The International Church of Barcelona (ICB) celebrated the water baptism of two lives that have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. The Lord is working in a great way where AGWM personnel Katie Bailey serves on the leadership team with John Carrano who is the pastor. Sidney is a young man who spent about nine months attending the church as a university student. He grew and changed so much through discipleship and friendships in the church. He was a few days away from finishing his program and leaving to go to his home country but he just knew he needed to be baptized. It was too late to schedule it for a Sunday, so it was scheduled on a Friday afternoon to celebrate with him in baptism. He immediately went to work inviting everyone he could think of. To Katie’s surprise, as she approached the church that afternoon, there were about 40 people waiting to come in. They all sat together on the stage, sang a few songs of worship and heard Sidney's testimony as he shared what the Lord had done in his life. He was baptized as they gathered friends celebrated! It was a beautiful moment of community.
A couple of months ago, a young woman began attending ICB. Her desire to know more about the Lord was so evident. Over the next couple of weeks she came to know Christ, began to study His Word, entered into a one-on-one relationship for discipleship, recognized the need to rid the sin in her life and worshiped each week with all her heart. When she decided to be baptized, she wrote out a prayer to share with the church. Her words and her commitment to the Lord were so beautiful. It was a joy for Katie to celebrate with her in her decision.
The International Church of Barcelona (ICB) celebrated the water baptism of two lives that have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. The Lord is working in a great way where AGWM personnel Katie Bailey serves on the leadership team with John Carrano who is the pastor.
Sidney is a young man who spent about nine months attending the church as a university student. He grew and changed so much through discipleship and friendships in the church. He was a few days away from finishing his program and leaving to go to his home country but he just knew he needed to be baptized. It was too late to schedule it for a Sunday, so it was scheduled on a Friday afternoon to celebrate with him in baptism. He immediately went to work inviting everyone he could think of. To Katie’s surprise, as she approached the church that afternoon, there were about 40 people waiting to come in. They all sat together on the stage, sang a few songs of worship and heard Sidney's testimony as he shared what the Lord had done in his life. He was baptized as they gathered friends celebrated! It was a beautiful moment of community.
A couple of months ago, a young woman began attending ICB. Her desire to know more about the Lord was so evident. Over the next couple of weeks she came to know Christ, began to study His Word, entered into a one-on-one relationship for discipleship, recognized the need to rid the sin in her life and worshiped each week with all her heart. When she decided to be baptized, she wrote out a prayer to share with the church. Her words and her commitment to the Lord were so beautiful. It was a joy for Katie to celebrate with her in her decision.
The message of Jesus Christ was taken to the streets of Zamora, Spain this summer through singing, distributing Gospel tracts, personal conversations, and open air preaching. These evangelism efforts were taken by AGWM Personnel, Bill and Diane Jackson along with members of their church. Seeds of the Gospel were sown!
Romina heard the singing and preaching out on the street, gave her life to Christ, and now is a faithful follower. Ramon lived for the bottle. Now he lives for Christ. Rosario was involved in Santeria but now she follows Christ. Ambrosio had threatened his wife with divorce because she is a believer. Now he is, too! Laura is a Gypsy that Diane had in her Sunday School class years ago in Zamora. They moved to Toro. When the Jacksons started the church in Toro, she and her family started attending. She has decided to follow Jesus.
On a chilly night in February, three young Africans listened intently as Maritza sang a song from a red box in the central plaza of Madrid, Puerta del Sol. On the Red Box is an open air evangelism ministry headed by AGWM personnel in Spain. After the song, these three young men heard another young man tell how Jesus had forgiven him. They continued listening as a young woman stood on the box and shared a message using a mirror to illustrate how Jesus can cleanse the dirt from our lives and restore us. When free gospels were offered, they remained, waiting for someone to speak with them.
As I began to talk with them, I discovered they were hungry for God, having sought Him in other religions. They sincerely recognized their need for forgiveness, and when I asked the young man if he was prepared to turn his back on his sin and surrender his life to Jesus, he humbly replied, “It would be a privilege.” They each prayed in their own words asking Jesus to forgive them and change them.
It was an exciting week in Madrid for the cause of raising awareness and prevention, and focusing on the plight and need to rescue the victims of human trafficking.
In addition, David and Beth Grant, also with AGWM, joined with the Spain Assemblies of God Superintendent, Juan Carlos Escobar and his wife Fiona Bellshaw, in signing an agreement as the first Project Rescue affiliated ministry in Europe. Beth stated, "We thank God, the Spanish leadership, great ministry team, and AGWM Europe leadership, Paul and Angie Trementozzi for the privilege of ministering together to see trafficked women find new life! In two years, God has done so much…and it is just the beginning."