Hello Friends and Family,
Last week Amanda and I had the privilege of visiting Barcelona, Spain the first time for both of us. Because of my travel benefits through my job at American Airlines, we were able to go very cheaply, and we were able to stay with some friends while we were there. Amanda also had about a 10 day break between teaching and her summer job, so we thought it was a perfect time to go and scope out the land.
Last week Amanda and I had the privilege of visiting Barcelona, Spain the first time for both of us. Because of my travel benefits through my job at American Airlines, we were able to go very cheaply, and we were able to stay with some friends while we were there. Amanda also had about a 10 day break between teaching and her summer job, so we thought it was a perfect time to go and scope out the land.
After feeling called to go there for almost 6 years now, it was amazing to actually set foot in the city where we would love to live and do ministry someday. While we were there we felt God's confirmation of his word in our hearts. It was so surreal as we were exploring the city. We felt such a love for the city, the people, the culture, the language, and God just opened up so many doors while we were there. We got connected with people there involved with ministry, including the YWAM church pastors. They told us they had just been praying at their last prayer meeting for people that would want to come and commit to starting a base there. Little did they know we would contact them the following week with that exact dream on our hearts.
What was for years referred to as "a graveyard for missionaries" Barcelona is changing and God is on the move pursuing heats. He has been calling different people to minister there recently. A few weeks ago Franklin Graham came to hold a conference. Out of 50,000 that attended, 1,200 decided to give their lives to Jesus.
Barcelona has a 0.5% Christian population, with the population over 40 years old being about 20% Catholic. For 37 years the government of Spain was ruled by fascism under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco who forced all citizens to be Catholic. Because of this, many people left the church when the fascism ended in 1975, so most people under 40 years of age have no church background whatsoever. New age teachings and tarot card fortunes have been the new choice belief for much of the population in the past few decades with not even a basic knowledge of Christianity. As unfortunate as this is, it means there is so much potential for ministry and for inviting people to enter into a relationship with Jesus.
A great way to connect with people is through skate and art because the city is thriving with skaters and artists. While we were there we got to connect with some local skaters and artists there.
What was for years referred to as "a graveyard for missionaries" Barcelona is changing and God is on the move pursuing heats. He has been calling different people to minister there recently. A few weeks ago Franklin Graham came to hold a conference. Out of 50,000 that attended, 1,200 decided to give their lives to Jesus.
Barcelona has a 0.5% Christian population, with the population over 40 years old being about 20% Catholic. For 37 years the government of Spain was ruled by fascism under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco who forced all citizens to be Catholic. Because of this, many people left the church when the fascism ended in 1975, so most people under 40 years of age have no church background whatsoever. New age teachings and tarot card fortunes have been the new choice belief for much of the population in the past few decades with not even a basic knowledge of Christianity. As unfortunate as this is, it means there is so much potential for ministry and for inviting people to enter into a relationship with Jesus.
A great way to connect with people is through skate and art because the city is thriving with skaters and artists. While we were there we got to connect with some local skaters and artists there.
This April, Barcelona had their first ever YWAM Discipleship Training School (DTS), which had 10 students and was skateboarding focused. Although there was a DTS, there isn’t technically a base, which is something we would like to help start in the very near future. There is currently only one other person (who is from Barcelona) that would like to start the base besides us, so it was very encouraging to see that our future training in Australia will be necessary to help pioneer this school. There are many believers in Barcelona who would like to see a school, but so many of them are already so involved with other ministries that they simply just lack manpower. We see starting a base as being a central part to connecting ministries there. We would hope to be a unifying piece to what’s happening there. Art and Skateboarding are our passions and we would love to be a part of art and skateboarding specific DTS’s in the city where these things are known for worldwide.
One huge reason for this trip, was to make connections with different people and different ministries already happening in Barcelona. We hope to work with several of these different ministries in the future. These are the Hansons. They started "La Casa de Libertad" which was a community house centered on discipling leaders. Now they are going back to the States and Mexico to get more training before they return. We would love to work with them in the future.
This is Eni and Josue. Eni and Josue lead worship in their church and travel around with their band. They are ministering through music for the Lord. Very cool people.
Keila is a musician and artist. She is from Barcelona and would love to invest in the possibility of an Art DTS. This summer she is actually touring the USA and Mexico with her band "Papel Mache." Check them out. They are awesome and very talented! She would be a great resource to the culture, language, and artist world in Barcelona.
We stayed with the Larrosa family while we were in Barcelona. They lovingly opened up their home to us, strangers at first. They are involved in the international church in Barcelona and run an interpreting business. They are very hospitable, sweet people that we would love to connect with more in the future.
One of the first nights we were there, we met with the pastors from a YWAM church called El Lokal, the Clewetts. They were a great resource and were really encouraging us to keep following God's call over our lives. They have been in Barcelona for the past 20 some years. They were able to connect us with many people from their church including these people below. One is working with a homeless ministry and another with a Evangelist ministry, another hopes to start a cafe to provide jobs for recovering prostitutes. They have hearts for the Lord and were great connections!
We were so thankful that God opened the door for this trip and for the connections we were able to make. Since there is not a base to train us there, we know we have to get training in Australia before we go in order to contribute best.
We are still in need of monthly commitments, about $2,700 left in commitments for our monthly needs. This looks like:
27 givers of $100/per month
OR
15 givers of $100/per month and 30 givers of $50/per month
OR
12 givers of $225
If you wish to support us, visit the "donate" link on the right side of this page >>>
We thank each and every one of you for your love and support as we embark on this journey with God together.
Your role in this God vision is irreplaceable. This is not possible without your support.
You all mean so much to us.
Love,
Josh & Amanda
We are still in need of monthly commitments, about $2,700 left in commitments for our monthly needs. This looks like:
27 givers of $100/per month
OR
15 givers of $100/per month and 30 givers of $50/per month
OR
12 givers of $225
If you wish to support us, visit the "donate" link on the right side of this page >>>
We thank each and every one of you for your love and support as we embark on this journey with God together.
Your role in this God vision is irreplaceable. This is not possible without your support.
You all mean so much to us.
Love,
Josh & Amanda