Preachers circles in Spain

“Preaching Workshop” is a Spanish movement which, according to its website, aims to "help in the long-term training of a whole new generation of Bible preachers in Spain", so that they can have "an impact on many of the evangelical churches in Spain".

 

LANGHAM PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT
To achieve this aim, the group adapted resources created by the international ministry of Langham Partnership. This ministry, started by John Stott and now led by Chris Wright, has trained preacher trainers in more than 50 different countries.

Although they have a methodology that can be easily used by any preacher, the resources and the methodology have been adapted to the Spanish context.

 

STARTING A NEW PHASE
In the first stage of the project, about 40 preachers from different regions and very different denominations, met once a year in a retreat where they were stimulated and confronted with resources to train new preachers.

A new phase of the movement has begun, with two regional retreats simultaneously held in the Spanish provinces of Valladolid and Tarragona. This phase will last 3 years, and it has been structured on a regional level, specifically in 9 regions.

 

“DIVERSITY OF BACKGROUNDS AND DENOMINATIONS”
One of the main characteristics of this movement since its beginnings has been “a striking harmony among preachers with a wide diversity of backgrounds and denominations” , the organisers of the “Preaching Workshop” explained.

 

"It is a true blessing to see brothers and sisters of Assemblies of God, Assemblies of Brothers, Baptists, Independent and Reformed churches; Romanis and non-Romanis; Spaniards and foreigners, gathered together around the Word of God and with the desire to stimulate each other towards excellence in preaching".

 

 

PREACHING RESOURCES

 

Participants at each retreat receive a free copy of the recently published book "The Art of Preaching: Transmitting the message of God confidently."
This book, edited by Andrés Birch and Francisco Mira, and published by Spanish publishing company Andamio and the “Preaching Workshop”, has 10 chapters, all of them written by well known preachers, and contextualized in Spain.
The first part of the book is more theoretical and it covers topics such as expository preaching and thematic preaching. The second part of the book provides practical assistance in the preparation of expository Bible messages.

 

“CIRCLE OF PREACHERS”
From each retreat, it is expected that, as it happened in the first national cycle, "preacher circles" will be born around those who have been able to participate in the regional retreat.
These circles are simple encounters where preachers gather to listen to sermons, study together topics related to preaching, and encourage each other in a ministry that it is so critical for the health of the churches.
"It is not easy to find spaces where one can listen to objective feedback, given with love, to help us improve our exposition of the word", said a coordinator of the project. "That was one of the reasons why the first cycle of circles in the years 2013-15 had such positive reactions".

 

Then, 26 circles were started throughout Spain. That number could multiply by nine in the coming months.

“It is good to see that the excitement is transmitted from one to another, and to see that the Word of God runs through the country".