Cuba, which translates to her in serving. “Faith leads you to look for a way to always be useful in any situation. There were those who thought that secular work limited my faith, quite the opposite! It has become more robust to the extent that I have more contact with the people. And this is the most beautiful town in the world, and the best place to live Christianity

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez