January - March 2007 Praise Support

Prince & Gina’s Praise Report from Spain

January - March 2007 Newsletter

Dear Prayer Partners,

Greetings in the lovely name of Jesus! God has been doing so much that I’m challenged to see if I can summarize His multiple marvels.

Just to start of, to the right is a recent photo of Gina and me with our son Jason and his lovely new wife Julia. They both love the Lord and are in leadership training in their church in preparation for full time ministry. They are in hopes to return to the serve with us on the mission field. Their long range ministry goals are to serve as missionaries in Australia.

Preaching to a Nation

In the last three months we have had several quite unintentional opportunities to minister the Gospel to countless thousands. In January I received a call from a popular radio station chain that I assumed was local. They asked if I would be willing to do a live telephone interview that afternoon. Now I trust the media about as much as I trust a junkie with my wallet. None the less, after I asked a few investigative questions, I consented to do the interview and, as a result, was given a wonderful opportunity to speak freely about our Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

A few days later I received a call from a pastor in Madrid who told me that he had been getting excited phone calls from people all over telling him about a pastor from Cáceres named Prince that had testified openly about Christ, glorifying God and exalting the Bible as the Word of God on the radio! This never happens on a secular program here in Spain! It turns out, to my surprise, that the interview was a live NATIONAL broadcast!!! I continued to receive calls and comments about it for several weeks.

Preaching to a Province

Shortly afterwards, I was contacted by a couple of Catholic priests that wanted to interview me on the church’s provincial wide pre-recorded TV program. Once again, my experience tells me that this is usually a terrible idea, for absolutely horrible things have been done here to faithful pastors in these mass media editing rooms. To add to the risk they did not even offer a basic script of the questions that were to be asked. But after consulting with another priest who is a trusted friend, I consented. I requested to be accompanied by Brother Alfonso López, a Spaniard and one of the “12 elders” of my church.

I praise God for the wisdom, favor and grace that the Lord gave me during that interview, for the Priest interviewing us did try to throw some terribly polemical questions that could have mired the opportunity for effective Evangelical testimony. I don’t even remember the answers I gave at that time, but the testimonies are still coming in from Christians and non Christians alike of how God had brilliantly diffused a potentially negative situation (which is what the host wanted) and turned it into a beautiful opportunity to minister the love of Jesus. It turns out that the response to the interview was so positive that they have repeated the program several times in the last few months! It has proven to be a favourable boon for the public opinion and acceptance of our church and ministry here.

Progress of the Church

We have a very interesting church planting situation Western Europe today. The demographic makeup has changed drastically in the last ten years by immigrants coming in from all over the world (including Eastern European countries) looking to start a new life. Many of those that come are at least somewhat familiar with the Gospel and are not afraid to come to our services. This has helped church growth tremendously in Spain, Portugal, France and England and has given a stronger Christian presence and witness.

It has been a blessing in uncountable ways. But it also comes with it own unique set of challenges. (1) We often have to deal with a floating population almost like pastoring a church on a military base. We have a lot of people that come and go because they have come for the money and follow the money. (2) Many times you are dealing with the more financially indigent and unstable. Even for those that come with professional studies and careers; it still takes years for them to get grounded and able to work themselves up to the living standards that native Spaniards enjoy.

Not withstanding, God is working in such a way that He is slowly but surely adding to the church those that have been saved or deeply touched here and are now firmly and totally committed both to Christ and our church. They are also becoming Spanish citizens in order to cement their place in our church and this city.

One big advantage is that the immigrants have a lot more children than the average Spaniard. Many of these children are born and raised under the life changing influence of the Gospel in our church. In a few short years these children will be church leaders, university students and strong influences in our community and Spanish society at large. So in a way that we have never had before, we have the opportunity to truly change the course and future of this nation by our faithful investments in these precious lives today!

A Personal Goal Reached

I’ve had a personal goal to finish my formal education since… well, since forever. But with our busy ministry, travels, family, lack of finances and life in general, I’d not been able to complete this goal. I’ve been studying for years with an on-line course here and an extension classroom course there and still I was far short of my goal… I’m not getting any younger, mind you! Last year I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Ministry – D.Min) for my endeavors during 30 plus years of service on the mission field and ministerial accomplishments for which I am very grateful. But even though I have worked very hard to be able to earn that title, I really wanted my earned academic doctorate.

This year, after years of work, I’ve finally been able to reach my long sought after goal. My doctoral thesis has been accepted and even though I graduate in October, in Madrid, and I have a few more sessions (almost mere formalities and details) I now officially have my title of Doctor of Divinity.

Finally - Thank You and Please Keep Us In Your Prayers!

Not too long ago I was contacted by a national periodical (‘El País’) for an interview. They sent a reporter all the way from Madrid to come to one of our services here in Cáceres and then to personally interview me for an important piece that they were doing on the Spanish government’s talk about terminating their 8 billion euro a year financial support of the Catholic Church. Being that Cáceres is the poorest province in the nation, they wanted to know why the Catholics need the government’s help if 97% of Spaniards are Catholic. How do Evangelicals support their pastors and churches here without government help? That was when I told them of just how indispensable YOUR financial support is to our ministry and the work of God. God was glorified and this reporter marveled at the unity and determination of true Christian Believers who financially support the vision to spread the Gospel to the entire world. YOU are a vital part of our labors for the expansion of the Kingdom of God here in Spain and WE THANK YOU!!!

H.M.S.,

Prince & Gina Parker

Financial Support:
Ambassadors Fellowship
P.O. Box 62309
Colorado Springs, CO
80962 USA
Phone: 719-495-8180

Fax: 719-495-3313