Basque Resonance Trip Q&As

The team will first receive two weeks of ethnomusicology training at the WEC UK headquarters near London. From there it will travel to San Sebastian, Spain to work with Basque Christians in the development of indigenous worship music. Ministry locations include Azpeita, San Sebastian (and region), Bergara and Irun.

• Singers and instrumentalists who love missions, worship and exploring different types of music
• Preferably people with formal training, but those with good musical literacy and competency can apply, too
• We expect all team members to have a reasonable level of musical competency.
• We seek people with (figuratively speaking) big ears, big eyes and small mouths who are eager to respectfully learn about the Basque culture
• Knowing Spanish is a plus, but not required

• Empower Basque Christians to worship the true God through Jesus Christ by helping them develop their own heart music
• Build up God’s church among Basque believers through prayer and service
• Learn Basque indigenous musical styles, songs, dances and instruments
• Hold Bersolaris workshops (improvised poetry)
• Share in worship and music events with local believers
• Facilitate the composition and recording of new songs in Basque musical styles and in Euskara (the Basque language).
• Encourage local believers in emerging churches through visits
• Use performing arts to share the gospel in suitable ways
• Facilitate recording and dissemination of the new music
• Encourage use of the new music in worship and other venues
• Experience the dynamic multicultural ministry environment in Spain and England.

• What it’s like to be immersed in Basque culture, both in urban and rural settings: includes music, culture, poetry (including Bersolaris) and dance
• Participate in local cultural festivals
• What it’s like to perform in a ministry team from diverse backgrounds
• How to serve with a very international missions team
• How to study and perform musical styles from various cultures and languages
• How to organize and hold Scripture song writing workshops
• The joys and frustrations of cross-cultural relationships
• How you respond to it all, a long way from home and well out of your comfort zone
• Serving with a team from highly diverse cultural backgrounds

The Basques are an ancient and proud people without a single Euskara-speaking Protestant church.Fewer than 100 evangelical churches exist in the four provinces where Basques live (Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya, Alava and Navarra) and all of these are Spanish-speaking. Evangelical churches have no appeal to the Basques and they are looked on as a cult. The form of Catholicism practiced by the Basques is a mix of pagan rituals and idol worship. Witchcraft and nature worship are very common and deeply rooted. Before they were forced to convert to Catholicism, Basques worshiped their ancient goddess, Mari, and a lot of that devotion is still present in the culture.

Only 0.01% of the Basques are born-again Christians. The few Basque-speaking evangelicals there find it difficult to worship or witness in their own language. Only now are Christian resources in Euskera appearing.

The team will work with the residential missionary team that is focusing on reaching the Basques. The team has hope that this trip can be part of a breakthrough for this resistant people group.

An experienced, qualified WEC missionary who is trained in ethnodoxology will lead the team during the entire duration of the trip.

You will be coached through a comprehensive pre-trip preparation. An extensive 15-day orientation and training will be held at WEC UK's headquarters, Bulstrode, near London, England. There you will be joined by a Resonance team headed for Cambodia. Resonance teams are recruited from England and Europe as well as from the USA. Your debrief will also be held at Bulstrode.