Roma churches in Valencia seek to bring comfort and calm after tragedy

A lack of communication and unjustified violence have brought tragedy to an evangelical community in Nazaret, a neighbourhood in Valencia near the port.

A 25-year-old man who was a member of a Filadelfia evangelical church (made up mainly of Roma believers) died after being stabbed near the place of worship on the afternoon of Friday 2 May, while a worship service was being held.

His life could not be saved despite being taken to the La Fe hospital in Valencia. A 17-year-old brother of the victim remains in hospital with serious injuries.

Evangelical Focus has spoken to an evangelical pastor with more than two decades of experience who has long ties to the community in Nazaret neighbourhood. He lamented how a minor disagreement related to the practice of worship (specifically, music) hours before led to an unjustifiable tragedy.

This pastor, who is familiar with the facts and has asked not to be named, is participating alongside other leaders in talks to reduce tensions.

He also denied erroneous reports that appeared in the local press over the weekend, rumours of a romantic dispute or an alleged clash between family clans.

“The gospel becomes real in these tragic and illogical cases”, he told Evangelical Focus. In these moments of pain and confusion, he explains, the involvement of “servants of God, sent by the Lord to bring comfort to the parents and relatives of the victims” has been key.

Among those accompanying the Filadelfia community in Valencia is an evangelical chaplain in hospitals (who suffered the loss of a daughter just a few weeks ago), as well as other leaders of Roma evangelical churches in the region.

In recent days, they have shared “the value of having the Lord”, and “the relatives of the victim, our brothers and sisters, Christians, have not only received words, but the gospel represented in God's servants”.

After the funeral of the victim on Tuesday, 6 May, which was calm despite the pain, several evangelical pastors are working to “bring God's love and comfort”. The challenge, this pastor explained to Evangelical Focus, is now to talk to all those who are hurting to prevent anyone from seeking justice outside the law. “We ask for prayer especially for the young people”, he said, “and for wisdom”.

The Filadelfia Evangelical Church in Nazareth remains closed following the events. Another temporary location is being sought to hold church meetings.

Luis Delás, president of the Valencia Evangelical Pastors' Fraternity, has stated that the city's churches are “at the complete disposal of the Filadelfia churches in these difficult and tragic moments, remembering the words of Paul: Bear one another's burdens”.