Spain

Divine Appointments in Spain

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.

They were from Angola, and two of them were returning the next day. We gave them direction in finding a good church there.

Just another divine appointment in the Puerta del Sol.

From Karen and Kevin Prevost AGWM Personnel in Spain

image004.jpgOn 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.

image003.jpgAs 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.

They were from Angola, and two of them were returning the next day. We gave them direction in finding a good church there.

Just another divine appointment in the Puerta del Sol.

From Karen and Kevin Prevost
AGWM Personnel in Spain

Not for Sale in Spain

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 cooperation with the Europe-wide Day Against Human Trafficking, Project Rescue Spain of which AGWM Personnel, Karen Prevost is ministering, joined with other anti-trafficking organizations for a huge awareness event in downtown Madrid called “I am not for sale” (noestoyenventa).

Along with a flashmob dance, girls posing as trafficking victims in cages, and petition drives for anti-trafficking laws, people pledged their support with a show of handprints stating “I am not for sale” (noestoyenventa)

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."

noestoyenventa2.jpgIt 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 cooperation with the Europe-wide Day Against Human Trafficking, Project Rescue Spain of which AGWM Personnel, Karen Prevost is ministering, joined with other anti-trafficking organizations for a huge awareness event in downtown Madrid called “I am not for sale” (noestoyenventa).

Along with a flashmob dance, girls posing as trafficking victims in cages, and petition drives for anti-trafficking laws, people pledged their support with a show of handprints stating “I am not for sale” (noestoyenventa)

Fiona and Beth Grant.jpegIn 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."

New Student Center in Grenada, Spain!

Shawn and Deb Galyen, AGWM personnel, are ministering to university students in Granada, Spain. They relate the amazing story of the new facility they now are using. “About a year ago, our student events began to outgrow our small rented space. We began to pray that the Lord would lead us to a new, larger center for student ministry and we had several criteria: a good price, a location near university life, a large and bright space, and friendly owners. We frequently prayer-walked around Granada’s downtown which is also the student neighborhood with our team, noticing vacant stores and writing down the phone numbers. But no place matched everything we needed.”

Later, Shawn was chatting with the owners of the shop next door to the current center and he mentioned the need to move. Another young man entered the store and overheard the conversation. He jumped in, telling Shawn to look at a store which was closing on a particular street where the team had prayer-walked many times. Shawn walked by the space that day, but it was not marked for rent. He felt strongly that he should pursue it, however, and so he walked by the store daily until a ‘Liquidation’ sign went up. Days later the ‘For Rent’ sign with a phone number appeared so Shawn called immediately and arranged to view the space.

The Galyens continue, “We were amazed; the space was exactly what and where we wanted. It was large (two floors), bright, and very accessible to students. However, the owner was asking for a huge, 6-month deposit and wanted to raise the rent after one year. With much prayer, we presented our offer: 2 months deposit ad the same rent as the first year in the subsequent years. The elderly owner wanted to negotiate, but his wife stopped him, saying ‘These are good people, and we should help them. We shouldn’t charge them more – it will be our contribution to the good work they are doing in our city.’ So we signed the contract.

“Since then, God has affirmed again and again that He is in this move and has great plans for the future of Raices, (the name of the student ministry and center). On the day we signed the contract, we were notified that the money we had requested a year earlier had arrived just in time for payment of the deposit. To God be all the glory!”

SIMG_6907sm.jpghawn and Deb Galyen, AGWM personnel, are ministering to university students in Granada, Spain. They relate the amazing story of the new facility they now are using.

“About a year ago, our student events began to outgrow our small rented space. We began to pray that the Lord would lead us to a new, larger center for student ministry and we had several criteria: a good price, a location near university life, a large and bright space, and friendly owners. We frequently prayer-walked around Granada’s downtown which is also the student neighborhood with our team, noticing vacant stores and writing down the phone numbers. But no place matched everything we needed.”

IMG-20150525-WA0002sm.jpgLater, Shawn was chatting with the owners of the shop next door to the current center and he mentioned the need to move. Another young man entered the store and overheard the conversation. He jumped in, telling Shawn to look at a store which was closing on a particular street where the team had prayer-walked many times. Shawn walked by the space that day, but it was not marked for rent. He felt strongly that he should pursue it, however, and so he walked by the store daily until a ‘Liquidation’ sign went up. Days later the ‘For Rent’ sign with a phone number appeared so Shawn called immediately and arranged to view the space.

The Galyens continue, “We were amazed; the space was exactly what and where we wanted. It was large (two floors), bright, and very accessible to students. However, the owner was asking for a huge, 6-month deposit and wanted to raise the rent after one year. With much prayer, we presented our offer: 2 months deposit ad the same rent as the first year in the subsequent years. The elderly owner wanted to negotiate, but his wife stopped him, saying ‘These are good people, and we should help them. We shouldn’t charge them more – it will be our contribution to the good work they are doing in our city.’ So we signed the contract.

“Since then, God has affirmed again and again that He is in this move and has great plans for the future of Raices, (the name of the student ministry and center). On the day we signed the contract, we were notified that the money we had requested a year earlier had arrived just in time for payment of the deposit. To God be all the glory!”

Planting Seeds in Spain

AGWM personnel in Spain, Dan West, relates the following two incidents which clearly illustrate the ‘planting’ of the seeds of truth into lives. During a trip to Sweden for training and ministry, he also attended the wedding of one of the team leaders. After the ceremony and before the reception, the groom introduced Dan to his cousin. Dan knew that this was a divine opportunity to witness, and after asking key questions that aim for the heart, this man fell under deep conviction. He had been a very sinful man and suffered with guilt. The conversation was ended abruptly as they were ushered into the reception area.

The next day after Dan had ministered in an afternoon church service, the groom approached Dan and told him what had transpired earlier that day. At 6AM his cousin had texted him and explained that he was not able to sleep at all because of the conversation with his American friend and that his guilt was consuming his thoughts. What was he to do?

This cousin is actively searching for peace and forgiveness through Jesus, the only one who can remove that guilt.

Another experience of seed planting occurred on Dan’s journey to Sweden which consisted of two flights. He was sitting next to the same young man on both flights and in the same seat numbers, so on the second flight, Dan began to witness to him. As Dan asked key questions that aim for the heart and which allow the Holy Spirit to convict, the young man didn’t seem to be moved at all toward conviction and it didn’t bother him that he was destined for an eternity in hell. Dan then ended the conversation and let him ponder.

However, being on a flight, the young man couldn’t just walk away. A few moments later, obviously affected by Dan’s words, he finally asked, “And if I were bothered, what then?” From there, Dan was able to explain the Good News of how Jesus took our sins and punishment upon Himself, that we are to repent, turn from our sins, and put our trust and confidence in Him. The young man was “trapped”, not only on the flight, but also in his sins and needed an escape. He did not make a decision to follow Jesus in that moment, but the Gospel was planted in his heart. The Holy Spirit can continue to work in his heart, bringing him to a place of repentance and salvation.

11870806_966421463396926_2066025286320937524_n.jpegAGWM personnel in Spain, Dan West, relates the following two incidents which clearly illustrate the ‘planting’ of the seeds of truth into lives.

During a trip to Sweden for training and ministry, he also attended the wedding of one of the team leaders. After the ceremony and before the reception, the groom introduced Dan to his cousin. Dan knew that this was a divine opportunity to witness, and after asking key questions that aim for the heart, this man fell under deep conviction. He had been a very sinful man and suffered with guilt. The conversation was ended abruptly as they were ushered into the reception area.

The next day after Dan had ministered in an afternoon church service, the groom approached Dan and told him what had transpired earlier that day. At 6AM his cousin had texted him and explained that he was not able to sleep at all because of the conversation with his American friend and that his guilt was consuming his thoughts. What was he to do?

This cousin is actively searching for peace and forgiveness through Jesus, the only one who can remove that guilt.

IMG_1743.jpegAnother experience of seed planting occurred on Dan’s journey to Sweden which consisted of two flights. He was sitting next to the same young man on both flights and in the same seat numbers, so on the second flight, Dan began to witness to him. As Dan asked key questions that aim for the heart and which allow the Holy Spirit to convict, the young man didn’t seem to be moved at all toward conviction and it didn’t bother him that he was destined for an eternity in hell. Dan then ended the conversation and let him ponder.

However, being on a flight, the young man couldn’t just walk away. A few moments later, obviously affected by Dan’s words, he finally asked, “And if I were bothered, what then?” From there, Dan was able to explain the Good News of how Jesus took our sins and punishment upon Himself, that we are to repent, turn from our sins, and put our trust and confidence in Him. The young man was “trapped”, not only on the flight, but also in his sins and needed an escape. He did not make a decision to follow Jesus in that moment, but the Gospel was planted in his heart. The Holy Spirit can continue to work in his heart, bringing him to a place of repentance and salvation.