Engaging Hopes and Dreams Around the Table

Matt, ’97, and Michelle, ’96, Norman Building Community Relationships

By Marv Knox

A 2017 meeting in a Spanish city hall typifies Michelle and Matt Norman’s ministry in northeastern Spain. By that time, they had been Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) field personnel in the semi-autonomous region of Catalonia about four years. Their progressing proficiency in both the Catalan and Spanish languages had enabled them to develop deepening relationships, especially with local churches and surrounding communities.

While visiting with Pastor Nelson Araujo and his congregation in Vilanova, just down the Mediterranean coast from their home in Barcelona, they brainstormed “a bunch of ideas” for meeting needs of at-risk and underserved people. “We said: ‘We think these are good ideas, but we’re not experts,’” Matt recalled. They knew this was something bigger than themselves, and that coordinating with the community leaders was essential for success.

City officials and Christian ministers together sketched out a hunger-relief program—the city would pay for the food and provide the space, and the church would provide the volunteers.

Out of that collaboration, Espai Sopem—Catalan for “dinner space,” or “the place where we eat”—was born.

“They developed a system that provides really nutritious meals from the local schools,” Michelle reported. “We trained volunteers on food safety and nutrition, as well as social services in the town. And then people would come, and volunteers would sit down and eat with them. Espai Sopem helps people avoid homelessness and also find social services. They often don’t trust the government, but they trust relationships.”

The ministry thrived, and along the way, it has become a part of the culture of the community, with hope for the future.

“When city people realized this was being offered by a church, they were surprised that a church was actually living its faith,” Matt said. “But they wanted to help, and now more volunteers come from the city than from the church. But that supports relationship-building, and the ministry runs on two tracks—to volunteers and to recipients.”

The seeds of a thriving ministry took root because the Normans chose to be active and engaged in listening to community needs. They developed rich relationships beyond the walls and borders of the church. They put their energies into making others’ dreams come true. They expressed compassion. And they persisted. Now, hungry people are fed. Hurting people receive aid, and people see Jesus in a brighter light.

Despite what outsiders might expect from following the news, the Catalonian mindset does not translate into isolation or indifference to others.

“It’s a very city-based society,” Michelle said. “People are very concentrated, and they move on public transit. And they walk through the city—to the grocery store, to the doctor’s office, to their kids’ school. So, they interact with people a lot.”

“They know their neighbors, and there’s a very strong sense of community among the people of Catalonia,” she continued. “And with that comes a strong sense of solidarity. People connect and feel a sense of fighting for one another, joining one another in their struggles.”

In that context, “the most important work we’re doing here is bearing witness to Jesus Christ,” Matt said.

Sometimes, that means talking to Catalonians about their perception of God and Christianity. Other times, bearing witness means helping people “see glimpses of the Spirit of Christ in the community,” he added. “We see people who are not religious engage with refugees and open their homes, (and) they’re not doing it because of any faith, but just because they see people
as humans.”

The Normans are involved in numerous other community ministries including:

• Mamáventura: A ministry for immigrant women and their children. This ministry serves many women who are victims of spousal abuse.
• Mosaic: A weekly worship/outreach ministry of First Baptist Church in Sabadell.
• Cerdanyola Food Bank: Located on the northern edge of Barcelona, it helps to ensure immigrants and Spanish people on the edge of survival have enough to eat.
• PapaAdventura: A parenting support ministry for single fathers and fathers from vulnerable families.

“We tell them: ‘You know, that’s the way Jesus actually teaches us to act,’” Matt continued. “‘That’s what Jesus would do.’ And they look at us and ask, ‘How come no one’s ever told us that?’ We tell them: ‘I don’t know, but that’s Jesus calling you to do that. You’re doing the work of Jesus when you do that.’”

“It’s such a beautiful culture,” Michelle said. “I see solidarity and caring for one’s neighbor. I see God already at work in the world.” “We try not to do anything that’s not locally initiated,” Matt said. “So that means we are always listening, asking questions and coming alongside and making sure that people who grew up here, who know the culture, who speak both languages, are the ones who are initiating the ministries and think the ministry we’re doing is a good idea.”

Partnerships and relationships that grow out of long conversations with pastors and community leaders, as well as meetings with lay leaders are what the Normans feel is vital to their work.

“We’re not working with a perspective of coming in with ideas and saying what we’re going to do,” Matt explained. “We came here to learn the culture and to build relationships.”

The Normans aspiration is to support the community and help them identify and achieve their goals, but they can’t do it alone. “This is our work and our calling, but we’re not complete experts,” Michelle added. “We are encouragers and helpers. We want to help people here realize their dreams and hopes for the church. They have plenty to give.”

After a decade of serving this region, the Normans feel more can be done. Long-term commitment and long-term relationships are important to continue to build trust and understand the needs and viewpoints of the people in the community.

“Long-term presence allows your ministry to be more effective and actually start to bear fruit in ways you never could have imagined and take turns in ways you never could have expected,” Matt said.

“My hope for the future here is that we encounter even more people who are wanting to engage this community, and we’re able to encourage them to do so,” Michelle said. “My hope is that whatever is built and done here engages the hopes and dreams of our friends here. That they can express the fullness of the gospel message in a way that walks alongside the vulnerable, that breaks down the barriers the church naturally puts up between it and the community.”

Matt graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 1997 with a degree in communication studies and a minor in English. Michelle earned her degree in 1996 in social sciences with a religious studies minor. Matt also has a MA in Global Leadership (Fuller Theological Seminary), a Master Certificate from Manchester University in Baptistic Histories and Theologies, and will defend his PhD in Theology dissertation in the fall with the International Baptist Theological Study Centre and Vrije University in Amsterdam.

*This story has been edited for space and format; the full article was featured in the Fall 2023 Edition of fellowship! magazine. Read online at https://cbf.net/fellowship-magazine