CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS!

CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS!

It was November 21, 2018, when Janie, Iain, and I said our goodbyes to our family and boarded a one-way flight to Milan, Italy. The past five years have not been easy, as we have had to learn a new language and adapt to a new home and culture. Yet, the Lord has been abundantly merciful to us. By His grace, the church in Milan continues to thrive, and plans for the establishment of a Reformed denomination are moving forward. 

Having reached the five-year milestone, we are now seeking the Lord’s guidance about staying here long-term. In so many ways, it feels as if we have just begun. There remains so much work to be done. We are praying that we will be submissive to His will for our family regarding the future.

Fourth annual Conference on Reformed Theology in Milan.

On Saturday, October 28, our church hosted our fourth annual “Conferenza sulla Teologia Riformata a Milano” (Milan Conference on Reformed Theology). Modeled after the Philadephia Conference on Reformed Theology started in 1975 by Dr. James Montgomery Boice of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, the purpose of this conference is threefold: 1) To awaken interest in Reformed theology and the doctrines of grace amongst people in Milan and throughout Italy; 2) Establish a forum at which men and women in the Reformed tradition in Italy might meet and be encouraged; 3) Marshall resources in Italian to strengthen the Church in Italy.

This year, the conference theme was “Cosa è veramente il Calvinismo? I cinque punti” (“What Is Calvinism, really? The Five Points”). Our speakers included Rev. Vincenzo Coluccia (a PCA missionary in the city of Lecce), Rev. Nazzareno Ulfo (pastor of Chiesa “Sola Grazia” in Caltanissetta, Sicily) and myself. It was a wonderful day filled with good teaching and warm Christian fellowship. We had over ninety guests in attendance, including many first-time visitors. We give thanks to God that this annual conference has been a blessing to many and is helping us to build bridges with other Protestants in Italy. We pray that it will continue to bear fruit for our mission.

Ministry to Widows and Unbelievers.
Beyond the ordinary ministry of preaching the Bible and teaching catechism on the Lord’s Day, I am leading a monthly small group Bible study in the home of a widow who lives on the southeast side of the city. This is a godly elderly woman who regularly invites her neighbors (most of whom are widows) to study the Bible and learn about Christianity. There are about ten people who attend, some of whom are unbelievers and are reading the Bible for the very first time. Please pray for this ministry and the souls of those hearing the gospel.

Family Matters. 
Janie and I are very grateful that we were able to spend a few days with our daughter, son-in- law, and granddaughter in Maine, just before heading to Charleston, South Carolina for the missions weekend of Christ Church Presbyterian. It is always such a blessing to see our family whom we miss dearly. 

Janie and I ask for your prayers for our son Iain as he is in his last year of high school and is applying to a number of colleges, both in Italy and in the States. Pray that the Lord will guide him and open the door to the school where he should study.

We also ask for your prayers regarding the purchase of a home. We believe that this would be a wise investment of resources and important to our mission if it is the Lord’s will that we should stay in Italy long-term. Please pray that the Lord would provide a way for us to do this and that we would be submissive to his will whatever the outcome.

For more extensive updates, visit our website: missionmilan.org