News, January 2007

News from the Churches

More Evangelicals in prison than Catholics - it's official. Church of 1200 to be thrown out of building in Zaragoza. Philip Yancey visited Barcelona. Juan Lopez, former Defence Commission assistant, dies. Read on!

It's official! There are more evangelical church reps involved in prison visiting than Roman Catholic priests, according to the government. The gypsy denomination, Filadelfia alone has 20 offical reps, the total rising to 223. In contrast, there are only 2 Jewish reps. Are evangelicals so much more sinful?

The Betel (WEC) church in Zaragoza has been meeting for 3 years in rented accommodation in the old station building, El Portillo. As from 28th February they must leave, as the station will be adapted for new rail use. The city authorities had promised to find new accommodation or at least some ground to build, but have not produced. Over 1200 members will be affected, 3 times the number that moved in 3 years ago. half seriously they are proposing to meet in the El Pilar square in front of the cathedral, which marks the spot where the Virgin is supposed to have met St. James!

Philip Yancey visited Barcelona 18th to 21st January. As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the regional Evangelical Council, Yancey spoke at various churches and other meetings, including the International Church and the IBSTE Bible school. Photo at Sabadell-Castellarnau Baptist Church.

Carlos Anacondia will preach in an evangelistic campaign in Córdoba, 8th to 10th February.

TVE has again broadcast a Christmas service. Last year was the first time an evangelical service was broadcast live on a national station. It went out on 22nd December at 19.30 local time. The service was relayed from a church in Madrid and included the Madrid Gospel Choir. at a leater date a concert given by the Choir after the broadcast may be put on air.

The OM ship Logos 2 has been visiting Spain! The ship has been making final, farewell visits to Grand Canary, Ceuta and Melilla, the latter its home port in its earlier life as the Antonio Lazaro, part of the state owned Trasmediterranea fleet of ferries. After 17 years of service, the ship will be replaced soon by the Logos Hope, currently being rebuilt for OM service.

From the Logos 2 web site: Returning To The Roots, 6 Dec, 2006: Melilla, Spain
In her present role, Logos II has never been to Melilla, Spain. However, during the 1970’s and '80s, when the vessel was called Antonio Lazaro, her main role was carrying passengers between Melilla and the Spanish mainland. Those coming on board Logos II today will find the ship has a very different purpose – bringing knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world. After opening to the public, the onboard book fair is already welcoming curious visitors and several cultural programmes are also planned over the coming days for the town’s citizens to meet and interact with the international crew.

On 27th January Juan Lopez died. Juan had been a mainstay of the Evangelical Defence Commission, forerunner of the FEREDE. Born in 1947, he was led to the Lord by Spain's best loved American Missionary, John Blake (of Decision) and was also one of the first students at the GEM Bible School, IBSTE. He had liver disease. We link this news to the more encouraging report concerning his former boss's health.

José Cardona

12th December. One of Spain's most influential and beloved evangelicals over the past 50 years is home after a serious spell in hospital. After a week of serious fears for his life, he has now been allowed home. José Cardona was a Baptist pastor and for many years General Secretary of the Evangelical Defence Commission, which later became FEREDE. His diabetes caused an infection in his leg. He was taken to hospital on Tuesday, 21st. On the 25th the FEREDE celebrated the 50th anniversary of the EDC, while the Catalan Evangelical Council celebrated 25 years in a joint event in Barcelona.

Anniversary Time! The evangelical churches' federation, FEREDE, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the formation of its forerunner the Commission for the Defence of the Evangelical Churches, back in times of religious intolerance during the Franco regime. And the Catalan churches' council is also celebrating, this time 25 years of existence. During these years the two organisations of churches have achieved much for their member churches in terms of recognition. Not all agreements with the authorities have been quite to the liking of all, but almost noone would have us return to the times of persecution and intolerance which live on in the memory of older church members.

A rock fall in early December badly damaged the buildings of IBSTE, the Bible School in Barcelona, founded by the Greater European Mission. We are glad to announce that the Lord kept all personnel safe and unhurt. Parts of the main building and three family homes have been temporarily closed, the families being lodged on other parts of the site. The school occupies an old hotel close to the beach at Castelldefels south of Barcelona. It was founded in 1972 by GEM missionary Jim Fasold. End January: the town council has now taken responsibility for the rockfall -or rather the repairs. Immediate repairs will make the school safe again, while long-term further measures are under discussion, including the provison of a new piece of land to locate the school.

Pastors in Palma, Mallorca are meeting together with a view to establishing some kind of working relationship, which will probably end in a regional 'Evangelical Council'. The churches in the Balearic islands have for several reasons been unable so far to work so closely. Not least is the problem of insularity.