News, September 2010
News from the Churches
This weekend brings Madrid a European preachers' conference, while OM ship Logos Hope visits the Canaries. New Bible now available. Summer outreaches now coming to an end - i.e. Decision in Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, OM in Galicia. Jimmy Carter opens new church building. Catalonia sets rules for new church buildings. Holy Land Theme Park coming to Mallorca! This and more... Read on!
Now on or coming soon!
- On 23rd September On the Red Box brings us their first European Open Air Preachers' Conference. The Madrid based ministry, which under the local name Kilometre Zero reaches out daily at the city centre Puerta del Sol, is spreading its wings to bring back open air preaching to the centres of Europe's major cities. The conference lasts until 26th.
- Micah Challenge is being promoted by the Spanish Evangelical Alliance. On 10/10/10 many church members will be challenged to make small commitments to supporting this world-wide anti-poverty campaign. A letter has also been sent to all parliamentary 'deputies'.
- Protestante Digital is to get a major overhaul and update. The news service of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance had almost 2 million visits in 2009 and during late 2010 will become a daily updated medium. We wish them well. Get a preview here! (To read the latest from PD scroll down.)
Meanwhile, our P4S renewal continues gradually as decisions are taken about the new look on the one hand and the underlying 'engine' continues to develop on the other. From May 1st the same engine (but not content!) is being used at St. Pixels, the online church.
- On 10th October, Spanish churches are being asked to join the Micah Challenge on poverty. The Spanish Evangelical Alliance is promoting participation for the first time this year. For most churches it will be on 10/10/10... at 11.00!
- A new Theme park is coming to Mallorca: THE HOLY LAND! News reports, such as this one in the Guardian, inform us that it will soon be here. The local church in Capdepera has not yet been informed by the developers, but also heard through the press! What we know is that the developers have handed in a four page proposal to the local council, which will undoubtedly be followed up by more detail if council members show interest.
Recent news and events
The OM ship Logos Hope has visited the Canary islands during September. between the 2nd and 21st the ship visited Las Palmas and Santa Cruz, the islands' provincial capitals. The world's largest floating book exhibition came to bring hope to the 'fortunate islands' before heading on towards Malta. Ken Barrett was among those welcoming the ship to Spain. More from OM Ships.
Summer outreach and camps are now at an end! Many churches, denominations and support ministries held outreaches and camps across the country during the months of July and August.
In particular, Decision held a summer campaign in Fuengirola (Costa del Sol and close to the Obamas in Marbella) during the first half of August. 90 volunteers took part, hundreds attended the activities, which included a basketball tournament, 3 concerts, 2 film showings and 2 days of a children's festival. A number of the events took place in the bull ring, while others were held in a park and other open air locations. More from Decision.
Pocket Testament League (LTB) has reported a great outreach in Guadalajara, with some 200 children attending the 'Treasure Island' programmes each afternoon. They also had wonderful opportunities to reach and encourage children at the 'Evangelical Olympics' in Madrid and Galicia. A further 'Olympics' takes place on 2nd October in Barcelona - the 25th anniversary!
The Gideons report that they have almost completed Bible distribution at hostels along the increasingly popular 'Pilgrims' Road to Santiago', on which 1/4 million walkers and bikers were expected to trek this year - up from 5,000 in 1990. The also held a distribution in Lanzarote, the Canary Islands and have one planned for October in Barcelona. More from The Gideons.
OM held a week's outreach in the Madrid area late July, before moving to Galicia for the start of August. In September a further team is in La Vera, Extremadura, while their main focus in on the Logos Hope visit to the Canaries.
The Brethren were on campaign in Moaña, Galicia. A correspondent wrote mid-campaigns that it was going well, with great fellowship and Bible teaching... They also reported that last year's outreach in Murcia led to 7 people converted, most of these now baptised. As you continue praying for this outreach and the results, give thanks for the follow-up from last year and pray ahead to next year in Guadalajara.
A national survey, taken by CIS, shows that since 2000 the number of Spaniards considering themselves Roman Catholics has fallen from 84% to 72%, or some 5 million. Over 56% never attend mass, at least if there isn't a feast (i.e. wedding). Sunday attendance is down to 13% from 21% a decade ago. Meanwhile, affiliation to other religious groups has doubled to 2%, while 25% are 'non-believers' or atheists. From this survey we can deduce that while affiliation to the traditional 'Church' is falling, the evangelicals would be worse than treading water if it were not for the recent influx of immigrants from Latin America, West Africa and Eastern Europe.
On 20th July the Generalitat of Catalonia published the new rules for establishing 'places of worship'. Existing buildings will have 5 years to comply, but meeting places of under 100sqm (1000 sqft) are exempt from the requirements. The law giving rise to the regulations was passed in July 2009.
From September there is an evangelical chaplaincy service at Madrid airport's Terminal 1. This follows the installation of the first such oratory in T4 during June. The inter-confessional oratory in T4, which serves One World airlines, has a notice giving the times of pastoral attention and services. Generally, attention is from 10 to 12 and 6 to 8, except Tuesdays. A quiet place for meditation, you can also speak with a counsellor or pick up a New Testament or other piece of biblical or evangelical literature, courtesy of the Gideons and other organisations. Staff are being sought to cover the second oratory. For more information you can call (+34)-91.381.89.88.
Earlier news in bullets:
- A new home-grown Spanish Bible translation, La Palabra (The Word), is now on sale! It is available in shops since 15th September.
- On 3rd July ex president Jimmy Carter was the guest of honour at the opening of the new building of the Terrassa United Church, the largest evangelical church building in Catalonia. The regional vice-president, Carod-Rovira and the mayor of Terrassa also attended the opening. [Image 101???]
- CEDIB, the Evangelical Council of the churches in the Balearics, was officially presented to society on 6th June. Regional vice-president Albert Moragues was key guest. About a thousand local church members attended the event, which closed with two songs given by a united churches' choir, formed for the occasion.[Image 100???]
- The national government has postponed the introduction of a new religious liberty bill. Meanwhile, it has been forced by the financial crisis to merge the office which dealt with religious matters with the Directorate of International Legal Cooperation.
- During the spring several Spaniards received expulsion orders from Morocco, the sole reason being that they are evangelicals. They include a businessman, who had lived all his life in the country and a Spanish language teacher. The expulsions were part of a 'witch hunt' against evangelical believers in the largely Muslim country.
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.
Transsexual woman attacks church member in Sunday service
Spanish government shelves Religious Freedom Bill
Evangelical prisoner rehab centre re-opens
(17th)
Holidaymakers missing jabs
Firm produces DIY coffin
Protestante Digital's English service was on holiday during August.
Previous news from before the summer:
(30th July)
Minority religions can´t decide if they want government money or not
Franco `gave´ Hitler a list of 6.000 Spanish Jews
Evangelical protest demonstration outside Moroccan Consulate
Metropolitan Community Church brings “inclusive Christianity” to Spain
94% of parents don’t want government to impose sex education
(23rd July)
Government postpones Religious Freedom Law till Pope´s gone home
Growing Evangelical church in Asturias makes its presence felt
Evangelical Alliance gives cautious response to Religious Freedom Law draft
(9th July)
Under age girls allowed to abort without parents´ knowledge
|
