In the first week of October, the bars and restaurants of Benidorm’s busy beachfront and area known as 'The Strip' were bustling and alive with many UK holidaymakers, enjoying some autumnal sunshine before returning to the harsh rigours of a British winter.
There was noise and colour, raucous laughter and angry exchanges on the streets and the walkways. The bouncers and security personnel were earning their money! Groups of Stag Dos and Hen Parties roamed the streets in packs searching out the next place of entertainment.
But during that week, by God’s grace, there was a different ‘pack’ on the street - an evangelical presence. The English Church in Benidorm hosted a Mission Team of mature individuals from Northern Ireland, southern England and one from Wales, who came together for the church’s second ever 'GROW and GO' week.
The team gathered in the mornings, along with the local believers from the church, to worship and pray and listen to testimonies and be trained in the challenges of street evangelism. We looked together at some passages in Philippians – reminding ourselves that Jesus is Lord and that one day before Him every knee will bow! One morning, two team members shared their own individual stories of how the Lord sustained them through marriage breakdown. Another shared the trauma of the loss of his young son at just three years of age and together the church and team learnt to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
The evenings were an altogether different proposition. We went out in twos to share the gospel. The spiritual conversations were numerous and diverse. We had been trained to use a S.A.L.T method – Start a conversation, Ask a question, Listen well and Tell the gospel story. Some used visual aids on their phone and the well known evangecube. Others preferred just good old one-to-one conversation. Some of the team spent a morning on some of Benidorm’s famous caravan parks. We met many who claim to be Atheist. But the truth was that hardly any had thought that through, preferring to believe a lie than the simple, clear truth that 'Every design needs a designer.' We met a lot of apathy – so many just don’t care about eternity or their soul’s destiny – even the best apologetic arguments cannot reach such people.
As the week progressed, rather than get more discouraged, the team seemed to get more energised – awake to the need and the shocking reality confronting them. We spoke to drug dealers and girls who work the streets and to many different nationalities. As the week closed, we counted 180 meaningful gospel conversations with lost people.
The team left drained and exhausted by the spiritual battle. The church was encouraged by the help of so many faithful loving brothers and sisters and the streets of Benidorm continued to be godless places.
Only God will know the final score!
