Seville – in search of evangelicals

On Sunday morning in Seville, I went to the hotel reception to ask for directions to the church where I was to attend the service. After an intensive search, the young woman at the reception informed me that unfortunately she couldn't find it on the map. She then offered to do an internet search and asked me what I had previously entered into Google. I told her 'evangelical churches Seville'. Shortly after, she came back to me with another young woman who claimed to know of a church nearby, the name of which she had forgotten, so I shouldn't go to all the trouble. I insisted that she look up the one I had mentioned, and a most informative conversation ensued.

Both wanted to know, What exactly was I looking for, an evangelical church or a Christian church? Taken aback, and rather astonished, I asked what the difference was, evangelical churches were indeed Christian, weren't they? They maintained that no, evangelical churches were different from Christian churches, and they assumed that what interested me was a Christian church. I still couldn't believe it and I reiterated that as far as I knew, evangelicals were indeed Christians. No, not at all, on one side there are evangelicals and on the other side Christians, they insisted, and then to say, 'evangelicals are Jehovah's Witnesses and gypsies are not Christians.' Why, they continued, wasn't I going to the Cathedral? Because, I replied, I am not Catholic, and with that, I explained to them in a few words the existence of Protestants and Evangelicals.

Then I suggested they 'google' Pentecostal churches, which they did. Luckily we were able to find one; she spoke to them on the phone and helped me get there. When I returned, she apologized for her mistake, saying she came from a very small village where the only evangelicals are travelers. Fine, but her acolyte didn't come, apparently, from the same village; and how can we explain the Jehovah's Witness aspect? These young women weren't mean, far from it; their perceptions simply testify to the low penetration of the gospel in Spain and Europe in general. And even those who call themselves Catholics often add 'non-practicing'; and as for evangelicals, well, they're the great unknown, as this conversation testifies.

Of course, perceptions are not set in stone; they are subject to change. I remember when I was at university in Nigeria, it was customary to mock 'born again' Christians, the 'Born again', who, by the way, didn't give a damn. And suddenly the contagion spread, otherwise intelligent people, including one of my professors, to my great sorrow, joined these much-hated groups. How could I reconcile the intelligence I knew he had with this new choice of obedience? Thus, in the country, especially in the South, what at first seemed like a marginal group of 'extremist' Christians (yes, all the same) managed to establish itself, expand its sphere of influence and become a fully-fledged player in the religious landscape.

Other countries have experienced similar changes. According to Timothy Keller, in the space of a hundred years, Korea went from 1% Christians to 40%. And experts believe that China will experience the same evolution, despite the current difficulties. Thus, nations can change, and they do. The evangelical faith, so marginalized today in Europe, considered in some places, including our beautiful France, as a sect to be feared, will gain its letters of nobility if Christians rise to the challenge. I know from experience that the more bold Christians are, the more nonbelievers accept their faith; not the other way around. And the opposite is what we are experiencing in Europe, where many Christians live their faith anonymously, underground to avoid criticism; where Christians accept being silenced in the face of the peremptory assertions of skeptics. It is time for this to change.

The time has come to openly manifest a radical, bold, and loving faith. The time has come for Western Christians to abandon their timidity, to follow in the footsteps of Third World Christians, and to embrace a courageous and strong faith. The time has come to firmly commit ourselves to evangelism, prayer, and fasting; to devote ourselves to increasing the fame of Jesus, rather than being constantly cajoled and coddled by the pastor. The time has come to become soldiers of the cross. I am deeply convinced that it is by doing so that we will succeed in reversing the trend, making known the beauty of the Gospel, and one day being able to speak of a Christian Europe.

I even dare to dream of the day when I arrive at the reception of any hotel in Andalusia and am offered, without further ado, a long list of revival churches by a receptionist, herself filled with the Holy Spirit. Yes, I allow myself to dream.

To read this article in English: Seville – in search of evangelicals