MILESTONES
Hello once again from Spain and the Mediterranean region. 2024 is the year of milestones for Nancy and me. Milestones indicate how far you have traveled and how far you have yet to go. This year, we celebrate three important milestones. In April, we will be married for 50 years. In June, I will celebrate my 40th year since receiving my minister's license in the North Carolina Conference. And, in August, we will be career missionaries with IPHC World Missions for 38 years. Three major milestones: marriage, ministry, and missions.
The Mediterranean Region.
LOOKING BACK
In 1986 Nancy and I were assigned as missionaries to pioneer the work of IPHC in Spain. Everything began in our living room in Madrid, eventually growing into the IPHC Spain conference. Nancy and I personally planted three churches: one in Madrid, Parla, and Toledo. The story of the Spain Conference is an amazing testimony of God's grace.
In 2022, we installed a fully indigenous Conference Board. Under the dynamic leadership of Bishop David Trujillo, the Spain Conference is moving quickly from the status of a pioneer receiving nation, to partner with World Missions Ministries as a sending nation. Moving national churches to become sending partners is one of the most important Arise 2033 objectives. Last year, the Conference established a Conference Missions Committee with the goal that every church in the Conference would be a missions church. In January 2024, the first missions’ convention was held in Madrid.
Linwood Berry passing the baton of leadership in Spain to Bishop David Trujillo.
Missions conference in Madrid on January 22, 2024.
LOOKING AROUND
For more than 25 years, in addition to our work in Spain, we have served as Regional Directors for Southern Europe and, later, North Africa. This, the Mediterranean Region, encompasses 23 countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea. Over the years, we have seen new churches planted in France, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, and most recently in Croatia. Our burden going forward is to see churches established in the nations with the least access to the gospel. We are especially focused on the Eastern Mediterranean, the countries of the ex-Yugoslavia, and North Africa. It is a daunting task.
LOOKING AHEAD
Nancy and I have been married for 50 years. Thank God! Where do we go from here? We would like to complete 50 years in missions. That would require us to be actively engaged on the field through the year 2036. Additionally, we would like to see many of the pastors that we have ordained celebrate their 40th year in ministry. This year, we want to revisit our friends and partners who have believed and supported us these 38 years. We would love to connect with you, update you in more detail, and thank you in person.
Together, with your faithful support and prayers, we have reached significant milestones in the Mediterranean Region in the last 38 years. Thank you. We have yet much to do and “miles to go before we sleep”. The best is yet to come.
Linwood & Nancy Berry
