On Monday, October 31, the Protestant Counsel of the Valencian Community (CECVA), celebrated the Day of the Protestant Reformation at the Evangelical Baptist Church "La Trinitat" in Denia, which was attended by some 150 people.

After a welcome to the attendees by the President of the Council, Javier Piquer, an opening prayer and praise, the pastor and lecturer Pau Grau i Ballester painted a historical portrait of the leader of the Pedralba group and Valencian Protestant martyr, Gaspar de Centelles i Fabra , who was martyred in Valencia on September 17, 1564 in a public bonfire, simply for defending and not renouncing his Lutheran faith.

"Let's remember and not forget the long and fruitful fight for religious freedom for more than 450 years in the lands of the Valencian Community," said Grau.

Gaspar de Centelles Awards

Subsequently, the first edition of the "Gaspar de Centelles" awards for the defense of religious freedom was awarded to Pastor Jorge Pastor and two other pastors for their personal merits and ministerial career.

Jorge gave a few words of gratitude, recalling stages of his life in which he had to suffer the lack of basic liberties such as religious freedom and he then dedicated his award to men and women who fought and continue to do so for this basic human right.

After reading scripture from the Bible, the group sang an adaptation of the classic hymn “Strong Castle”, composed by the German reformer, Martin Luther.

Elias Nofuentes, the current pastor of the church in Dénia, closed the proceedings by delivering a message in which he invited those present to rethink, communicate and persevere in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the current popular culture.