Why Italy? || informational post
Europe is the darkest continent on the planet, spiritually speaking.
The church – both Catholic and protestant – is in rapid decline. Mysticism, witchcraft and the occult are not only rising but culturally popular. Post-Christian Europeans have more faith today in the State than in Christ, His church or the Gospel. But for all the woes, it’s not a lack of spirituality at the root, but authentic, demonstrable Christian faith. The institutional church is systemically unhealthy and discredited; skepticism is rampant. Simply put, there are too few vibrant churches pointing to Christ, demonstrating the gospel.
In Italy alone Catholic priests are outnumbered by fortunetellers and magicians by 3:1.
Islam is the fastest growing religion, and less than 1% of Italians have actually responded to the gospel. To say that the church in Italy is in crisis would be an understatement, the condition is epidemic. Leaders in the Italian evangelical church say what is needed most is immediate theological, pastoral and leadership training in order for the next generation of churches to survive. Everywhere we turn, we hear Italians praying for people to be sent to help the church in Italy.
We believe the church will not only survive but thrive.
Italy is ripe for church planting by Italian nationals who love their cities and their people. We believe we can help to turn the tide of disbelief and skepticism by helping Italians plant healthy communities of faith, centered on the gospel and focused on Christ. We believe every Italian needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, unfiltered by religious traditions, and lived out in the context of community. We believe the church can be restored to such an integral place in the culture that were it absent society would lament.
Help send us to Italy – the soil is ripe for panting, the laborers few, Italy is waiting.
We need faithful prayers and monthly financial support by people who desire as we do to see the gospel preached and the kingdom advanced in Western Europe. Partner with us today through our mission agency, United World Mission. Your tax-deductible donations are helping us take the gospel to Italy:
1) Click the link to navigate to our mission agency.
2) Designate to Alex #31403 under “Missionaries”.
3) Determine amount & the frequency of donation.
4) Or, prefer to write a check? You can snail-mail:
United World Mission, PO Box 602002 Charlotte,
NC 28260-2002. All checks payable to “U.W.M.”
and write in memo “Brian & Renee Alex #31403”.
Thank you for participating in spreading the gospel through Italy, Sicily and Western Europe.
Your prayers are vital to the ongoing work there; contact us today for a free prayer card – please include name, address and whether you’d like to receive for our e-newsletter. Email us at mescea[at]msn[dot]com. God bless you for your generous response to Italy’s desperate need.
That Christ Would Breathe Within Them
[While at the Vatican, the cardinal shows don Michael Corleone a stone lying in a water fountain.]
“Look at this stone,” says the cardinal, holding it. “It has been lying in the water for a very long time, but the water has not penetrated it.” He breaks the stone to reveal its interior. “Perfectly dry,” he says. “The same thing has happened to men in Europe. For centuries they have been surrounded by Christianity, but Christ has not penetrated. Christ doesn’t breathe within them.”
(A scene from Godfather III)
What a poignant and insightful look into the European mindset. So, this is the work ahead of us. I leave in a few days on a four-city, discovery tour in Italy, visiting Rome, Salerno, Bologna, and Ferrara. I will be meeting with national Italian pastors and foreign missionaries alike, in an effort to understand the current state of the evangelical church and in hopes of finding our first port of entry.
Laboring among our brothers and sisters in Christ for the sake of the gospel in Italy will require your partnership, support, and prayers. Please pray that God would help us to find the right partners to connect with throughout Italy, and to determine the right place for what will be our first step into a long sojourn among people we feel called to spend the rest of our our lives faithfully serving.
With sincere gratitude,
Brian & Renee
Fifteen years, one-thousand steps
Fifteen years in the making,
our thousand-stepped journey
takes a nice, sharp right turn,
just six months from now…
Walking it out:
The earliest patriarch of our faith, Abraham, points us to the plight of all humanity – we are on pilgrimage because this world is not our home. Furthermore, as Christ-followers, we are all journeying (“on mission”) with the Master; travelling our own road to Emmaus, thus leading us into deeper, richer, truer fellowship with Jesus of Nazareth.
That said, we can all identify with the ideas of pilgrimage, journey, and destiny. You also know the power of a cross-road, a defining demarcation demanding decision. That marker for us is at hand as we prepare to transition our family from the relative safety and security of suburbia to the rigors and risks of post-Christian Western Europe.
Every partner who lends their strength to this mission, encourages and ensures its success and longevity. Thank you, dear friend, for playing your part and helping to send us to Italy for Christ. Your 1) weekly prayers and your 2) monthly support sustain and empower this mission. Thank you for joining us on pilgrimage, together in Christ.
Brian & Renee
