Jack and Simcha Gilbert

16/10/2026

Five years ago today, we moved out of Darcy’s apartment, piled onto a bus jam-packed with all the suitcases we could possibly take, and flew to Spain. A lot has happened since then.

On my first Sunday in Spain, I couldn’t understand anything the pastor was preaching or even give a proper greeting in Spanish. This first Sunday of my sixth year here, I’ll be preaching in Spanish at our first church on Mark 10:35–45 and what constitutes greatness in God’s Kingdom.

My wife is currently putting together slides for the grand reopening of our NGO here, in which she will be playing a major role in the coming year. Joshua is now back in the USA attending university, and both Abi and Joanna are here and thriving (Jojo is trilingual at this point!). Next week, my pastor and close friend Justin Harper is coming to witness the dedication of our new church building, which God provided for in miraculous ways.

Do you know what it’s like when you’re running, and right in the middle of it, you start getting pains in your side and it’s hard to breathe, but you just keep going? Then, at the end, you look back, see how you caught your stride, and say, “Actually, that was a good run.”

That’s how this has been.

I thank God for the opportunity we’ve had to listen, learn, and serve here. We have a very dedicated team of unbelievably talented people doing the work here, and we’ve learned a lot by working alongside them. Thanks to Mario and Paola Iglesias for inviting us to work in the Basque Country, and thank you to David Neufeld for being such a flexible and capable teammate.

I’ve watched God do things I didn’t think were possible. I’ve seen people come to faith. I’ve walked with people through hard times and had others do the same for us. I’ve seen literal miracles.

There have been some long stretches when it felt like I couldn’t run any longer, but looking back, I can say that it has been a good run.

Praise God, and thanks to all the churches and individuals around the world who have made this possible.

Let’s see how far the next lap takes us...

27/07/2026

Some of you have reached out about the fires in Spain, asking if we have been affected. We have not been affected; praise the Lord.

The fires are well south of us and have not affected our area. Overall, most of the fires are burning in the countryside and mountains and have consumed large areas of forest. Fourteen people have died in two of the affected regions.

Most of the land that is burning is uninhabited, although there are some rural holiday homes in those areas. In some places, the fires have come close to more heavily populated areas, but thankfully, firefighters have prevented them from entering those communities. Thousands of people have been evacuated in some regions.

We appreciate your prayers for Spain. Please continue to pray that God would send rain, protect the firefighters working to contain the fires, and keep them from reaching more inhabited areas.

As you bring this before the Lord, please also pray for my brother, who lives in Washington State and is facing a similar situation. The area where he lives is just outside the evacuation zone, but he is nearly surrounded by wildfires.

God bless you all.

30/05/2026

30/05/2026

A church humbled by grace, united in Christ, worshiping God, & serving one another.
Romans is not only concerned with whether the church can explain the gospel clearly. It is concerned with whether the church is being formed by the gospel deeply enough to bear witness faithfully. A divided, proud, legalistic, licentious, or self-centered church will eventually distort the message it claims to proclaim.

But a church humbled by grace, united in Christ, worshiping God, serving one another, and guarding the gospel without adding to it or subtracting from it becomes a living witness to the righteousness of God revealed in Christ. Romans shows us that the gospel does not merely give the church a message to proclaim; it creates a gospel-shaped community that proclaims Christ in humble dependence on the grace of God.

29/05/2026

Part of the Spirit's role in our lives is to guide us into all truth, and from there, into worship.

28/05/2026

God willing, the corner of this building will be the new Building for our growing church, complete with a license to practice religious services, something required and important to have here if we are going to continue ministry here.

If you are interested in helping us make a lasting impact here in Spain, consider donating toward the purchase of this new space. We are praying for 40 individuals, families, or churches that can give $1000. That, along with our church’s own giving and what we have received so far will secure the building!

God is doing amazing things here through people like you. Let’s take the next step together!

Send us a message if you are interested in partnering with us.

27/05/2026

Choosing to worship when it's hard too is a way of showing that we know that God is good even when our situation isn't.

25/05/2026

This week we are teaching our congregation about the theme of the believer and worship.

19/05/2026

My challenge this week to our congregation after preaching 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18 was this.