UK mission agencies Crosslinks and European Mission Fellowship are hailing the astonishing growth of evangelical churches across Portugal over the last few years, driven mainly by highly intentional church planting.
Data recently published by the Portuguese Evangelical Alliance shows a remarkable increase in church plants by evangelical churches. Fully 44% of the evangelical churches in the country were started after 2001 and over 60% have ‘defined plans and locations to plant new churches in the next five years’. A large majority say their church is growing. These churches range in size from less than ten members to congregations of over 300.
Vivienne Birch of Leicester-based European Mission Fellowship said: ‘In the last few months EMF has accepted a number of new workers for this kind of work in Portugal, with a waiting list of applicants eager to “get going”, so the survey seems to be painting an accurate picture.
‘Good examples include 25-year-old Bruno Pires, who has just graduated from the Portuguese Bible Institute and has been asked by his own church in Alto do Minho, outside Lisbon, to plant a new church in Azóia, the westernmost village on the European continent.’
One of the most recent and thriving church plants has its origins in Faro’s Igreja Acção Bíblica, pastored by Joel Lopes in the southern region of the Algarve. This congregation sent out Brazilian ex-footballer Rafael Ribas to plant a church in coastal Portimâo. Rafael then wrote ‘remember that our church started with a family, and in the last service we had almost 70 people in the church!’
'We're excited to see what God will do'
Joe and Rachel Clarke, Crosslinks mission partners in Coimbra, said: ‘Our small suburban church will this month plant a church in the city centre. Named Comunidade da Graça, the core group comprises four families who share a vision to make Jesus known. Led by two Portuguese nationals and a Crosslinks mission partner, we are excited to see what God will do as the gospel is preached.’
