May 2004
But since you say so, I will cast out my nets.
ARISE, SPAIN AND SHINE!
Bulletin nº 13 (May 2004)
The Bulletin of the Prayer Network for the Evangelisation of Spain
Master, we have been working hard all night and have caught nothing, but since you say so, I will cast out my nets. (Luke 5)
Take the boat out to deeper waters
Greetings in Jesus, to all who are praying for Spain, along with the over 500 members of our prayer chain. Over the past couple of months we sent out a couple of messages calling for prayer after the Madrid massacre. Likewise we informed of the various Passion of Christ projects using special literature to reaqach cinema goers. Thus we sent no other bulletin during April.
This month's theme brings us back to the objective with the story of the catch of fish. In fact there appear to be two miraculous catches of fish in the Gospels, Like's story and John's, after the resurrection. In both cases there is a supernatural element. The 'experts' had worked hard all night for a meagre result. Now they were willing to obey the Lord's command and cast their nets once more, seeing a great number of fish caught in their nets. Results came from obedience to the Lord and through His working hand. There are certainly some very extraordinary events going on at present around the world, including in Spain. Thus we need to be encouraged to continue in obedience to the Lord's command and cast once more our nets. While we ourselves might feel discouraged by developments or the lack of results up to now, let us find encouragement in His Word and cast out our nets again.
1. Inspiring testimonies
We have had encouraging news from around the country of how the Lord is working. For example, the 24-7 youth prayer movement has grown over these past weeks. Although the events of 11th March were cruel and painful, there were possibilities for pastors to meet with some of the victims and their families. For example, a Madrid pastor has been able to provide support for an Ecuadorian family since that date and the director of the Evangelical Alliance press office AC Press, Dr. Pedro Tarquis, was able to attend the victims as they arrived at his hospital. Likewise, members of the Salvation Army immediately went to help at Atocha station where the majority of the victims were. One of the SA volunteers was able to console the girl friend of one of the victims when she was considering suicide. On Sunday 18th April, several family members of victims were among those 50 or 60 who responded to an appeal which was made after a showing of the Passion film in a cinema. The Passion of Christ is being powerfuly used of God in this atmosphere to mobilise the churches in a spontaneous and united way to witness outside cinemas and even buying out entire showings, gaining the right to preach afterwards. For example, in Alcobendas, north of Madrid, they churches of the area took over a cinema on Easter Day in the morning. At the end, 25 responded to the appeal, making a profesion of faith. What a day of rejoicing!
The Passion is becoming one of the greatest grossing films of all time and may continue in Spanish cinemas until June or July, so we encourage you to continue taking advantage of this atmosphere of opportunity to witness. Various organisations, such as Campus Crusade and Every Home Crusade, have produced materials (literature, etc.) to make the most of this and in several case have done a second print run of these materials. There are also two web sites (in Spanish) relating to the film: www.despuesdelapasion.com and www.sobrelapasion.com
So, keep praying for those affected directly or indirectly by the Madrid massacre and also for the results of the work done to take advantage of the Passion film. Pray also for the young people involved in the 24-7 prayer network aiming to defeat the enemy and the new challenge which has produced os much fear in our society, that of Islam. brother Andrew has said 'If we do not go to the violent with love, they will come to us with hatred. So let us be courageous and take them love and the gospel.
Upcoming events
Pray for Melilla
Every Home Crusade is planning various outreaches working along side the local christians. Melilla is a Spanish enclave on the coast of North Africa (Marocco) and has a wide variety of cultures and religious groups. Pray for the christians to be salt and light at this time and that many will come to the Lord
Decision time
Decision Spain is preparing its own summer campaigns, also helping others to be prepared for their outreaches. They just held (3rd to 7th May) a major evangelism training conference together with the Billy Graham Association, using the best materials from the Amsterdam 2000 conference. Pray that those who attended will take the calling to evangelise Spain and beyond seriously and that their churches will also make good use of them. Details of the summer outreaches are now on the events calendar: http://www.prayforspain.com/projects/index3.html
Eibar, Basque Country
We have been asked to pray for a campaign being undertaken by the local church together with YWAM between the 10th and 16th of May. The entire city will be leafletted. Also there will be Open Air programmes with music, mime, literature distribution and questionnaires. Finally on the 15th, there will be the official opening of our new church meeting hall. This is the first time in years that the church has done any outgoing evangelism. In addition to inviting the authorities and other contacts to the inauguration, the entire city will get the invitaion through their letter boxes. May it bring many to to the church and to the Lord! We are praying for a change in the atmosphere here in the Basque Country!
OM Extremadura
Also on our events calendar http://www.prayforspain.com/projects/index3.html is the entire programme of upcoming evangelistic events which OM Spain has arranged with OM USA. American church teams are invited to come over to help the local church planters in Spain's most unreached region. One of these campaigns is this month!
Torrevieja, Valencia
This is a seaside resort on the Costa Blanca, south of Alicante. The leader writes: 'Your bulletins have encouraged us to form a team to do Open Air evangelism. We plan to go out every day over the coming months to keep the flame of evangelism burning. Me meet in the church hall at 8.30 in the evening on Thursdays and pray, share testimonies and prepare the activities for the coming week. We are using Bible Society and Campus material prepared around the Passion of Christ theme and are seeing that people are very much more open than usual to talk with us. We are also finding that listening to their concerns is very helpful in understanding where they are.
'I remember going up to a young man sitting alone on a bench. I began to speak about the film, asking if he had seen it. It turned out that he was very interested in New Age things. Anyway, he told me my testimony was very helpful to him as he was seking a way for his life. Pray for Roberto! We also ask you to pray for workers to come to Torrevieja to join us, also that we will not only be faithful, but also grow in this ministry. Keep us your ministry of encouragement through the bulletin! Thank you for praying.
Yes, thank you, dear intercessor, for coninuing in prayer for Spain, taking your boat out to deeper waters in following the Lord's instructions. Together we will see a miraculous catch!
|