Walters in Spain

A matter of life and death

Roland Walter — 2012-01-23T13:47:00+01:00

Short and clear. Itiel Arroyo asks a pointed question. Which will you choose?

The Walter family - January 2012

Roland Walter — 2012-01-24T13:44:40+01:00

A new name

Roland Walter — 2011-12-15T13:45:06+01:00

The Spanish ministry department here at Malaga Media Center has a new name: Comunicando Vida. This reflects our desire to communicate the Word that gives life, and better places us in a Spanish context.

We still work for Avant Ministries at the Malaga Media Center , but here in Spain we identify our ministry as Comunicando Vida. And with such a cool logo as well!

We dream about working with you

Roland Walter — 2011-12-15T12:46:16+01:00

We dream about working with you
No one has ever said that to us before. So when we were praying for a Spanish ministry to partner with, it became clear that the answer was right before us. Itiel and Damaris are passionate about reaching Spanish youth for Christ. This young couple travels all over Spain speaking at camps, churches and retreats, challenging young believers to live out their faith, and challenging those who don't yet believe to put their trust in Jesus.

Our ministry team recently spent a day with Itiel and Damaris to plan and dream and pray. We are excited that through them we can extend the reach of our films much farther than before. Also, as young Spaniards themselves, they have the insights we often lack about how young people here think and feel and communicate. Itiel and Damaris are an answer to our prayer to become more connected with other Spanish outreach efforts. They will be promoting our films and help young people learn to use them to share Christ with their friends. While they were here we recorded a simple video with Itiel explaining the gospel succinctly and which will soon appear on our Vealided.es site.

Our church here in Spain

Roland Walter — 2011-11-11T18:24:27+01:00

Our church is connected to a group in California. This video was for them, but you will enjoy seeing the group we fellowship with.

Three in the water

Roland Walter — 2011-10-04T16:53:34+02:00

Karen was rebellious. Hugo only reluctantly accompanied his wife to church. Bea was starting over. And then all three found Jesus. The next stop was to tell the world.

Last Sunday our church celebrated it’s first baptism. After sharing their testimonies during the morning service all three went into the water at a nearby beach. Their public declaration of faith was exciting to see. It was also encouraging to see the church come together to celebrate it’s first baptism ever. We all stayed at the beach, enjoyed grilled meat and visited with old and new friends, while the kids dug in the sand and splashed in the water.

Back on the ground

Roland Walter — 2011-09-15T12:33:39+02:00

Overnight in an airport, car trips, cousins, grandparents, churches, friends, American food, rodeo, county fair, heat, an auction, MORE HEAT, more friends, food, family reunions.

Am I missing anything from our summer in the US? Our goal was to keep connected with our supporters and family, and share our vision for Spain, and for the most part we were able to accomplish that.

Back for more
After two months away we are glad to be back in our own home. School has just started so we are getting back into a normal routine, but not yet totally familiar. Jack starts junior high, which starts an hour earlier and ends later than the girls. He will be starting basketball soon. Lucy and Annie are really excited to be learning piano from Robyn. Eddie is busy at home, and starts running for reasons unknown to the rest of us.

While we were gone
This summer the activity here was focused on the Camino de Santiago project. My colleague and two others trekked a pilgrimage route in northern Spain, interviewed other travelers, and got footage for a new short film. Many on the route are spiritual seekers, and we want to show Jesus as the answer to their search.

Returning from being away is a great change for reflexion and evaluation. Here are my conclusions:
◆ We need to keep doing what are are doing - Spain needs Jesus and we are looking for creative ways to ask questions and conversations
◆ BUT we need help connecting our videos to seekers and following up with people who want more. We think we should partner with Spaniards for this.
◆ We need prayer for all this. God is the one who moves hearts to seek him, and moves circumstances so people cross paths with Christ. This help should be from you.

Another conclusion is that we would be very encouraged for you to partner financially with us in our work. You would be blessed by this as well, and would be helping to bring people in Spain to Jesus. We are praying that God will provide the $1,200 monthly we still lack. Click here to begin giving.

You need to be involved in something so big, that if God doesn’t show up, you’re toast.

Note: thanks for praying for the video shoot mentioned below. Everything went well and the footage is good, though he did not speak of his faith in God as much as we would have liked. We’ll see how we can use this.

Pray for the interview today

Roland Walter — 2011-06-22T23:40:36+02:00

Please pray for our Spanish Ministries team today as they record an interview with a Christian artist in the city of Granada today and tomorrow. Niko took part in a graffiti artist event we recorded recently, and now the team will be recording him talking about his art and his faith. We see this film as a door into his world of street artists and everyone else he rubs shoulders with. This is part of our Vealidad.es project in which we are seeking to question how people think, and show stories of people who have found life’s answers in Jesus.

Pray for my colleagues Mikaela Bruce and Tim Becker, as well as our two interns Eliel and Kristy, that they can make this into an important tool to lead people to Jesus.

I will not be taking part in this because Friday we will be flying back to the U.S. for two months of thanking supporters, meeting new ones, and visiting family. Pray for Robyn and me as we pack and travel with our four kids.

In Christ,

Rolly Walter

The revolution

Roland Walter — 2011-06-07T09:58:36+02:00

Itiel fought for change. He organized and led marches. He promoted revolution. But deep down he knew he was a fraud. He began to study the words of Jesus because his leaders said he was the first Communist. Itiel soon realized that change first needed to happen inside of him. And only Jesus could do that.

Our newest video testimony has been spreading like wildfire, especially on Facebook. Itiel is a well known youth leader and is well connected. We’ve been praying for a way for our Vealidad.es web site to get national exposure and this is a great start.

Now we are praying for a place to direct viewers if they want to know more about Jesus or connect with a real person. Pray with us as we seek Spanish partners for this.

Summer back in America
We will be in central United States this summer visiting churches and helping Robyn’s parents move. Pray that we can infuse others with a passion for reaching Spain for Christ. We also need to raise some more monthly support. Our schedule of church visits can be seen at WaltersInSpain.com.

Thanks for much for your prayers. Only God accomplishes what we see as impossible.

Rolly and Robyn Walter

They watched, they laughed, they heard.

Roland Walter — 2011-04-15T18:38:20+02:00

Love: Málaga from Spanish Ministries at MMC on Vimeo.

The report was exciting. The tea house was full. The crowd laughed, they talked, they heard about God’s love .

Last Thursday was the premier of our newest video “Love: Malaga”. Campus Crusade staff have a weekly discussion at a tea house, and our videos were featured. Mikaela, our Spanish Ministries team member, showed the video on love that we shot on the university campus, as well as two testimony videos, with discussion questions following each one.

She reported that people cheered when people present were shown on screen, laughed at the conflicting opinions about love, and really entered into the discussion time. Only a few of the people we recorded for the video came, but many others did.

One of the videos featured a girl who experienced rejection growing up, but found a friend in Jesus. This seemed to really connect with the people there. We are excited how God answered prayers for this event. Keep praying that those who came will return, and that they will be convinced of their need for a Savior.

Pray especially for the young couple at the end of the video (he likes what she says). They were at the showing and showed lots of interest.

Thanks for praying.

In Christ,

Rolly and Robyn Walter

Ainhoam's story

Roland Walter — 2011-03-10T16:30:14+01:00

She lived in a nice neighborhood and went to a good school, but was treated like an outcast. Her family was gypsy, and in Spain that makes you different. She did have one friend, though - Jesus. He gave her a sense of belonging and a winning smile. And now as an adult Jesus has carried her through some really difficult times.

Here in Spain most people don’t see Jesus as a friend. Most think of him as a statue you see in a religious procession, something you ask favors of, or as someone who lived a long time ago. Not as a friend or a person who helps us in our time of need.

Ainhoam’s story is the latest short film for our web site Vealidad.es, and part of our effort to move hearts and minds towards Jesus. Pray that it will help people see Jesus for who he really is.

Do you believe in unconditional love?
This next week we will take our cameras to the University of Málaga campus and ask students if they believe in unconditional love. We anticipate varied and interesting answers, and we will contrast these with testimonies from believers. Our goal is that viewers will reflect on their own lives, see what is lacking, and turn to Jesus. Pray that lots of students will be willing to talk on camera. Pray also that the Campus Crusade staff we are partnering with will have opportunities for further conversations with these students.

Wow!
We were very encouraged to learn of a large gift for a new editing station and funding for our media projects. God continues to provide. Thanks to those who gave.

We will be in the U.S. this summer to share our vision for Spain. We see our work as vital to reaching Spain for Christ and want to spread the passion. Please pray for Spain and for us.

Are you ready for way too many pictures of our kids? Click here and don’t say I didn’t warn you. Andalucia Day was very special for Lucy and Annie. Browse some of the other albums as well.

Thanks for your part in our work here in Spain,

Rolly & Robyn Walter

Praises
•God is providing for our ministry expenses.
•God brought us through a month of sickness. Only Robyn escaped, but then she had to take care of the rest of us.
•We just enjoyed two weeks with Robyn’s parents. Grandparents are wonderful!
•The director of Malaga Media Center is back from three months in the U.S., so now Rolly can go back to making videos full-time.

Pray
•Pray that the video shoot next week will result in a powerful tool to share Christ.
•Pray that we can have spiritual conversations with other parents at our kid’s school.
•My colleagueTim Becker will be in Ecuador with his family to film a big Avant event. Pray that he can capture the joy and wonder of God’s work over these past 115 years.
•Pray that God lead us to the Spanish church He wants us to be a part of.

Just take it

Roland Walter — 2010-12-22T16:13:13+01:00

Sometimes I have this notion that I am the only one with something to give. Recently I’ve met some other givers, and it is humbling.

- Maria at the bread store always sticks in a few extra soft rolls. I know she isn’t making any money on my purchase. When I protest she says “there is more to life than money.”

- After looking in several stores for a dark green sash for Lucy’s dance costume, Ines the seamstress found one at the bottom of a stack in her shop. “How much?” I asked. “Just take it.”

- Yesterday I was shopping for new shoes at a neighborhood shoe store. I commented to the person there that my current pair, which I had purchased at the same shop, and which were the same brand as the one I was considering buying, wasn’t as comfortable as expected. He lowered the price on the new pair, even though I told him that I had already owned the old pair for three years. And yes, the new ones are really comfortable.

- Germana at the office and school supply store asks me how many kids I have, and gives a lollipop for each one.

- Juan Carlos at the optometrist shop replaced the temple on a pair of glasses for free, even though we weren’t customers.

- A total stranger gave us beans she had canned and lettuce from her garden while we were vacationing last summer.

- Some of this might seem like just good customer relations. But bending over backwards to please the customer isn’t the Spanish way. These people were getting satisfaction from giving, and not expecting anything in return.

I came to Spain to give, but also have to learn to receive. There are lots of nice people here - people who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. But they still need Jesus - not to make them friendlier or nicer, but because sin separates all of us from God, and we all need to be reconciled to him. Even the friendly, giving people I meet.

On another note, please pray for José, my barber. A couple of days ago he watched our video of Pepe Olmo’s testimony. Pray that he will want to start reading the Bible as Pepe did, and that the Holy Spirit will convict him of his need for a savior. Pray also that at my next haircut (Robyn says it needs to be soon) we can talk about Jesus.

Have a Merry Christmas.

Let me introduce you

Roland Walter — 2010-11-26T10:44:30+01:00

I am really excited to finally be able to work as part of a group to move minds and hearts in Spain toward Jesus. Let me introduce you to our Spanish Ministries team.

Tim Becker is a talented graphic designer. His insight, gained in part through years of missions experience has proved very valuable as we develop our vision and our projects. He and his wife Spring taught English in Japan and did church planting in Ecuador and Poland. Tim say he enjoys working on a team, which allows him to concentrate on what he does best - creating purposeful, culturally relevant, and of course, beautiful designs. And everything we do needs designing.

Tim and Spring have three children: Nat (12), Emma (5), and Katie (2).

Mikaela Bruce recently graduated from film school at the University of Hawaii, and came to MMC just last spring. She is passionate about sharing Christ here in Spain through media, and is heading up Vealidad, our new project designed to start deep discussions among young people that can end in Christ. She originally planned to be here two years, but is thinking about extending that. Mikaela enjoys creative videography and connecting with Spaniards.

Robyn and I continue to build friendships with parents at school. Between birthday parties and basketball games we are getting to know a lot of people. We want to take advantage of these opportunities to have spiritual conversations.

Thanks so much for praying for us. Add Tim, Spring and Mikaela to your prayers as well. We have a huge task that only God can accomplish.

Watch some of our recent videos subtitled in English.

Prayer items:

The Vealidad project web site will go live in December. Pray that Tim, Mikaela and I can finish up all the details, and that many will find their way to the site.
All our testimony videos are now on the web. Pray that they will cause viewers to turn to Christ.
The Beckers lack funds to buy a vehicle. Pray or give, or both! They need $7,500.
Pray for opportunities for meaningful spiritual conversations with our friends.
Pray that I will be an encouraging and enabling husband, father and team leader. I will have more responsibilities while our director is on home assignment for three months starting in December.

Lucy - her life so far

Roland Walter — 2010-11-04T17:09:00+01:00

Lucy from Roland Walter on Vimeo.

A movie changed a heart

Roland Walter — 2010-11-05T15:57:03+01:00

Pepe Olmo from Spanish Ministries at MMC on Vimeo.

Pepe watched a movie that caused him to question everything he believed. That is exactly what we are trying to accomplish. This is the latest in our People Like You series of real-life stories about changed lives.

Whatever happened to that project you were so excited about?

Roland Walter — 2010-09-30T17:30:45+02:00

Last fall I was excited about a new project - helping develop support groups for abuse victims. But then you never heard anything more about it. Do remember that? What happened was that no one got back to me after the initial discussions. I sent out a few feelers, but thought they were telling me in a culturally appropriate fashion that they dropped the idea. I was wrong, and now the whole thing is rolling again.

This weekend this group is having a retreat for women from around Spain who want to start similar support groups. The women will tell their personal stories, and how they have been helped by this support group. Tim Becker and I will be there Saturday morning to tape part of it. Our goal is to create a resource that will help more groups begin, so that more people will find healing in Jesus.

You may recall that these groups are for anyone, but that most women who attend and don’t know Christ as Savior end up putting their trust in Him. Please pray for these women this Friday, Saturday and Sunday as they share their experiences. Pray also for those attending who are hurting and want to find help for themselves and others.

Our kids are finally in the same school. We got a letter from the school district saying he could enroll in the same school Lucy and Annie attend. Our morning routine is simpler, and Jack is enjoying himself. Pray for his continued adjustment to 6th grade. Annie started preschool and is liking it a lot. Robyn is glad she doesn’t have to come up with activities for the kids all day long.

New video about our ministry

Roland Walter — 2010-07-12T11:57:00+02:00

How to move a heart

Roland Walter — 2010-06-15T16:24:32+02:00

This article appeared in the MMC Insights newsletter:

As part of a new project with Spanish Ministries, several Spanish youth spent a Saturday morning helping Mikaela and Eliel with on-the-street interviews.

If you could wander into Roland Walter's office here at MMC and ask about Spanish Ministries' newest projects, he'd tell you openly, "The whole purpose is to move the hearts and minds of Spaniards towards Jesus."
The hardest question is how to do this. So lately Roland, Mikaela Bruce, and Spanish intern Eliel have been asking Spaniards a lot of question to figure this out. Roland makes the point of talking with a number of Spaniards each week about their views on the purpose of life. Meanwhile, Mikeala and Eliel are filming on-the-street questions with younger generation Spaniards to ask them questions like "What is love?"
Roland says, "We want to understand the culture by learning what people think and where their concerns lie."
As they continue to ask questions, they are now also filming 1-2 minute testimonies about a believer's relationship with Christ, and how that relationship pertains to the issues addressed in these questions. This project specifically targets people from their early teens to 30 years of age. The Spanish Ministries team asks for prayer as they seek ways to move the hearts and minds of Spaniards towards Christ.

To read the complete newsletter or to subscribe, click here.

Prayer update: May 4

Roland Walter — 2010-04-30T11:58:43+02:00

“They think I’m crazy”
Eliel is one of two Christians in his university preparatory school here in Malaga. His friends can’t believe that someone with his intelligence and creativity actually believes in God.

Spanish postmodernism makes my head hurt

Roland Walter — 2010-03-26T18:52:32+01:00

I’ve been doing a lot of studying and talking, trying to focus my work I can really communicate with unbelievers in Spain. Part of that has involved research the predominant Spanish worldview - postmodernism. Here are some of my conclusions.

What is good about the Spanish postmodern worldview?

Our videos used in the Basque region

Roland Walter — 2010-03-26T18:37:10+01:00

“I use everything you send me”
Alfredo Gomez produces the evangelical TV program “Nueva Vida” (New Life) in the Basque region of northern Spain. He spends most of his time as a medical doctor, but he also oversees the production of two weekly TV programs, one in Spanish and one in Basque, with an audience of about thirty five thousand people a week. He is a busy man. Recently he told me he uses everything I send him. He has included all of the testimonies we’ve produced, as well as the short answers to common questions in our series “Give me a minute.”
In addition, his ministry has hosted several well-attended dinners for seekers, and our testimony DVDs “People Like You” are given as gifts. Alfredo and his broadcast are a light for the Gospel in a part of Spain that is especially resistant, and we are glad to be a part of that.

Dolores - the whole story

Roland Walter — 2010-01-21T16:42:46+01:00

Dolores, her husband Angel, and their children

Dolores’ sister Susana wrote the following:
As you know, my older sister Dolores (Loli) was admitted to the hospital in Málaga this past October 28 because of the H1N1 flu. She was 8 months pregnant which caused complications much more severe than normal. I know that many of you have followed her progress...

¿Ahora Que? used in Gibraltar outreach

Roland Walter — 2009-12-22T16:26:28+01:00

Impact World Tour was in Gibraltar recently and the people in charge of follow-up decided to use our ¿Ahora Qué? booklet. They had it translated into English, made their own cover and printed 500 copies. We sent over some Spanish versions as well. The attendance at the events was very good (I heard it totalled 6,000), and there were lots of people to follow-up. It was exciting to be able to contribute to this outreach.

A night that changed a family

Roland Walter — 2009-12-01T16:54:59+01:00

Dolores was 8 months pregnant when the flu hit. And it hit hard. Soon after being admitted to the hospital she was in an induced coma. Pneumonia had clogged her lungs and she fought for every breath. The baby was delivered via Ceasarian to save it’s life, and Dolores hung by a thread. The doctors didn’t think she would survive the night.

Spanish Video at MMC hits YouTube

Roland Walter — 2009-12-01T16:10:00+01:00

YouTube is one of the biggest search engines on the internet. And if this is where people spend their time, this is where we need to be.

Spanish Ministries at MMC has a YouTube channel called ComunicandoVidaSp. Our playists include Dame 1 Minuto with answers to questions about God and the Bible, and ¿Ahora Qué?, our youth discipleship series. You can check it out for yourself here. Be prepared to practice your Spanish skills.

Lessons from a poorly assembled chair

Roland Walter — 2009-05-25T19:03:00+02:00

Not long ago we purchased dining room chairs from IKEA. One of the ways they keep costs down is to have you assemble things yourself. There is a downside, though - you have to assemble them yourself.

Spiritual conflict

Roland Walter — 2009-07-22T18:48:27+02:00

She showed up at the gate with a broken nose, a scratched up face and blood on her blouse. While on her way to our media center to tape a scene for one of our video projects, Isabel's motor scooter was hit by a van.