Neil & Jenny Stewart

Neil and Jenny's mission work

Having arrived in Bilbao in April 2025, they are currently focusing upon language learning, cultural adaptation and team building, as well as helping their children settle in to their new life. In the short term, they will assist Bilbao International church. Neil is currently involved in preaching and discipleship, whilst Jenny is assisting the women’s ministry. At the same time, they are seeking to form relationships within the community in the hope of seeing their neighbours come to faith. Neil and Jenny hope to be able to start a Bible study in this area and pray that it would grow into a church.

John Piper said that "mission exists because worship doesn’t." The church is sent into the world to bring the good news and gather God’s people to worship him. We are passionate about seeing healthy churches planted in places where ‘there are sheep not of this fold’ (John 10:16) so that God’s glory would extend to the nations. The church is the institution that God has given us to do just that, so we are excited to see what he does in the Basque Country.

Previously, Neil and Jenny served with Latin Link in Chile before coming back to Northern Ireland so that Neil could train for the ministry. During this process they had three children, Grace, Jonah and Zachariah. 

Latest report July/August 2026

Like many places, summer in the Basque Country has a different feel to it; things slow down, people take holiday, shops close and we prepare for the year to come. This means that, in BIC, Neil has been working on the family devotions for the year that go alongside the sermon series, visiting other churches and meeting with ministry partners. One of these churches, in Almuñécar, is led by Manuel Lopez, who recently spoke at PCI’s General Assembly. Neil will be preaching (in Spanish) and seeing how the Reformed church here ministers in a post-Catholic culture. There is also more opportunity to work in Sarriko (the Spanish church we worship at located in a different part of the city) in preaching and teaching, as well as in-roads with the university. Making these connections has given us a better grasp of how we might be able to strengthen what is already going on here and provide support to the wider church.

Summer also brings the end of lots of ministries. Jenny has had a very encouraging year leading the BIC women’s Bible study and has formed some great relationships through that. It was encouraging to see what it had meant to some of the ladies at their last gathering and we hope that the fellowship can continue over the summer months.

In the last bulletin we mentioned that Neil was waiting for results from his language exam. He was delighted to hear that he passed and is able to move on to the next level, C1, which is described as being ‘advanced.’ Learning the language is so crucial for the work here so it’s very encouraging to see progress being made. The kids also got their certificates for finishing the school year and we are currently trying to organise lots of play-dates with their friends so they keep those relationships and feel comfortable starting again in September.

We are always so grateful for your prayers and support. Especially in these crucial times of starting we know that ‘unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain’ (Psalm 127). So please continue to pray that God leads us in his work. 

Prayer Points:

• For continued progress in language.
• For the church visits and deeper connections with ministry partners.
• For wise preparations for the year to come.
• For deeper relationships and friendships for all the family.