Lisbon, capital of Portugal is a city of 3 million people. It is a centre for financial services, commerce, media and education and its people are for the most part friendly and easy-going.

Lisbon is also home to a number of very good churches. One of the fastest-growing is CCC (Christian City Centre), led by Pastor Mario Rui Boto and his wife Amelia.

The church was founded under this name in 2002, but existed from 1995 under the name Abundant Life Christian Centre, Loures. The church now has two thriving campuses, in Lisbon and Porto, which is the nation’s second city.

Mal Fletcher made a return visit to the church recently to speak to its core leaders and the Sunday services in Lisbon. He reported seeing visible signs of growth since his last visit, particularly in terms of the leadership team and, as always, people responded enthusiastically to his teaching.

‘I suppose this has been my tenth or eleventh visit to Portugal overall,’ Mal said. ‘It’s a country that’s become quite special for me. I’ve developed some very warm friendships, both inside and outside the major churches.’

‘I’ve always appreciated and respected Mario and his style of leadership, which is something quite new for Portuguese churches and is now bearing great fruit.’

‘At the recent CCC anniversary celebrations, which were held in one of the city’s leading cultural venues, the lines for entry went around the block and people came from across the nation!’

‘The celebrations were not concerts or special programmes, but regular church services. Some people couldn’t get in, despite the number of services spread over the day.’

‘This result astounded and inspired thousands of Christian across the nation – and proved what the local church can do!’

Mal sees churches like CCC as prime examples of what is doable in European centres once thought to be ‘too hard’ for the Christian message.

‘Over the years, friends like Pastor Joao Cardusso have broken ground as pioneers in Portugal and the nation owes them so much,’ adds Mal. ‘Pastor Mario is now taking that pioneer spirit to a whole new level and I’m pleased that he’s become my friend.’

In 2012, Mal received a rare invitation to speak at the famous Lisbon Catholic University. The session was attended by key leaders from business and civic circles and included the Prime Minister’s Head of Staff.

In 2013, Mal was interviewed by three national newspapers in Portugal, in his role as a social futurist. You can read the English translations of these pieces by clicking here.