Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. (Heb 11:1 CEV)
To a remarkable degree, brazen perverseness and spiritual emptiness fill the streets of Raval. Yet, one dominant question stirs in us: “What would it look like if you took seriously your calling into Jesus, to one another, and to your neighbors and city?” (Jonathan Dodson & Brad Watson, Called Together). We want to find out!
On June 23rd, we launched the initial visible phase for urban ministry in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona. We invited members of ICB (The International Church of Barcelona – our mother church) who live in or on the outskirts of Raval to come to our apartment; we ate together, dreamed together (named our group “TogetherRaval”) and prayed together. For church planters, this is an exhilarating stage – forming a core group.
Last night 10 of us met for the third week. We are diverse in age and background (from China, Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Ecuador, Spain and the USA) but together we endeavor to discover what it means to be a genuine community of faith – a reality more basic and powerful than planning activities. For church planters, this is a fragile stage – commitment and unity costs too much for some.
During this formative stage, we are sensing the need for your intercessions more now than ever…spiritual opposition abounds, but we hold on to the truth that in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Praise Reports:
3 Raval core group meetings!
2 new members to the core group on week #3
We’re almost settled into the apartment and neighborhood – a sense of God’s purpose and timing prevails
Prayer Requests
Cohesiveness and commitment within the Raval core group
First outings for TogetherRaval: prayer walk on July 19 & personal street evangelism on August 1
Favor with neighbors - making friends with the Philippine family that runs the corner market
Physical safety as tourism and night-time antics abound and escalate
The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. (Helen Keller)
