In the bustling streets of Madrid, a profound spiritual transformation is underway. The evangelical faith, once a minority presence, is now experiencing an unprecedented boom, drawing thousands to its vibrant services and spectacular festivals. This resurgence, largely fueled by Latin American immigration, is reshaping the religious landscape of the Spanish capital, particularly in areas like Carabanchel.
The Heart of the Revival: Carabanchel and Vistalegre
Carabanchel, a district known for its significant immigrant population, especially from Latin America, has become a focal point of this evangelical expansion. A stroll through its streets reveals the pervasive sounds of worship emanating from over 20 evangelical centers. These range from imposing structures like the Salem Evangelical Church to more discreet venues nestled in industrial warehouses and ground-floor units, such as the Spring of Life to the Nations Church, the Thirsty for Jesus Christ Christian Church, and the Christian Aid Center.
The scale of this movement was vividly demonstrated at the recent ‘Festival of Hope,’ held at the Palacio Vistalegre. This macro-evangelical gathering, led by Reverend Franklin Graham of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, anticipated uniting over 15,000 people for prayer, blessings, musical performances, dances, and a shared experience of ‘the love of Jesus Christ.’
A Nationwide Phenomenon: Numbers and Growth
While Carabanchel stands out, the evangelical boom is a nationwide phenomenon. Barcelona’s Nou Barris district boasts 36 evangelical places of worship, Sant Andreu has 29, and Sants-Montjuïc hosts another 28, most of which are recent additions. Across Spain, there are now 4,770 evangelical prayer centers-a staggering fivefold increase over the past 20 years.
Catalonia leads with 1,010 evangelical centers, followed by Madrid with 855 and Andalusia with 744. Evangelicalism has become the second-largest religion in Spain by number of temples, far surpassing Islam, which has 1,985 mosques. Last year alone, the Generalitat authorized the opening of 27 new religious centers, 24 of which were evangelical.
The growth in adherents mirrors this expansion. In 1998, only 0.2% of Spaniards identified as evangelical. By 2018, this figure had multiplied tenfold to 2% of the population. The most significant increase, however, has occurred in the last five years, post-pandemic, driven not only by migration but also by a heightened desire for spirituality.
“After COVID, the yearning for spirituality among the population has grown. Many who feel lost find solace and meaning in the love of God that we offer in our congregations,” explains Guillem Correa, Secretary General of the Evangelical Council of Catalonia.
The Neopentecostal Influence and its Controversies
The Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of Spain (FEREDE) estimates that 1.5 million Spaniards now profess the evangelical faith. However, official figures are elusive due to the decentralized nature of the religion, which lacks a hierarchical structure or a single figure like a pope. This characteristic, while complicating measurement, facilitates its rapid propagation.
A significant driver of this growth has been the emergence of neopentecostal communities, which have imported a model successful in the United States and Latin America. These groups often utilize large-scale events to spread their message, such as the ‘Festival of Hope’ or ‘The Change,’ which gathered 40,000 faithful at the Metropolitano Stadium on May 2nd, featuring former footballer Dani Alves, who shared his conversion story after his imprisonment. “In prison, Christ set me free,” he declared from a stage more akin to a rock concert than a religious rite.
However, the rise of these neopentecostal groups has generated controversy within the traditional evangelical community, which has been present in Spain since 1868. While FEREDE views these celebrations “positively, as long as they respect legality and good coexistence,” the Evangelical Council of Catalonia expresses reservations.
“Often, behind these events are not religious groups but businesses interested in making a profit, which is why they place so much emphasis on money and donations,” warns Guillem Correa. He criticizes the “spectacularity” of these events, stating, “Evangelicals are very joyful and love to sing in our prayers. But that is one thing, and putting on ‘shows’ for YouTube, as happens at many festivals, is another.”
Public Perception and the Future of Faith
Outside evangelical communities, the neopentecostal style of worship also raises eyebrows. Social media has been awash with videos of believers delivering sermons in the metro or on the streets, often to the discomfort of commuters and passersby. “It shocks us because it is not part of our culture. In the Anglo-Saxon world, it is not strange to see someone preaching from a soapbox, but we associate religion with liturgy and intimacy, not with so much emotion exposed for all to see,” observes historian Mario Escobar, a specialist in religious phenomena.
Escobar notes that this trend is not unique to Spain but is occurring in many major European cities, suggesting that “spirituality charged with public displays of emotivity is here to stay.”
Without directly naming any creed, the Spanish Episcopal Conference recently published a doctrinal note, ‘The Heart Speaks to the Heart,’ warning against the dangers of “religious emotivism.” Archbishop Joan Planellas of Tarragona criticizes evangelical churches for proclaiming “emotivism and the theology of progress, according to which if you believe a lot, you will have success, usually economic. This allows them to attract many poor souls and simple people.”
Despite these debates, a palpable sense of enthusiasm permeated the evangelical temples of Carabanchel this past Tuesday. Public buses across Madrid have been advertising the upcoming ‘Festival of Hope’ for weeks. Ernesto, Jaime, and Arnulfo, Colombians residing in Spain for two years, confirmed their plans at the door of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “Of course, we will go to the Festival of Hope. It is a beautiful occasion to share with many friends and family the message that moves us: that Jesus loves us.”
Source: https://www.epe.es/es/madrid/20260530/fe-evangelica-dispara-madrid-macrofestivales-espectaculo-emotividad-130841423
