While most Italians profess to be Roman Catholic, only 3% attend mass on a regular basis.  The majority of the Italians do not understand the gospel and do not care to!  They have developed a distaste for the Church because of its ritualism, corruption and immoral behavior over the centuries.  Instead they have turned to materialism, humanism and mysticism.  As ambassadors of Christ, we represent what has already been tried and has failed them.  The Church and God represent something of the past, while fashion and New Age is on the cutting edge.  Out of 6 million people in the city of Milan, only 0.1% of the population attend an evangelical church.

As long as physical health and wealth are used as the measuring stick of 'missionary worthiness', Italy will never be seen as a mission field.  But spiritually, Europe is deeply impoverished, bankrupt and sick. The need for God may not be as striking, but it is just as real. 

The answer is yes.  We would be more productive in ministry here and in that regard, in Africa or Asia where the Church is growing 40 to 50 times faster than in Europe.  Europe is very hardened to the gospel and working there as a missionary seems to be a waste of time and energy.  But we feel that our ministry is that of faith.  We might not see a great spiritual harvest in Italy in our lifetime, but we plan to sew the seed of the gospel and work the grounds of this spiritual desert.    What we have also seen is that students graduating from the Bible Colleges and Seminaries are committed to serving here at home which leaves a vacuum for the “ends of the earth.” ?

We have partnered with an interdenominational mission agency called World Team. By going out under World Team we will be doing what we deeply desire to do: plant churches.  And we will not be alone - we will be joining a team already at work in Milan. World Team will handle our finances, hold us accountable with our supporting churches, and equip us to be the best church planters we can be by the grace of God.