Ministry Overview:

Joshua and Naomi are actively engaged in a church-planting ministry in and around the city of Pamplona. This includes helping equip the local Spanish church with which they are partnering, seeking means to communicate the gospel through both relational contacts and existing community organizations, and pursuing opportunities to visibly demonstrate their faith in the community.

Where they live:

Pamplona is the capital of the province of Navarra in northern Spain. Located at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains, this city of over 200,000 people is a meeting place of both the Basque and traditional Spanish cultures. Although its ancient cobblestone streets and beautiful parks are certainly worthy of note, Pamplona is most famous for its annual running of the Bulls Festival, which regularly attracts over one million revelers and always leaves behind at least a handful of casualties. Like much of Spain, the city has a long history of Roman Catholicism. Post-modernism and religious indifference, however, now hold a much greater influence over its citizens, particularly the youth. Today, the city contains only 300-600 known believers.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray that opportunities would arise for them to live out their faith and share the gospel with those in their community. Pray that their witness would be God-honoring and draw unbelievers to Himself.

February 2007 Prayer Update

Team,

We’re back in Spain after a great time of vacation and rest in the States. Here is what’s going on.

1. The Secret’s Out. A few weeks ago we met with our partnering Spanish church and officially shared our plans to “disengage” from the church by this summer and begin a new house church and evangelism focus in the fall. A few people were pretty upset, but we also received a great deal of encouragement from a number of our Spanish brothers and sisters. (I have attached an English translation of what was shared at the Spanish church meeting, if you’re interested).
2. Evangelistic Bible Study. We just started a two month study of the Gospel of Mark that I am leading in partnership with our co-laborer Carlos (who will likely host our house church in the fall). The small group includes two unbelievers and one young woman who recently entrusted her life to Christ.
3. Making Plans. Much of this spring will consist of tying up the many loose ends at the Spanish church with which we have partnered over the last four and a half years and making preparations for the new house church and evangelistic activities in the fall. Please be praying for all of this.

If you’re still reading, here is a little devotional thought. Spain is a country where it appears that less than 1% of the population has embraced the gospel of Jesus. It is almost entirely under the dominion and domination of Satan. In a very real sense, by serving the Lord here we are taking on the prince of the power of the air on his own turf. Should it really surprise us then when he tries to rip us to shreds? And boy has he been trying over the last few months. Please pray for us and for our national partners.  We desperately need it.

Check out Naomi’s blog and flicker (picture) page:www.naomiinspain.blogspot.com   www.flickr.com/photos/naomi-in-spain ; and our Spanish-language outreach sitewww.AlternativaCristiana.org

We love you guys,

Joshua (for the Smiths)

EFCA-International Mission (Reach Global)

Pamplona, Spain