News, August 2008

News from the Churches

Agua Viva and Aragon pavilions

Zaragoza water Expo is now in its last month. The Evangelical pavilion is among the attractions - with 200,000 visitors in the 9 weeks to 20th August. 31st August is the Agua Viva pavilion's 'special day'. 5th July saw 15,000 hear the 320 voice Gospel Choir concert with Richard Smallwood at the Expo. Reports from many outreaches are coming in thick and fast and we hope to post mentions here in the coming days. Pentecostal Europe Convention is coming to Madrid in October, with various preparatory events already. 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 are running (on and off) for the 3 months of the Expo this summer.

Inside - the NGO area

Open Air evangelism: 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! Since then, Ken has been back and was able to hold some meetings, Chris & Hilde Mathieson and Ramón Rendon have also taken part in open airs at various times with the local church teams and Ken and Ramón plan to be back, a veritable marathonian relay of local and national participation. Meanwhile, the local churches have not stopped taking every opportunity to get out into local parks with the gospel.

Roping in the visitors!

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. The stated reason was that they want nothing to distract people from the Expo! But in the end 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.

The Agua Viva Gospel Choir (FEREDE)

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.

The video presentation can be downloaded

Among the attractions at Agua Viva during the month of July was the Brazilian band Lovanza ('Praise').
A fascinating addition to the show 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, together with several of his paintings are on show in the pavilion.

A gospel or Jesus film to take away

Up to 17th August (just over 2 months), the pavilion has seen over 185,000 visitors, of whom over 136,000 viewed the 'espejismos' (mirages/ illusions) video presentation. See the Video here! So about 5% of the (so far 2.5 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.

Pentecostal Europe Convention (PEC) is coming to Madrid with a European prayer day on 6th September. David Wilkerson will be a keynote speaker, along with Carlos Anacondia and several Spanish leaders. The convention itself is 24th to 25th October. We believe Paul Yonggi Cho is speaking.

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.
In their 10th August report OT asked prayer for additional workers in Ceuta up to the middle of September. In addition they ask for prayer for the leaders, the relationship with the authorities in the different areas where they are working, the distribution of the gospel packets and their use by the recipients and also for the harvest and follow-up. They give thanks for those who have been saved. One north African worker met someone who received a gospel packet 5 years ago and knew the material well, but still did not understand how to become a Christian. The worker was able to help him with this step! OT publishes other similar stories.

50 days for Palencia has been a prayer effort for this city in northern Spain. Churches in other parts of the world have joined in a prayer and fasting chain for the needy city.

Other summer outreaches have been going on elsewhere. Pocket testament League was in Azuqueca de Henares (Castilla La Mancha) during July. On the first day some 400 attended their 'Treasure Island' programme for children. Subsequently the programme continued, also involving family film evenings after treasure island. They were also able to distribute hundreds of John's gospels. Several new people visited the church service during the outreach. In August LTB has been in Zaragoza.
MEM, the Baptist mission group, had a campaign in Villarrobledo (Castilla La Mancha) in July and some 50 were interested in knowing more and meeting from 27th July in a new church being planted there. Since then, MEM has been in Gijón (Asturias) and Zaragoza.
After their outreach in Zaragoza during July, Decision was in Palma del Río (Andalusia) during August.
The Kings Kids (YWAM) were in Barakaldo (Bilbao) during July and are in Sarajevo during late August.
FIEIDE, the free baptist denomination, had an outreach in Albania and Kosova during July.
Pray for the results of all these outreaches.

Summer camps are the order of the day until the end of August 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.

For earlier news from the churches, click here!

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

You can also listen to some reports and comment.

This week on Protestante Digital: (25th July)

(No further PD news likely until September, due to holidays.)

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