My Hope Penetrates Portugal This Week
Over 930 Churches Trained for Dec. 6, 7 and 9 Evangelism Event
December 4, 2011 - With just days left before the My Hope broadcasts air all over Portugal, over 75 percent of all the evangelical churches have been trained to spread the Gospel through this nationwide evangelism event.
Never in the history of the church in Portugal has there been that many evangelical churches involved on a common project.
— Pablo Sanchez, My Hope Portugal country director
By Trevor Freeze
Pablo Sanchez finds himself shaking his head.
And thanking God.
How would a nationwide evangelistic effort through media be received in a country like Portugal? This is Europe, after all.
But the turnout has been far greater than Sanchez could’ve ever imagined. More than 930 of the 1,200 evangelical Portugal churches have been trained to be involved in December’s My Hope World Evangelism Through Television project.
“That is very, very, very good,” said Sanchez, the My Hope Portugal country director. “Never in the history of the church in Portugal has there been that many evangelical churches involved on a common project.
“It’s an amazing number of churches involved.”
But the work isn’t done. A majority of the training has been completed, sure, but there is still a lot of 11th-hour work to be done before this week's My Hope broadcasts.
“They wait until the last minute,” Sanchez said. “It has to do with the culture here. It’s not as European; more Latin American.”
As many as 200 churches in Portugal, Sanchez estimates, are comprised of former Brazilians, who have migrated to Portugal. Many other churches involved in My Hope have roots in Africa.
“The number of ethnic churches getting involved is good news,” Sanchez said. “That is very encouraging.”
The church has also been encouraged and united by this countrywide effort to spread the Gospel through living rooms. That’s the way My Hope works, as host Matthews will invite friends, family and neighbors into their homes on Dec. 6, 7 and 9.
And after hosting a 30-minute television outreach program — filled with music, testimonies and a message from Billy Graham or Franklin Graham — the host Matthew will turn off the TV, share his own story, then invite others to receive Christ as their Savior.
“The programs are terrific,” Sanchez said.
In some cases, the My Hope program will be shown on DVD, specifically with the high school students as over 200 youth groups are implementing My Hope throughout December, January and February. “I expect to see a significant harvest among the youth,” Sanchez said.
Pastors and church leaders have already seen a sneak preview of one of the first My Hope programs, which has stirred excitement for the project and helped additional churches catch the vision.
“Churches all over are praying for the project,” Sanchez said. “I am very excited.”
Join us in praying for this week's events, which also include DVD showings on Dec 8 and 10, cable TV pay-per-view broadcasts, streaming online and broadcasts on TBN Europe.
PRIVACY
