Trusting God in Portugal
Friday 12 November 2021 12:10 I went to Portugal for the first time in the summer of 2018, when I was studying my undergraduate degree at Belfast Bible College. I am now hoping to spend the next 12-18 months in Vila Real exploring the possibility of long term missionary service.
I am currently serving as a short term mission candidate with ECM in Portugal. I am in a city called Vila Real which is in the north of Portugal and I serve with the local Baptist church.
My experience so far
I arrived in Portugal in July 2021, so I have been here for almost five months. I have very much enjoyed my time. Because I have been coming here since 2018 it was a lot easier for me to settle in as I was already familiar with the city, the church, and the people. The biggest difficulty I faced (and to a large degree am still facing) was the language barrier. When I arrived in July I had very little Portuguese which made it difficult to establish relationships with Portuguese speakers. I began taking lessons with a tutor in the church in September and they have been a great benefit. I am now at the point where I can hold a conversation in Portuguese and establish relationships with native speakers. I still have a lot to learn but I am grateful to the Lord for helping me to his point.
What God has been teaching me
Through my time in Portugal the Lord has been teaching me the importance of patience. I will need to be patient until I gain fluency in Portuguese. I will need to be patient while I wait for some of our ministries in Vila Real and other places to develop. Even before I came to Portugal this year, I needed to be patient while I waited to things to return to normal during the Covid pandemic. I am not a naturally patient person, so I am grateful that through this experience the Lord has been teaching to wait upon Him and trust in His timing.
Day to day activity
I have two Portuguese lessons every week usually on a Wednesday morning and a Friday afternoon. When I don’t have a class I will spend time revising the material that I have been learning. Every Sunday I go to churches, one in a village called Leomil and the other in Vila Real. Some weeks I will preach so I will spend time during the week preparing a sermon. Other weeks I will simply attend to churches to spend time with the believers there and practice my language (all of the services are in Portuguese). Every Thursday I go to a city called Chaves where there is a new church plant and I do much the same thing.
I am also involved with a ministry to children and teenagers in an orphanage in Porto.
This compares well with what I expected my ministry in Vila Real would look like, because of the times I have already been here. I also knew that I would need to invest a lot of time in language learning. This is something that I am enjoying a lot, and I trust that as I gain more proficiency in Portuguese I will be able to serve in new and more effective ways.
Shane McGloin, Northern Irish STMer in Portugal
Stories from Europe > 2021
December
November
- 11/23/2021 11/23/21, 12:00 PM - Helping others to love Muslims
- 11/16/2021 11/16/21, 9:43 AM - The call to missions
- 11/12/2021 11/12/21, 12:10 PM - Trusting God in Portugal
October
- 10/26/2021 10/26/21, 2:00 PM - The gospel into people's homes
- 10/19/2021 10/19/21, 1:11 PM - How long, oh Lord?
- 10/11/2021 10/11/21, 12:12 PM - Tom and Grace Campbell
September
August
July
May
April
- 4/27/2021 4/27/21, 12:00 PM - Confined but connecting
- 4/20/2021 4/20/21, 5:30 PM - A life transformed...
- 4/6/2021 4/6/21, 11:30 AM - A light in the community
February
January
READ our stories about what is going on across Europe,
PRAY for the projects and the workers involved!
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April - 01 - 2026 12:23 As we approach Easter, we remember the Cross — the moment that changed eternity — and give thanks to Jesus, the King of kings. full storyClaremorris Church Opens Its Doors
March - 25 - 2026 11:31 What began as a small gathering in a town hall has become something far greater. On 21 March 2026, the growing church in Claremorris, County Mayo, celebrated the official opening of its very first building — a powerful milestone and a testament to God’s faithfulness. full storyStep Into Mission: Opportunities Across Europe
March - 18 - 2026 10:55 What could your next step in mission look like? Across Europe, doors are open for you to serve, grow, and make a meaningful impact. Whether you’re exploring a short-term experience or sensing a longer-term call, there are opportunities waiting where your gifts can make a real difference. full storyWomen of Faith
March - 04 - 2026 12:27 This March, we celebrate the incredible women serving in mission — women who lift God’s name high, shine His light, and make a difference across Europe. full storyA Church Takes Root
February - 25 - 2026 11:48 In the fast-paced rhythm of Budapest, a new church is taking root. Through patient relationship-building and creative outreach, Tamás and Virág are seeing lives changed and a vibrant community begin to grow. full storyEncouraging Growth in Portugal
February - 18 - 2026 12:05 There are hopeful signs of growth in Portugal, as new data reveals a significant rise in church planting across the country — a reminder that God is at work, often in ways we may not immediately see. Read on to see what God is doing! full storyThe Heavens Declare
February - 11 - 2026 13:17 Berlin Psalm Project’s second album is here! Experience the Psalms like never before, with jazz-inspired arrangements that stir the soul. full storyNew Neighbours
February - 04 - 2026 12:48 What does it mean to leave a familiar, supportive Christian environment and move to a place where the gospel is rarely heard? Last August, Edward and Trix Landman took that step together with their children. Now, a year later, they look back on their first experiences. full storyJoin God’s Story in Europe
January - 28 - 2026 17:24 At ECM, our work is more than programmes and projects—it’s about people, and ultimately, it’s about God, at work in and through us. Every time a believer is equipped, a community is connected, or a disciple is multiplied, it is His Spirit moving, using us as instruments for His glory. full storyA New Beginning in Frankfurt
January - 21 - 2026 14:12 In one of Germany’s largest cities, a new church-plant is emerging through prayer, presence, and trust in God’s leading—bringing hope to the Oberrad community. full storyHope, Healing, and Growth in Barcelona
January - 14 - 2026 11:22 Something is happening in a church in Barcelona—something gentle, hopeful, and hard to ignore. Andy and Andrea Warner have been watching how quiet healing, honest searching, and unexpected growth are transforming people's lives. full storyThere’s no Plan B...
January - 07 - 2026 10:54 “The church is God’s plan for the salvation of the world. There’s no Plan B… God is putting all his eggs in the church basket.” (Stephen Foster) Thank you for being part of God’s great Plan A! full storyHappy New Year from ECM!
January - 01 - 2026 11:41 May 2026 be a year of hope, growth, and renewed courage to share Christ in every community. Together, one disciple, one church, one soul at a time, we can see Europe transformed. full storyMerry Christmas from ECM!
December - 23 - 2025 11:15 As Christmas approaches, we pause to celebrate the greatest gift the world has ever received: Jesus Christ, God with us. His birth reminds us that hope shines brightest in the darkest places—just as your partnership helps the gospel reach communities across Europe where hope is needed most. THANK YOU! full storyStanding with Bitaj
December - 16 - 2025 11:03 As Christmas approaches, many of us are preparing to gather in warm, familiar places — churches filled with carols, candlelight, and the joy of Christ’s coming. In Bitaj, Albania, the Way of Peace Church has long been such a place: a simple building where families come to worship, to learn, and to find compassion in Jesus. And now they need our help. full storyJoin the Team
December - 09 - 2025 10:23 Remedy International Wesleyan Church in Poděbrady is seeing remarkable growth among students and is praying for new English-speaking missionaries to join their team. This opportunity invites you to invest in relationships, strengthen a vibrant church community, and share the hope of the gospel in the Czech Rep. full story