Rev Eddy & Helen Muskus
Eddy and Helen and their two boys, Joel (14) next to Eddy, and Elis (12) next to Helen, serve a church in Valencia called La Parroquia Evangelica Jesus el Señor (“The evangelical ‘parish’ Jesus is the Lord”)
Their new address from January 2011 will be: Calle Santos Justo y Pastor 41-17, 46022 Valencia, Spain. See pictures of their new flat here.
Here Eddy writes about their work, their church and the family (January 2010).
January 2012 prayer letter.
December 2011 prayer letter.
November 2011 prayer letter.
October 2011 prayer letter.
September 2011 prayer letter.
July 2011 prayer letter.
We are involved in a good work, and it is God’s work! When the apostles were accused of filling Jerusalem with the teaching of the Lord Jesus and were then threatened if they continued to speak or teach in that name, they said “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5v29). Those men were enraged and wanted literally to kill the apostles, but the counsel of Gamaliel prevailed when he said: “if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail, but if it is of God you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God” (Acts 5v38-39). What a remarkable conclusion. God’s work will never be overthrown nor His servants who faithfully proclaim His name. I am encouraged by what the Lord does at the level of the heart of men and women. It is a definite work and when the testimony goes on for months and years and the people grow in resembling their Lord, then there is a sweet rejoicing in that fruit for the labour of the gospel. Paul insisted, saying: “My beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58)
There is deep gratitude in my heart for your support in prayer and also your financial commitment to continue supporting the work I do in Valencia. Thank you for your faithfulness in these last 14 years! We arrived at Zaragoza in December 1995 serving as co-pastor of a small fellowship in the suburb of Actur. After following the Lord’s lead we moved to Valencia, and it was a crucial undertaking. At that time a wise worker called Jose uttered the same words of Gamaliel, and we were allowed to begin a new venture in this exciting city. It was a period of new things as we began to work independently with the blessing of our sending church Heath Evangelical Church. For 2 years I pastored a small fellowship on the outskirts of Valencia in a town called Almussafes. Those were trying years, but the Lord had his hand on all things. During that period I became also deeply involved in Mision Urbana of Valencia (“Valencia City Mission”), and served there in different capacities. I thoroughly enjoyed leading the Wednesday afternoon meetings where people walked in from the streets, most of them homeless. We served coffee and biscuits and sang good spiritual songs and then preached a concise and direct gospel message. It was a tough outreach but rewarding. The Word was sown and I still look forward to seeing fruit to come from that effort. Also, some mornings I helped as a pastor-social worker counselling on spiritual matters but also directing and informing the people about the social provisions available within the city. We provided food for families and helped those living rough with hot showers, breakfasts and clean clothes. I worked 8 years in Mision Urbana and left it when we joined La Parroquia as a family. The new pastoral work meant that I could not be free to work in Mision Urbana. Continue to pray for that work that reached its 15th Anniversary last year. At present they are expanding and have purchased the premises just next door to them! They will have to undertake an important refurbishing work to re-organize all the departments. They will have much more space to attend to those in need. Since 2008 Mision Urbana has rented a flat with the help of the local authorities to provide accommodation to people in the street. Tomas Perez, from Calle Sueca Church is the manager and is employed by Mision Urbana. Remember this aspect of the work.
It has been 5 years since we started worshipping at La Parroquia, and there is a tremendous sense of purpose and integration in this work. I remember receiving a specific word from the Lord showing me that my ministry in Spain will be tied up with the work in La Parroquia together with the ministry of pastor Andrés Pérez. Although I have known Andrés for years through the pastors’ fraternal there was no connection until we chatted for a long time and I discovered that he had embraced the doctrines of grace some 12 years earlier. This was a momentous occasion as we have felt over the years that the evangelical church in Spain was reticent to hear that gospel. In fact, most of our difficulties in previous pastorates surfaced once I started to teach those doctrines. But as I quoted earlier on: “but if it is of God you will not be able to overthrow them“. I knew I had found my place and also knew that the Lord would prosper it and advance it. Thank you for been such a large part of this “undertaking”.
As a church we have maintained faithfulness to the word of God and we have seen the fruit of our labours. The main bulk of the work over the years has been carried out by pastor Andrés (in October 2008 we celebrated the 30th anniversary of his ministry here in Spain). At present there are four pastors in the pastoral team with responsibilities for the spiritual oversight of the church: Andrés, Javier, Andresito & myself. We have also a ministry team that works in practical areas in the church. The Lord has blessed us with an unction on the word that has seen its fruit in conversions. There are so many testimony I could share with you of people being snatched from real conflictive situations to be brought to a place of restoration and healing in all aspects. Others were like Ivan who was interested in spiritual truths but seeking in the wrong places. He was invited to come to church and was converted nearly a year ago. He was baptized in August 2009 together with another 28 people who made a profession of faith over the past months. The good news has been to see whole families being touched by the grace of God, principally when the fathers have come to faith. Pray for all those that have come to faith in Christ over the last few years.
On a Sunday morning we hold two services (10am & 12pm) and between the two services we can number near 400 people. We have established house groups which we called Life’s Group and each one of them is led by the pastors and the ministry team. This has become an important pillar in our work and the way we care for the people. Normally each group has between 8 and 12 people and it has become the place for ministry of the word, prayer, counselling and nurturing our bonds of love in the gospel. A new group started last year with newly converted people, and they are hungry for God’s word and determined to grow. The church also has a vibrant Sunday school with nearly 80 children and a healthy young people group which as usual ranges from 15 to 30!!! Andresito has the responsibility to oversee the young’s people. They meet on a Friday night and currently are doing outreaching work involving some sport. We also have another preaching service on a Thursday night which we combine with prayer. We have several prayer meetings to cater for all the people’s different work times. There is a prayer meeting on a Monday night, but we also have an early prayer meeting on a Tuesday morning, and finally on a Saturday afternoon the young people meet for prayer.
Church bookshop
I have been managing the bookshop of the church for the last 2 years, and so far it has been a success. The main item which still sells regularly is the Bible. We have bought hundreds of economical Bibles (3€), which promotes evangelism and the reading of the word. They sell pretty well! The bookshop is open every morning and provides a place for meeting new people, and often people come to talk and pray. It is a business but we see how the Lord has given us a strategic outreach to the suburb where it is located. The bookshop is literally next door to the church, so we maintain a vibrant testimony in the area. Pray for the success of the bookshop and for wisdom to make it viable in spite of the financial constraints. Like anywhere else in Europe and in the world for that matter, as a business, the sales have dropped considerably but in the last 4 months have recovered slightly. There is an excellent provision of good literature including books from solid authors. As you know I am the chairman of the editorial council of Editorial Peregrino, and currently we translate and publish all Banner of Truth books into Spanish. We reached that agreement in November 2008. Apart from the Banner books, we also translate and publish many theologically sound authors including some Spanish writers with long standing ministries in Spain. The bookshop is small but serves it s purposes well. Pray for the Lord’s blessing and for many to become more hungry for God’s word and good literature.
Editorial Peregrino
I serve on the Board of Directors as secretary but carry responsibilities as one of the directors. Editorial Peregrino has reduced its production last year, but we still met the targets we proposed for 2009. I am considering reducing my present involvement in this work due to my commitment to the church; please pray for wisdom.
Asociación Ekklesia Solidaria
Since last year I have become the Church Treasurer and also lead the Social Work of the church together with Gloria (Andrés’s wife) and Pilar (Javier’s wife). The Lord has been good to us and the members of the church have also shown their faithfulness in their tithing and offerings. We employed 4 people in the church, including a secretary with accounting responsibilities. Last July the local government approved our NGO called Asociación Ekklesia Solidaria and we are now officially registered. We lack a physical place to do an equivalent work as Mision Urbana, so we have limited our work so far to provide hot meals at Tuesday lunchtime. We also give food to families, but not on a large scale. There have been some changes in the way the Red Cross and government official distribute food, so we have to make a new proposal to receive food regularly on a larger scale (maximum 12000kg of basic food stuff). Pray for the right doors to open and for approval of our projects. We also have a rented flat where some men are lodged while they look for jobs. Pray for a good management of these premises providing spiritual and practical help. We continue to feed over 80 people each week and are grateful for the provision made by those supporting this venture. A local restaurant managed by members of the church supplied food and salads regularly, plus an excellent team of cooks, cleaners that work diligently every week.
School of Discipleship
Over the last three years I have been the director of the School of Discipleship. We have had some 40 people that have taken the 9 month long course where we teach Doctrine and Practical Application of Christian Living. Many of them are serving the church now in different capacities. We have set up another, shorter, course of 6 & 8 weeks for people that have been recently converted, which we called Sigueme 1 & 2 (“Following 1 & 2”). We are teaching people who have hardly read Scripture, so we are setting foundations for life. Pray for all those who have received these teaching and a currently dealing with so many personal issues. At the end of January we shall finish the Sigueme 2; pray for a special blessing. Most of the members of the newly formed Life’s Group mentioned earlier are doing this short course.
New premises
As a church we are also considering moving to new premises. As I mentioned in previous updates, so far we have failed to locate the right premises. The financial constraints are huge and the work of soundproofing our present rooms is still too costly to afford right now. Pray for us in this matter! There is a conviction that the right property will become available, pray on!
La Parroquia Evangelica El Rey Jesus
The other “Parroquia” – La Parroquia Evangelica El Rey Jesus (“The evangelical ‘parish’ Jesus is King”) lead by our friend Pastor Gabriel Salazar – is thriving too. The work is also prospering there as they themselves are implementing our principles and teachings in their church life. Last December they concluded the first course of Discipleship with 12 people finishing the course. Give thanks for each one of them. Recently, another gypsy group has approached us to consider coming under our pastoral care. There is a worker currently leading the group of 60 people. We are meeting regularly to work out all the implications. Pastor Gabriel has known the work for some years, so we have some confidence that it might be a good opportunity to support a work in the south of the city. Pray for clarity and wisdom.
Family
As a family we are all well and healthy! I have had several medical checks following the cancer I had 8 years ago, and so far I have been given a clean bill of health. Give thanks to the Lord for his care. The other medical issue of diabetes is under control as I continue to do my exercises and walk regularly to work. Last December I reached the handsome age of 50, something I am still digesting! Helen is well and enjoying her work as a midwife in the Hospital La Fe; the Lord continues to provide work for her and on occasions she is called to work for a private clinic. Give thanks for all these provisions. The boys are well too and thriving in their studies: Elis has had some difficulties in learning the Valencian dialect. The local educational authorities have made it compulsory to teach some subjects in Valencian and he is not enjoying it at all. He needs to be successful in all his subjects to move next year into High School. Joel is very much enjoying his music, and he is currently doing a whole year just preparing to sit important exams to continue into the professional course! He will have done 4 years by the end of June 2010 and then he will move to the other level, another 6 years! He is keen and happy with his flute and currently plays for the Classic Band & Jazz Band at High School. He has also done well in his studies and become very diligent and responsible. Both of them also enjoy their sports, judo & taekwondo in the local gym. Pray for their spiritual wellbeing! Each one of them needs to make a firm decision to follow the Lord! As a family we enjoy reading and praying with them. Remember them in your prayers.
Last time I mentioned a possible flat available for us. We have requested a surveying of the property, and we are expecting at any moment the final assessment. Pray for the right price to be tagged to the property. The young man selling the flat has come to church and at present we are maintaining an excellent relationship. It is all in the Lord’s hand! Market prices are still falling so we are trusting in the Lord’s favour. Thank you for your support! We feel this is our moment, please pray with us regarding the acquisition of a fair mortgage to purchase the flat.
“New Valencia”
There is a deep concern for the city and as churches we are pulling together to evangelize suburbs and small towns outside Valencia that have no church planted in those areas. We have a project called “New Valencia” which has as a primary design to evangelize the whole of Valencia and all towns in the outskirts in 10 years. Pray with us that the Lord will revive his church and bring fruits to our labours.
Thanks for your faithfulness. Thanks for being there.
Eddy
