A Place to Belong

THE CALL: 2026–2027    |    5 MINUTE READ
NAOMI YODER, CONTENT MANAGER

The coffee shop was bustling with activity. The loud hum of conversation flowed over the full, empty, and half-finished cups of coffee. Two people sitting together were particularly deep in conversation, and although they looked no different from anyone else in the café, their quiet conversation was really a prayer. They prayed with their eyes open, gesturing as if talking normally since sharing the Gospel or converting to Christianity could bring serious consequences.

What happens when you combine a skill for art, a passion for discipleship, and coffee? This isn’t the setup for a great joke. It’s the story of Zander and Nora Kappo,* who for many years ran an art gallery while meeting with locals in places like coffee shops to minister and share the Gospel in a country where there was little to no religious freedom. After six years of living and working there, the day came when they were forced to leave the country. Devastated but trusting in the Lord, they asked Him, “God, use us in whatever way brings the greatest impact for your kingdom.”

God, ever faithful, had already prepared the ground for their next steps. He brought them to the southern region of Spain, home to one of the highest concentrations of Muslim immigrants in the country, creating a unique opportunity to continue reaching the same people group they served previously.

Since arriving in Spain, Zander and Nora have seen an opportunity for a physical space to have relationship-centered ministry through art and language education. It would open the doors to Gospel conversations. “The people who would come in here are the individuals who may never enter a church,” they said. “We are excited to once again use art to establish meaningful relationships with the Muslim community.”

In the grassy greens of a park in the city, Zander and Nora held an art presentation to gain interest and meet new people. A woman there heard the Kappos speaking Arabic as well as Spanish and told them of her interest in learning Spanish. Eager at the prospect, they told her of their plans to create a cultural center and establish classes for not just art but also Spanish. She left them with her contact information, enthusiastic about the possibility of studying at the cultural center in the future.

Encounters like this continue to reinforce the need the Kappos see around them. The challenge is finding a place where those relationships can grow. Because of a housing crisis in their city, both renting and purchasing a building have proven difficult. And that’s part of the reason that, for years, Zander and Nora have met people in coffee shops, parks, and other public places.

The cultural center would give them a place to continue those conversations and build deeper relationships. It would also offer more privacy for those who face pressure from their families for showing an interest in Christianity. Instead of praying with their eyes open in a crowded coffee shop, they could meet in a place where they have more freedom to ask questions, study Scripture, and learn who Jesus is.

*Names changed for security

Recently, Zander painted a collection of portraits using coffee as the paint. The use of coffee as a medium isn't simply an artistic choice; these portraits represent some of the people they've met over the years in coffee shops, and the portraits display the importance of those relationships.

ACTION STEPS

PRAY: Pray that God will continue to work through Nora’s and Zander’s conversations with unbelievers and new believers alike, giving them wisdom and grace in their current relationships and opportunities for new relationships. Pray that those in their city who are seeking Jesus would come to know Him and find a place to belong among other believers.

GIVE: Your gift can help make the cultural center a reality, creating a place where people in southern Spain can learn about Jesus and continue growing in their relationship with Him. Visit the Spain Cultural Center Project page to learn more.

Meet WGM's Missionaries in Spain

Zander and Nora Kappo

Zander and Nora are originally from Argentina, where they served as pastors and mobilizers. They are both architects and artists, and spent six years in North Africa, using art to build friendships with Muslims. Today they live in Spain, where art remains their way of sharing God's love with Muslim immigrants.