A Trip to Spain — September 2026
My trip began with difficulties related to my flights to Spain. While I was at the airport waiting for a significantly delayed flight, I learned that all my connecting flights had been changed. When arranging an alternative route to Barcelona, I had only one requirement: to arrive in time for classes at Blagovest Institute, where I was scheduled to teach a course on Christian Leadership.
Praise God, I arrived in Barcelona on September 19 at 8:30 a.m. Roman Zelensky, the pastor of the local church, met me at the airport and took me straight to the church, where the classes began.
On September 20, I took part in the church’s worship service, ministering through preaching and singing. After a short break, I continued teaching the Christian Leadership course.
On September 21, I flew to Alicante on a local airline. On September 23, I met with Kirill Bezikov, who is planting a new church in the city, and his wife, Anna. I visited their two-story home, where worship services are held on the ground floor and the family lives upstairs.
Praise God for people who hear His call and respond, “Here am I. Send me!” This young family recently moved from Germany to Spain.
On September 25, Viktor Kovba picked me up on his way to a pastors’ meeting devoted to working together on the bylaws of a future association of Evangelical Christian-Baptist churches in Spain. I had prepared a draft of the bylaws in advance.
On Friday evening and throughout Saturday, a vision for the new association took shape through open discussion. Its purpose will be to support Slavic churches in Spain and coordinate missionary work to advance the Kingdom of God in this wonderful European country.
I am grateful to the Lord for the outcome: the bylaws were adopted, and the first annual strategic conference of church delegates in Spain is planned for the second half of September 2027. I was glad that the purpose of my trip had been accomplished. Praise God!
On September 27, Dima Murkin, the ministry coordinator for Slavic churches in Spain, and I attended Sunday worship services at two different churches. I visited the church in Torrevieja, while Dima visited the new church in Alicante. In Torrevieja, I preached and sang a solo. After the service, I had an opportunity to meet and fellowship with members of the local congregation.
Please pray for this church and its pastor, Viktor Kovba, asking the Lord to send more workers and bless their efforts to reach people for Christ.
After the services, Dima, Viktor and his wife, Tatyana, Kirill and Anna, and I gathered for lunch and a time of fellowship.
On September 28, it was time to return home. With warm memories and prayers for the ministers and churches of Spain, I looked out of the airplane window at this blessed country.
Many years ago, when our ministry in Spain was just beginning, I decided to become involved, inspired by the Apostle Paul’s desire to reach that country. I also knew that, before our arrival, other associations had not yet become involved in work on this mission field.
The local pastors shared this request with me: “We hope that the Pacific Coast Slavic Baptist Association will continue to stand with us in the years ahead. We are counting on our ministry together continuing.”
They value our support and our shared work and want to maintain and strengthen their partnership with us.
Praise God!
Ivan Mileyev, Pastor
