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Church Plant Success Spawns Legal Headache
LA CORUÑA, SPAIN (June 6, 2005) - An Evangelical Covenant Church plant that
was started in 1999 has experienced attendance growth, but in the
process has encountered potential legal troubles that could prove
financially draining, says missionary Roberto Reed.
With more than 100 people regularly attending worship, Vida Nueva (New
Life) is one of the largest evangelical churches in the city, Reed says,
and new visitors attend each week. The church began with several people
who expressed a desire to form a church, and the group became an
official church in 2003.
The congregation has a thriving youth group of more than 25 individuals,
Reed says. Fourteen of the youth came to Christ during the youth Alpha
course, which the church helped to pioneer last summer.
However, a neighbor who operates a video recording studio complained
about noise coming from the church. The mayor's office ordered the
church to soundproof its walls, which Reed says will cost about $40,000.
The church hopes to raise the money to either add the soundproofing to
the existing building or purchase land on which to construct a new
building. "There is a group of 50 or so construction workers wanting to
come in February of 2006, but they need to know by July 31 whether we
have property or not," Reed says.
The church also is involved in legal maneuvers to persuade the
government not to destroy the homes of several gypsy families in a
shanty town portion of the city. The families have been squatters in the
area for more than 20 years. One of the families threatened with the
loss of their home attends the church and hosts a cell group. The couple
became Christians through the church ministry, especially through a
friendship with Roberto's wife, Nancy.
The gypsy culture has been stifled by a lack of education as well as its
own practices, Reed says. "Many of the gypsy men do not know how to
read," he says. "When a gypsy woman becomes a widow, she lives in
mourning for the rest of her life, wearing black and not listening to
music again. When a gypsy girl turns 12, the family will take her out of
school to 'protect her virginity.'"
Reed says he hopes the church will be able to work with Habitat for
Humanity to build homes for these residents. "We desire to see a global
plan reached to address not only the spiritual needs of these people,
but also the physical and social needs, which include hygiene, job
training and creation, and education." Reed adds.
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