Texans on Mission helps church respond to Spain flooding

TORRENT, Spain—More than 200 have died in flooding around Valencia, Spain, in recent days, and Texans on Mission volunteers are helping a church there respond to the need.

“It is a catastrophe in every aspect of life,” said Juan Carlos Rojas, pastor of Iglesia Evangélica Bautista de Torrent, southwest of Valencia.

“In our city, the flood damaged three neighborhoods, destroying houses partially or totally,” he said in an email. “There were some deaths, and we are still on the search for four missing persons.”

The Associated Press reported that in a “matter of minutes, flash floods caused by heavy downpours in eastern Spain swept away almost everything in their path. With no time to react, people were trapped in vehicles, homes and businesses. Many died and thousands of livelihoods were shattered.”

Texans on Mission sent thousands of dollars to the Torrent congregation to help it respond to community needs, said Mickey Lenamon, chief executive officer.

“Thanks to our donors’ ongoing support, we have funds available for unexpected needs encountered by our ministry partners. Together, we are delivering help, hope and healing in Christ’s name—here in Texas and around the world,” Lenamon said.

Pastor Rojas has had a relationship with Texans on Mission for about 15 years as a result of his previous ministry in Cuba.

Texans on Mission has been “faithful, truthful and responsible with their commitment to the Lord and with people in need,” Rojas said. Today, “I can serve and minister here in Spain … thanks to your ministry and generosity to give.”

Three neighborhoods around the church have received damage from the floods, with deaths and others still missing.

Homes are “full of mud,” and people have “lost all their material things,” Rojas said. “That is without mentioning industrial zones, warehouses, malls and car dealers that have lost all their merchandise.”

Church members in the most affected areas came to the Rojas’ home for a safe place to stay the first night.

“The next day we started doing an outreach to get a hold of every member of the church to check how they were and to have an idea of the damage,” the pastor said.

“Immediately our church poured itself into helping. We gathered water, food, blankets and clothes in our sanctuary,” which has functioned as the church’s relief headquarters, Rojas said. “Our sanctuary is still working as a drop-off, pick-up spot” for items needed by both Christians and non-Christians.

“This is a long process; we are just at the beginning stages,” he said. The Texans on Mission funds were a “huge blessing. … Even though we have helped many people with basic items, we now need tools and materials that we want to give away to those in need (for example, a power washer).

“On the second stage we plan on buying household items like mattresses, beds [and] small appliances,” Rojas said. “We also want to help local owners of small businesses that lost everything, members of our church included.”

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