Mission Snapshots

SNAPSHOT OF SPAIN? ?

The landscape in Toledo, Spain, is known for steep, often-barren hills, but owing to prolonged spring rains, soft grass covered the peaks during our visit. The city once housed Muslims, Jews, and Catholics, all living together; but sadly, those oft?brown hills now match the centuries?old spiritual heritage of nearly zero evangelical presence. 

In the city center, we met two local Spanish pastors, Juan Hanna, and Angel from a Presbyterian church in nearby Alcorcón, who share a vision for establishing a presbytery in Spain in the coming year. When five more families join Mark’s church, they will organize as a congregation and join the Alcorcón church which, in turn, would trigger the formation of the Presbytery and a new national Reformed Presbyterian Spanish denomination! 

We visited the parents of Natalie (wife of Rev. Mark Witte). Natalie is one of two translators in the city. Her parents are Ukrainian refugees who had to flee their home after Russian missile strikes destroyed local infrastructure, including their airport and cellular communications. This couple, along with 100 other refugees, now resides in Toledo, Spain. Natalie’s father, a lifelong church planter, spoke of the continued strength of the evangelical church despite the long history of Russian oppression. The Toledo church has seen growth while serving this group of refugees. During one of their services, we were blessed to hear “Amazing Grace” in both Spanish and Ukrainian. There is yet grace to be found in the horrors of war.  

SNAPSHOT OF BRIDGE EUROPE?  ?

We visited the Bridge Europe team members in Strasbourg, a city which once played a significant role in the Reformation but is now one of the most nationality-diverse cities in France. The largest minority is Muslims from the Maghreb region (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco) with Turkey coming in second. We met with all our missionaries to hear about church planting among Muslims and refugees in France and Germany. 

Patrick Malphrus listened to stories of Muslims coming to Christ – in the church plant where Elinor Griffin serves – the Benicourts’ evangelism among Muslim Chechens – the Allers’ work with Muslim and Ukrainian refugees – the Thomas’ church planting among Turks in Germany – the Mebergs’ leadership and mentorship among missionaries and pastors. Patrick commented that there are “wheels within wheels,” in terms of all God is doing. He added, “As I listened to our missionaries share their hearts/efforts and connected the dots between ministry events/daily routines, it became apparent that everything happening in Bridge Europe is directly connected to church planting or revitalization....” 

Bill McKay noted, “It is amazing to see their work using non-traditional means (i.e., Sebastien Benicourt’s music with the Chechen community) to form tangible relationships and share the Gospel.”  

Bridge Europe is looking for several new families and two church planters to join them for continued ministry growth. They have also begun a gap?year, internship program through which young people grow in faith, begin learning a second language, and experience ministry among Muslims.   

SNAPSHOT OF THE UK? ?

Our team visited Gloucester, England, a region whose beauty is contrasted by its spiritual bareness. In a land that once sent out missionary giants like William Carey and Hudson Taylor, very few evangelical Christians remain. We met with the Cochran family who began a work here just several years ago. By God’s grace, the work has grown quickly – due in part, to nearby Presbyterians who are hungry to connect with a church that faithfully teaches God’s Word. In Barry, Wales, we visited the Goodman family and learned more about their growing work.