A church in Spain started with only three families. Now, some 100 people attend regularly!
The Overflowing Church Plant
On this quiet street in Madrid, Spain, you can hear the inviting sound of worship. The music is coming from this building, where the Alcalá de Henares (al-cah-LAH deh eh-NAH-rehs) Adventist Church meets.
Today is a special Sabbath. Some members came to church early to decorate the stage. They’re preparing for a special program to celebrate and appreciate the women of this church.
It’s a bit hard to imagine this small space filled with a hundred people. But as the program is about to start, people come in one by one. Before you know it, the place is so full some members even have to stand at the back.
Five years ago, this church started with only three families. Now, around 100 people come every Sabbath! Most of that growth is because of their young people.
“The number of young people attending grew very fast. We started with only seven young people but we dedicated our time to youth ministries. Last year, eight members were baptized and another six accepted Christ this year.”
The youth gather in this small room to study the Bible. The bond among them is evident as they sing praises together and study God’s Word.
“We try to be united and be a big family. And of course we’re very thankful that the whole Church always keeps us in their prayers.”
This group finds ways to meet for any occasion throughout the week, not just on Sabbath. This has helped the young people grow closer. They’re not afraid to talk about their lives and share their hopes for the future. But they make sure to have fun too! They even started their own youth choir.
But as much as young people are welcome in this church, it has presented them with a problem.
“We have a financial problem in the church because almost half of us are young people without income, So we don’t have enough money to keep renting this place for worship.”
This group is praying for God’s plans for their congregation. They want to keep growing, and there’s no denying the importance of the youth in the church. As youth leader, Oliver is encouraged by what he sees and experiences with the young people.
“It warms my heart seeing all these young people come to church. Sometimes we go to church on Friday and stay as long as we can until about 11:00 pm. On Sabbath, we go to church and stay there the whole day, enjoying worship together. I feel very good when I see this, and it helps me grow spiritually as well.”
Please pray for the Alcalá de Henares Church as they continue to reach out to the young people and everyone in their community.
