Spain 2023

Encourage One Another

 In Spain, the # 1 religion, if you can call it a religion, is secularism. For this reason, when you approach someone on the street to speak about Christianity or Jesus, their answer is a resounding no, or they just walk away. There are only 10 Baptist churches in all of Madrid, with a population of 3.23 million. Can you imagine that? It is a bit hard to imagine, here in the states, with a church on every street corner and still the politeness to hear what one has to say. We may think it is quickly going by the wayside, and it is, but we are still so blessed to have truth so readily available. 

   In Spain, the need for encouragement for the believers is great. Raj and his team were able to do just that as they preached on Sunday's taught women's and men's groups, went to an association prayer meeting and brought back strategies for them to use in reaching people in the surrounding country. 

   It makes me think of the verses in Ephesians 4:12-13... to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...

   One experience Raj had was in another country (Islamic region) at a gathering of believers. They had to be in an undisclosed location and very careful when entering. They had to enter one at a time and over a period of several hours. When it was time for the meal it was brought out on a large platter. Rice, chicken, vegetables all piled up together. Everyone took their spoon and ate from it together signifying, 1 Corinthians 1:17  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

 What a blessing to be a part of building up the saints to maturity as we walk alongside them in this life doing the work of the ministry.