Embracing opportunities in Spain

I tried to stay objective but within minutes of landing in Málaga, Spain, to go and visit our EMC workers, I was captivated. Four of us from Canada spent almost two weeks there, and one of our main focuses was to discern the future ministry of our new work in Algeciras. Would it be viable for the long term? What new opportunities have been discovered by Antonio and Esther Pitta after just two years of service? Are people open to having conversations about the gospel message?

Jeni, Antonio and Esther Pitta

Let me start with a quick timeline to provide background:

1.        In 2019 we began to transition our administrative missionaries from 100 percent support down to 60 percent to make funds available for new outreach opportunities. We were dreaming big—to double our workforce in five years.

2.        That same year Conference delegates were presented with four options for expansion, and it was agreed that we should expand into Spain with a focus on Muslim ministry. This interest flowed out of years of discussion with our associate missionaries already serving in Muslim contexts. A sub-committee began research.

3.        In June 2020, the Board of Missions floated the idea of a training centre to equip EMC recruits for overseas work. Delegates agreed and the idea gained traction.

4.        In the meantime, God was working in Antonio and Esther Pitta. Antonio wrote a paper as part of his master’s requirements on the nearly one million Moroccans who have migrated to Spain. He and Esther participated in the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and felt the Lord leading them into this ministry. Reaching Moroccans living in Spain, they reflected, allowed the good news to go with them whether they dispersed into Europe or returned to Morocco.

5.        Fall 2021— a delegation from the BOM made an exploratory trip to southern Spain near the main immigration point—they came back enthusiastic and full of ideas.

6.        In November 2021, Conference Council delegates agreed to open this new field.

7.        September 2022—Antonio and Esther Pitta and their daughter Jeni moved to Spain to begin to learn Arabic, learn a Spanish culture different from their own, find a home church, meet their neighbours and investigate options for a training centre.

8.        Spring 2024—the Pittas rented a small academy right next to a university and began teaching and discipling local Moroccan youth and young adults.

9.        And in January 2025, a member of the Renacer church Antonio and Esther attend offered them a property that was standing empty. Although it needed work, it had plenty of space on the main floor for them to live and host guests, run Bible studies, give music lessons, tutor, teach English classes and the like. Perhaps even more exciting—the second floor is vacant and, with 2500 sq. ft. of space, it is a prime location for creating a training centre for our conference for years to come. In February 2025, the Board agreed to proceed with this project.

And now we stand at the threshold of this ministry. An investment of this scale requires many components to make it fruitful. So, we pray about finding the funds to complete the renovation and run the ministry, finding hosts to run the facility and teachers to run the training program. And while this seems like a very Spirit-led investment, we need to trust that God will raise up another generation of workers.

In my travels around the EMC these past 25-years, I believe that what I am seeing is real, that our churches are again ready to send out a passionate generation of men and women to be our hands and feet pointing people to Jesus.

Please pray with us as we embrace these opportunities and trust that God will provide, for his honour and glory!