October 2004
31 OCTOBER- PRAYER DAY for the EVANGELISATION of SPAIN
Bulletin nº 16 (October 2004)
The Bulletin of the Prayer Network for the Evangelisation of Spain
"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.... because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:11, 15b)
Why are the days evil? Are there in fact days which are more evil than others or worse moments? In a sense, yes. Time should really be measured by oportunities, rather than by the clock. The enemy takes advantage of the oportunities he gets, to do as much damage as possible. We should even more take advantage of the moment to reach the world for Christ, to see souls saved. Our duty is to preach the Word, "in season and out", when we think it is convenient and when not.
Greetings to all who are working for the evangelisation of Spain! This month of October we once more come to a focus on our days of prayer for the nation, October 31st and November 1st. Others take these days to focus on evil. We can turn this focus round. So we invite you to join with us all over Spain in a special prayer emphasis over this coming weekend. An older brother has related how, during the '70s he and his youth group went out determined to give leaflets to those visiting the cemetery (a typical activity on All Saint's Day, November 1st). And people received the leaflets with pleasure. Sometimes the moments and places which might seem to us most inappropriate, turn out to be the best oportunities for people and the Holy Spirit!
31 OCTOBER- PRAYER DAY for the EVANGELISATION of SPAIN
What is so special about the 31st October weekend that we make this prayer emphasis?
1. Many have adapted to the American custom of Halloween on 31st October, also All Souls' day in the Roman calendar. Then on 1st November is the traditional All Saints Day, which in Roman Catholic lands means the day of the dead. People visit their dead relatives and lay a wreath on the grave. Both days are more related with evil and at least sadness than with the joy of knowing that salvation has made (can make) us 'Saints'! Occult practices have also become more common in recent years, particularly at this time and even in schools. In the midst of this negative atmosphere, we need to pray and proclaim: "Awake, Oh sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you." (Eph 5:14)
2. On 31st October, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his famous Theses to the church door at Wittenberg. The Reformation had begun! Many Reformed churches already celebrate this date, remembering the past. But in Spain, there remains so much to do to bring the message of the Reformation -Salvation by faith alone in the grace of Christ through His death and resurrection, as we meet Him through the Word of Scripture- Thus this memorial needs to become a moment of looking to Christ's continuing work of bringing salvation to mankind, including Spain.
We are encouraging all the churches to make Sunday, 31st October a celebration of prayer for the evangelisation of Spain. We are also encouraging the churches to make the Sunday service and evangelistic event. Suggestions for the weekend? Friday night could be a night, or half night of prayer, including possible prayer walks through districts where children and young people may be hanging out. On Saturday we could hold a local open air outreach. And on the 1st, a bank holiday in Spain, we could do what our forefathers did and hand out literature at the cemetery gate, offering them new hope and comfort.
How can we celebrate together?
As a member of our prayer chain or support group, take it upon yourself to share this oportunity with your church and even more widely in yourcity or region. Why not do the following:
1. With your pastor's agreement, print and distribute this prayer letter to the members of the congregation.
2. Use the Conference's Prayer Guide (only available in Spanish) and organise a month of prayer around this date for the evangelisation of your contacts, neighbourhood, city and all Spain. Find people in other churches around who share this burden and begin to meet together to pray for Spain. Invite whole churches to be involved. Or get a local existing prayer group involved in praying for Spain.
3. If that is not possible, at least get five minutes in your Sunday service to pray especially for Spain.
4. You might also take an offering for the Spanish Evangelists' Conference, or for another ministry you know reaching out to Spain.
As someone living outside Spain...
Consider how you might do something to celbrate a Spain prayer day on October 31st or another day. We have a page with ideas dedicated to this. Go to Spain Prayer Day http://www.prayforspain.com/projects/index10.html
Evangelistic Activities in October
§ "GOSPEL IS LIFE" Pray for the results of the Concert tour which took place earlier this month (8th to 11th) and as we requested extensively in last month's bulletin http://www.prayforspain.com/arise/index14.html We know many have been praying for this event and we thank you. Even a local Girona Newspaper covered the event and quoted the Pray4Spain bulletin as one of its sources! according to the same newspaper, over 3000 people attended the concert which took place in the provoncial capital, Girona. The press coverage was very positive.
read all about it in Catalan!
http://nosaltres.vilaweb.com/info/vilaweb/elpunt.noti_elpunt?p_id=-914118
http://nosaltres.vilaweb.com/info/vilaweb/elpunt.noti_elpunt?p_id=-914120
http://nosaltres.vilaweb.com/info/vilaweb/elpunt.noti_elpunt?p_id=-921122
http://nosaltres.vilaweb.com/info/vilaweb/elpunt.noti_elpunt?p_id=-923011
http://nosaltres.vilaweb.com/info/vilaweb/elpunt.noti_elpunt?p_id=-923610
In addition to concert attendance, the audience received a full programme, including the words of the songs in Castillian and Catalan, a magazine with explanations of the ogigins of the choir, their music and the Gospel itself. And they were also offered more material. we are so grateful to the members of the Central Choir of Charlotte, together with their supporters, for making this possible.
§ 23rd October-Alpha Regional Day Girona:
The Alpha team, led by Arnaldo Fernández-Arias will hold a training day for all who wish to reach out through the Alpha course. There will be a special, but not exclusive emphasis on reaching students.
Web: http://www.alphaespana.org
§ 30 sep. - 10 oct.-Operation Mobilisation is holding a campaign in Talavera De La Reina More: http://www.usa.om.org/Spain04/MainMenu.htm
§ 10 - 16 de oct.- A Swiss team is distributing literature in the Aragonese town of Calatayud
6th Spanish Evangelists' Conference
This will take place in the New Year (6-9 January '05). El Escorial, Madrid. The slogan this time is "You feed them!" Pray for the planning of the event and that many attend and are called / revive their call to the evangelisation of Spain.
"Finally...
Put on all the armour of God so that when the day of evil comes ou may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything, to stand." Halloween promoters are saying that it's a day for the chldren. The key to standing is to pray. Let us pray with and for our children and make them participants in the evangelisation. They are like arrows in our hands (Ps 127)
Many thanks again for standing with us in prayer.
|