Basque Country Prayer Points for August 2025

Sampie Brown on August 31, 2025

Prayer Points and verse:

Prayers points:

  • The public university system is unable to keep pace with the number of students who are registering to attend. This results in the students turning to the private university system, though some do not have the financial resources to attend. The public system had ~8700 open spots across different degree plans in 2025/26. Thus far they have received ~20600 pre-registrations. The number of open spots has remained consistent over the last 10 years, with pre-registrations increasing from ~16k to ~20.6k.
    • Pray as students and families work to determine next steps for college and the public university system as they try to best determine how to meet the increasing demand.
  • One of the political parties is attempting to introduce legislation that would look to expel about 8 million illegal immigrants. This is quite concerning to the Gipuzkoa region. They are seeing immigrant workers as a pillar of the economy. This group makes up more than 25% of the workers in the following sectors: Agriculture, workers in the home, restaurants and construction.
    • Pray for the immigrants, their families, employers and the political leaders as they explore options for immigrants living in Spain.
  • The Spanish Police Central Operative Unit has produced a report showing how some inside PSOE were potentially using their positions of authority to route public contracts in exchange for political loyalty or illegal payments. These allegations are adding additional pressure on Pedro Sánchez, who is the leader of the PSOE party, to resign though he remains committed to serve out his term through 2027.
    • Pray for those in the judicial system as they review the material, those who are involved, and the Spanish political system.
  • The Muslim population in Spain is starting to be considered persecuted by some. In Jumilla Spain, which is located in the south, it was recently communicated that Muslims would not be allowed to use public spaces for religious, cultural or social events. Other parts of Europe are also reporting an increase in discrimination for them. Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in Europe with the other increasing category being agnostic. Christianity is seeing quite the decline in Europe.
    • Pray for those attempting to protect the persecuted, those who are doing the persecution, the persecuted and leaders as they explore options and the deeper roots of these issues.
  • The week of August 11 saw quite a wave of heat come through Europe. In San Sebastian the temps were reported to be over 100F, which is challenging since most buildings do not have air conditioning. Thankfully it only lasted a couple of days. Other regions of Spain have not been so fortunate. They have seen fires break out and several hundred thousand hectares have burned. Some fire fighters from this area have traveled to provide assistance in fighting those fires.
    • Pray for those who have been impacted by the fires, those who are assisting and for the weather to remain cool the rest of the summer.

The verse for the month:

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

James 3:16

Basque Country Prayer Points for January 2025

Sampie Brown on January 31, 2025

Prayer Points and verse for the month:

Prayers points:

  • The religious diversity in Gipuzkoa has changed quite a bit over the last 10 years. The number of places for worship for the minority religions, those that are not catholic, increased 40% for a total of ~70 new places of worship being added. Gipuzkoa has ~200 catholic churches, 40 evangelical churches, 30 mosques, 12 Jehovah witness kingdom halls, 5 Budist temples and 5 orthodox churches. They stated that most of the growth in the minority religions is from foreigners. They broke down each region and it was interesting to see the size of the population that had no belief at all.
    • Pray for the spiritually lost and for those who are working in the region to reach them
  • In the year 2024 ~74% of a young person’s salary (18-34) was dedicated to paying for a place to live, which was a ~10% increase from 2023. The data is also showing that the situation is much worse for women as they are dedicating ~80% of their salary to rent.
    • Pray for the Basque Government, businesses, young people, and their families as they work on solutions to address the cost of housing.
  • It has been 20 years since the Gender Violence laws were put into place in Spain. During that time they have seen ~30% drop in such violence. Almost all of the political parties support this law being in effect. Conversations are now being had to determine what additions or updates should be made to ensure it continues to protect against new and other types of gender violence that is occurring or has occurred.
    • Pray for political leaders as the look to determine changes needed in the Gender Violence law, those affected by gender violence, the aggressors of such violence and the support system
  • The economy in the Gipuzkoa province of Basque Country saw a GDP increase in 2024 of 1.9%, while the projection for 2025 is 2.1%. Concerns exist with this forecast given that the reliance of exports in the Basque Country to France, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy who are facing a variety of difficulties. They are also concerned about exports to the United States as Trump takes office and are unsure of what changes will be implemented. Other areas of concern that may impact the GDP for 2025 are the price of electricity, gas, groceries and interest rates.
    • Pray for the Basque economy as it looks to continue to grow at a reasonable rate and political and business leaders as they look to ensure stable prices are maintained for the year ahead
  • Recently about 12,000 people gathered to voice a desire to release prisoners who are serving a sentence for their involvement with ETA. About 15 have completed more time than necessary given a law change. Another ~50 have completed enough time that they should be at a different level in the system, though they have moved to the next part of their sentence. Overall ~140 people who were involved with ETA and found guilty of a crime are still in jail.
    • Pray for the ETA prisoners who are still in jail, for the judicial system and the families that are impacted.

The verse for the month:

If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Mark 3:25 (NIV)