Greetings from Spain!
Being that this is Black History Month I thought that I'd share a few informative links about prolific African Americans.
It's worth thinking about that out of a population of 35 million; I am almost one of the less than 200 career African American missionaries sent out from the USA. I've been somewhat of a pioneer in my field of calling and frequently I've been the first African American that many people have ever met - how many more times have I been the first African American missionary that people have met. This is true to such an extent that I've been asked more than once, "You mean to tell me that there are Black Christians in America?" It would be funny... if it wasn't true.
Anyway, I pray that these links are both informative and edifying.
May God continue to bless and encourage you in Christ Jesus, His risen Son!
H.M.S.,
Prince & Gina Parker
Missionaries To Spain
Friday, February 1, 2008
Friday, December 14, 2007
Prince & Gina's Praise Report From Spain
September - December 2007
Merry Christmas and greetings In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Dear Prayer Partners,
We are always busy, but we’ve been extra busy the last couple of months because we’ve moved into our brand new Ministry Centre! But before I get to that I want to share some exciting testimonies.
Miraculous Healing
A little over a month ago I received a distressing phone call from Pedro and Maria, a family of our congregation. Pedro’s brother, a (57 year old) non believer, had just suffered a massive heart attack. When I arrived at the hospital the man had been resuscitated after having been clinically dead for twenty minutes. They informed the family that even though they were able to revive him, it was to no avail; that he, most surely, was severely brain damaged and was in a deep comatose state.
God spoke a word of faith into my heart and I spoke it to them. “Fear not. Only believe. Lazarus was dead for four days and Jesus raised him up and Lazarus was NOT brain damaged when Jesus healed him! This man was in his coma for two and a half weeks with the doctors giving worse prognostications every day. But God had clearly spoken to me so I continued to repeat the words of faith to them and to all who spoke of the incident.
Well, Praise God! This man woke up from his coma and began to speak and clearly answer every question asked him by the doctors and his family. Two days later he was released from the hospital and sent home healed! He is yet very weak and still can’t get around on his own, but he’s alive and totally mentally competent. We believe God for his complete recovery.
Please pray for the Spaniards! These can be a very hard people to evangelize. The entire hospital staff and all of Pedro and Maria’s non Christian family recognize this as an obvious miracle from God, yet none have surrendered their lives to Him. Such is the people with whom we have to do. Religion can kill true faith and endanger the soul quicker than anything else!
University Professor
The international directors of the university through which I finally received my theological and ministerial doctorate (La Universidad Para Las Naciones – The Christian University for the Nations) called me via a multinational conference call - from California, Texas, Mexico and Guatemala – to ask – or rather urge me to accept a staff teaching position with them. (Quite an elaborate call set up - never had one like that before).
It wouldn’t do to share here all of the tremendously encouraging words they gave me and how my gift of teaching could be used in a far greater way by further preparing the leadership of the Spanish church on their Madrid campus. They also ask if I would be willing to invest in their missionary endeavors amongst the Spanish speaking Pastors in Canary Islands, England, Switzerland, Guinea Equatorial (Africa).
In this position I would teach those actively involved in ministry in the masters and doctorate degree programs. I give intense week long seminars and monitor the rest of their assigned work and progress “on-line”. At this point this is not a salaried position but for ministry and missions. (Most of the pastors we serve are economically disadvantaged). Right now, in Europe, they guarantee that my expenses would be covered and possibly some type of honorarium. In Africa I will probably have to cover all of my own expenses (with your help of course). I really enjoy teaching in an academic environment. I also praise God that this blessing in no wise interferes with our ministry here in Cáceres.
Ministry Centre
Our move into the Ministry centre has occasioned our greatest monthly operating costs to date. We have practically depleted all of the finances we had set aside for these expenses.
We moved in about a month ago. Unlike construction in the USA, here they turn the buildings over to you without kitchen facilities or lighting fixtures and many other common necessities. Most of the Spaniards just take them out and put in what they want anyway so construction companies just quit putting them in. So we’ve been very busy getting the place up to acceptable living and occupancy conditions. Along with the expense of the moving company, we’ve also had to do all of the set up contracts with the electric, gas, water, telephone and internet companies. We’ve had to put closets in the bedrooms and floors in my office and the multipurpose room and many other details; all in all quite an expensive endeavor.
Praise God! We now have adequate living space for ourselves, our missionary trainees, guest ministers (or ministries); room for cell meetings or even medium sized church gatherings. There is still so much more to be done – but then again, that’s true about everything here!
Visiting Ministries
Right off the bat we began to fulfill one of the basic purposes for the centre, to house and host our many visitors and guests. Three days after we moved in we had our first guest (we weren’t even unpacked or adequately set up yet). For two weeks we hosted three servants of God while they ministered in our church as well as this province and region of Spain.
Some months back I began to make plans for a couple of city wide evangelistic music concerts. I was able to invite some friends of mine who are internationally known evangelists in the Spanish speaking world: Marcelo Patrono, a musician/evangelist from Argentina and Alejandro and Pamela Alonso anointed psalmists from Calvary Chapel in Southern California.
We had our first event November 16th with Marcelo with about 120 in attendance and our second event November 30 with Alejandro y Pamela with more than 200 in attendance. Even though Spain is slow to let you see the fruit of your labor, we praise God for the large number new people that were present and that responded to the invitations.
Please keep us In Your Prayers!
In conclusion, we just want to bring our financial situation to your prayerful attention. This year the dollar has been fighting a losing battle with the euro and our support has been down. This is the lowest we’ve seen the dollar since 1992. Just to give you an idea of how things are: Milk is over $5.00 a gallon and gasoline is more than $7.50 a gallon.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and loving support of our ministry and may God continue to bless you for your generosity! As always, you are a matchless BLESSING to our lives and the lives of countless others that you help us to reach for Christ! We love and deeply value you all!
H.M.S.,
Dr. & Mrs. Prince M. Parker
Saturday, September 15, 2007
July – September 2007 Newsletter
Prince and Gina’s Praise Report from Spain
July – September 2007
May God’s peace and joy be with you all! It seems like I just unpacked from out last trip to the USA, but it’s actually been almost six months of Spirit filled activity since we were last Stateside. So as Gina and I pack our bags once again in preparation for a missions conference in Southern California we have a bit of time to reflect on all that God has been doing here in Cáceres.
Praying In The Street
The other day I was in my study preparing Bible studies and my Sunday sermon outlines when I heard the horrible screech of car tires and a crash followed by a woman’s loud cries…clearly not the signal of something good. I rushed outside and found a car in the middle of a crosswalk with a smashed windshield and damaged grill. I also saw a woman bloodied and prone in the street about fifteen yards away. I rushed to her side and, to my utter dismay, found that she was clearly in shock and at least six months pregnant. The screams were those of a witness.
Kneeling in the street as a crowd gathered, I began to pray while checking to stop any hemorrhaging I could. Men in the neighborhood kept a clear circle around me as I prayed for her and comforted her soul with God’s Word. What pleasantly surprised me was that the people of our neighborhood supported me in my efforts!
Later I found her in the hospital and discovered that she was a Rumanian immigrant named Felicia. The glorious miracle that even the hospital staff commented on was that they found NO BROKEN BONES AND HER BABY IS PERFECTLY FINE!!! Praise God!
Personal Invitation From The Catholic Bishop
I recently received a phone call from Miguel Angel, the Catholic priest who has befriended us. It was to inform me that the Dioceses of Cáceres-Coria was to ordain a new bishop and he wanted to personally invite and meet with us. I notified the other Evangelical pastors and missionaries in the area and took them with me to the event.
When we approached the 1000 year old cathedral, in the [more than] 2500 years old section of our beautiful city, one of the bishop’s entourage recognized me and hailed me by saying, “Sir, you’re the Protestant priest aren’t you?” Understanding what he meant to say I acknowledged in the affirmative. He separated me from the crowd and directed me to enter the path set apart for the bishop’s grand entrance. I had to explain that I was accompanied by my wife and other ministers that should also be allowed to enter with me.
We were seated in a special section along with the city dignitaries and in front of the TV cameras and the multitude of Catholic faithful. The Bishop publicly gave us a warm welcome and called us his friends.
Now I don’t need a Catholic bishop to feel my worth; that comes from my identification in Christ. But what it did no was to open the doors of the hearts of the people to whom we desire to reach for Christ in this city! Hundreds of people we see and greet everyday on the streets are beginning to cast aside their apprehensions and open their hearts to receive us – thus opening the door of their hearts to receive the life changing message of the Gospel (John 13:20).
Summer Crusade
In July, a short term missions group from Zoe Christian Fellowship of Whittier came for a week to do street evangelism. The team was a true blessing as more than a thousand people received Gospel literature and many more saw the street presentations of the Gospel!
As a result of the contacts made we have had several new families and individuals come to the church. Last week we baptized two new converts and there are others in preparation for baptism as they confirm their confessions of faith. Photos of the even are found on our blogsite.
These are photos of the Zoe - Antioch Missions short term team, lead by Minister Tony Dunn, sharing the Gospel on the streets of Cáceres while crowds of Spaniards listen and receive Gospel literature. 
The crowd of Believers and non Believers that gathered to withness our baptismas service September 8th, 2007.
The crowd of Believers and non Believers that gathered to withness our baptismas service September 8th, 2007.
We praise God for the work that His Holy Spirit is doing in the hearts of the Spaniards. This is such a tremendous change from the spiritual condition of the country 20 years ago. We are not yet seeing revival or a massive spiritual awakening
, but we believe with all of our hearts that it IS coming!
, but we believe with all of our hearts that it IS coming!
Cell (or Life) Groups
One of the greatest challenges for many churches is the consolidation of new Believers and first time visitors. We too have had to really tighten up our efforts to consolidate all of the new people that the Lord brings our way. The best way for us to do this is to train and commission cell group leaders and launch new life groups. In the last few months we have been able to launch our first such groups. We praise God for we are seeing fruit of these consolidation and discipleship tools. I also thank God for those who have taken our discipleship efforts to hearts and have accepted the call to commission to reach other souls for Christ and His Kingdom. At present we have five active and successful life groups.
Ministerial Center
We finally received the call from the bank to go and sign the final paperwork to receive the keys to the new Ministerial Centre! We would have signed the papers last week but we have made arrangements to do so upon our return from the United States.
Once we get the keys we still have numerous important details to fix and install before we can move in. Here they don’t give you your flats or houses with the kitchen, bathroom utilities or other details installed. Anything that people might change according to their own tastes they just let you do it from the beginning. This means that we are going to have to spend about 15,000 euros to condition the house and install at least the most basic elements before we can move in. Some of this we have been able to save up in anticipation and some we will just add to the mortgage loan.
So Praise God, after almost three years we will be able to move in by late early November!
Once Again, You’ve Been A Big Blessing!
Finally, thank you so much for all of your prayers and loving support of our ministry and may God continue to bless you for your generosity! You are a matchless BLESSING to our lives and the lives of countless others that you help us to reach for Christ! We love and deeply appreciate you all!
H.M.S.,
Dr. & Mrs. Prince M. Parker
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
April - June 2007 Praise Report
Prince & Gina’s Praise Report from Spain
April – June 2007
Dear Prayer Partners,
Greetings in the lovely name of Jesus! The last three months have been filled with trans-Atlantic flights as we made three scheduled trips to minister in various parts of the USA.
The Benefits of Making Disciples
As you know, the church here is yet in the toddler stage of development. None the less, there are still times that Gina and I have to travel abroad. The only way that we can do this is by developing strong and faithful disciples that can carry the responsibilities of this work (at this stage, temporarily), until we return.
So when Gina and I had to return to the USA for a series of services in March and April we chose six of our twelve to be in charge of the Sunday services and midweek Bible studies. To help them out, I wrote up a series of sermons and Bible studies that they were to give in my absence. They were nervous but eager and ready to step up to the challenge. They actually did a great job!
Ministry in California
Several pastors that support our ministry were very gracious to open their doors for us to share the Word of God with their congregations. Bishop Frank Stewart of “Zoe Christian Fellowship of Los Angeles” invited us to share in all three Sunday services March 25th. April 1st, Pastor Richard Stewart of “New Creation Fellowship” (of Los Angeles) invited us to share in both Sunday morning services.
April 13th we had the marvellous opportunity to minister in a Spanish speaking church, “Zoe Christian Fellowship of Rialto”. The marvel is that this couple is fruit of our ministry from 10 years ago when we were on furlough and serving at “Zoe of Whittier”. April 8th Pastors Hector and Ruth Esquer, of “Iglesia Visión Cristiana” in San Diego hosted us when we shared the Word with that beautiful family of Believers. Hector and Ruth are also long-time disciples of ours. We ended our time in California April 15th in San Francisco at the San Francisco Christian Center pastored by Bishop Donald E. Green.
We want to thank all of these pastors as well as our friend and Pastor, Ed Smith of Zoe of Whittier, for their hospitality and loving support of our ministry and the time that we could spend with them.
Cell Church Conference in Atlanta
We were back home in Spain in our own pulpit for two weeks (not enough time for me to recover fully from my jet lag) when we had to return to the USA; this time to Atlanta, GA. In response to an invitation from Bishop Flynn Johnson, pastor of the Atlanta Metropolitan Cathedral, in Atlanta, GA, to share in a G12 cell church conference that he was holding for that region of the country. It was Gina’s first time sharing in English Internationally and she did a fantastic job sharing on consolidation.
The keynote speakers in the conference were Bishop Johnson, Pastor Bray Sibley of the Harvest World Outreach Ministries, in Hammond, LA, and yours truly. It was a great privilege to share the conference with these great ministers of the Word, but apart from that, the worship in Bishop Johnson’s church is absolutely, outrageously out of the world! I told them that one worship service like that in Europe would transform the continent forever!
The Pentagon and Grandkids
I had just returned from our trip to Atlanta when I received a letter from a general at the Pentagon notifying me that they wanted me to attend a special promotion and honors ceremony to be held for my daughter Jasmine. I wasn’t going to miss that for anything! So I was able to be home for two more weeks and then hop back on a plan to cross the Atlantic for the third time in two and a half months. You’ll just have to forgive me when I say I was puffed up and spread out like a peacock to se my daughter honored by so many high ranking officials as she received her (far-ahead-of-her-time) promotion.
For ministry purposes, Gina didn’t accompany me on this trip; she stayed to preach that Sunday. So I was able to spend about four days with Jasmine and her lovely family. That means that I got my grandkids ALL TO MYSELF!!! Gina usually sweeps them away and it’s all Grandma, Grandma! But this time it was all about, “Grandpa, Grandpa!!!” Ha, ha!
A True Sign of Growth
While at the Pentagon Jasmine shared with me about the four stages of forming a team: (1) Forming: the vision is born and shared. (2) Conforming: the team members struggle to try to assimilate the vision of the leader. (3) Storming: conflicts and difficulties evolve as the team members see challenges and have difficulties digesting the leader’s vision. (4) Norming: conflicts are resolved as the team members begin to sincerely understand and incorporate the vision of the leader and start getting on board with the vision seeing it as a normal way of doing things.
Now I felt really good when I heard that. For if the strategic and logistical heads of the most disciplined military in the world see this and a natural part of team formation, OUR PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN NORMAL! The good thing about it is that now, we are finally coming into the Norming part of our team development and are beginning to see fruit!
Some of the leaders that we have been training have finally begun to open up evangelistic and consolidation “cells” (Life Groups) and are excited about it. They have begun to embrace the same vision that I have been striving to inculcate in them. We are finally beginning to GROW as we should and the church is showing favourable signs of true progress!
Thank You and Please Keep Us In Your Prayers!
Finally, thank you so much for all of your prayers and loving support of our ministry and may God continue to bless you for your generosity! You are a matchless BLESSING to our lives and the lives of countless others that you help us to reach for Christ! We love and deeply appreciate you all!
H.M.S.,
Prince & Gina Parker
Personal Correspondence:
Calle Cueva de Lascaux #1
10004 Cáceres, España
Tel: 34-(927) 24-57-65
Skype phone: (301) 637-5906
Ambassadors Fellowship:
P.O. Box 62309
Colorado Springs, CO
80962 USA
Phone: 719-495-8180 Fax: 719-495-3313
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