The culture and society of Spain remains closely tied to the Catholic Church, which has influenced the country for centuries. For much of the twentieth century, Catholicism was the only officially sanctioned religion. Religious freedom was finally granted in 1992. But as that freedom opened the door for evangelism and church planting, it also lead to rapid secularization.

As a mission field . . .

Just as Liebenzell came into existence through evangelically-minded believers in Germany, it has been involved in many outreach ministries throughout the country over its history.

What began in the late 1960s as a struggle for Catholic civil rights in largely Protestant Northern Ireland lead to 30 years of hatred, violence and bloodshed. Although a peaceful accord was reached in 1998, the memories of the political and civil unrest haunt an entire generation.

Throughout the years, a number of Austrians attended the Bible Seminary at Bad Liebenzell and then went on to serve as missionaries overseas. In the mid 1980s, returning missionaries established Liebenzell Mission of Austria to recruit new workers and support the missions effort. Two couples engage in church pastoral ministry and evangelistic outreach in Austria, along with administration of missionary support and recruitment.

Hungarian believers have been a part of Liebenzell almost since its founding. Irene Kunst went to China with Liebenzell in 1904. Several others followed, including Mária Molnár, who went to Papua New Guinea in 1927. Along with five other missionaries, she was martyred in 1943.

At its spring meeting in June, 2007, the Management Commitee of Liebenzell Mission International voted to accept Liebenzell Mission Nederland as a full member of LMI.

The Liebenzell Mission in Switzerland was officially founded in 1935, although contacts and support for the mission work in Germany had existed since Liebenzell’s founding in 1899. Over the years a number of Swiss have studied at the Bible Seminary in Bad Liebenzell and served overseas.