Spain is located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula
(Which includes Spain, Portugal and Andorra)

It is bordered by France in the north, Andorra in the northwest, Portugal
and the Atlantic in the west,and the Mediterranean in the east and the south,
except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar.

Madrid is the capital.
The population is 46 million.

FACTS
Spanish is the world's third most widely used language.

DEMOGRAPHICS
88%   Spaniish
12%   Immigrants
1,000,000 Romani/Gypsies

70%  Catholic
20%  No religion
10%  Other

FAMOUS SPANIARDS
Leaders
Isabella I of Castille(1451-1504)
Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452–1516)
Philip II (1527-1598) Spanish Empire at its height.

Soldiers
Francisco Pizarro (c. 1471-1541) Led conquest of Inca Empire.
Hernán Cortés (1485-1547) Led conquest of the Aztec Empire.

Theologians
Domingo Félix de Guzmán (1170-1221) Founder of the Dominican Order
Tomás de Torquemada (1420-1498)  Grand Inquisitor during the Spanish Inquisition.
Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order

Writers
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) Author of 'Don Quixote'

Actors
José Antonio Banderas (b 1960)

HISTORY
Spain has a long and colorful history.

In ancient times the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited by the Iberians and the Celts.

The Basques settled in the western area of the Pyrenees mountains and still live
in the region today.
Isolated from the rest of the world, the Basques developed their own unique culture.

From 500-300 B.C. the Greeks and Phoenicians founded colonies along the Mediterranean coast.

From 300-205 B.C. the Carthaginians controlled the Mediterranean side of Spain.

Spain was part of the Roman Empire from 205 B.C-409 A.D.
During this time the country was called Hispania.
From this comes the word Hispanic.
Emperors Trajan, Theodosius I, and the philosopher Seneca were born in Hispania.

Christianity was introduced into Hispania in the 1st century A.D.
The Apostle Paul visited Hispania.

The Roman Empire lost control of Spain in the 5th century.
Many Germanic tribes,such as the Suevi, Vandals and Visgoths established kingdoms.

In 718 A.D., much of the Iberian Peninsula was conquered by Moors from North Africa.
From 718-1492 there were both Muslim and Christian kingdoms in Spain.

From the 8th century onward there was a large population of Jews in Spain.
From 718-1055 Jewish intellectual and spiritual life flourished

During the Middle Ages there was a slow Catholic reconquest of the Muslim territories.

In 1469, the Christian kingdoms of Castile and Aragon were united by the marriage
of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon.

The unification of Aragon and Castile laid the basis for modern Spain.

In 1492, Castile and Aragon captured Granada, which ended the last remnant
of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula

That same year, Isabella funded the First Voyage of Christopher Columbus,
which discovered the New World.

In 1480 Ferdinand and Isabella established the Office of the Spanish Inquisition
which lasted until 1834.

In 1492 all Jews and were ordered to convert or leave Spain.

During the 16th Century, thousands of suspected heretics were tortured or killed.
Hundreds of thousands of Jews, Muslims and Protestants were forced to convert or flee.

This weapon of repression was used throughout the Americas against
the indigenous population

Spain was Europe's leading power from the 16th century to early 17th century.

At its height, Spain controlled parts of the Americas and several islands
in the Asia-Pacific.
Spain also controlled parts of Italy, Northern Africa,  France, Germany,
Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

In the latter half of the 17th century, Spain went into a gradual decline.

The 19th century saw power struggles and invasions from France.
The French invasions devastated the economy, and left Spain deeply divided

From 1936-1939 Spain went through a devastating Civil War.
The Civil War claimed the lives of over 500,000 people
Up to half of the population fled to Latin America

In 1942 General Franco gained control of Spain with the support of Germany and Italy.

Spain was ruled by General Franco from 1942-1975.
During this time Catholicism was the only religion that had legal status.
Evangelical Christians were persecuted and marginalized.

During Franco's regime (1939-1975), 100,000 Basques were imprisoned
and 200,000 went into exile.

After the death of Franco in 1975, a more democratic government emerged.

CONDITIONS
There have been a flood of immigrants from Latin America,Romania and Africa.

After Franco's death, the Basque regions were given considerable autonomy.

Spain has suffered from occasional acts of terrorism from ETA, a militant group
who wants the Basque region to become independent.
Hundreds of people have been killed by the ETA.

Spain has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world.

There are problems with unemployment.
20% of the population is unemployed

Originaly Spain was highly agricultural.
Since joining the European Union tourism has become a main source of income.
This switch has the potential to cause future issues.

There is increasing secularism and materialism.

Decadent behaviors and hedonistic lifestyles are very common.
An "anything goes" mentality especially characterizes young people.
People are becoming sexually active at ever younger ages.

The island of Ibiza is often called the party capital of the world.

The town of San Antonio has more bars and pubs per square mile than anywhere
else in Europe.

Prostitution and abortion are common.

There are more AIDS victims in Spain than anywhere else in Europe.

Spain is one of the world's heaviest users of cocaine, heroin and marijuana.
Around two million take drugs, most of them young people.
300,000 people are addicted to heroin and cocaine.

Gambling addiction remains a problem for the nation as well.
It is estimated that 15% of net household income is spent on betting.

There are over 1 million students in Spain.
Most of these students have never really heard the gospel.

There are many university towns with no outreach to the young people living there.

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS
Catholicism is deep rooted in Spanish culture, but most people don't have
a personal relationship with God.

20% of the population don't believe in God.

Among the Basques only 50% profess a belief in God.
The rest are either agnostic or atheist.

Most of the population,especially the younger generations; don't attend
church regularly.
Many of the younger generation rejects the idea of absolute truth.

There is a huge spiritual vacuum and a great deal of spiritual confusion.
False beliefs are multiplying.
Cults have a large presence.
Flirting with occult practices is common.

Most evangelicals in Spain are immigrants.
There are currently about 3,000 evangelical churches

PRAYER NEEDS
Pray for the political leaders of Spain.

Pray that the dispute between Spain and the Basques be settled peacefully.

Pray that the truth of the gospel will reach every inhabitant.

Pray that the Gospel spreads among the Basques and Romani.

The Church was tainted by the Inquisition and association with the Franco dictatorship.
Pray that this stain be fully repented of and renounced.

Pray for spiritual power, love and wisdom for all seeking to minister.

Pray about the insecurity and lack of values.

Pray that Christianity might still be able to provide a moral compass
and demonstrate moral authority

Pray that prostitution and drug trafficking stop.

Pray for the different organizations and Christian ministries that care
for drug addicts.