Growing His Kingdom, One Bench at a Time
Have you ever sat in a wooden church pew and paused to reflect on the bench itself? Who built it? What kind of wood is it made from? Is the design unique to this church, or could this same bench be found in other sanctuaries? One pew. So many questions
In Cuba, the answer to these questions is both simple and remarkable. Because buying a pew isn’t an option, church pastors, leaders, and congregation members hand-craft each bench. What’s fascinating is that nearly every church bench across the island is the same: uniform in height, design, style, color, and craftsmanship. Made from carefully chosen wood that’s perfectly compressed and shaped into a high-back form, each one reflects the dedication of a faith community.
These pews begin their journey deep in the mountains of Santiago de Cuba, where pine, carob, and eucalyptus trees are harvested. Reaching the terrain is difficult because it’s rough with winding, narrow roads. Unfortunately, accidents are common as trucks loaded with timber navigate the mountain passes to bring the lumber down to the communities.
With one board today costing between 500 and 600 Cuban pesos (around $1.40–$1.60 USD), and up to seven boards needed per bench, the total comes to roughly $13–$14 USD. For churches with limited resources, that expense can be high.
A local workshop in Santiago de Cuba crafts the legs for each bench. The rest—the measuring, cutting, sanding, and final assembly—takes place at the church itself. Church leaders and volunteers then glue the pieces together using a homemade adhesive consisting of polystyrene and gasoline, and secure the pieces with nails.
For Pastor Diusmar, his first pew arrived as a complete surprise. “I remember the first pew we had was given to us by a local pastor, who showed up unexpectedly with the pew. It was a surprise and a joy for us.”
In Cuba, a church bench is more than furniture. It’s a labor of love and a symbol of unity built to bring people together to worship and grow God’s Kingdom.
