An Interview with José Luis and Marcela.
José and Marcela are a pastors couple that this year have travelled from Spain to attend Word of Life Bible Center. They carry a story that spans nations and testifies about the faithfulness of God. What began in a home group meeting has grown into a journey marked by church leadership, discipleship, and a deep longing to see revival in Europe.
A Calling That Took Shape
José is from Spain, and Marcela from Argentina. Their paths crossed when Marcela traveled to Spain as a young missionary. There she encountered a faith that was more alive and hungry than she had expected. This led her to stay. Living in Elche, outside Alicante, she devoted herself to evangelism. Through her testimony, José came to faith as a young man.
At that time, José describes himself as shy and full of fear. Yet after a home group meeting, Marcela prophesied over his life, saying he would become a leader like King David and a father to many spiritual children like Abraham. The words felt impossible and did not align with José’s self-image.
Still, something began to stir in his heart. Between doubt and faith, he made a defining decision: to accept the calling God had placed on his life, even without knowing how it would unfold. “I began to work on myself, study theology, learn how to speak, and above all grow in my faith,” José shares.
What started with two people grew slowly. Their church was small, but God proved faithful. José became a youth leader and later a youth pastor. In 2011, José and Marcela were married, and soon after stepped together into the role of pastors in their home church. Over the years, they saw the church grow, especially among young people who came to faith and matured in Christ. They also witnessed God’s power through healings, financial breakthroughs, and transformed lives.
A Journey Northward
Alongside growth came trials. They were told they would not be able to have children—a message filled with sorrow and unanswered questions. But God spoke through a dream given to Marcela, where she saw José holding a child and then a map of Europe with a clear direction to travel north.
Years later, against all odds, Marcela became pregnant. Their daughter Alma was born—a miracle and a fulfilled promise. Soon after, Marcela had another dream in which she saw men praying for Europe and heard that José would be part of this alliance. The very next day, she recognized a preacher her husband was listening to online as one of the men from the dream. This led them to Word of Life in Uppsala.
When they arrived, they discovered that the pastor they had seen, who was normally not present, was there that very weekend. For them, it was another confirmation that God was leading them.
Their experience of Sweden has been both beautiful and challenging. They have met warm and kind people, but also sensed a spiritual closedness. Their conviction is clear: “Revival is coming, but the question is whether the churches are ready.”
Looking Ahead
Today, they don’t know exactly what the next step after Bible school will be. Whether their future lies in Spain or Sweden, their vision remains the same: to see revival, healing, and the love of Jesus reach people. They pray daily for Sweden, for Uppsala, and for the gospel to take root even where the ground feels hard.
Their story is a testimony that God forms leaders over time, that calling is often born in the small and hidden places, and that obedience always bears fruit, even when the way forward is unclear.
Sebastian Hedlund Petersson
Intern
Missions Report
