GOOD NEWS: Italy’s first Reformed denomination is on the horizon

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, 

I am pleased to announce that the Communion of Italian Presbyterian and Reformed Churches has been officially constituted. On February 28, the leadership of three churches in Italy – Chiesa Riformata di Perugia (central Italy), Pietra Vivente in Lecce (southern Italy), and Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia in Milan (northern Italy) – met via zoom for three hours and approved the constitution of La Comunione delle Chiese Presbiteriane e Riformate Italiane. This is an exciting first step toward the formation of a confessional Reformed denomination in Italy. Currently, no Reformed or Presbyterian denomination exists in the country. 

Our long-term goal is to establish a strong communion of churches that will last for generations to come. We pray that the Lord will strengthen our bonds with one another for the glory of Christ’s name and the wellbeing of his church in Italy. We invite you to pray for the development of this coalition and for our future collaborative projects. God willing, we will have a website up soon. 

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, all of Europe is on edge. People are both outraged by Putin’s unprovoked attack and concerned about a possible third world war. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have fled their homeland into the neighboring countries of Romania, Poland, Hungary, and beyond. Many churches in these places are doing what they can to house and help people. Here in Milan, we too are expecting refugees. We ask you to pray for our Ukrainian friend, Alena Fedchishina, who lives in Kiev and works for the Italian embassy. A few years ago, she did her master’s degree in Milan and used to worship at our church, Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia. While Kiev was being bombed by the Russian military, she managed to escape with two colleagues (an Italian couple) by car. They have been driving across eastern Europe for three days. God willing, they will arrive in Milan sometime this evening or tomorrow. It is hard to imagine the grief and shock that Alena has experienced over the past week. She has had to flee her home while her city is being devastated by missiles and artillery shells. We pray that we will be able to minister to her and make her feel at home as much as possible while she stays with us. Please pray that the Lord will protect her in the final leg of her journey, comfort her and strengthen her faith at this time. 

In the light of seeing so many people displaced, we are reminded again of the words of Hebrews 13:14: “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come”. As a missionary family, we have often reflected upon this verse. Leaving your homeland and family to live in a foreign country is disorienting. I cannot even imagine what it is like to be a refugee. But I am sure of one thing: Being reminded that we are “strangers and exiles” (Heb. 11:13) and that our true homeland is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Pet. 1:4) gives us hope. The goal of our faith in Christ is to be with him in glory, in the resurrected and glorified earth. We look forward to that day when our redemption will be complete, when we will be healed from all evils and no longer afflicted by temptation and sin, pain and sadness, fear and worry, sickness and death.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and financial support of Mission Milan. May the Lord bless you and keep you as you stand with us in bringing the gospel to all the nations!

How you can help. 

The mission in Milan to make disciples of Jesus Christ is only possible with the faithful prayers and generous contributions of people like you. Please consider partnering with us in fulfilling the Great Commission in Milan, Italy. Your donation helps!  

You can give online at: missionmilan.org. Or send a check to: 

Escondido United Reformed Church
1864 N. Broadway 
Escondido, CA 92026 
Attn: Mission Milan

Checks should be made out to Escondido United Reformed Church. Please indicate that the support is for Rev. Michael Brown as a missionary to Milan, Italy.