Back in 1982 while travelling in Guatemala, I met a Mayan fellow who told me that one should beware of the Catholics, and stick with the Evangelicals, the Protestant movement which includes the Baptists and Methodists and various other assemblies. I’m a non-religious sort, but always happy to learn something new. It seemed that the president there, following a (no-doubt regular) coup d’état, was an Evangelical. Wiki describes the faith as ‘the act of sharing the Christian gospel, the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is typically done with the intention of converting others to Christianity. Evangelism can take several forms, such as personal conversations, preaching, media, and is especially associated with missionary work…’
Evangelism and politics intersect frequently, particularly in the US, where evangelicalism has become a significant, predominantly conservative voting bloc. You may have seen the photo of the clutch of preachers surrounding President Trump in the Oval Office in what is, for European viewers, a rather embarrassing scene.
Google AI tells me that (American) Evangelicalism has become strongly linked to conservative politics and the Republican Party, especially since the 1970s and 1980s, driven by issues like abortion, school prayer, and the rise of the Moral Majority.
Anyway, that’s there. And here in Spain?
‘Evangelical Christianity is experiencing a period of significant growth in Spain, often described as a "quiet revival" despite the country's largely secular or Roman Catholic cultural landscape. The focus of active outreach in Spain is primarily on church planting, social action, and converting a population where only about 1.6% are estimated to be evangelical Christians’. It’s growing fast here, with around one and a half million followers attending some 5,000 places of worship. The main support comes from Latin American immigrants, allied with the Gypsy community through the Iglesia Filadelfia.
Early this month, a large crowd of 35,000 celebrants joined in the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid to listen to preachers including the newly converted (and disgraced) ex-soccer star Dani Alves. The organizers claimed that the objective of the event was to consolidate Madrid as the "European capital of gospel and a meeting point for thousands of attendees from Europe, the Americas, and Africa."
From El País in English, we read of another upcoming event: ‘The evangelical boom in Madrid: Packed stadiums, public transit advertising, and political connections’. It says: ‘For days now, advertisements for the Festival of Hope featuring American preacher Franklin Graham have been appearing on Madrid’s Municipal Transportation Company (EMT) buses. The posters, which cover the sides of the vehicles, include a direct invitation: “Share the love of Jesus Christ with people from all over Madrid.” The event, expected to draw a large crowd, will be held on May 30 and 31 at the Vistalegre Palace concert venue and, according to the website, will bring together evangelical churches from all over Spain around the son of the legendary televangelist Billy Graham…’
Later in the article, we read: ‘In Spain, political connections are also becoming visible. In 2023, the Partido Popular intensified its contacts with evangelical leaders in pursuit of the Latin American vote. One of the most visible figures is the Colombian pastor Yadira Maestre…’ She says, as a preacher participating in a political rally back in 2023: “Lord, bless our mayor, bless our president (she means Ayuso), and bless Sr. Feijóo!”
Religious power can mean political power, especially if carefully handled.
On the metro, a captive audience suffers as two predicadores begin their spiel, and there’s no way off until the next station. Elsewhere, a YouTube presentation says that ‘this movement (also known as la Iglesia Pentecostal) employs "shows", the speaking in tongues and alleged miracles to attract young people and immigrants in low-income neighbourhoods. Unlike Catholicism, they seek to directly influence politics to impose their moral code, following successful models established in the United States and Brazil’.
But, as the different churches fight for our souls (and sometimes our vote), we must prepare for the impending visit of Pope Leo XIV in June. This is a Pope who defends progressive views: a popular leader heavily criticised by everyone on the right from Trump to Abascal.
The battle lines, Brothers and Sisters, are being drawn on the fields of Jericho.