I just returned from a visit with the team in Italy that Ron and Amy will be working with. I was both encouraged and discouraged. How? The task of breaking through the culture of distrust by building relationships of trust in order to share the Gospel is daunting. When people hear our team talk about God, they immediately think we are a cult and not to be trusted. . . . UNLESS they trust our missionaries who have spent many hours building friendships and trust. I was rather exhausted by observing the schedule our missionaries keep, meeting with people, making friends, sitting down many evenings to eat at 9:00 pm for supper and returning home around midnight rather tired! Our team is creative. They are finding that young professionals are attracted to gatherings with our team and other Italians because they are hungry for meaningful relationships in safe environments. Teaching English is attractive for these young professionals who can use it in their jobs and because it is in vogue to speak English in the multicultural and international fashion capital of the world. The perseverance of our team was impressive. Few of us could stick at this ministry without seeing much fruit. I also had the privilege of observing some God-sightings. That is, our missionaries were encouraged by taking the risk of sharing the Gospel with their Italian friends, knowing that their friends could back off and sever the relationship. But God is moving in their midst. Some Italian friends began to respond and desire to hear more about Jesus and who he is. It may be a Catholic country with the Pope and Vatican, but frankly, our missionaries need to know how to relate to and answer atheists, agnostics, and materialists and secularists, not Roman Catholics.
The challenge is great; I would love to return to Milan to serve there if God would open the door. In the meantime, Ron and Amy are moving forward by faith, trusting God for their remaining financial and prayer support. They leave soon for special pre-field training in North Carolina, as an important next step to be equipped for serving the Lord in Italy. I encourage you to be prayerfully involved in their ministry, if you are not already. For those who are standing with them in finances and prayer, be encouraged. I think they will be a great addition to our Milan team and they will encourage this team as co laborers who seek to reach Italians with the Good News. Ron brings great pastoral experience and Amy's bicultural experience (having been raised in France/Europe) brings an ability to adjust to and understand how to reach Italians. I commend them to you.
Chuck Sutton, Ph.D.
Director of Training Services
World Team
was impressive. Few of us could stick at this ministry without seeing much fruit. I also had the privilege of observing some God-sightings. That is, our missionaries were encouraged by taking the risk of sharing the Gospel with their Italian friends, knowing that their friends could back off and sever the relationship. But God is moving in their midst. Some Italian friends began to respond and desire to hear more about Jesus and who he is. It may be a Catholic country with the Pope and Vatican, but frankly, our missionaries need to know how to relate to and answer atheists, agnostics, and materialists and secularists, not Roman Catholics.