IC Barcelona: A Beacon of Hope in the Heart of the City
‘Follow the Adventures’ is an ongoing series of the Global International Church website (https://globalicn.com/), featuring member churches from the network’s six regions. John and Brandi Carrano and IC Barcelona were recently featured, representing GICN’s Europe region.
At just 13, Ian lost both of his parents. Rather than enter a government-sponsored foster home, he disappeared into the streets of London.
After a few years on the streets, he turned to the only “family” he knew—his father’s motorcycle club. Embracing a life of violent crime, Ian spent eight years in prison. Upon release, he knew he didn’t want to go back to that life.
Marriage and fatherhood brought Ian a renewed sense of hope. But when that marriage ended in divorce, that hope slipped away again.
It wasn’t until years later, after remarrying and moving to Spain, that Ian truly began to feel hope again. He and his wife started attending ICB (International Church Barcelona), where they met pastors and Assemblies of God World missionaries John and Brandi Carrano—who gently encouraged Ian as he began exploring his faith.
Ian’s journey was far from over—but he wasn’t walking it alone. And at ICB, he was just one among many discovering what a transformed life could look like.
That kind of impact doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the fruit of leaders like the Carranos who’ve been shaped by their own unique journeys.
A Global Upbringing, A Shared Calling
In many ways, God uniquely prepared the Carranos for life in Spain.
John, a military “brat,” spent his childhood in Germany, Italy, and the U.S. Brandi, the daughter of missionaries, grew up in Uruguay. The two met at Southeastern University, where John earned a degree in Biblical Studies and Missions and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership. Brandi earned her Bachelor’s in Education.
Though John had once dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot, he committed his life to ministry after a life-changing dream at age 17. Brandi, meanwhile, had sensed a call to ministry from childhood—she never wanted to do anything else.
That shared calling not only brought them together as a couple but also launched them into full-time ministry.
A Move to Spain
After six years on staff at a church in Florida, John and Brandi answered the call to Spain through Assemblies of God World Missions. Their first three years were focused on language studies and launching ‘Awaken,’ a young adult ministry rooted in discipleship and outreach.
“While planting and developing Awaken, we attended ICB most Sundays,” said John. “We wanted to support our colleagues, Dan and Kathy Stump, who were leading ICB at the time.”
When the Stumps transitioned to a new ministry assignment, John and Brandi stepped into the role of ICB pastors.
“ICB was founded in 1992 during the Barcelona Olympics,” said Brandi. “We were hesitant to lead the church, but we sensed the Lord graciously instruct us: ‘I build my church. You love people and do what you’re told.’ That’s been our goal these past 11 years.”
In the City, For the City
John and Brandi’s heart has always been for ICB to be a home not only for expats, but also for Spaniards and Catalans.
“We want to be ‘in our city, for our city’ and see lives transformed by the love of Christ,” said John.
To live that out, the Carranos moved next door to the church and began building relationships with neighbors and local business owners. They emphasized Spanish and Catalan in worship, translation, social media, and more. Community groups were grown to celebrate diversity, and ministry efforts focused inward to strengthen worship, children’s ministry, and discipleship.
But the journey wasn’t without its challenges.
A City of Beauty and Complexity
“Barcelona is stunning,” says John. “Nestled between the sea and the mountains of southeastern Spain, it’s a global hub for art, fashion, and business.”
But with its beauty comes complexity. The Catalan people are deeply proud of their unique culture and language, but years of discrimination—especially under Franco’s dictatorship—left lasting wounds.
“The Catholic church became synonymous with power, control, and manipulation during that era,” said John. “So today, ‘church’ often carries a negative connotation.”
Brandi adds, “The spiritual needs in Barcelona mirror much of Europe—hope, joy, and light. Secularism and agnosticism cast a shadow of hopelessness here. There’s also a strong sense of injustice, feeding an extreme independent spirit and self-sufficiency.”
Despite that, there’s a new openness to spirituality—especially among younger generations. ICB is meeting that hunger with new campuses, outreach initiatives like a community coffeeshop, and relational ministry.
A Church on Mission
“While there’s still much work to do and ongoing challenges, ICB is vibrant, diverse, multiplying, and engaging,” says John.
In just the past few years, ICB has expanded to include:
• 3 physical campuses offering 7 Sunday services and 2 online
• A full-service coffeeshop
• More than 60 mid-week small groups
• A Downtown Ministry Center for offices and weekly food distribution
• A School of Ministry to develop lay leaders and church planters
The latest project: transforming a downtown location that was formerly a printing press, into a new campus for Sunday gatherings and mid-week activities
This growth has been made possible by a passionate staff made up of multiple mission organizations and both full-time and bi-vocational leaders.
“Our staff, teams and volunteers are incredible,” says Brandi. “They serve with their whole hearts to see the Kingdom advance.”
A Place to Call Home
“Barcelona offers some unique advantages in reaching people for Christ,” say the Carranos:
• The city is a global magnet, drawing new people year-round.
• English proficiency is low compared to other European countries, making English-speaking gatherings a valuable resource.
• The international makeup brings together people from over 100 nations.
“We also strive to be the most welcoming place in town,” says Brandi. “People often say they feel loved and at home here. We’re also a very open-handed and welcoming church, and people respond to that care and freedom.”
Ian’s New Life
Ian is one of those people.
Today, Ian is a fully committed follower of Jesus, has been baptized, and serves every week as a volunteer with the Kids and Security teams! He is the first to shout amen and to share his faith openly in and out of the church.
“When we first started attending ICB, we immediately felt how welcoming and genuine everyone was,” he says. “I started to see that Christians could be real—people with love, hope, peace—and still have fun!”
Though Ian struggled at first with guilt and faith, he joined the ICB Foundations class to learn about God and Scripture. After two years of wrestling, he finally surrendered his life to Christ.
“When I let go, I felt His presence wrap me in His arms,” he says. “Now, I have purpose, drive, and peace. If a man like me can be saved, anyone can!”
To learn more about ICB, visit: https://icbspain.com
Facebook: facebook.com/icbspain
Instagram: @icb_spain
