Mission Milan - April 2024

This month we had the blessing of witnessing Abraham Sulcapuma, 19, publicly profess his faith in Jesus Christ. Abraham completed a nine-week pre-profession course, with Pastor Mike in which they studied the Heidelberg Catechism together. Over the past two years, Abraham has demonstrated a lot of growth and maturity as a disciple of Jesus, attending worship on his own and joyfully serving the church in various ways. We give thanks to God for his mercies toward Abraham!

After the worship service, our congregation enjoyed a fellowship meal together. Table fellowship is an important part of Italian culture: to share a meal means to enter into the lives of others. As the family of God, however, it has an even deeper meaning: It provides us with an opportunity to celebrate God’s goodness, extend hospitality, and make room for others to find life by sharing in our own. This past month we also mourned the death of a member: Pina Bellitto, 76, the wife of deacon Tonino Bellitto. For the past 19 years, Pina suffered from Alzheimer’s. Although we mourn her death, we rejoice that she is with her Savior and awaits the resurrection of the body. In other news, I am happy to announce that our two elders, Mimmo Altobelli and Vittorio Calderaro, will travel with me to California in June for the Synod meeting of the URCNA. Janie, Iain, and I are well. Iain has accepted an offer from Grove City College in Pennsylvania to study biochemistry. Janie and I are planning to help move him onto campus this August.