today in Covenant World Mission

New Life in Christ in Spain

Spring2009

bringing god's good news to the people of spain

J
By Eugenio Restrepo
uan is a Spaniard who found
the Parque Victoria Community
Church in Málaga by looking in
the yellow pages and then visiting
the church on a Sunday morning.
He had never attended a Protestant
church before and knew very little
about God or the Bible. On this
particular Sunday, Juan came to
the church because he was going
through a family crisis and felt there
might be answers here. He stayed
for the Sunday service and accepted
Christ on that very first visit.
Juan and Eugenio.
Eight years earlier, a missionary
had given Juan a gift, a Bible, which Soon after becoming a believer,
he accepted and then put on a shelf. Juan started to visit the church’s
Juan was friends with this mis- counseling center, “The Good
sionary, but the missionary had left Samaritan”, which was a ministry
Spain some time ago. In the midst started by Covenant missionary
of the family crisis, Juan remem- Eugenio Restrepo. It was here that
bered the Bible, pulled it off the Juan began to deal with the issues
shelf and looked inside, finding that that first brought him to the church.
his friend had highlighted verses A few weeks later, he decided to
for Juan to read. The Bible verses participate in a discipleship group
spoke to him. This prompted Juan to lead by Eugenio Restrepo. There
seek a church—the Parque Victoria were several new believers in the
Community Church. Continued on back page

Global mission. Local vision.

Continued from front page.
church, and the church wanted to
help them deepen their relationship
with God, so they began this group.
Nine new believers now attend this
weekly gathering where they learn
about God, the Bible, and can ask
questions.
Juan is eager to learn more about
God. He regularly attends church
and his mother and teenage daugh-
ter sometimes attend church with
him. He continues to work on the
family issues and feels that God is Eugenio (third from the right) prays with
with him through this process. He those that will be baptized this day.
even volunteers to visit new believ- ened each day. Please also pray for
ers with Eugenio Restrepo so he can Eugenio and Pia Restrepo who part-
share his story and encourage others. ner with the church in this any many
We praise God for what He is doing other ministries. May God be glori-
in Juan’s life! fied through all these ministries.
Please pray for Juan and the new Eugenio and Pia Restrepo are
believers at the church. Pray that Covenant missionaries serving in
their faith will grow and be strength- Málaga, Spain.

Spanish Facts at a Glance

• The population of Spain is approximately 43.9 million. Less than two percent of
the population is Evangelical Christian.
• Málaga is a port city on the Mediterranean Sea and located in the southern part
of Spain.
• Most Spaniards do not attend any church on a regular basis.
• According to one poll, 18 percent of the population identifies itself as atheist.

Covenant World Mission

Today in Covenant World Mission is a publication of the Department of World Mission of the
Evangelical Covenant Church, and © 2009 by Covenant World Mission, 5101 N. Francisco Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60625. Questions? Call 773-907-3316 or email to world.mission@covchurch.org