PrayforSpain.com

Over the past few months we have been trying to gather information on Spanish history and culture. We have been reading Spanish newspaper articles and listening to Radio Nacional de España.
Our desire is to get to know Spain from a distance before we make our move.

One of the sites that I recently came across is www.prayforspain.com. The site has some good information on the realities of Christianity in Spain. It looks like some of the information is a little dated, but still insightful.

In particular, check out the information about the different regions. http://www.prayforspain.com/regions/

Our long-term plan is to serve in Asturias. http://www.prayforspain.com/regions/index4.html

According to the site's information, in 2008, the population of Asturias was just over 1 million people. There were 38 evangelical churches within the region with a combined membership of 1,833 people. Additionally, there were 23 towns with populations greater than 5,000 with no evangelical church.

I hope you enjoy the "Pray for Spain" site as much as I have.

Justin

The Church

Our family is called to serve God through the church, and we have done so in many capacities over the past 16 years. As I think about Spain and our future work there, I have been thinking and praying about and for the Church with renewed vigor. The book of Ephesians is where I have been spending much of my time. Ephesians 3 has been a particularly fruitful chapter as I consider the work before us. 

Leading up to chapter 3, Paul has been talking about how the mystery of the gospel is that Jews and gentiles have been brought together through the saving, life-giving, reconciling work of Christ’s death on the cross. In Christ, people who hated each other were brought together because Jesus tore down the wall of hostility that separated them from God and from each other. (Ephesians 2:14-17) He did not simply break down the dividing wall, he made them one, as a gathered body. This is the mystery of the gospel.

So, this “gathered body” was called the εκκλησια, or, as it is rendered in Spanish, iglesia or English, the church. Verse 10 says that God’s intent is to show his manifold wisdom through the church. What is God’s manifold wisdom?

Well, it has to do with what Paul has been talking about. Through Jesus Christ Jews and Gentiles are made into one people. They are reconciled to God and one another. This unity serves as a testimony in itself to God’s wisdom expressed through the execution of his purposes.

You see, in John 17:20-23 Jesus prayed that believers would be united so that the world would do what? He prays that we may be one so that the world might know and believe that God the father sent him. So, the unity of believers – now called the Church - serves to testify that God sent Jesus into the world and that God loves Jesus.

Let’s return to Ephesians 3:10. If John 17 says that the church serves as a testimony to the world that Jesus was sent and loved by God. Ephesians 3 says that the Church also serves to show God’s manifold wisdom to the “authorities in the heavenly realms.” What does that mean? Well, I think reading on to verse 11 adds significant clarity.

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:10,11 NIV

The church demonstrates that God’s eternal purpose was accomplished through the work of Jesus Christ. If only the Bible gave us some clues as to what Jesus came to accomplish we could understand what the church is actually displaying. 

Oh, it does give us some clues. Let’s look at two:

1 Timothy 1:15 – “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

1 John 3:8 -  “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

According to these passages Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners and to destroy the works of the devil.

When we gather as believers we are testifying that Jesus was loved and sent by God to save sinners and destroy the works of the devil. Our gathering not only testifies that this is what he came to do, but that he accomplished the task.

I know that was a rather lengthy exposition, but I hope you see the connection. The church is important both here and around the world because our public gathering for worship and life together as brothers and sisters in Christ shows the heavenly beings and a watching world that Jesus has accomplished the mission he was sent to do. 

As you gather for worship on a Sunday morning do you see your gathering as a testimony to what Christ has done?

We Are a Team

Dear Friends,

Many people ask us what exactly we will be doing in Spain. We have one simple answer:

We're going to tell people about Jesus. 

Well, that's the simplified version. But really, the long term goal is to plant a church.

We are among SEVEN families from our denomination who are forging new works in Spain right now. SEVEN. Among us we have TWENTY KIDS and FOURTEEN ADULTS. WHAH?! Hmm, this might be why we don't have any pictures of all of us together. 

This summer the three families already on the field enjoyed a group retreat with the rest of the European team. It was a productive time together. 

We four families on the other side of the pond stay in touch with the other Spain teammates through the Internet and other technology. OH, how times have changed since our first time on the field back in 2007-8. We appreciate this ability to connect.

The four families still here in the US are doing our best to support each other as we get ready to join our teammates overseas. We enjoyed a sushi and pizza night while we were all together for our denomination's yearly meeting (Synod) in June. The kids ran about freely while we grown-ups shared food and fellowship.

When visiting Bonclarken one rocks on rocking chairs.

Last week one family on our team stayed with us as they came through Columbia for some meetings, and, providentially, a friend and connection to Spain happened to be flying into South Carolina to visit family the same week. 

What a grand excuse for a party! 

US! Gillian and Justin (left), with our missions pastor and his wife as we enjoy conversation with church members and future teammates.

Our home church missions pastor, his wife, and a few missions-minded members hosted a dinner for teammates in town to fellowship with our Spanish friend and her daughter. We had a great night laughing and sharing stories.

Fellowship with our friend from Spain (second from right), and her sister who attends our home church (far left). Providential connections!

All of this is to say that we are part of a team of people who are already working to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in Spain. In many ways it feels like we are standing at the starting line, twitching with anticipation for the gun blast to launch us to Spain. It's a sprint to get there!

Once in Spain, though, we must be prepared for a marathon work; long and steady. In fact, it's not even a race. Once we're in Spain, the starting line and gun blast would be more aptly replaced with a long walk with friends to a distant destination. 

Right now we're still gathering our gear while the families already in Spain are just getting a little head start. We'll have to catch up when we get there, and we are all excited for that day to come. 

If you would like to become a financial supporter, click HERE. You'll be taken to a secure donation page through World Witness.

If you would like to join our prayer team, drop us a comment below and let us know you're praying for us and how we can pray for you.

Thank you!

In Him,

Los Brickey

  

A Fun Filled Summer

Dear Friends,

It's been too long since we last posted, and we are sorry about that. The great news is that it's because we've been busy getting ready to head to Spain!

For those joining us for the first time, we are Justin and Gillian Brickey, and we are headed to Spain with World Witness to help plant a church. Welcome!

This is us in June as we celebrated our fifteenth anniversary.

We sent out our first snail mail prayer letter at the end of June. The post office sometimes defers bulk mailings, so it took a while to reach some folks. If you STILL have not received it, though, please send us an email so we can make sure you're on the list and properly entered.

To those who have been keeping up with us, thank you for your prayers over these first two months of raising support.

After Justin graduated in May we entered into support-raising mode, and we have needed and felt every prayer.

We had a fantastic time at Synod in June for the yearly meetings for our denomination. While there we met several people and lined up our summer preaching calendar. Praise the Lord!

WORSHIPPING AND SHARING

This summer we've worshipped with the people of Neely's Creek ARP Church, Grace Presbyterian Church of Columbia, Sherwood Forest ARP Church, and Edgemoor ARP Church. We try to take a picture at every church to preserve the memories, but Neely's Creek, we can't seem to find one from our visit! We'll have to get one next time.

Edgemoor ARP Church's brand new sign. Looks great!

 

Justin sharing with the kiddos of Sherwood Forest ARP Church

At the Grace Presbyterian picnic, Sandy Boney showed the boys turtle eggs.

Each of the churches we have visited has extended tremendous hospitality. From taking us out to lunch, helping us find a table for our materials, to helping the kids feel at home in their various Sunday school classes, these people have done it all. One Sunday Z and S, our 6 year-old twins, even found the courage to each attend separate Sunday school classes. That speaks volumes to the comfort they and we have experienced while visiting churches. THANK YOU!

We even visited our precious IBL (Iglesia Biblica Latinoamericana)
where Justin served as pulpit supply.
Who can resist BIRTHDAY lunch?!  

NERF N' FLOATS, anyone?

Our oldest, A, and FPC youth director, Brad Anderson

In July the youth department at First Presbyterian Columbia worked with our oldest son to organize an EPIC NERF BATTLE for missions. Our son learned just what it takes to put on an event. Rain threatened to cancel our outdoor event, but the amazing and flexible folks in the youth department came through for us. THANK YOU! Over FORTY youth attended the event! Yes. We call that EPIC.
.

Hannah Stevenson and Beth Ann Sample of FPC serve up FLOATS, a perfect snack suggested by Liz Stonecypher. Liz and her husband Tom had graciously opened their home and property for our event, but the rain changed the venue to the church building instead. Thank you, everyone, for your help, flexibility, and good humor.

PRAYER

As we visit all of these churches and have all of these new adventures, Jesus must be first in all that we say and do, so will you pray for us?

Pray that the Holy Spirit would guide us as Justin preaches and as we share our call and needs with various groups and individuals.

Pray that people would be called to support this ministry on an ongoing monthly basis through prayer and monthly support.

Pray for our boys as they transition, and for their parents as we guide them through it.

Pray for us as we get our house ready to sell in the spring.

JOIN US

Our greatest needs right now are prayer and monthly support. In other words, we can't go until we're sent. Will you prayerfully consider joining the work in Spain on a monthly basis?  We would love to have you serve with us through your involvement.

PARTING THOUGHTS

You are truly a blessing to us during this process of raising support. As we preach and share, we have a firsthand vantage point for watching prayer in action as a group of people come together to support the Gospel in Spain. It is a remarkable process to watch it all come together. It is not easy, so we covet your prayers as we go, but please know that raising support is as much joy as it is faith-building.

PS. If you're ever in Greenville, SC to visit the Witness office, have the director take you to Falls Park to share your lunch with the Aflac Ducks. HA! Um. We finished eating at the office.

Thank you for keeping up with us!

In Him,

Los Brickey