How God Called Us to Stay at Home
miércoles 19 marzo 2025 11:55 More and more workers in ECM are people ministering in their own countries. Meet Pedro and Ana, a Portuguese couple who have just joined us to be part of a church plant in their home city of Porto.
We are a family of three living in Portugal – Pedro, Ana and Natanael, who is 18 months old. Pedro grew up in a Christian family
and Ana was converted during her time at university. We live in Porto, a beautiful city in northern Portugal known for its worldrenowned
Port wine.
About three years ago, seeing the need for gospel workers in Portugal and with a growing desire to serve the Lord in full-time Christian ministry, we decided to pursue Bible training. This led us to the UK, where we studied at the Cornhill Training Course and served as ministry trainees at Emmanuel Church Wimbledon. After three years of preparing for ministry, we returned to Portugal just over a month ago to serve the Lord in Porto.
Portugal, and especially the northern region, is predominantly Roman Catholic. Many here still live in spiritual darkness, burdened by a false gospel that emphasises works. Evangelical churches are few, often small, and frequently lack expository Bible teaching and a heart for evangelism. Yet, people in Portugal desperately need to hear the saving message of the gospel of grace in Christ.
We have a great desire to see more people coming to faith in Christ and believers growing in their knowledge and love for Jesus. And we believe that the faithful proclamation of God’s Word is the way to bring people to faith and grow them to maturity in Christ.
We are very excited to have joined a new church plant in Porto. The church is part of the Christian Presbyterian Church and began holding public services in March 2024. On Sunday mornings we have now about 20 people attending the service, with some non-Christians going every week. For now we are meeting in a house, but we are looking to find a public venue soon.
As part of the church plant’s team, our ministry will revolve around teaching God’s Word. Pedro will join the church’s pastor as part of the preaching team, while Ana will mainly work with women. We plan to study the Bible with people in small groups and one-to-one, and organise activities/events to reach out to the lost with the gospel.
We would also love to serve the church in northern Portugal more widely by providing training opportunities to equip Christians for word ministry. We believe this to be one of the greatest needs of the church in Portugal, and would love to help meet this need through mentoring, small group training, or training conferences.
We are all too aware that without the Lord’s help, our labour will be in vain. So, thank you so much to those who are partnering with us in prayer. We are very grateful too for the brothers and sisters who have also decided to support us financially. By God’s grace we currently have about 50% of the support we need. We are praying and trusting that the Lord would provide so that we can both be involved in ministry full-time.
Stories from Europe > 2025
diciembre
- 23/12/2025 23/12/25, 11:15 - Merry Christmas from ECM!
- 16/12/2025 16/12/25, 11:03 - Standing with Bitaj
- 9/12/2025 9/12/25, 10:23 - Join the Team
- 1/12/2025 1/12/25, 17:13 - A Continent in Need of Hope
noviembre
- 19/11/2025 19/11/25, 14:22 - Love looks like Jesus
- 12/11/2025 12/11/25, 14:06 - Walking with God, Walking with Others
- 5/11/2025 5/11/25, 11:35 - Joining Forces
octubre
- 29/10/2025 29/10/25, 11:05 - What Is In Your Hands?
- 22/10/2025 22/10/25, 11:58 - Faith Takes Root
- 15/10/2025 15/10/25, 11:49 - Don’t Overestimate What You Can Do in a Year
- 8/10/2025 8/10/25, 17:34 - “Someone Has to Slay the Dragon!”
- 1/10/2025 1/10/25, 17:18 - Unhindered
septiembre
agosto
- 28/8/2025 28/8/25, 9:57 - A New Church in the Heart of Budapest
- 26/8/2025 26/8/25, 11:25 - Sharing love in so many ways! (part 2 of 2)
- 19/8/2025 19/8/25, 11:13 - Sharing love in so many ways! (part 1 of 2)
- 12/8/2025 12/8/25, 10:30 - God's own words of love
- 6/8/2025 6/8/25, 8:56 - Another new worker for Portugal!
julio
- 30/7/2025 30/7/25, 15:26 - One Answered Prayer at a Time
- 23/7/2025 23/7/25, 15:38 - "They may be broken, but God sees the potential”
- 16/7/2025 16/7/25, 16:04 - Prague: From the Giant Peach to the Hobbit House.
- 9/7/2025 9/7/25, 13:42 - Equipping God’s People: A Journey We’re Honoured to Share
- 2/7/2025 2/7/25, 13:35 - Sharing Jesus—and Growing Leaders—at Austria’s Summer Camps
junio
- 25/6/2025 25/6/25, 13:27 - Reaching Romania’s Children with the Gospel of Grace
- 18/6/2025 18/6/25, 13:13 - God’s Word on Campus: Training Bible Study Leaders in Portugal
- 11/6/2025 11/6/25, 13:00 - Equipping for Abundant Life
- 3/6/2025 3/6/25, 11:41 - Groninger Cake in the Court Garden
mayo
- 27/5/2025 27/5/25, 15:29 - From DOS to the App Store: The Story of La Parola
- 16/5/2025 16/5/25, 12:08 - Hope in the Post-Atheist Neighbourhood
abril
- 9/4/2025 9/4/25, 11:30 - Growing a Church that will Last for Generations
- 2/4/2025 2/4/25, 11:43 - Jesus is the Way on the Camino: Pilgrims finding God
marzo
- 26/3/2025 26/3/25, 11:08 - Reaching Hearts Behind Bars
- 19/3/2025 19/3/25, 11:55 - How God Called Us to Stay at Home
- 12/3/2025 12/3/25, 11:39 - How Much my Supporters Mean to Me
- 5/3/2025 5/3/25, 11:33 - An experience I couldn’t recommend more!
febrero
- 24/2/2025 24/2/25, 11:42 - Three Years of War, but God is Still at Work in Ukraine
- 19/2/2025 19/2/25, 11:10 - From a Bar to the Bible
- 12/2/2025 12/2/25, 12:19 - From War Volunteer Centre to Thriving Church
- 5/2/2025 5/2/25, 11:28 - How was I called to Europe?
enero
- 31/1/2025 31/1/25, 11:49 - From Service to Salvation: Sasha’s Journey in Borodianka, Ukraine
- 29/1/2025 29/1/25, 11:05 - Breaking Barriers: A Christ-Centered Journey with the Roma Community in Greece
- 22/1/2025 22/1/25, 13:12 - How to plant a Church in secular France?
- 17/1/2025 17/1/25, 11:09 - A Place of Hope in Christ: Serving Refugees for 25 Years
READ our stories about what is going on across Europe,
PRAY for the projects and the workers involved!
Searching for Hope
abril - 14 - 2026 12:52 Across Europe, many people are searching for meaning, identity, and hope. Behind the statistics are real lives. Meet Sander. Seguir leyendoCalled? Keep going!
abril - 08 - 2026 12:42 Sensing God’s call to mission can be both thrilling and daunting. Anna’s journey back to Romania reminds us that when God calls, He provides — and you are never alone. Seguir leyendoThe Triumph of the Cross
abril - 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. Seguir leyendoClaremorris Church Opens Its Doors
marzo - 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. Seguir leyendoStep Into Mission: Opportunities Across Europe
marzo - 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. Seguir leyendoWomen of Faith
marzo - 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. Seguir leyendoA Church Takes Root
febrero - 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. Seguir leyendoEncouraging Growth in Portugal
febrero - 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! Seguir leyendoThe Heavens Declare
febrero - 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. Seguir leyendoNew Neighbours
febrero - 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. Seguir leyendoJoin God’s Story in Europe
enero - 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. Seguir leyendoA New Beginning in Frankfurt
enero - 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. Seguir leyendoHope, Healing, and Growth in Barcelona
enero - 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. Seguir leyendoThere’s no Plan B...
enero - 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! Seguir leyendoHappy New Year from ECM!
enero - 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. Seguir leyendoMerry Christmas from ECM!
diciembre - 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! Seguir leyendoStanding with Bitaj
diciembre - 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. Seguir leyendoJoin the Team
diciembre - 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. Seguir leyendo