In March, ten students and two staff from Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) traveled from the United States to support the work of a local Church of the Nazarene in Cambados, Spain. The Cambados Church began when several Nazarenes from Perú relocated to the area for work in the fishing industry. They brought with them, not only their experience and knowledge about fishing, but also their love for the Church of the Nazarene.
The MVNU team joined the local Nazarene church to support what they are doing to reach their community for the gospel. The church needed adequate space for the children who come to Sunday services and attend other events, so the team purchased chairs and tables and spruced up the walls in the children’s room with paint and decorations.
When the local government heard the team was coming, they were eager to partner and provided additional ways to get involved in the community. After a tour of Cambados sponsored by the mayor, the team spent the day cleaning up trash and other debris on the town’s beach. Their work strengthened not only the local church, but also the church’s image in the community. As a relatively new Nazarene congregation in a largely secular context, building up these kinds of connections will help church leadership continue to reach their neighbors.
For those who traveled from Mount Vernon, serving the community in Cambados was transformative.
“From the moment we arrived, people welcomed us with genuine love and hospitality,” says Aly Quillen “Their warmth and compassion impacted me deeply and reminded me of what it truly means to live out faith through love.”
“I personally experienced the presence of the Lord throughout each step of this trip,” he adds. “His grace and faithfulness, as well as the love I experienced from the people of Spain allowed me to return with a grounded faith that felt renewed and awakened. I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet and serve alongside these wonderful people and my incredible team. All glory be to God.”
The Church in Cambados expressed a similar gratitude for the mission’s partnership.
“Receiving the young adults from MVNU was a tremendous privilege for us,” Pastor Geraldo Nunes shared. “Their testimony left a precious mark on our congregation and their joy, willingness to serve, and their ministry in the community made an impression that won’t be forgotten on the city. Without a doubt we will harvest fruit that comes from the work they did together with the community in cleaning part of the beach.” Their service, he adds, showed “an example of commitment, effort, joy, and love to all. We are so thankful for everything they did for us and with us!”
