Madrid

Madrid was excellent - eventually.  We first heard that the Madrid mission was 'off' on the day we arrived - this because the council had moved buildings and lost the permit!  We would still be able to do a Mostoles mission on the last evening, but this is a satellite city of Madrid and not part of Madrid itself.  I said to the two pastors we were with that it was 'vital' that we do something in Madrid itself to fulfil the vision that the Lord gave us.  They said they hadn't realised how important it was. 

They hired a restaurant for the evening (a downstairs function room that holds a bit over 100 people).  We went out at 7.00pm with guitars etc and an invitation card to invite people from the street for an 8.00pm start.  Church members would also be coming (but none had turned up by 7.00pm!).  I was, I have to confess, 'stressed' - not my normal calm self (?)  But at 8.00pm people started to arrive in the restaurant, and by 8.30 every table was full - but no-one was left standing.  (Another one of God's miracles).  We did a couple of presentations on the Gospel, and a Spanish pastor did an evangelistic appeal.  There was much worship from an impromptu band during the meal.  After the talks, you could see church members praying for guests etc.  In the event, it turned out that, of slightly over 30 guests, 'at least' 10 gave their lives to Christ that evening - and virtually all the rest wanted to stay in touch and come to the church - a wonderful harvest. 

The next morning, I was asked to speak to 45 pastors and showed them a bit of video from the previous evening - and said 'come and see' in Mostoles.  Several did.  This was a normal outdoor mission.  They had food for 500, but could have fed 800.  It was a very joyful evening and, the next morning, apparently one of the churches was 'full of new people'.  Praise the Lord!

So, from near disaster, the Lord produced something wonderful.  The pastors want to carry on and, in some form at least, a Spanish On the Move is born.   Olé!

This was OTM’s third Spanish mission, the others having been in Chiclana de la Fontiera (2002) and Mosteles (2003).

M.G. July 05