News, August '09
News from the Churches
All set for George Borrow Society meeting in Salamanca. Evangelical Pro-Life poster campaign in Madrid Metro. Michael W. Smith well received on Spanish tour. Summer outreaches and camps in full swing. This and more... Read on!
All is set for a meeting of the George Borrow Society in Salamanca, from 17th to 19th September. Borrow, most famous for his book The Bible in Spain, spent 4 years in the country during the 1830s, publishing his travelog in 1842 to great acclaim in Britain. It is still one of the finest ever books on travel anywhere, particularly concerning Spain. But what made it special was the fact, as Borrow himself admitted, that he did not primarily do it 'for fun', although he seems to have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. rather his objective was to print and distribute the Bible in Spain at a time in history when the country had been only a decade free of the Inquisition and well before freedom of religion was declared, in 1869.
A press conference was held on 11th August to bring the meeting to the awareness of the public. National newspaper ABC was among those present.
The Madrid pastors' fraternal, COMIMA, is currently running a Pro-Life publicity campaign in Madrid's Metro. In fact, during August it stepped up the campaign, begun in July. As the government moves closer to presenting its new freer abortion law in Congress, Pro-Life groups are busy campaigning in the streets and lobbying deputies. The main lobby group, HazteOir.org is mainly Roman Catholic, although other religious groups - and non-religious people- are also taking part in its campaign. But this is the first specifically evangelical campaign of which we have heard.
June sees the start of the summer outreach season, with July and August being very busy. Early off the blocks was a Puerto Rican team which helped the evangelistic outreach of the Brethren Assemblies in Galicia. There were several events for children and a concert between 16th and 27th June.
In July Decision was in Baeza, Andalusia (1st to 14th), moving on to Daimiel, Castilla-La-Mancha in August (1st to 14th). A report on Protestante Digital informs us that 2000 people attended the various activities. The film Luther filled every last seat and 50 young people attended the basket-ball clinic. Over 200 children attende the Bible festival. Its earlier report, half way through the Daimiel Amiga outreach reports on the team of 40 being involved in a wide variety of activities, including a municipal reception, general tidy-up work in two industrial estates, the 'donation' of 37 bags of blood, a basketball tournament, Bible festival for kids and 'summer cinema' in the museum patio. (More information on their web in Spanish. See report of our Baeza outreach in 2005 - baeza/baeza)
Pocket Testament League have been in Huesca (Aragon) July 13th to 26th and then are in Benicarló (Valencia) August 1st to 16th.
OM had two outreaches during July, first in Narón, Galicia, then in La Vera, Extremadura.
MEM, the Baptist churches' evangelistic arm, has been in La Palma, Canaries, 16th to 23rd July and also in Manlleu, Barcelona 20th to 26th July. They are also supporting 25 other local church based outreaches across the country.
King's Kids were in Extremadura 7th to 28th July, moving on to Iceland 28th July to 18th August.
Many other organisations and churches are organising outreach events and summer camps for their children and young people - or more seriously-minded adults. Schools officially close by 19th June, but in many cases the last week is a mere formality.
For example, a basketball camp is being held close to Madrid featuring Real Madrid deputy trainer Randy Knowles and Regal Barcelona player Daniel Santiago, both evangelicals.
Proel Spanish branch of the Summer Institute of Translators, is also holding summer courses on NT Greek and Bible translation in the cool northern town of Villablino.
We know of two English language camps for children, one in Navarre, the other in La Vera, Extremadura. The children learn English while also hearing of the love of Jesus. In Banyoles, Girona, a camp specialises in a Red Indian theme and also has North American believers to help.
"FIRE" YOUTH WEEKEND – Operation Mobilisation, Valencia
Monteluz is a mountain retreat centre near Valencia, Spain. Early this year, Christian, from Austria, was invited to organise a youth weekend there. The theme of the weekend was "Fire", and 70 young people from 17 different churches attended.
"It was great to see how they were not afraid to mix with each other, although their church backgrounds were so different," said Christian. They had a full programme of sport, fellowship, worship and Bible study together. The following Monday, Christian was woken by the telephone. It was the pastor from one of the churches. He apologised for calling so early, but wanted to thank Christian for all he had done for his youth group. The four young people from his church had returned changed, and one girl had made the decision to follow Jesus.
Praise God for the young lives set on “fire” in Monteluz that weekend. Please pray for the faith and lives of these young people. Report thanks to OM News.
Future events
Clame '09, Building Bridges In November a major congress will take place in Malaga to gather Latins working among maily immigrants from a particular religious group in Europe. The congress is run under the auspices of COMIBAM (Latin missions association) and the Spanish and European Evangelical Alliances.
Earlier news in bullets:
- CEDIB, the Evangelical Council of the churches in the Balearics, is now registered with the government and with FEREDE. The churches now plan a celebration in September.
- Michael W. Smith toured Spain the first week of June. He was well received by full houses in Madrid and Barcelona.
- Music tours continued with the visit of the Swedish Gospel choir Joybells between 13th and 21st June.
- On 4th July El Mundo informed of the establishment of Spain's first 'gay evangelical' church in Sagunto, Valencia. Report in Spanish.
(Click below to read this in full.)
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: (24th July) Note: PD closes for August.
Alliance leader accuses government of ´Tridentine intolerance´
Religions and the economic crisis
Gospel music with a gypsy flavour
Choir produces 40th anniversary DVD
(17th):
Conversions decimate gypsy statue festival
´The Shack´ - a book for restless spirits
1700 Christians gather in first Evangelical mass event in Murcia
Church and Council agree on the family
Funeral held for Basque priests executed by Franco
Evangelicals cleaning up the town
Evangelical Alliance publishes its annual report
Surf and faith
Quarter of a million Evangelicals in Valencia
Welcome and God bless you, Kaká
Campaigners take Mayor to court over monastery oath renewal
Cortés named ´Evangelical of the Year´ by Writers´ Alliance
Paul´s ´final journey´ receives its film premiere
Dictionary of Islamic terms seeks to avoid misunderstanding
(3rd July)
Kaka or Ronaldo: which is the brightest star?
Commemorative Bible breaks down barriers of history
Jonas Brothers perform sell-out concert in Madrid
Catholic prelate ´consecrates´ Spain but royals snub ceremony
Spanish humanitarian given state funeral in India
Mystery surrounds resignation of Spain´s leading imam
´His life is in your hands´
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