Since I’ve been back in the States many people have been asking me questions like, “how long are you here for?” or “when are you going back to Spain?” Most of my life I’ve answered that question saying that I would only be in the United States for a short time. However, this time is different. Being in Spain made me realize what I want to do–to be a Lead Pastor of a church someday. My experience for a year working in a church, in a very unchurched city, gave me a good sense that Pastoring a church in an unchurched environment is what I want to give my life to. That passion and burden in my heart has lead me to something greater than just doing ministry, but preparing for it. What do I mean by this? In order to be the best communicator and leader that I can be, I have to have more than just experience. I need to study. I have been told that it is crucial to have a balance between both of those. For this reason, I will be taking 3 years off to major in communications, as well as getting my credentials through the Assemblies of God. 

For the summer I will be living in Berea, Kentucky, attending a community college as well as the Kentucky School of Ministry. I am still unsure of where I might study in the fall.

Thank you for praying, and supporting my journey while I was in Spain. My dream is to return to Spain better prepared for the years to come, so that God can use me in even greater ways. 

My time in Spain went really fast, too fast. But it was a year I will never forget. From ministry at the International Church of Madrid to spending time with my childhood friends that don’t know Christ, it was a year that only God can get the credit for.

Yesterday was a hard day for me because I said goodbye to my youth group. It has been the greatest joy for me to lead Amplify, and now it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to let go of. Here you can see a picture of our first youth service, and yesterday’s service as well.

It was especially hard leaving my friends that I had grown up with since I was 10. We played on sports teams together and I would have never thought that from just playing soccer together that I would be able to share Christ with them, and give them all Bibles (which they asked for.)

From moving ever since I was just a child, this is by far the hardest transition yet. There are so many great things taking place in Madrid and in my friends lives that it makes it hard to leave. Even though God is doing great things, I know that this is the season for me to study. One of my mentors told me something so simple, but it’s so true. He said, “Anthony, Europe and the ministry will always be here.” And he’s exactly right. The ministry will always be here.

As this first year has ended, I originally wanted to come to the States to raise support to go to Spain for two more years. However, after talking with my mentors, they have suggested that I commit this time to studying. I would love to keep doing, doing, and doing. But there’s a season for everything, and the season I am going into now are my studies. As far as which college I will be attending, I am still not 100% sure.

For all of you who have supported, prayed, and encouraged me: thank you. I could not have done this year in Spain without you. If you wish to continue supporting me, my account will remain open as I will be taking trips back to Europe during the summer and after my three years of study.

Thank you again for your partnership. 

Anthony. 

It’s sad when I hear people say that. And ironically, it’s people who typically don’t read the Bible. One new way that the Bible is getting promoted more than ever before is through the new TV series, The Bible. Roma Downey and Mark Burnett (directors) took much time and thought into producing the story of the Bible with pure excellence. I use the word excellence because in past times Christians have put out Jesus films that got the message across, but weren’t the best produced. I’m not trying to down-play past efforts of bringing the message of Christ in the media, I’m just being honest in how I see it compared to other films.

But this series The Bible is creating a high buzz all over the world. It recently got more viewers than The Walking Dead and is also the most watched TV show at this moment. This is an awesome mark for Christianity and is moving the message of Jesus to billions each week. Many thanks to Roma Downey and Mark Burnett for producing the message of Christ with a high level of excellence.

The reality is, there have been people who have had illnesses for long periods of time. And we see a real story of a woman who’s experienced that in the Bible. She’s known as the “woman with the issue of blood.” That’s her identity. That’s how people knew her for 12 years. But as we read in the Bible, one moment with Jesus changes her entire identity. After she goes through the crowd to get to Jesus, this is what happens:

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

12 years of sickness was changed in a moment with Jesus. Not only was her issue healed, but her identity was changed. No longer would she be called the “woman with the issue of blood.” The people that witnessed the miracle and who heard about it probably would know her now as the “woman who Jesus healed.”

I write all of this to ask you one thing: how do people know you?

Do people identify you with your illness or with the person who’s healed you? I want my life to be seen that I’ve been healed and restored by Jesus. I don’t want to be known by what I was born into, but by the Savior who’s saved me. 

How would you say people identify you?

We had a unique worship time in which we had 4 stations:

1. Prayer Board
2. Communion
3. Art
4. Letter to God

Continue to pray for the youth of our church. Most of our church is very young and it’s very important that they stay rooted, and established in Christ each and every day.

• Jonah sailed from here when he first disobeyed God
• Peter saw the vision from Simon’s roof of the clean and unclean meat
• Peter raised Dorcas from the dead

I saw the ocean where Jonah sailed, and where Dorcas was raised from the dead. But the most significant moment for me in Joppa was seeing where Peter received the vision from God on Simon’s roof. 

It’s interesting because most places where something in the Bible occurred, people have changed them into churches or places where people can tour. But not Simon’s house. Generation after generation, the house kept being a normal, ordinary home. And to this day, no one can go in it because a family lives there. But we were able to get up to the front door and also see the roof. 

Maybe you don’t care much about the fact that I saw the actual roof where Peter received the vision from God. That’s cool. But one thing you might find interesting is this: it was normal for Peter to pray three times a day. That was his routine. Each and every day Peter, along with the other Jews, would pray three times a day.

Though we might see his praying on Simon’s roof as an intimate, “get a way from society,” one-time thing, it really wasn’t. He was doing his normal routine prayer. What God showed me is this: there is power in routine. When we commit ourselves to praying continually each day, that’s when God will demonstrate great things to us.

It was a pivotal moment for the church when Cornelius got saved (I’ll write about him more in the coming days.) But to think that it came through a vision because of Peter continually to pray. Imagine if Peter decided not to pray because he didn’t feel like it. I wonder if things would be different today. The point is, Peter prayed — all the time. I want to make it a priority (and I encourage you to do the same) to pray. And not just a three minute before you sleep prayer, I mean to seriously pray. You never know what God might show you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

• Who am I going to marry?
• What school am I going to attend?
• What career do I want to pursue?
• Where am I going to live?

We are faced with making decisions all of the time. But what’s important to understand is this: not only is life full of decisions, but life is made of decisions. Who you choose to marry, what school you decide to attend, what career you wish to pursue, and where you want to live matter. Unfortunately, I think there has been a lackadaisical approach to decision-making in my generation. People, when making decisions, don’t see the long-term affects. They just want temporary fulfillment. With this in mind, I wanted to help anyone who is faced with making a decision of any kind.

Here are some questions you can ask when making decisions:

Life is full of decisions. And life is made of decisions. Don’t be lazy in making choices. Pray, ask, learn, research. Do all of what you can to make the best choices for your life.

1. Speak God’s Truth

• Words are powerful. When you read the Bible, you can see how a lot of times the apostles wouldn’t even necessarily pray for healing, they would speak healing to someone. Peter and John once told a lame beggar to “get up and walk.” And the beggar did just that. The same is true for us. If we are discouraged, we need to verbally speak out words of encouragement. If you’re unsure of what to say, go to the Bible and speak out what God says about you. 

2. Have a Best Friend

• If you think you can live life alone, you’re wrong. As humans, it is not good for us to be alone. I remember the first message I ever preached was done not because I wanted to, but because I had a friend who encouraged me and pushed me to do it. Because of my friend consistently pushing me forward to give my testimony, I delivered my first message on the streets of Madrid. Having a good friend will create faith inside of you that you never saw before.

3. Worship & Devotion 

• In order to have constant faith, you’ve got to make worship and devotion a priority. The way I spend time with God is like a meeting. I’m intentional about it. I need to know the exact time and place as to where I will meet with Jesus. Doing this will really ignite your faith and change how you see your total day.