Portugal, Our Mission Field
Tuesday 10 December 2024 12:36 When we were first investigating the possibility of long-term mission for our lives, we began by speaking to organisations that worked in Latin America. But as we properly got to learn about the current state of the church here in mainland Europe, in particular Portugal, God started to move our perspective.
At first, we only considered Europe as a sort of due-diligence — to make sure we were being thorough in our planning to ultimately go to Latin America. But God opened our eyes to the need in Portugal.
The evangelical church here is tiny and under-resourced (financially and also in terms of training, support, etc). One of the unique challenges the church in Portugal faces is a quickly rising average age of church leaders. We work in a local church, and we have the amazing privilege and opportunity to invest deeply in the young people. We get to see them grow and mature, particularly in their faith. We’ve introduced a one-to-one discipleship programme, something very common in our contexts in the UK but not as much here. We’ve been training and enabling other people to do this as well.
We believe that both the church in Portugal and Portugal as a nation need more of this, intentional Jesus-focused discipleship. Young adults with a mature faith, an understanding of how to discern the Holy Spirit’s prompting and with a vision to see revival come to Portugal.
- Steve and Lydia Cockram, ECMers serving in Portugal
Did You Know? Only 3% of people in Portugal are evangelical Christians.
Archive > 2024
December
- 12/10/2024 12/10/24, 12:36 PM - Portugal, Our Mission Field
- 12/3/2024 12/3/24, 11:51 AM - Disability Ministries Network
November
- 11/27/2024 11/27/24, 11:00 AM - "Small Towns Like These"
- 11/20/2024 11/20/24, 11:48 AM - Why Send to Europe?
- 11/13/2024 11/13/24, 12:57 PM - Messengers of Reconciliation in the Balkans
- 11/6/2024 11/6/24, 1:27 PM - "My Call to Europe"
October
- 10/30/2024 10/30/24, 1:07 PM - Why I Pray for Europe
- 10/23/2024 10/23/24, 12:59 PM - Slovenia, 0,1% of Evangelicals
- 10/16/2024 10/16/24, 12:14 PM - Why is Europe Important?
- 10/9/2024 10/9/24, 11:53 AM - More than Brick and Mortar
- 10/1/2024 10/1/24, 12:29 PM - 'In Europe everything will be fine'
September
August
July
- 7/23/2024 7/23/24, 10:17 AM - Romanian ECMers make the New Testament accessible in their own native language
- 7/17/2024 7/17/24, 12:42 PM - Planting Refuge and Hope
- 7/5/2024 7/5/24, 12:34 PM - The Blessings of Summer Camp
June
OUR IMPACT IN UKRAINE
Discover our impact in the Ukraine crisis and how you can be part of it.
USA MISSIONARIES: DOING OUR PART
BE PART OF GOD'S MISSION IN EUROPE
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Focus on the Baltics
September - 02 - 2026 14:56 The Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia have a combined average 4.3% evangelical population, which is above Europe’s average. Even so, the need is acute, so our desire is to serve this region where we currently have no ministry presence. full storyFive Weeks... Lasting Impact
August - 26 - 2026 14:56 A five-week sabbatical became an opportunity to strengthen churches, encourage believers, and serve alongside ECMI worker Eberson in Portugal. It is a reminder that even a short-term mission trip can leave a lasting impact. full storyFrom Relief Centre to Church
August - 19 - 2026 13:59 When war in Ukraine devastated the communities around Irpin, relief centres became places of refuge for those in need. But something even greater happened. As people encountered the love of Christ through practical care, new communities of faith began to grow. Today, Illia and Iryna lead one of those church plants. full story 
