E
vangelina had stopped attending church years ago. She had drifted away from God when she moved from Spain to Switzerland to find work. It had been a good move financially, and things were going great in her busy life. She felt no need for God or church.
"The political unrest and the
upheaval in the world are unsettling the centuries-old routine of many, and people are lookingfar answers."
Then she received some devastating news: she had cancer. Months of chemotherapy treatments followed, and through her suffer ing, Evangelina began to remember her roots and her long-ago friendship with Jesus. She had thrown it all away, and now when she needed Him most, she felt she had lost her connection with God. But there was a ray of hope. Through her lonely nights of suffering and pain, she found herself watching Escrito Esta,
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It Is Written impressions
It Is Written's Spanish program. She began to feel that maybe there was still hope for her-not just hope of physical healing, but hope that she could find her way back to God. Then she learned that Pastor Robert Costa, the program's presenter, would be in Zurich, Switzerland, for evangelistic meetings in the city's Spanish church. Evangelina decided to travel to Zurich to see him. She didn't miss a single meeting, and finally toward the end of the series got the courage to approach Pastor Costa and tell him her story. "I had a long conversation with Evangelina. She recommitted her life to Jesus and we prayed together," Robert said. "There are many Hispanics all over Europe, and not just in Spanish-speaking countries. They are living and working in different countries, and they, too, need to hear that Jesus is coming soon. We must reach them with the gospel message." This past August, Pastor Costa met with 200 Hispanic delegates from across
Europe-both pastors and laypeople alike who gathered at Newbold College to make plans to plant churches in the countries where they live and work. Despite the secularism in Europe, Escrito Esta is helping to prepare hearts and minds to receive the gospel message. The weekly programs and daily devotionals are seen in every country in Europe, wherever Hispanics are found-and they're everywhere! The programs have been so well-received that Pastor Costa was recently invited to Spain to record 26 special programs for the deaf "Things are changing in Europe," he said. "The political unrest and the upheaval in the world are unsettling the centuries-old routine of many, and people are looking for answers." To illustrate this, Pastor Costa recounted an experience he had at the close of the meet ings in Newbold. He was invited to travel for one day to visit a refugee camp in Dunkerke, France. The group left before daybreak with a few students from Newbold College, the church's senior pastor, and personnel from the South England Conference and from ADRA. "I was not prepared for what I saw," said Pastor Costa. "We spent the day distributing food and supplies to people who have no country and no home. Many of them are professionals who have fled their homeland due to violence and persecution. Europe is struggling to accommodate them, but it's upsetting their views and long-held belief system." Then he added, "I believe that God uses all circumstances to reach people's hearts.
Even the displacement of thousands who are fleeing to Europe presents opportunities for the gospel to be preached. Everything points to the Second Coming, and we must be about God's business wherever He sends us." Please continue to pray for It Is Written's Spanish program as it expands around the world. It is currently seen in 138 countries through 11,000 stations. To learn more, please visit the Escrito Esta website at www.escritoesta.tv. ,"