Our family will be moving to Spain from the USA (hopefully by this summer) and at this time we are considering Oliva, Spain. My wife and I are missionaries and wanting to plant a church that teaches people how to read and study the Bible. We are looking to find an area where there isn't a church like that already and we have found Oliva might be just that place (we are open for any other suggestions).

So I am fluent in Spanish, but wondering, I know they Speak Catalan there as well. In planting a church do you believe I will need to study Catalan as well (which I would be fine in doing)? For those living in Oliva, from your experience, how much Catalan do you experience out there amongst the locals?

In Oliva they speak valenciano (not catalán) alongside castellano. The ability to speak castellano will be fine, but by all means learn some valenciano.

I'm curious as to which visa you will apply for.

 

Our Global Missions dept will be in charge of that as they send missionaries out and are on top of all the laws and regulations, so I am not truly sure. But I can ask them the next time we meet with them.

 

My wife and I are missionaries and wanting to plant a church that teaches people how to read and study the Bible.

Had you said you were going to outer Mongolia I might have agreed that there was a need to teach people how to read and study the Bible.

......but a town just 80kms from Valencia, Spain, which has a history of religion much older than the US itself, and, from photographs, is chock full of churches I have to ask why ?

...... although being only 8kms from the coast and with a warm, sunny climate it's going to be good gig.

 

In my experience with American missionaries, they are usually evangelical, doing evangelical/non-denominational church planting.

Spain is about 95% catholic, so US evangelical churches wouldn´t consider them saved.

I do sometimes wonder how missionaries are seldomnly called to serve in places like Redcar, England, Eisen-Hüttenstadt, , or Eibar, Spain...

 

I would be thinking that Oliva would not be such fertile ground for a missionary. You have the indigenous folks who would be Catholic, country folk and quite traditional. They you have the blow ins who are from across Europe, who are more likely to be of an older demographic, and quite set in their ways. Neither of these goups would be rick pickings for any missionary, one would have thought. Far better a larger population centre like one of the main cities. So I do question your choice of locaiton for a missionary, as I do not see how you will achieve your stated aim, which is, "plant a church that teaches people how to read and study the Bible." If moving to Oliva is for family reason, then that is a completely different issue, as it is quite an idyllic location, and you can do the missionary bit also on the side.

 

I would be thinking that Oliva would not be such fertile ground for a missionary. You have the indigenous folks who would be Catholic, country folk and quite traditional. They you have the blow ins who are from across Europe, who are more likely to be of an older demographic, and quite set in their ways. Neither of these groups would be rick pickings for any missionary, one would have thought. Far better a larger population centre like one of the main cities. So I do question your choice of location for a missionary, as I do not see how you will achieve your stated aim, which is, "plant a church that teaches people how to read and study the Bible." If moving to Oliva is for family reason, then that is a completely different issue, as it is quite an idyllic location, and you can do the missionary bit also on the side.

While the number of people who identify themselves as Catholic have dropped, Spain's culture and history are still very much bound up with Catholicism, from Semana Santa to Romerias, from Baptism to First Communion, and marriage in churches. Where I live, overwhelming majority of church weddings in Spanish are for locals, outnumbering civil marriages by a large margin. Of course the number of weddings has dropped and many just live together as partners, but this is pretty universal in Europe.

 

Regardless of what percentage of Oliva is catholic or any other religion, its the arrogance of modern day American missionaries that they believe they need to teach people how to read and study the Bible in a European country which has had a strong religious culture (much of it Christian) for longer than American has been in existence.

 

We may have had a rich religious culture, but no longer.
In my experience, the bible is the one book that the Catholic church does not teach its flock. You get a 10 minute sermon but not much else.
When we were working in England, we attended bible study group sessions from Anglican ministers, Baptist, Methodist, Weslyan Reform, but never Catholics.
I firmly believe there is a vital need for people to understand the bible, something that many do not at present. And especially the Old Testament as too many people write it off as irrelevant to today.
It needs putting into context by someone with biblical knowledge. And studying it on your own is no easy matter either.
How many people would know where the book of Numbers was, or Haggai?

When we retired to here (Basque country) 15 years ago, I asked our local priest about bible studies. His reply
"No, we don't do that here".

But in our current world it has even more relevance than ever, especially reading about what's going on in Israel at present.

 

OP gone AWOL?

 

Not heard of ´Rapture´?

 

I lead Bible Study in English at my local Spanish Catholic parish, and we get good response.

 

I lead Bible Study in English at my local Spanish Catholic parish, and we get good response.

Useful in 2024.

We may have had a rich religious culture, but no longer.
In my experience, the bible is the one book that the Catholic church does not teach its flock. You get a 10 minute sermon but not much else.
When we were working in England, we attended bible study group sessions from Anglican ministers, Baptist, Methodist, Weslyan Reform, but never Catholics.
I firmly believe there is a vital need for people to understand the bible, something that many do not at present. And especially the Old Testament as too many people write it off as irrelevant to today.
It needs putting into context by someone with biblical knowledge. And studying it on your own is no easy matter either.
How many people would know where the book of Numbers was, or Haggai?

When we retired to here (Basque country) 15 years ago, I asked our local priest about bible studies. His reply
"No, we don't do that here".

But in our current world it has even more relevance than ever, especially reading about what's going on in Israel at present.

How can teaching religion be classed as having more relevance in this day and age judging by all the wars that are being driven by religion, "the Devil will appear in many forms, the main one as religion"

Priaprism 2-23 circa 57 AD

 

Useful in 2024.

How can teaching religion be classed as having more relevance in this day and age judging by all the wars that are being driven by religion, "the Devil will appear in many forms, the main one as religion"

Priaprism 2-23 circa 57 AD

The Devil is a past master of subterfuge & disguise.
The greatest trick he has ever pulled is convincing the world he doesnp't exist.

People are quick to point out that "religion" causes most wars.
But whose fault is that? Not God's.
The "religious" Jewish fanatics killed Jesus.
The religious fanatics of Hamas are driven by hatred of Jews. This hatred stems from Mohammed's time and the Qu'ran.
Jesus told us to 'love' our enemies, in the sense of trying to bring them round to see their folly.
The Protestants hated the Catholics & vice versa, but not through any religious sense.
Hindus hated Moslems which led to the largest ever ethnic cleansing & movement of people.
Jews have hated nobody, but have suffered enormously over 2 millenia. The Catholic church was instrumental in driving them from Spain, not to mention the Inquisition.
I am Catholic by birth, but prefer to be Christian 1st. If I manage to get to heaven it won't be because I'm a Catholic or having said 10 Hail Marys every day. That's utter nonsense.

 

Since the OP hasn't been back I've decided to let the discussion continue here for now, but with the CONTROVERSIAL tag, but please be respectful of each other's views.

 

In case the OP returns, or if it's of any interest to anyone else, Google Street View image attached

 

Are you JWs?

 

Our family will be moving to Spain from the USA (hopefully by this summer) and at this time we are considering Oliva, Spain. My wife and I are missionaries and wanting to plant a church that teaches people how to read and study the Bible. We are looking to find an area where there isn't a church like that already and we have found Oliva might be just that place (we are open for any other suggestions).

So I am fluent in Spanish, but wondering, I know they Speak Catalan there as well. In planting a church do you believe I will need to study Catalan as well (which I would be fine in doing)? For those living in Oliva, from your experience, how much Catalan do you experience out there amongst the locals?

Hello, did you end up moving?
Would love to be added to a prayer list if possible. I lived near the area

snip - removed personal information

 

Hello there,
I am from the U.S . Recently God has lead me and my family to go to Oliva Spain. We are in the process ourselves looking for how and where God wants us exactly there but God has brought 🙏 to your post and I am just being obedient and reaching out. Please feel free to message me on here

I look forward to getting to fellowship with you.

 

Hi there,
My wife and I moved to Oliva, Spain to plant a church in 2019. Steadily growing! /SNIP/ We are English.

 

Another one! I'm sure we would all like to be "called" to be in a small place by the sea in y sunny climate! Get real!