Spain

In March of 2005 my son Isaac and I traveled to Barcelona Spain to visit Betel, a high-impact Christian ministry to people struggling with addictions in over 50 cities throughout Spain. The Barcelona Betel community invited us to live in one of their recovery homes for a few days. I preached in their Sunday morning service, led a morning Bible study and prayer time in one of their homes. Isaac and I visited all of their self-sustaining antique and second-hand stores and had lots of conversation with their leaders and community members. In this way we learned enough about a model that is being implemented successfully by Betel in many other countries to desire to establish a similar ministry here in Washington State.

Betel community members are all people in the recovery process from drugs and alcohol. They reach out to others by regular forays into the streets in the middle of the night, where they find people struggling with addictions. They minister to them in bus and train stations, alleys, or wherever they find them, inviting those who seem ready to come and live in community with others committed to healing and sobriety. Community members sit and pray with people 24/7 during their difficult detox period from heroin.

Every morning begins with 30 minutes of worship, Bible study and prayer. Residents of Betel’s women’s and men’s houses meet for worship & teaching in their church three nights per week. Betel’s church includes administrative offices, community kitchen and storage facilities for furniture and food. Worship teams and other volunteers are made up of people in the healing and recovery process and their children.

Betel operates antique and used clothing and furniture stores to occupy and train residents and sustain themselves financially. Residents work 8 hours a day, taking on roles that correspond with their healing process and spiritual maturity level Jobs include:

• Picking up and delivering antiques or used furniture
• Repairing and refurbishing furniture
• Answering the phone & cashiering

Betel does not have professional staff, but networks with existing experts. Rafael became pastor and coordinator of Betel Barcelona after first living as a resident in recovery for several years.

One of my dreams is to see either Tierra Nueva or New Earth Refuge establish a recovery and healing home that would provide people wanting freedom from addictions with:

1. A secure, welcoming, supervised home for people in recovery from drugs and alcohol.
2. A place for people in recovery to receive healing prayer and to learn & live out spiritual practices that promote healing, spiritual renewal & social transformation.
3. A work site for business enterprises to sustain NER community members.
4. Spiritual retreats, soaking and contemplative prayer for people on the margins.

Check out Betel online at http://www.betel.org or the British Betel http://www.betel.co.uk/links.html