Preacher: Orestes Roca

Orestes Roca

The Rev Orestes Roca Santana is a prominent Baptist pastor and theologian in Cuba. He is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Matanzas, where he has led the congregation since at least the early 2000s. He is also currently serving as the General Chaplain of the Evangelical Seminary of Theology (SET) in Matanzas. Under his leadership, the First Baptist Church of Matanzas became one of the first Baptist churches in Cuba to be explicitly open and affirming of the LGBTQIA+ community. At the Evangelical Seminary of Theology, he has held several high-level positions, including Dean and his current role as General Chaplain, to which he was appointed in 2024. Orestes helped found the Kairos Centre for Art and Liturgy, a mission of his church that provides community services and fosters ecumenical collaboration through social and artistic projects. He is a vocal advocate for ecumenism, frequently participating in interdenominational events like the Jubilee for Unity, where he shares successes in collaboration across different religious groups in Matanzas.