From the January-March 2007 Issue
An Australian visits Spain
Keith Noldt
La ManchaIt was my privilege last autumn to make a visit to Spain to visit places and meet people I had previously only read about in Vision of Europe. The aim was to see the Lord’s work, to meet the Lord’s people and to encourage them from the Word of God. This, it seemed to me, was a useful way for a minister to use some Long Service Leave. Although I arrived at and departed from Madrid, I spent all of the time south of that city.
Cuenca
I was introduced to Spain in the city of Cuenca (pronounced kwenka) by Pastor Matt and Judith Hill. This is a new pastorate for them and they are just settling into the church and town. Their sons, Thomas and Jacob, do all the things that boys do – well that Spanish boys do – school and football. The only ‘disappointment’ was to discover that the famous ‘hanging houses’ of Cuenca are, in fact, only three! I had gained the impression from tourist information that half the town was hanging over a cliff!
Ciudad Real
A pleasant journey in a modern air-conditioned coach brought me to this provincial capital and the home of Luis and Pilar Cano with their daughters Bequi and Debora. Luis is the pastor of the Iglesia Cristiana Evangelica in this city – a relatively new pastorate for him, but a case of ‘coming home’.
San Fernando
A very fast train took me to San Fernando, a town adjacent to Cádiz from whence Christopher Columbus set out for the New World. Here Pastor José (‘Pepe’) Rodriguez, with his wife Josefa, continues his life’s work. The main room of his house is set up as a chapel for the church that meets there. Pepe, who seems to this Aussie to speak English with a Welsh accent, excels at what used to be called ‘personal work’. Each day he sets forth to visit around the town, calling in here and there to chat with contacts, shaking hands with the policeman outside the police station, and presenting a tract and invitation whenever appropriate. On the railway station he met some young men in the Marines. As a former Marine himself he soon had them slipping some gospel tracts into their packs to read later.
Editorial Peregrino
I spent just a night and a morning with Demetrio Cánovas at Moral de Calatrava, but that was enough time to be impressed with the potential benefit of this publishing work for the development of the evangelical church in Spain.
Alcázar de San Juan
Finally, I came to this town where Pastor José (‘Pepe’) Moreno and Virtudes, with daughters Gloria and Paula, were my gracious hosts. The church here is the largest of those I visited, with a very neat and suitable chapel that was opened eight years ago.
Observations
Generally, the pastors fitted me into their normal routine – with some generous side-excursions to see interesting sights. The fellowship with brother pastors – with families just like my own only younger – was a privilege. Thank you! It was wonderful to be invited to preach several times in each church, including outreach meetings in nearby villages. I was humbled to have people express their heartfelt appreciation that someone would come from so far away to minister to them. May the Lord bless these faithful Christians abundantly.
All of the pastors supported by EMF speak English well and benefit from good books in that language in their libraries. However, this highlights the need of Spanish pastors and church members who do not have an adequate knowledge of English. The present good work and potential of Editorial Peregrino is clearly significant. The Lord’s people should pray and support this work as good Christian books are translated into or produced in the Spanish language. Steps have been taken to expand the staff with a view to expanding the sales and so multiplying the usefulness of this ministry.
The ‘Men of La Mancha’ (Hill, Cano and Moreno) have attempted some interesting forms of evangelism. La Mancha is Don Quixote country and every town claims some connection with Miguel Cervantes or his fictional character. On Saturday 11 November a hall above the site of Cervantes’ imprisonment was hired and, with Luis Cano as chairman, Pepe Moreno delivered a paper on ‘The Bible and Don Quixote’. Because of the interest in Cervantes (who died the same day as Shakespeare) the meeting attracted unbelievers and a TV crew. The interview broadcast a few days later on regional television was fair and good ‘exposure’ for evangelicals in this part of the world.
Spain now has a greater place in my prayers.