About Us

Who We Are

We are a Spirit filled, Christ centred, Bible based and Life giving Church in Barcelona, Spain.

Our name "121" has a double meaning. Firstly, our mission statement was inspired from Psalm 121 (see homepage). Secondly, in English, the term “1 2 1” means a close, personal conversation. It represents a Church community in a close, personal relationship with God and with each other.

We are a church for Locals and Internationals alike. At 121 Church our doors are wide open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of where they are at on their spiritual journey.

We consider ourselves a Non denominational Church.

We communicate primarily in English and translate into Spanish.

What We Believe

The Bible

The Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant.

II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26

The Trinity

There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal.

I John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; Hebrews 3:7-11; Isaiah 9:6

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind, and atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.

John 1:1, 14, 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6

Salvation

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts.

Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22

Repentance

Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:21, 3:19; I John 1:9

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth.

Joel 2:28- 29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4; 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible list of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.

Hebrews 2:4; Ephesians 4:16; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6-7; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40

The Church

The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:22; 2:19- 22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23

Baptism

Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48

The Lord’s Supper

A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.

Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Resurrection

Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. Both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; they that are saved to the resurrection of life, and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation.

Luke 24:16; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28; Acts 24:15; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21

The Second Coming

Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.

Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7

Marriage

Marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with His Bride – the Church. It is defined from the beginning of Scripture as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman.

Genesis 2:24; Matt 19:4-5

Our Values

1. Christ is the centre – Romans 11:36

2. People are our passion – John 3:16

3. We are Spirit Led and Word anchored – John 16:13, Ps 119:105

4. We are authentic – 1 Samuel 16:7, Ps 139:14

5. Everyone grows – Matthew 28:16-20

6. We are generous in spirit – Proverbs 11:24-25

7. Excellence is our aim – Luke 16:10

8. We celebrate God and Encourage one another – Philippians 4:4, 1 Thess 5:11

Meet Our Pastors

Ryan and Carmen Brown met in London, U.K. at their local Church. They have 3 beautiful children. They love and are sold out for Jesus, His church and the gospel message.

Ryan was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Whilst working and traveling in Australia he met Christ in a radical way and His life has never been the same since. He threw himself into church life and eventually went to Bible College at Hillsong College. Throughout his years there he worked on church staff and led multiple ministries from being a youth leader, to new people discipleship, to being a Young Adults Pastor. Ryan then moved to London, U.K. where he began working as a Pastor at Hillsong London. After a few years there, Ryan, alongside his wife Carmen, pioneered and launched Hillsong London’s Croydon Campus where he continued his tenure as a Campus Pastor. After pastoring the Campus through the pandemic, Ryan transitioned the Campus on and moved to Austin Texas to work as a Pastor for Celebration Church TX. After a great season Pastoring at Celebration Church TX, Ryan and his family have moved to Barcelona to pioneer and launch 121 Church.

Carmen was born and raised in the Elqui Valley, Chile. Carmen studied Engineering at University in Valparaiso Chile. It’s here, where she had her own revelation and encounter with Christ. After completing her degree, Carmen spent a season at YWAM Discipleship School in the South of Chile before moving to Milan to complete her MBA. Graduating at one of the top business schools in the world, Carmen moved to London to work for Microsoft. It’s here, her and Ryan met, got married and went on to launch a Campus for Hillsong London. After moving to Austin, Carmen had been working in a senior role for Microsoft, as well as supporting Ryan in Pastoring at Celebration Church. They have recently moved to Barcelona to pioneer and launch 121 Church.

Connect with the Pastors

Partnerships and Affiliations

Celebration Church TX

Celebration Church TX is our sending Church and Pastoral oversight. We look to Pastors Joe and Lori Champion as an example of leadership and call them our personal Pastors. We align with Celebration in Theology and church expression and will continually lean on their guidance and input whilst building church here in Barcelona.

Association of Related Churches

Our global church planting network and affiliation. ARC have planted over 1097 churches globally. We are following the ARC process for planting and building church here in Barcelona and we lean on ARC for guidance and relationship with different churches and pastors around the world. We align Theologically with their statement of beliefs and affiliate with them as a global church planting movement.

121 Church Descriptives