Courier: Perspectives
Europe: Spain
AMyHCE (Anabautistas, Menonitas y Hermanos en Cristo / Anabaptists, Mennonites and Brethren in Christ) is a small movement of churches in the Anabaptist tradition that linked as a single conference in FEREDE. This federation of evangelical churches facilitates the recognition of our churches within the Spanish legal framework. To give several examples, this allows that weddings celebrated in our churches have legal validity; we have permission to provide care in prisons and hospital chaplaincy; and in Burgos, the city council gave land to build a meeting place.
We have been linked to MWC from the beginning, which has made us visible to our sister churches in Europe and beyond. Gathered in a national group is useful but CMM gives us a valuable sense of belonging to an ecclesiastical reality with a global Anabaptist identity. AMyHCE is a member of the Global Mission Fellowship (GMF).
We were very few when we began to call ourselves Mennonites or Anabaptists in Spain. We gathered to develop relationships, interact with some frequency and explore topics of common interest.
This is how EME, or Spanish Mennonite Encounter was born, which takes place every two years near the church that organizes it, to get to know each other better. Any member who wishes can attend and some come from other countries.
For two or three full days, we enjoy regional food varieties, different styles of worship; we follow a theme, have a conference speaker and mix in dialogue groups; we have workshops, hear testimonies and a Sunday preacher; we deepen friendships, plus do a little tourism together.
The remarkable diversity enriches us and stimulates us to grow in love. We work at following Jesus while the Holy Spirit surprises us with divine wonders.
A broad collection of mission
The Mennonite church in Barcelona remains small but a foundation provides housing for migrants.
For decades we have been walking with two Brethren in Christ churches in Madrid, another one Catalunya and a mission point in Asturias.
The “evangelical church” of Vigo has a ministry among Roma people (formerly called “Gypsies”).
The “Anabaptist” church of Burgos is much larger, with a mission point in another town, and is in the process of a generational transfer. In 1999 they started La Casa Grande in Benin: a home for abandoned children, providing education to many in the area.
Heavy immigration to Spain brought brothers and sisters from the Amor Viviente churches in Honduras (founded by missionaries of Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions) who inspire us as they have planted half a dozen churches and continue to train people and have new mission points.
CTK (Koinonía Theological Center) was started with leaders from Madrid and Burgos who had the desire to train others. Some communities have used CTK to study the Bible and Christian doctrine together with an Anabaptist approach, also learning principles of Christian ministry for service in churches. Students travel from their cities one Saturday a month, and community is created by sharing class dynamics, dialogue in groups, and a meal around the table.
To know each other is to treasure each other, regardless of which community we belong to.
A yearly retreat that nurtures fraternal communion between pastors and leaders of such diverse groups is perhaps what is most surprising. No structure or formality threatens the idiosyncrasy of the groups. We invite newly arrived missionaries to get to know us in this setting.
Everything seems fragile and spontaneous, but there is a desire for the Spirit of God to minister to personal needs. Yes, at the meetings each year agendas and topics are discussed, but above all it is where leaders worship together and share their progress and their needs with frank vulnerability, receiving prayer, love and support from their colleagues. We laugh and cry together. Lately, about two or three times a year we meet on Zoom to continue this level of fellowship.
I can’t help but think that all the best in the kingdom of God is a gift of the Holy Spirit. When I look back I see clearly that what God initiates and does in us and through us is what is lasting. Everything we achieve in our own strength or with our human talents may well falter and fall one day.
Therefore, let God really be the protagonist of our lives and works, and let us choose to have the Spirit working in us. We are learning to be the family of God.
—Connie Bentson Byler has lived in Spain serving with Mennonite Mission Network for four decades. She and Dennis Byler are members of United Anabaptist Communities of Burgos, though living two hours away since retirement in 2018.
Website: www.menonitas.org/