22 July 2026

Fishers of Men

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” - Matthew 4:19

On the coast of Spain, just north of the Spanish/Portuguese border, lies a small city of around 14,000 people named Cambados. Cambados is part of the Galicia autonomous community and is home to 50% of the fishing industry in Spain. Among these fishermen are many Latin-American immigrants. Immigration is not a phenomenon unique to the Galicia region of Spain, but a small group of about 40 of those immigrants are bringing more than their knowledge of fishing; they are bringing their Nazarene identity. 

The Church of the Nazarene is just beginning in Cambados. The people who are planting this church originally come from Peru, where the work of the Church of the Nazarene was made official over 100 years ago. However, these members did not come to Spain with a mandate to plant a new church in Cambados; instead, they arrived seeking employment opportunities, also bringing their faith with them. A group of three couples met regularly to pray, eventually making their meetings public. Soon, 40 people were meeting in a home each Sunday afternoon.

These Nazarene immigrants were so passionate that they received offerings each time they met and held the funds until they got a pastor and could officially give their offerings.

In 2024, they attended the district assembly where missionary Geraldo Nunes met with them. Later, Geraldo and his wife Waner (both from Brazil) were sent as a missionary couple to Cambados, where working with this church became part of their responsibilities. As the group grew stronger, they started looking for a public space where they could meet and eventually found a location. 

Currently, about 60 children, youth, and adults attend this church plant which includes people from Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, and Spain. Already, four new believers have been baptized! These fishermen know how to fish for people.

Thank you to the Western Mediterranean Newsletter and Geraldo Nunes for this story.

The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Spain in 1981. Currently, we have eight missionaries and five missionary children there. Since January 2023, missionaries Diego and Palmira Lopez have been serving the Western Mediterranean Field. As the field strategy coordinator, Diego oversees the strategy for the church in Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, Italy, and Malta.

Many immigrants come to Spain seeking a better life. Some come to the church for legal guidance and assistance with housing or work. Because Spanish culture is generally legalistic in its religious belief, the church’s message of grace and holiness may be new to many.

This information was taken in part from the Eurasia Region website.

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