News, July 2008

News from the Churches

The Agua Viva Gospel Choir (FEREDE)

Zaragoza water Expo is now in full swing. 5th July saw 15,000 hear the 320 voice Gospel Choir concert with Richard Smallwood at the Expo. The Evangelical pavilion is among the attractions - with 64,000 visitors in the first month. Marcos Witt topped cast in Madrid Youth gathering. This and more... Read on!

One of the most important outreaches of the past years is now on in Zaragoza. Coinciding with and very involved in the World Water Expo, the region's churches have a pavilion in the Expo, highlighting evangelical development around the world. In addition, four district outreaches will run for the 3 months of the Expo this summer. At the end of May, evangelist Ken Barrett gave a weekend training seminar for sketchboard preachers. Unfortunately, the practical sessions had to be cancelled due to too much water... rain! Ken and other evangelists will be regular features in Zaragoza this summer.

Agua Viva and Aragon pavilions

At the last moment and despite giving plenty of warning, the city authorities turned down requests for permission for various activities which were planned by the churches' council and visiting groups.

Inside - the NGO area

The stated reason was that they want nothing to distract people from the Expo! So far, the police have not intervened in the activities, some slightly lower-key than originally planned, but including concerts and distribution as well as preaching the gospel in numerous ways. Pray that the objective -presenting Christ as the Living Water in a spiritually parched city- continue unhindered, perhaps even aided by this hiccup.

Roping in the visitors!

There was also a 320 voice Gospel choir performing on 5th July, with composer Richard Smallwood, famous for 'I love the Lord' sung by Whitney Houston in the film 'The Preacher's Wife'. An estimated 15,000 heard the gospel through the concert, according to FEREDE. 7,000 were seated in the auditorium, another 1,000 standing in front of the stage, plus thousands more on bridges and walkways in the area.

Viewing the Video

Among the attractions at Agua Viva during the month of July is the Brazilian band Lovanza ('Praise').
A fascinating addition to the personnel at the Agua Viva pavilion is Alfonso Cruz, an evangelical from Terrassa, Barcelona, who is one of only two painters who works under water, making paintings of wrecks, reefs and sea life. Videos of him at work will be shown in the pavilion.

A gospel or Jesus film to take away

Up to 27th July (almost mid-way), the pavilion saw over 106,000 visitors, of whom over 80,000 viewed the 'espejismos' (mirages/ illusions) video presentation. So about 5% of the (so far 2 million) total Expo visitors are making it to Agua Viva. In the first ten days 3,000 of these left contact details asking for more information. 1,500 contacts are local people from Zaragoza. Many have also taken a John's Gospel, Jesus film video, or other material. The pavilion is now expecting up to 300,000 visitors over the 3 months.

Kids programme outside

A number of evangelistic organisations and teams are supporting the outreach. During the first half of July Decision has a team, during the first half of August it is the turn of Pocket Testament League, while a Brazilian church team prepared in various types of presentation, such as mime, is there the whole month of July. Local church members are showing signs of tiring at the half way point. Pray for them!
6 to 8 million are expected to visit the Expo, including at least 4.5 million Spaniards. By 26th July 2 million had visited. Volunteers are now being sought to join the pavilion team. Email address here

Operation Transit is on again this summer, with teams spread across the country, this year including the Expo, aiming to share Jesus with migrants returning home to North Africa for their holidays, handing them gospel packets.

Summer camps are the order of the day for the children and youth of many churches. With almost 3 months' holiday from schools, families are glad that churches and youth organisations run these camps, where many young people attend, have fun and learn more of the Lord. For many, these camps mark the start of a life with Christ. In addition to churches' own camps, denominations and groups such as youth for Christ, CEF and Evangelism in Action run the activities.

Marcos Witt, Mexican pastor and singer and winner of 3 Latin Grammys was the star at the 'Mass Gathering of Young people' held on 28th June at the covered Bull Ring in Leganés, south of Madrid. There were 12 hours of evangelical pop, dance, testimonies and preaching. In a press conference he called on pastors to build bridges, not walls.

Prostestante Digital claims the Spanish evangelical churches are growing by 12,000 members a year. From our perspective, it might be truer to reflect that the migration of the past 8 years has certainly brought far greater attendance and even membership to the churches, but whether 2008 sees a continuation of this trend is questionable. It is possible that should the 'home' countries of the new migrants fare better than Spain in the current recession, we will soon be saying farewell to many of these new church members. Perhaps our main need is to channel the enthusiasm for evangelism that these Latins, Eastern Europeans and Africans have to reach such as will not move on so quickly, not to mention enthuse us Western Europeans for the Great Commission!

For earlier news from the churches, click here!

Finally, more news from the churches is always available at the Protestante Digital site.

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This week on Protestante Digital: (25th July)

Anglican Bishop says there´s no split
The sound of living waters
The ´broken´ pastor in newspaper profile
Beyond the Peruvian rainbow
Pack to blow away the evangelistic blues?
Finding the ´missing manuscript´
Lessons in religious diversity for civil servants
Operation Mobilisation going strong
Godly play for children and teachers

(18th)
Lifting up the name of Jesus
Protestants turn out for ecumenical Catholic´s funeral
Gulf Stream under threat from melting ice
Justice Minister considering Evangelical proposal
State funerals remain Catholic, but Roman influence is waning
Writing creatively to stop the sex trafficking
Mission Possible V on the way
Mission team heads for Albania and Kosova

(11th)
Inside the fish
Mariluz´s family furious at suggestions judge will only be fined
The Christian and globalisation
Saudi king launches inter-faith dialogue
120th anniversary of Baptists in Valencia
Showing the Bible to be historically reliable
Erotic film festival highlights sex industry boom

(4th)
Evangelicals ´dominate´ northern Barcelona
Has Rome neutralised Evangelical theology?
Orense has its first imam
Postcard from Paul?
Pioneer work remains hard and unpopular
Religious Liberty Law reforms on their way