Discovering a need for more churches – even in Pisa

Pisa is a city with a rich heritage, historically and scientifically. The university called Scuola Normale is famous all over Europe for its high standard of education. Around one third of the city’s population, about 50,000 people, are students.

About a year ago, a team was commissioned from a small evangelical church in the neighbouring town of Lucca, to plant a new church in Pisa. The church in Lucca had been dreaming for several years of planting a church in Pisa that would reach the students and young people with the good news of Jesus Christ. That church also had to release members of their own 30-person congregation to start the new church plant. But the vision to bring the gospel to young people who otherwise might not hear about Jesus made it all worthwhile.

The first year of church planting has been a time of challenges, discouragement and doubts, but also blessings and confirmations. One of the hardest questions coming from atheists, evangelicals and Catholics alike has been: “But aren’t there enough churches already in Pisa?” The answer, however, is “No”. According to the team’s research, there are only a few hundred evangelical Christians (including the many ethnic believers) in Pisa. Therefore, their answer is as simple as it is strong: “If the church is the way God uses to reach people, then we need more churches.”

Building community

Over the past year, the team has been building a community. Every two weeks, a Bible study at the house of church plant leader, Michel, including dinner and Bible discussion, has taken place. When the group finished reading the first chapter of the gospel of Mark together after some weeks, they celebrated with a social dinner in the city centre. “A party is always a good reason to invite new people,” they thought. So they did – and 20 people came!

The team also introduced other creative ways to get in touch with the students and young people, such as an art exhibition, English language classes in a pub and open mic evenings in a bar. It also meant that the other churches in Pisa could get to know and reach out to locals, through the various activities creating opportunities to build new friendships and invite people to learn more about Jesus.

Forming a core team

A year after the first seed was planted, the church now has a core team, which unites people from four different regions of Italy and four different countries. God has miraculously brought them together with the same desire to honour Christ and live close to Him. In addition to the committed team, consistent groups of people regularly attend the various activities. As the relationships grow deeper, the team sees God working in the hearts of the students they meet, opening them up more and more to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Becoming a church

Establishing official church services is a big step. It makes the church visible. The team document says: “As we begin to hold outreaches, we will be able to formally launch the official existence of a new church.” Having a visible church, with regular services, will help to disciple the new believers to have a life with Christ and to be a witness to others themselves.

Today, a vibrant community is emerging. The first service of the La Torre church was full of joy and thankfulness. In his sermon, Michel explained how the La Torre church name reflects, of course, the famous tower of Pisa, but also God, who is a strong tower for the righteous. “And righteous,” he goes on to explain, “does not mean perfect or obeying all the rules but accepting Christ as Saviour, and honouring God.”

Staying connected

The church plant is not meant to become another institution, but to remain a community, with contributions from all its members. That is why, at the end of the service, people are invited to fill out a short questionnaire to give feedback on the service. Lively conversations continue after the service, as half of the congregation spontaneously goes out to dinner together. Another vibrant community of Jesus followers is on its way to impact Italy.

“It is amazing to see what God has done with a few crazy people on bikes cycling to Transform, then South Africa, Malawi, the UK and other places,” reflects OM Sportslink* leader Chris Welman from South Africa, “and now back to the original spot connecting with the Transform conference in Europe. This warms my heart, and maybe it could inspire others to start…”

South Africa

Chris had first heard of this ride when a couple of leaders cycled to Rome, Italy, for the Transform conference. By then, he already had some experience with a similar cycling trip; in 2012, partnering with another organisation in South Africa, his team cycled from Johannesburg to Cape Town on a ‘road less travelled’, passing through a lot of small villages. In 2014, they reversed the trip, starting in Cape Town, ending in Johannesburg, this time adding outreaches and training at specific ministry points.

Malawi

By 2015, Chris was ready for a new challenge. He decided to bring a cycling team across the border into Malawi, a country where everyone cycles, and bicycles are used to transport literally any and everything.

Although the main focus was prayer, the team was able to also hand out audio Bibles and facilitate training in sports and orality. “We were nine people on bikes, and amazingly, felt that God had handpicked each one,” recalls Chris. “We saw much fruit coming from this Malawi tour, also from within our own hearts. It has helped me to focus my prayers.” Later Malawi teams have also stopped to pray in Mangochi along the former slave road.

Gert Daling (Netherlands) did his first Ride2Transform in Malawi in 2016, with a team of 17 people, and the following two years, he co-led the same outreach.

Highlights from Malawi

The areas through which the teams cycled are, for the most part, considered least reached, meaning people living there have had little to no opportunity to hear the gospel. Ministry teams were often placed in different locations along the way to train the local people, and the cyclists distributed audio Bibles in the local language.

“I remember coming up a hill in Malawi that we had passed in the two years before,” recalls Gert, “and someone specifically asked for an audio Bible because she had previously received one from us. She and her people had listened to it many times; now it was broken, and they needed a new one. These people remembered us, which gave us an opening to talk and a sense of building on past experiences.”

Another year, a team member went into several mosques, giving audio Bibles to imams, and they also handed out audio Bibles to people of influence in the community. “We went to a school right next to a mosque, and before we knew it, we were standing in front of all these kids sharing our story and sharing about Jesus,” says Gert.

Europe

And in 2018, the Ride2Transform was back in Europe, with Gert leading the cycling team during the Transform conference in Spain. The team cycled through many towns without any known evangelical witness and stopped to pray in strategic places. Gert shares, “We were able to give out some Gospels of John, but not as much as we had hoped for. Yet it’s still important that the cycling happened. We don't know what God is doing through our prayers and through the few Gospels that were handed out. And for the coming years, the foundation has been laid to organise more Ride2Transforms during the Transform conference.”

A highlight for the team in Spain was the very first night’s accommodation. They stayed at a rehabilitation centre run by a Christian group. In the evening they worshiped together and shared their testimonies. Roger Ballester (Spain), who was driving the support vehicle, was specially moved by this fellowship; many times as he prayed he found his eyes filling up with tears.

“Even though we did not speak the same language, we still understood each other,” shared Gert, “many conversations with him and others were made possible through Google translate.”

The first Ride2Transform, in Italy

“The idea of combining a personal passion with ministry was the initial reason for the cycling teams,” explains Michel Di Feliciantonio (Italy). “In the first two Ride2Transform teams (2013-2014), we cycled through Italy; first from Turin to the Transform conference in Rome, and the following year, from Venice to Rome. Each year the route was approximately 850 km, and the longest distance in one day was 220 km.”

Along the way, the team visited churches, enjoyed fellowship over a meal and gave a presentation about OM. The second year, fundraising for Syrian refugees was included.

“For me, it was a great way to connect with local churches, share about ministry, get to know my fellow riders, test my limits and, through that experience, I also got to know the church I now pastor!” summarises Michel, smiling.

All three outreaches are still being done annually; Ride2Transform Malawi and Ride2Transform Europe are organised by OM. Please contact your OM home office if you’d like to join.

*OM SportsLink International serves to equip, empower and mobilise local OM teams and partners to be effective in ministering in and through sports, in order that athletes and coaches, local churches and communities can make the most of sports within their culture through sharing the gospel in relational and relevant ways.

“Tonight, we had the first meeting of the group in Pisa: an incredible journey, which has brought us to this point. Incredible because so many things had to fall into place, so we could have that meeting. The mother church, a small church, had to agree to have a church plant and see some valuable members leave; we needed a core team to commit to the idea, [and] we went through months of preparation, discussions, meetings, sometimes tension. But we got there!

“That first meeting was a time to get to know each other and start to think about Mark's Gospel in the light of its first verse: ‘The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.’ (Mark 1:1),” wrote Michel Di Feliciantonio (Italy), associate field leader of OM in Italy. “Everyone has some kind of idea about Jesus. But how does Mark describe Jesus and His identity? Why is Jesus good news?”

Four months from its first meeting, the group has now completed reading and studying the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark. Its announcement of John the Baptist unfolds through to the first steps of Jesus' ministry, presents the ‘gospel of Jesus Christ,’ explains its characteristics. The group considered what gives the gospel life and what its implications are.

“We held a social dinner, set in the city of Pisa itself, which celebrated the end of the first chapter,” Michel enthused. “We were able to invite new people into the community who prefer a ‘neutral’ meeting place as a first meeting. Around 20 people came—it was a great evening!”

The group hope to attract students and young people in creative ways, such as the recent art exhibition in December 2017.  The group also invite community interaction through open mic evenings at a bar in Pisa, English language classes in a pub in Pisa and other community events.

The group has been enriched by people with different backgrounds and different beliefs, like Sonia, a single mother, who is slowly starting to come out of her shell, and Janelle, an American PhD student, who is not only living in a new country but also growing in her faith with new brothers and sisters.

“For now, we believe it is important to build on the group that is meeting in my house, as we grow together and in the Lord. But we are also planning ahead. OM Italia is fully behind this church plant, since everything that OM Italia does is in order to support churches, both existing and new ones. As we begin to hold outreaches, we will be able to formally launch the official existence of a new church!” Michel said.

For the past two years, OM workers in Italy, along with women from local churches, have been working to support the trafficked girls and raise awareness about their situation. Almost every Thursday afternoon, two or three women from the team, along with a male driver, will go to the streets and talk with whomever is willing. Most of the girls they meet were brought from Nigeria.

Emma*, one of the women on the team, said building relationships with the girls was difficult in the beginning. “We had to gain their trust step by step” she said. “We could have been anything; we could have been part of the police. But step-by-step, they started to trust and to see that we wanted to help them.”

OM team member Katja* explained that one of the most important needs for the girls was “to be shown they have value and a purpose in Christ—that their destiny is not in prostitution, but that there can be another option and a way out.”

The team has worked hard to engage the Nigerians and create friendships with them. Every outreach, they greet the women by name and offer them food and drink. Sometimes, they will bring birthday gifts, clothes and Italian lessons, so the girls can integrate better into society. They also spend time outside outreaches with the girls, taking them to dinner, the beach or church. The team is now well received, and many of the girls feel safe enough to trust them with their stories. By providing holistic care and support, OM ultimately aims to lead the girls to hope and freedom in Christ.

Along with the girls they see weekly, new girls will show up on the streets after being trafficked to Pisa. “Last year we met two young girls who had just arrived,” Emma said. “They were terrified and crying. They didn’t know what they were coming to Italy to do. They asked us to pray for them and to ask forgiveness from God because they knew this was not pleasing Him.”

The number of girls being trafficked continues to increase. Simona Moscarelli, an anti-trafficking expert at the International Organization for Migration, estimated that the number of Nigerian sex workers smuggled into Italy by sea has gone up more than 300 per cent over the past three years. “What we are seeing at the moment in terms of the numbers and scale of the criminal trade in Nigerian women is unprecedented,” she said. “Before, the women were exploited, but there was a chance that they could pay off their debts and be free. Now these girls really are slaves and subject to terrible violence. The age of the women is getting younger, to the extent that a large percentage of those arriving now are classed as unaccompanied minors when they come off the boats.”

Traffickers exploit the poverty, discrimination against and lack of opportunities for girls by giving them false promises of a better life in Europe. Some girls are sold by their own family members. The girls are brought into the country by boat or by plane then told they have to sell themselves in order to pay their debt. This debt, upwards of 30,000 euros (about 36,798 USD), is in exchange for passage to Italy and employment.

The traffickers use threats and voodoo to fill the women with fear and keep them on streets. They tell the girls if they try to escape, their family will be killed or they will be cursed. These convictions of possible harm have a powerful hold on the girls’ lives and prevent many from leaving the streets.

Myria Vassiliadou, the EU’s anti-trafficking coordinator, said Nigerians in Italy are among the most vulnerable victims of such modern slavery and remain largely unseen due to the influx of people arriving in Europe.

Working with trafficking victims can be taxing for the OM team when faced with the sheer enormity of the problem. They say the most difficult part of their ministry is accepting that they cannot help everyone. Looking towards the future, Katja hoped to be able to care for the women more holistically and to create a network of people who can address the girls’ different needs—including spiritual and psychological—and facilitate their social and economic integration. “Otherwise there is no realistic way to begin a new life,” she said.

The OM team wants to create more awareness about the realities of trafficking. “People say, ‘Oh, they earn a lot of money; it's their choice,’” Emma reported. “But it's not their choice.”

Another team member said she wished the men who bought the girls would realize they were buying women who are enslaved and prisoners. “The exploitation affects the individuals for the rest of their lives,” Katja added. “Our western culture’s mindset, selfishness and sin drives the trafficking forward. In Italy every fourth or fifth man buys sex yearly, but the problem is not tackled. If there were no demand, there would be no trafficking.”

*Name changed for security

“What would you do?” they asked, challenging them to think about if they would be able to help a shy classmate, an immigrant, or all those in categories apart from what is ‘normal’ to them.

All of them nodded, and agreed that they wanted to act better. One boy, even before the leaders had finished speaking, stood up, went over to another boy and apologised for teasing him earlier in the week. Quickly, one after another, all the boys began to apologise to each other. “I was so touched and surprised,” recalled Davide, one of the group leaders. “The Word of God had struck again.”

‘Rock my Word’ was the theme of the one-week summer camp, organised by OM and a local church in Fucecchio. The camp was a fitting end to an after-school programme that went on for the whole year in the Fucecchio church. This ministry enabled OM workers and church members to make great connections with the families in the area, offering children not only help with their studies, but also the opportunity to play sports, while sharing Christian values such as love and respect for their neighbours and the local community.

“God brought us some really wonderful kids throughout the year, and approximately 30-35 kids took part in our study halls, English lessons, and sport sessions,” shared Robert Vitter, coordinator of the ministry.

“Kids came for different reasons from different towns, but they almost always stayed because of the environment of support and love. We offered a safe place where our goal was to help kids grow individually and grow together as students and great citizens.” 

The after school programme was not evangelical in itself, but the team trusted God to open up opportunities for them to share their faith and show His love in tangible ways through service in their community.

During the summer camp however, the team shared the gospel openly. It was an evangelistic camp with sports, songs, crafts, English, dancing, friends, and a lot more. Besides OM workers from Italy and the UK, and several members of the church in Fucecchio, a group from a church in Alabama, USA, joined to serve the children together.

They hoped to have at least 20 to 25 children from the after school programme attending. “We saw God's faithfulness in an amazing way as we started to publicise the event,” shared Robert. “We had 71 kids participate every day of the week-long camp, ages 5-14. Many of these children learned some in-depth stories about Jesus Christ for the very first time.”

Each day the team would read the children a Bible story to learn a life lesson from. To provide opportunities to practice the English language, the group of volunteers from the USA came to work primarily as coaches for different sports: American football, baseball, football and volleyball. Along with the sports activities there were less strenuous activities done in the shade during the hottest hours of the day, such as crafts and singing English songs with actions.

The feedback from the children, their parents and the local community was very positive. “Seeing God's faithfulness and His good works through the community project here has been more than we expected,” said Robert. “Please pray for the community project in Fucecchio, that we will have opportunities for effective follow up with the children and families, and that our project may grow in God's will and timing and be a blessing to the people of our community in a relevant way.”

If you would like to know more about this community project in Italy, or come serve alongside us, please contact OM Italia for more information: info.it@om.org

The OM Arts Incarnate programme was birthed out of a desire to place artists out on the mission field long-term. In order to do that, Operation Mobilisation needed a process of discipling artists before sending them out. The first Incarnate programme was held in 2012, and the programme is scheduled to take place every two years. 

Incarnate 2016 took place at the Centro Evangelico Isola, an evangelical campground just outside the Italian town of Isola del Gran Sasso. Nestled below awe-inspiring mountains and between two rivers, it was both inspiring and secluded - an environment conducive for producing creative works. 

Incarnate 2016: 27 artists from 3 disciplines, 13 staff members and 13 guest instructors coming from 13 different countries gathered in Italy with one purpose: to pursue the arts while engaging in cross-cultural missions. 

What sets Incarnate apart is its dedication to holistic discipleship. Throughout the programme, participants walk through a set of three academic courses - God’s Story, Your Story and 10,000 Stories - designed to encourage spiritual formation. 

“Incarnate isn’t an arts training programme, it’s an artist transforming programme,” said Bill Drake, co-director of Incarnate and OM Arts International. “We want to see transformed artists transforming lives and communities. The academics provide not just left brain stimulation, they provide biblical and spiritual structure to what it is that we’re doing,” he explained further. 

The idea of the three courses comes from the progression of the revelation: it comes from God, reaches down to us and then we take it to the ends of the earth. This concept is laid out in Acts 1:8 which says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

Amy W., a dancer as well as the curriculum coordinator and member of the spiritual formation team at Incarnate 2016, clarified that, “While the God’s Story course looks at the theology behind the arts, the Your Story course focuses on spiritual formation and the artist’s inward journey with Christ. The focus and the purpose of the 10,000 Stories piece are to encourage the artist to see the stories of others and consider how God wants to intersect their lives with those stories.”

During the programme 13 guest artists, including Colin Harbison, Frank Fortunato of Heart Sounds International and Dick Ryan, rotated in to teach this course and give participants a taste of what using the arts in missions really looks like. 

Incarnate embodies aspects of spiritual formation, practical application, is intentionally missional and it’s goal is to communicate that God is a reconciling God who wants to restore brokenness. 

“We want Spirit-filled artists to understand the role of the arts in the kingdom of God, the role of the artist in the kingdom of God and that their identity is in Christ, not in their artform or their ego,” Bill said. “This is probably one of the greatest weaknesses of the artists. You’ve got all this firepower in the arts and all this weakness in the area of identity, and the enemy loves it. We want to come against that with everything we have,” he proclaimed.

While participating in these courses, the artists at Incarnate create weekly projects that interact with the academic courses and also develop a body of work to be presented at the festival that takes place at the conclusion of the programme. 

The festival is the culmination of the artists’ hard work while at Incarnate. It is a celebration of the people, the community the artists have been living amongst and it is a chance for the artists to unveil the work they have completed during the programme. 

Jessica Cloin, the visual arts mentor for Incarnate 2016, explained that often the artists that come to Incarnate have never exhibited their work before and have also never done prophetic art. 

“The festival allows the artists to display their work at an excellent level and also allows the Spirit to speak through the artist and deliver a message, either to the artist themselves, or to a community,” she said. “Also for the staff, it’s a way that we get to celebrate the artists and what they’re doing. We are so proud of them. They have stepped into their new journeys, into their anointing and now they have an overflow of [their art]. It’s an amazing moment when we get to literally see people who are wanting to walk in the Spirit, and walk as the Lord did, yet in doing that in the arts and with the giftings the Father has given them. It is our hope that each of the artists go back to their communities and to continue to allow that overflow to happen,” Jessica continued. 

After spending twelve weeks in the Incarnate community, participants are sent out for an additional four weeks in various locations for placements. This gives the artists an opportunity to practice what they have learned and experienced in the classroom in a real-world setting. Artist from Incarnate 2016 were sent out to Kosovo, Lebanon, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands and Israel.

In its relatively short time in existence, the Incarnate programme has produced incredible fruit. A number of participants have gone on to become professionals in their disciplines, an arts ministry was started in Italy and in Costa Rica, a full-time visual artist missionary is being sent out to Belgium - just to name a few of the works being done as a result of the programme. 

So, what’s next for Incarnate? 

Bill Drake says, “I would like to see this programme made available on a few different continents. Right now being in Western Europe it’s a little cost-prohibitive for some people so I’d like to see this in Central America, in South Africa, in Asia as well as in Europe. And I’m going to set out trying to make that happen.”

Lauren O'Shea is a journalist from the United States. She is a communications intern for OM Middle East North Africa, currently on assignment with OM Arts International during the Incarnate programme, and is dedicated to telling the world what God is doing through global missions and the arts.

“During my OM Transform outreach to Sicily,” continues Kris, “my team was invited for a fellowship lunch with over 30 North African Christians, primarily Ghanaian men, all residents of Mineo, Italy’s as well as Europe’s largest organised refugee reception camp. The stories of their dangerous voyage became all too familiar. Their insight in refugee centre life, grim and colourless. A marginal improvement on the refugees we met the following day living under a bridge, no longer eligible for state care.”

“Still, what surprised me most was the prayer of these refugees. Asides from church on Sunday, these men meet regularly for prayer. One prayer meeting is for the reception camp itself – a deep longing for Christ to be known throughout Mineo. Another, is dedicated to Italy and Europe. The Italian Government, the Church and for a revival – these are the things a refugee prays for.”

“I’m ashamed to admit that I can’t remember the last time my church or fellowship sat together to pray for the Government, Church or a revival,” says Kris quietly in conclusion.

When the concept ‘refugee’ becomes personal

“The word ‘refugee’ is no longer a concept, it now has meaning,” shares David*, another Transform participant of the team to Italy. “Even though I’ve followed the news about this mass movement of people leaving Syria now across Europe, it has never been much more than that.”

“Now, having spent time face-to-face with several refugees I no longer see a concept, I see individuals. Individuals with a name, identity and personal history. It has given me a glimpse of how God sees and relates to us.”

These accounts are just a few of many from hundreds who have taken part in Short Term Mission outreaches with OM this summer.

OM Transform, Europe’s short-term mission training conference, brought a unified effort to many of OM’s refugee ministries in 2016. Participants were given a firsthand insight into several of OM’s varied refugee projects. Bible teaching and stories from OM workers helped prepare over 200 delegates for ministry across the Mediterranean as well as motivation on how they would reach new migrant communities at home.

*Name changed

“It is one of the symbols of the hypocrisy of our society,” says one of the OM workers after a Thursday afternoon outreach among transgender sex workers. “The same people that criticise, make fun of and abhor these people are the same that pick them up with their cars in broad delight and pay for their bodies. Often even Christians do not know how to engage with these people. But what would have Jesus done? Would he have not spent time with them to reach out to them with his love and forgiveness?”

OM Italia moved to Pisa in September 2014 and spent many months getting to know the area, the churches, the local people and their needs. It soon became apparent that Pisa was not unaffected by human trafficking. Most victims come from Nigeria, or from Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and other Eastern European countries. Additionally, a large number of transgender individuals from Brazil end up in prostitution as they struggle to find other work in Italy. In January 2015 the first people arrived in the team with the vision to start working against the sexual slavery in Pisa. 

A year later, in February 2016, a weekly outreach on the streets of Pisa took off. The team did a number of things in preparation including prayer, networking, research, training and language studies. The team has been connecting with local services and believers as well as other ministries throughout Italy and beyond to learn from best practices and build a support network for the team.

Engaging the local churches has been and continues to be a priority for the team. In this work that means through prayer, raising awareness and inviting people to consider a further commitment. For a sustainable ministry the involvement of local believers is a necessity. To the team’s encouragement, a team of volunteers has come alongside the OM staff to support the work through joining the outreaches, praying and giving material help.

“None of us wishes to have a life like this,” is a phrase the outreach team has heard on multiple occasions. The urgency to support the women spiritually and emotionally is apparent. This is where OM Italia sees their strength compared to the secular service providers.

“The fact that many women have allowed us to pray for them and have opened up about their traumatic past only shows us that we’re doing the right thing,” the team coordinator shares. Though there is a lot that needs to be done in order to help the women holistically, the team feels they are going in the right direction as they build relationships with the women while planning for other means to help those that wish to exit a life in prostitution.

The festival was the culmination of the artists’ hard work while at Incarnate. It was a celebration of the people and the community the artists have been living amongst, and it was a chance for the artists to unveil the work they completed during the programme.

Visual arts

Jessica Cloin, the visual arts mentor for Incarnate 2016, explained that several of the artists who came to Incarnate have never exhibited their work before.

“The festival allows the artists to display their work at an excellent level and also allows the Spirit to speak through the artist and deliver a message, either to the artist themselves, or to a community,” Jessica explained.

A celebration marking the opening of the visual art gallery kicked off Festival Week in style. After three months of preparing their art pieces, the visual artists proudly displayed their creations for the community and had the pleasure of discussing the meaning behind their art with the guests.

Members from the Isola del Gran Sasso Cultural Association and the local mayor’s office made an appearance at the event and expressed their appreciation for the time the artists spent dwelling in their community.

For visual artist Bonnie Chiang, the festival was an eye-opening experience. “I had never displayed my work in a gallery before,” she shared. “That night was so magical! I feel like that's something I'd like to do again in the future.”

After the opening celebration, the gallery remained open throughout the week for members of the community to enjoy the collection of artwork.

As the week went on, a few of the visual artists gave talks and presented workshops in the community. Before teaching her workshop on pop art, Bonnie had never taught in a classroom setting before.

“That was a really interesting and precious experience,” she said. “I liked to see the creativity and diversity in the students. It was good to build relationships with people in the community and it was cool to see how art really connects people.”

“I really enjoyed Festival Week because I got to witness the power of a community. When we join together we can do things that are really powerful. I like that we can work together and see what God has being doing in us and through us,” Bonnie continued.

Performing arts

Meanwhile, the performing artists were busy preparing for Friday and Saturday’s back-to-back performances that would bring the week to a close.

Katya Richter, a songwriter and pianist, sought to speak into the Italian community with the song she wrote and performed, entitled, “Ritornerai,” meaning, “You Shall Return.” The song tells the story of a loving father who longs for his wayward children to return home. The parable of the prodigal son was the inspiration for her work.

“Writing and performing a song in Italian was completely out of my comfort zone. At first I was experimenting and seeing if writing a song in Italian was something that I could do. It was really difficult for me, but also very rewarding,” Katya said. “I thought that the local Italians maybe could relate to the story of the prodigal son or daughter and I thought it could make an impact because it was in their language,” she explained.

After the performance, one of the local Italian women approached Katya and thanked her for taking the time to learn and write a song in Italian. The local woman shared that the song touched her heart and greatly blessed her and her friends.

“It made me feel really good to think that my song could have an impact on someone’s life, on their heart,” Katya said. “It was such a privilege to share this experience [of performing] with the community and to celebrate with the other artists.”

On Friday, Sara Ying performed a solo dance piece entitled, “Dance Warrior,” which conveyed Christ’s crucifixion and also the spiritual battles that Christ fights on our behalf. 

“I'm usually not nervous when I perform, but we didn't have much time to set the lights or for rehearsal. So I prayed,” she shared. “I told the Lord I was dancing this piece for Him, that I didn’t care about the lights or the audience or what people would think because I only care what the Lord thinks,” Sara recalled. “Praying made me very calm. When I was dancing, I had a lot of  emotions, but I felt at peace during every movement. It was cool. I never experienced that before.”

Festival Week marked the closing of the Incarnate 2016 programme, but this is only the beginning for the artists. The goal of the training the participants received is to empower them to use their art to glorify the Lord, on and off the mission field.

Lauren O'Shea is a journalist from the United States. She is a communications intern for OM Middle East North Africa, currently on assignment with OM Arts International during the Incarnate programme, and is dedicated to telling the world what God is doing through global missions and the arts.

I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.

This verse from Acts 3:6 was never so close and never as relevant to me as in the week of Easter that I spent in the refugee camp in Idomeni, joining an OM team from Macedonia. I come from a country where one is accustomed to taking care of everything and maintaining order with money and through other material things. Now I found myself in a refugee camp that was beyond all imagination.

About 13,000 people – it is estimated that 5,000 of them are children – are living in tents without electricity, without soft mattresses and clean water in the ‘house’. At first it was cold and wet, the soil soaked and muddy. As the sun came up and the days grew warmer, we were pleased. But only until we noticed that in warmer weather, the little food that’s available doesn’t last as long. Diseases come on easily and spread quickly.

No, the 13,000 people are not on camping holidays in Greece. They also have not decided to travel to Europe because it is so beautiful and green here. They are fleeing from a merciless regime and war in their homeland. Many have lost all their possessions, just got away with their lives. Others could at least take valuable things and some of their clothes. They have all risked their lives. If not while fleeing their country or travelling through Turkey, then later at the crossing of the Mediterranean in a small boat to the Greek islands.

When they finally arrived and thought that they could breathe, they realized that Europe is as merciless as the governments in their home countries. Only when I talked to different people in the camp, I became aware of the scale of the disaster. How little is yet in our media about it.

Children tell of their experiences and show us pictures they have painted. A woman, six months pregnant, asks for a doctor. It is her first pregnancy and until now she hadn’t had any medical check-ups. We visit another woman with her 11-day old girl, born in a tent without medical assistance. What is the greatest desire of the women? A shower. For over a month they have not had this pleasure. The men are usually in the queue for 2-3 hours per meal, hoping to get a plate of cooked rice without salt. Of course, only if something is left. The situation is hard to describe.

And what do we do? We are a group of 8 people in a town of 13,000. What difference can we make? We go to the local farmers and buy apples, to distribute them to families. We assist in picking up garbage. It is all just a drop in the ocean. The verse from Acts comes back to my mind. “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.”

We take time for people. Talk, laugh, drink tea together and play with the children. To people who are interested, we give Gospels and New Testaments. We are surprised at how well they are received. Again and again, people look up to the sky while we talk, frightened. We explain that these helicopters are from the police and the fire department and that they are no threat. It is a natural reaction of people coming out of a war zone. We motivate a group of Syrian teachers to start a school for the children. We encourage them to keep going, as much as possible, with ‘normal’ life. At first they are skeptical, but a week later they started a school for 6-10 year-olds.

“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.” Peter was on his way to the temple to pray when he said these words. Peter was a Christian, went to church and had a living relationship with Jesus. Peter took time for the one who begged for alms at the entrance to the temple. He stopped, saw the paralytic, looked at him and spoke to him. This man had a home where he could go every night. The Bible says that he was brought to the temple every day. The 13,000 people in the camp in Idomeni cannot just go home in the evening. And we, Christian Europeans, have become good at looking away. In passing we drop a few alms, lock the door quickly and turn up the volume on our TV, so that we do not hear the knocking and the doorbell ringing.

Where have the ‘Peters’ gone? Do we see the needy and do we care for the people? What God has entrusted to us, what Jesus has done for us, does it not move us as it moved Peter? Peter knew that this is worth much more than gold and silver.

When I stood amongst the 13,000 people in the refugee camp, I suddenly was worried about Europe. What happened to us? Does our love for Jesus not urge us to act? Or, do we just not love Jesus anymore?

An OM project, called Safe Passage, focuses on meeting refugees at their initial entry points, providing information as well as water, food and essentials. To give to OM’s relief efforts, or for more information about how to get involved, please contact your local OM office.

Incarnate is a 16-week holistic discipleship programme for artists led by OM Arts International. The first twelve weeks are spent in residence (Incarnate 2016, in Isola del Gran Sasso) and during the last four weeks participants are sent out for a practical placement. The programme is designed for artists who are passionately pursuing God, dedicated to their disciplines and are interested in using their art in cross-cultural missions. Participants engage in artistic and spiritual mentorship, as well as academic courses to learn more about who God is, what role they have in God’s story and, lastly, how they interact as artists with the stories of others worldwide. 

Artists from several disciplines were paired together and, as a group, were challenged to consider what they have observed during the recent months in residence in the small mountain community. 

In one such group, Séamus Bannon, Martha Kennedy, Abigail Gaardlykke, Sarah Beth Little, and Amy Knorr prayed that the people of Isola would trust God, even when they cannot see or understand what He is doing. 

As a group, they decided that they would create spontaneous artwork. Séamus played guitar, Abigail and Sarah Beth painted, Amy sang and Martha danced their prayer for the city of Isola. 

“Prayer was our preparation. We prayed a few days before we presented the piece and also the morning of the presentation,” vocalist and songwriter, Amy Knorr explained. “We were praying that we would be in the right headspace. We wanted to hear what He wanted us to say, play, draw and dance.” 

Following time spent in prayer as a group, visual artist Abigail Gaardlykke was reminded of two dreams the Lord had given her that week. In the first dream, she saw herself creating a prophetic painting. The picture she painted in the dream was of dancers that had clouds around their faces and covering their heads. The second dream was similar to the first, and Abigail felt that the repetition was confirming that this was a message from the Lord. 

After talking with her teammates, Abigail was certain that her dreams were meant for the group. 

“Immediately we saw some connections with a passage that the Lord had given to Séamus (Psalm 18), which was further confirmation,” she shared. “The project was meant to speak to the city of Isola, but I felt strongly that it was for our group in particular.”  

The dreams and the passage of Scripture reminded dancer Martha Kennedy of how Moses led the Israelites through the desert by following the cloud by day and fire by night. “The Israelites didn’t know what was ahead of them, because you can’t see through clouds. They trusted God and because of that their enemies were behind them and not in front of them, facing them head on. We took that theme and prayed about how we could convey that.”

While creating, Martha said her first thought was to dance with her eyes closed. She started the piece on the ground with open eyes; she could see but was unable to move fully or freely. When she closed her eyes she rose to her feet and danced with complete freedom. 

“I had to trust that God would make something beautiful of it,” Martha reflected. “Abigail’s dream was the visual piece - what she saw. She and Sarah Beth painted a recreation of that dream spontaneously, without any planning. The melody had just kind of come to Séamus and with the theme of clouds Amy sang free verse,” she explained. “There was a framework we were working within, but a lot of room for God to just come in and tell us what to do.”

Once she closed her eyes and began to dance, tears flowed from Martha’s eyes. 

“This piece was particularly meaningful for me because I’ve had to let God lead me by the cloud in life, lately. Dancing this piece was not only a prayer over Isola but also a prayer over myself that I would still be able to dance with my eyes closed even if it’s scary or seems risky - it’s worth it,” Martha said.

Lauren O'Shea is a journalist from the United States. She is a communications intern for OM Middle East North Africa, currently on assignment with OM Arts International during the Incarnate programme, and is dedicated to telling the world what God is doing through global missions and the arts.

As part of the Incarnate programme, the artists were asked to intentionally have deep discussions with locals and to create works of art in response to what they experienced. The following stories are just a few of the ways these artist-missionaries were impacted by interacting with local Italians.

Card games

Heidi Salzwedel, a visual artist from South Africa, wasn't intimidated by the language barrier she would face while conversing with the Italian people. In fact, she said she was quite excited by the assignment because she truly enjoys talking with strangers.

"In some ways the language barrier actually stands in your favor because you end up only saying what you need to say," Heidi explained. "You only communicate what needs to be communicated, and people are aware of the barrier so both parties are working to overcome it. I actually think it creates a deeper connection sometimes because both people are working together to push past the barrier," she shared.

Heidi prepared herself for this assignment. Before embarking into the town of Isola, she created a notecard that said, ‘I want,’ and an additional five notecards that said, ‘financial security,’ ‘to be loved and understood,’ ‘to have a peaceful life,’ ‘to have satisfaction in my job,’ and ‘to know God,’ respectively. Each had the Italian translations on the back of the card.

She intended to ask the people she met in town to place the cards in order of importance to them. Her hope was that this research would lead into a deeper discussion.

Heidi met a man in a local cafe and asked him if he would put the cards in order of their importance to him, citing research as the reasoning behind the exercise. Other men in the cafe laughed at him. They must’ve wondered why this foreign woman was asking such strange questions, she thought.

"I didn't feel intimidated, and I waited until he answered the question,” Heidi said. “I think it helped that I first arranged the cards in order of importance for myself.  I said that mine was to know God. The man eventually said that his priority was financial security. He had studied economics and had studied to be an advocate before opening the bar that he was running. Obviously, it makes sense that he chose financial security because of the background he comes from," she stated.

The conversation didn’t go much further due to the language barrier, but Heidi plans on going back into the town and repeating the research. Next time, she will bring her two Italian friends to translate for her. She is eager to explore further conversations about humanity and the things our souls long for.

Heidi is going to use these conversations as source material for a greater body of artwork she intends to title, “Want.”

"I think [the concept] might have come out of conversations with friends who are not Christians about the insatiable need to satisfy desires, whatever they might be. Food, physical intimacy, and other wants are so much stronger when you don't any concept of eternal hope, because you're empty,” she shared. “I've just had lots of conversations with people where it struck me, the fact that I didn't feel empty. I still feel sad, angry or happy at times - those same emotions that everyone feels. But, that feeling of emptiness is not in my life because I'm not empty. It doesn't mean it’s easy, there are obviously difficulties in being a Christian, but I'm not empty - that I can guarantee. Whereas a lot of people are.”

When words fail

Larissa Meier is an extroverted North American musician who doesn’t usually struggle to find words to express herself. While the task of engaging an Italian in deep conversation didn’t stir up any anxiety within her, it did present obstacles.

She and two other artists wandered into a boutique and began to look around. They started asking the shop attendant simple questions about the merchandise and the attendant took the opportunity to dive into deeper questions.

"We were just asking questions about how much things cost, but the woman took things further. She began by asking where we were living and why we were in Italy,” Larissa said.

Her friends spoke more Italian than she did and were able to answer the attendant’s questions, so Larissa had to take a more passive role in the conversation.

"In a situation like that, I would normally start engaging immediately but, since we had to use a phone to translate everything we wanted to say I had to step back and just observe for most of the conversation. Yet I was still able to engage because she was so eager to engage," she said.

The woman introduced herself and started talking to the girls about her family and what her life was like.

“Even though I couldn’t understand every word she was saying, I knew she was trying to relate to us. I could tell she was seeking community, friendship, just someone to share with," Larissa continued.

Connecting with locals on a personal level encouraged her to consider the music she writes from a different angle.

"I was able to see the beauty of the individual and it really empowered me to personalize the songs I write. I learned to consider the perspective of just one person, as an individual,” Larissa said.

Child-like joy

A local baker gave Katherine Villegas, a dancer from Costa Rica, a free taste of some Italian goodies from her shop. Katherine was so touched by this gesture that she set off to buy the baker something in return for the kindness she had shown her.

"The baker was so nice to my friends and I and we wanted to do something for her. We found a flower shop and there we met an older woman, her name was Eva. She reminded me of my grandma,” Katherine said.

Eva began asking Katherine and her friends questions such as where they were from and why they were in Isola, and then she started talking about her own family.

“I don't know how, but she opened her heart and she started to tell us that she was really sad and worried because her business isn't doing very well. It was shocking because we knew we couldn't do much to help her other than to buy some flowers that we could give as a present to the baker.”

Later that day, Katherine was considering the different conversations she had in Isola and Eva kept coming to her mind.

"I was praying and asking the Lord what He wanted me to create out of this experience. I really felt Him telling me that wants Eva to feel like a kid again. You know, kids don't worry about money, or what they are going to eat or if tomorrow they are going to sell enough flowers to make ends meet.”

Katherine’s conversation with Eva inspired her to create a dance that captured the playful, joyous spirit that children have.

“Even if she is an older woman, God sees [Eva] as His child and He wants her to play and be happy. I really want to represent Eva being joyful and to show that she can return to the place where she is, but she can be at peace and not stressed anymore. Hopefully, one day I can show her the dance!"

Pray for the artists participating in the Incarnate programme of OM Arts as they continue to engage the people of Isola, Italy and demonstrate God’s love to them.

Lauren O'Shea is a journalist from the United States. She is a communications intern for OM Middle East North Africa, currently on assignment with OM Arts during the Incarnate programme, and is dedicated to telling the world what God is doing through global missions and the arts.

“We have these awesome creative people, we’re in this beautiful place and we find ourselves in the midst of people who need Jesus,” said Bill Drake, the director of Incarnate and OM Arts. “It was such a joy to reveal Incarnate to the Italian community here, to show them the treasure that God has brought to this valley,” he continued.

As the sun began to set, residents of Isola gathered to learn more about the 26 artists who will be spending the next three months in residence at the Christian campground, Centro Evangelico Isola.

Guests wandered around the property and observed the musicians, visual artists and dancers in their respective studio spaces. The visual artists emitted shy smiles as strangers inspected their art-in-progress and music reverberated through the halls as the musicians and dancers rehearsed their pieces.

That evening, guests and artists gathered in the main auditorium and the official presentation began. Joe Hunziker, the director of the Centro Evangelico Isola, welcomed locals and acknowledged the special guests in attendance.

Before the Incarnate artists began their presentations a local men’s a cappella choral group, the Alpini Coro, warmed up the audience with three songs that best represent the traditional musical style of the region.

Kicking off the artist presentations, Ellie Rose, a visual artist from the UK, shared highlights from her portfolio and revealed the meaning and inspiration behind her pieces. Ellie also explained how she incorporates her faith into her art.

Next, Katya Richter, a pianist from the United States, played one of her original compositions entitled, “A Love Story.”

“I chose to share that piece because the story behind it is universal,” Katya said. “It’s about a love story between us and God. I think that people can relate to love no matter what culture they come from.”

Several other musicians performed, then everyone headed over to the dance studio. The dancers shared pieces from several disciplines of dance: hip-hop, modern and contemporary. The final performance was a collaboration with the dancers and Dileep Ratnaike, co-director of OM Arts and Incarnate administrator, who accompanied the dancers with an improvised saxophone piece.

After the showcase ended the Centro Evangelico Isola staff, Incarnate participants and the people of Isola shared a time of food and fellowship. 

Lauren O'Shea is a journalist from the United States. She is a communications intern for OM Middle East North Africa, currently on assignment with OM Arts during the Incarnate programme, and is dedicated to telling the world what God is doing through global missions and the arts.

For Italian team leader Michel, returning to the same church in the town of Capaci with a second Transform team made it easy to reconnect. The eight-woman strong team of seven nationalities and five languages, together with helpers from the local church, were hoping for two special weeks where God would use them to make a difference in the lives of those they met.

“I had a great time last year and decided right when I got home to come back again this year!” exclaims Nadia Visser, from the Netherlands. “And I am so thankful I came this year because it was another great experience I would not have missed.”

For Nadia, it was special to renew relationships with the local Christians she had worked with the previous summer.

The first day of preparations included cleaning the square in front of the church where they would later play with the children. While the team removed empty beer bottles and plastic wrappings, word quickly spread in the town that “some weird people from all over the world have come.”

Tuesday, 20 children showed up, and during the week more children joined as word continue to spread. Some were reluctant to enter the church but soon felt confident and accepted. Songs and dances, Bible lessons and crafts, mixed with outdoor activities like games and water balloon fights, made for exciting days. Working with church members, the team made sure each child received personal attention and love throughout the week.

“I believe God really used us to tell his story and to introduce Jesus to the kids in a fun way,” says Merel van der Lugt, from the Netherlands. “My hope is for the kids to keep their hearts open for Jesus and the love he brings. As a team, we had the opportunity of growing more towards God. I’ve learnt from this trip that everything is possible as long as you do it with or for God.”

Merel also relates her personal experience: “When asked to share my story with the team I made it really short because I’ve always hated to hear my own story; it reminds me of who I was and what a horrible human I am. After sharing I felt strangely relieved. Then I heard my baptism song being played; I was touched and it felt like God laid his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘I am here, don’t worry’.”

“We all came with burdens, as well as expectations of God, and we left more than winners,” reflects Nelly Nebor, from Guadalupe.

“I learnt that I am a natural storyteller and able to communicate well with persons who do not speak English as their first language,” smiles Chantell McSweeney, from The Bahamas. She also found the Sicilians to be kind and loving people, very hospitable and with a strong sense of community.

In any team or group, each person has a different story, and this team was no exception. Each member shared her story with the team, and some felt safe enough to share deeper issues they had never before shared with anyone.

“These moments were very special,” says Nadia, “and to some, it helped start the process of forgiving themselves or others. It brought the team closer together. I think God chose the people in my team not only because of the work for the church in Capaci, but also to help everyone’s own progress of the personal issues they were dealing with.”

Nadia felt she learnt a lot about herself, and that sharing personal struggles from the past may help the one who shares, as well as others who are going through similar issues.

Chantell reflects, “Late nights at the accommodation, team leader Michel, armed with his guitar, would often fill the air with beautiful music, and our team would chime in with the lyrics. Out of these awesome worship sessions we discovered a nightingale hiding amongst us. Her name is Nadia and she sang like an angel.

“These are the kinds of things that happen on missions: discoveries,” concludes Chantell. “Whether it is discovering someone else’s amazing talent, as in the case with Nadia, or realising yet again how blessed we are to be the Bride of Christ through the simplicity of song, or confirming that you are naturally a storyteller or showcasing talent, as in the case of Michel and his guitar.”

Pray for the children in Sicily to grow in their relationship with Christ and for the follow-up work by the church now that the team has left. Pray also for each team member to know God’s touch on their lives; some are considering long-term ministry. If you are thinking of joining a short-term team, please visit the OM website, where new options are posted frequently.

“Going into this week I was excited to see what God would do,” Jennifer said. “Being new to Italy, this camp gave me exposure to the Italian culture and helped me practice my limited Italian. More importantly, it also allowed me to be reminded that God works regardless of the language you speak.”

The church in Piombino is small, but they have a passion to spread the love of Jesus and bring others to a saving knowledge of Him. The main focus of the camp was to expose the children to English and scout skills, but more importantly to teach them about Jesus Christ.

Eight children attended the camp, and three of the boys didn’t yet know Christ. The smaller number enabled the leaders to spend more time with each child and allowed them to build deeper relationships with them. The focus of the week was to plant seeds and teach them about the Fruit of the Spirit, as well as English along the way.

Each day included teaching about the Gospel in English in the morning, followed by scout activities in the afternoon and events planned into the evening. Each lesson was about one Fruit of the Spirit and pointed to the final lesson about faith in Christ.

While playing English games and singing silly songs, the hearts of the children became receptive to hearing about Christ and the truth.

The three boys who didn’t know Christ listened closely and asked questions as the week progressed. When the final lesson came, and the Gospel was shared through the Wordless Book, the seeds God had planted started to sprout, reported Jennifer.

“No time did I ever feel that God's love wasn't getting across to them,” Jennifer said. “He removed any boundary, and the children who didn't know Him were so receptive to understanding more about what Jesus did for them, and how it affects their lives.”

Now, the three boys want to be part of the children’s community at the church in Piombino, which will provide more opportunity for their hearts to hear the truth of the Gospel. Christ’s love has been shared and planted in the hearts of the next generation, and the OM team prays that God will continue to work in their lives to bring them closer to Him.

“It’s a beautiful thing to see children come to have an understanding of Jesus Christ,” said Jennifer. “We are all called to follow Christ, and do what He calls of us. If only one child comes to know of Jesus Christ, it was all worth it. Each of the children left camp with more joy and more love for following Christ. My prayer is that the work God has done through this camp will encourage the church community there, knowing that faith in Christ is the only thing we need to rely on. When we rely on it, His work slowly begins to transform us to bear His image more and more.”

To learn about opportunities to serve with OM in Italy, click here.

The team were welcomed warmly by the McCourtney family, who serve with OM in Podgorica, and HeeJung Bang, who travelled from Bar to spend the week with the visitors.

The cultural orientation the OM Montenegro team provided revealed surprising facts about the new country. In formal existence since 2007, the country of 600,000 people only has 150 evangelical believers, forming seven churches. The Gospel arrived in Montenegro 20 years ago through Serbian missionaries, who still serve in the country.

One of OM’s main focuses of ministry in Podgorica is the young people, both believing and non-believing. There is a thriving youth group at a local church, and the team met them at a party at the house of Jesse and Andrea McCourtney.

Some of the youth have grown up believing, others are newer to the faith. They ate pizza, sang worship songs, told stories and discussed some of their questions about God and faith. Jesse was hoping that the team from OM Italy would encourage the young people in their faith, especially as the culture there is similar to that of Italy.

The team was blown away by the commitment and sacrifice demonstrated by the youth through the depth of their questions, and they walked away more encouraged than the youth.

“They may only be small in number, but we could see them being amazing ambassadors for the Lord!” said one team member, Freyja Saunderson.

The second part of the week was spent in Bar, located by the sea. The OM team there consists of about 10 people. One of their main outreaches is hosting English and German language cafés in the OM building. This has seen many relationships form and strengthen, with at least one person coming to faith in Jesus Christ through the programme.

During the OM Italy team’s time there, a special, one-time-only Italian language café was held. Many people in Montenegro know at least basic Italian, so there was enthusiasm for the event. The team advertised it, using chalk art on the pavement, singing songs and handing out invitations. The team found the evening to be a great success, featuring Italian karaoke, a trivia quiz and authentic Italian food.

“There were some new faces there, which was great to see,” said new team member, Nem Palmer, “and they were able to be connected with the local team.”

OM Italy was blessed and encouraged through the experience and hope they were a blessing to the people they met in Montenegro. Please pray for the country, the local believers and especially the young people, that they would continue to be strengthened by the Lord in their walk with Him.

Lloyd and Marj are in their 60s. Lloyd was a recently retired sales representative and Marj had been a professional nurse and teacher. It was a step of faith for them to move to Italy to serve in missions full time.

“Many times in the past I had hoped for another opportunity to be involved in full-time missions; however, it just never happened. Little did I expect that in our 60s we would embark on this great journey to Italy,” stated Marj.

Lloyd knew that learning the language would be a formidable challenge, but nonetheless he served sacrificially in the areas of coordinating volunteers and hospitality service. Lloyd’s presence and work was highly appreciated by the many visitors from Italian churches and other guests; but foremost, he blessed the local missionaries. 

“He was investing in our lives spiritually by leading devotions and teaching Bible studies,” commented an Italian co-worker. “He was always there when we needed him. His work ethics, experience and commitment were inspiring to us.”

Marj, on the other hand, knew she wanted to learn Italian to communicate with the people she encountered daily. In a few weeks she was able to use several phrases, and in a matter of months she could already hold small conversations with her acquaintances in town.

The butcher’s wife, the librarian and a few neighbours began to know her well. Soon Marj was asked to spend one morning a week with young Italian moms who wanted to improve their English. 

Marj also started singing with the local choir from the Valdensian Church, participating in special services. A particular joy for her every few weeks was listening to the town librarian read Italian stories to senior women.  

One lady with whom Marj shared English conversation was also the coordinator of the parent’s association at the local school. From this contact, a ministry to the local primary school children started that met once a week for the whole school year.

The months flew by and, at the end of their two-year term, their goodbye party provided another opportunity to impact lives for Christ. Over 40 women from the community gathered at a local trattoria, whose owner had become a friend of Marj. What was supposed to be a farewell party became an occasion to rejoice in life shared together, to celebrate women and friendship. They laughed together, sang together and had tea and treats; but most importantly, it was a planned occasion to share why Marj and Lloyd had come to Italy: to serve God and share His love. 

As Marj shared a message from her heart and the Gospel of Christ in English, a young OM volunteer translated joyously into Italian. A few Italian Bibles found new homes that day, and ladies were challenged to live out their heritage of faith. 

The ladies gave Marj a Valdensian Cross in a necklace to help her remember them. One of the women from the church spoke up unexpectedly at the end, promising not to forget what she had experienced. She acknowledged that she too had work to do in the town and had been humbled by a stranger who reminded her of the value of caring deeply for each other. Perhaps the farewell for Marj was only a beginning for others.

One couple, with hearts to reach others with Christ’s tender hug, created a connection for which many of the town had been yearning. Lloyd and Marj learnt that it is never too late to embark in service that can change their lives and the world around them.

“God’s sense of uniqueness and diversity in the midst of everything He does is amazing,” said Manu Peloza, from Colombia. “It does not matter where people come from or what they do, just like He says in His Word, if two or more come together because of Him, He is there.”

Manu found this to be true while volunteering at the OM Italy camp this summer in Torre Pellice. “God was there in every small and large detail of the event, even before it all had started. He had arranged everything into place,” he said.

Through the camp OM Italy aimed to impact the lives of children in the Alpine valley in which Torre Pellice is situated, like OM Italy has done for the past seven years.  

This year, 150 kids participated, many of whom attended for the first time. “This is a good sign, because it means we are having some impact on their lives,” commented a camp coach.

During the camp, the children enjoyed sports, crafts, music, Bible teaching and more. “The bonds and friendships that were made, as we all learnt about labels and how God called us His, planted a seed that we believe will have a lifetime impact,” said Manu.

“Even after long, hot summer days, kids repeating our theme Bible verse and singing the camp songs with big smiles on their faces made the tiredness worth it. We rely on God’s promise that, “…he who began a good work in [them] will carry it on to completion…” (Philippians 1:6; NIV).

Over 70 adults from different countries helped make the camp possible. “God, too, was among the coaches and leaders who came together to help,” concluded Manu. “He spoke to each one of them, challenged them, and overall reminded them that He has always been there, and that He speaks no matter the place or the language. God has called us His, and is always there with us and for us.”

Praise God for OM Italy’s successful summer camp. Please pray that the children who attended will remember what they learnt and grow in relationship with God.  

The Transform team in Sicily served a small church near Palermo in a village called Capaci. Our ten person team had members from nearly every continent, with ages ranging from 17 to 53. Our goal was to help the small church restart their programmes by reaching out to the neighbourhood and by determining how the church could best serve the village.

We ran programmes for children and teenagers, reaching out to the adults in the community, too. We also helped to repair the church building and clean the neighbourhood. We were given opportunities to share about the church with people - many didn't even know it existed. It was great to see how God touched the villagers, and encouraged his church to continue its work.  

The Vitter family has been serving with OM Italy since August 2012. Parents Robert and Lara, and their three little girls, Annabella Grace, 5, Priscilla Hope, 3 and Lydia Love ,1 and born in Italy, are from the US and say they love living and serving in the Italian community. 

When they first responded to a job description on the OM website, it said "Community Living, Jesus Style.” They didn’t know exactly what this would look like, but it turned out that this involved many different things. They have been teaching several individuals English and getting to know the local business owners at the café, gelateria, butcher, pizza restaurants, supermarket and cheese shops.

They have found that the children are a great blessing and tool that the Lord has given them to naturally start conversations that ultimately lead to the question, "Why are you here?” The Vitters then explain why they moved to Italy and serve with OM.

The family goes to the local nursing home weekly, and the children interact with the residents. They bring artwork to hand out and usually dance and visit with these new "extra grandparents".

Lara said, "This is something I did as a child with my family, and it has been a blessing to watch our children naturally love on these people who might rarely have visitors or see children.”

The family also likes to educate others about the United States and have done presentations at the schools and taught the students about the country’s history and different geographical regions, how to make chocolate chip cookies and how to play baseball and do famous American dances like the “Electric Slide”.

"I don't know who gets more enjoyment out of it, the children or me, but our passion is to love others, and this is an easy way to share the love of Christ with others in our community,” said Robert.

Lara has had a hard time learning the language, and for the first six months, she had a tutor and went to classes four days a week.  Even though her Italian is broken at best, she sees God bringing English speakers into her life and has found that her language disability is a bond with the others who only speak English and also have difficulties.

There is a professional hockey team in town, and some of the wives and girlfriends of the hockey players have become Lara’s good friends. This has led to weekly playdates and get-togethers, and again the questions arise as to why the Vitters are in Italy, which leads the family to share their testimony and faith.

From Lara’s language classes came relationships that led to meetings outside of class for coffee and encouragement for those struggling with the language. After a year, this blossomed into a teammate offering to meet for art classes instead of at the café, and one of the new friends offered to start a book club. There were usually five to six women meeting twice a week, and three women are not believers yet but have been asking questions.

Lara said, "This time has been very special to grow the friendships and relationships, and to open up and share life together. We have all shared our testimony and faith, and one of the women recently said she has been here for 40 years and has never felt the friendship and joy that she has experienced since we all started meeting more regularly.”

The Vitters have been in Italy for almost two years, and the relationships built have become genuine. Others have started to open up and share their struggles, joys and questions with them. Robert and Lara use their home to have families and friends over for meals, which they see as a special way to share Jesus with others in a tangible way.

Lara and Robert agree: "This has been a blessing to share Christ in an area that seems to want nothing to do with God. But there are a few who do, and we are honoured to be able to share with them."

Dear prayer partners and supporters,

I cannot believe that one year has passed since the last Ride2Tranform. I also cannot believe that I am part of the ride again. When we arrived in Rome last year for the Transform conference, I thought it had been a lot of fun, but that it was enough for me. Instead I am part of the Ride2Transform again, and I cannot wait to jump on the bike to start!

This year we will offer our foreign brothers an amazing ride through some of the most beautiful cities of Bella Italia. Starting in Venice on the 17 July, we will ride through Mantova, Parma, La Spezia and Lucca. God willing, we will arrive at OM’s Transform conference in Rome on 22 July. According to our calculations, we will ride 863 kilometres (about 536 miles) in total!

Besides me, the riders this year are Tobias Schultz, the leader of OM Germany, Johannes Grohn from Finland, and Robert Vitter, an American missionary working with OM Italy. With only four of us, the team is a bit smaller than last year, but it turns out to be for the best, as many of the churches that will host us could not have hosted a bigger group.

The build up to this ride has not been easy. I, for example, have had a flat tyre three times in the past couple of weeks, plus I got rained on a couple of times. The other riders have faced their own struggles. But I am sure that even though the enemy is trying to slow us down, our Protector will be with us during the ride and give us the energy and safety that we will need. And if not, we know God has a better plan.

The goals of the ride are to connect with churches, believers and others, to share about Transform and this year’s project, along with having fun.

The money raised will go toward an OM project that helps refugees of the Syrian war. An estimated nine million Syrians have fled their homes since the outbreak of civil war in March 2011, taking refuge in neighbouring countries or within Syria itself. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about 2.5 million have fled to Syria’s immediate neighbours: Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. Six and a half million are internally displaced within Syria.

Please stand behind us in prayer and spread the word about our ride! You can learn more about the ride on our website, ride2transform.org – where you can follow us through live tracking – and on Facebook.

May the Lord bless you,

Michel Di Feliciantonio and the Ride2Transform team

A fanatic is one who exudes a passionate single-mindedness that causes all other things to pale in importance. The documentary Nefarious: Merchant of Souls calls for Christians to become fanatics – for Jesus and for the justice that He would have us uphold – by educating its viewers about the atrocity of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. It calls for not merely “interested bystanders” but sold-out fanatics for the restorative love and healing that Jesus has to offer. 

The team at OM Italia’s Tesori Raggianti (Radiant Treasures) have taken up this call to become fanatics, not only for Jesus, but for this cause.

This anti-trafficking ministry was launched in October 2012 to become an advocate for the oppressed in the region and to educate and mobilise the community. It takes its name from Psalm 34:5, which says, “Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces” (NLT).

On Sunday 27 April, Tesori Raggianti held its first public screening of Nefarious in the local theatre of Torre Pellice. The event was advertised widely during the preceding weeks, and the team was excited to see that the group who turned out included pastors from different churches and members of the churches in the area, as well as some non-believing community members.

Tears flowed freely among those in the audience as they witnessed, through the film, the tragic realities of the global commercial sex industry and the lives restored by the love of God on screen.

The screening was followed by a short presentation specifically about what this issue looks like in Italy and how Tesori Raggianti is responding.

“There are approximately 50,000 victims of commercial sexual exploitation in Italy today,” Erika, Tesori coordinator, explained to the audience. “Only 1-2 per cent of those victims are rescued.”

She went on to outline the ministry’s three focus areas: prevent, protect and pray. The prevention stage involves awareness campaigning and programmes, aimed at both the wider community and those at risk. The protection stage includes street outreach and victim contact, as well as training for anti-trafficking workers in the areas of after care and the healing process. And finally, the prayer stage consists of mobilising a broader base of people in prayer, both locally and internationally, through regular prayer meetings and newsletters.

The event was capped off with a time of food and fellowship, which facilitated conversations about next steps and how the community can continue to be involved. People from a number of different denominations expressed interest in participating in a regular prayer ministry. Some members of a men’s ministry will be discussing how they can get involved and educate and encourage other men in the community to make a stand for this issue.

Tesori Raggianti also plans to host more screenings of the film in the coming months. In addition to these awareness and education programmes, Tesori Raggianti will host a training conference at the end of May to further equip anti-trafficking workers in the area of care and restoration.

The ministry also aims to commence street outreach in the fall.

Please pray for the victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Pray for the members of this community, that they would continue to be passionate about this cause.

For more about the ministry of Tesori Raggianti or the issue of human trafficking and sexual slavery, visit the website at www.tesoriraggianti.com.

It is the second time OM Italy has hosted the Incarnate programme, an international school of missions that teaches students, “how to be effective artists in different cultures with the message and modelling of Jesus Christ,” according to OM Arts member Dileep Ratnaike.

The first Incarnate school took place in 2012, with 17 artists from various countries and cultures, including dancers, musicians and visual artists.

This year, the programme focuses solely on the areas of music and visual arts, and the three musicians and seven visual artists participating will be joined by a dance team for a week-long arts festival at the culmination of the programme.

Current student Cheong Mak of Hong Kong shares that although the students and staff come from more than 10 different cultural backgrounds, “together we learn to share love and create artwork in this beautiful valley, as we are living in the greatest story of the world – our Lord’s story!”

Incarnate focuses on the development of the students as individuals and aims to equip them with new tools for growth and potential in ministry through art. Each class is taught by OM Arts staff members, with additional seminars by visiting artists and missionaries who share their experience and vision for arts in missions.

A month into the programme, Curtis Doherty from Canada voiced that “the Holy Spirit is working heavily. It has been a great time of learning helpful and relevant knowledge and tools for the arts in a world that needs Jesus. I have heard more often from God here than any other month of my life.”

Each student and staff member is actively involved with a local church throughout the course and encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to minister within the community, whether through art or a simple conversation.

Clearly the programme is achieving what OM Arts Director Bill Drake envisioned: to build a “solid theological platform from which the artist can proceed, a validating and self-awareness process for all the artists’ gifting and calling … [and] awareness of what God is doing through the arts in His world.”

Please pray for the students of Incarnate 2014.

Forterocca expects these young artists from many nations to explore the connections between art, faith and community service. The students, guided by their teachers, will be prepared to put their art into action in various ministry opportunities around the world.

Eliseo Guadagno, director of OM Italy, expressed his joy for this second session of Incarnate: “It is a dream come true to see this school come to life again at Forterocca, in the Pellice Valley, where for generations young Christian believers have been motivated for this same reason – to go into the world and make known the Word of God. Right here at Forterocca, our Italian volunteers will have a way to learn and share ideas with artists from all over the world." Guadagno also highlighted the three words that summarise the intentions of OM Italy: "Collaboration, Evangelisation and Mission."

Students from the first Incarnate school in 2012 said they had gained “a greater ability to interact with other cultures in order to share their art." One participant said, "[the school] transformed my life". Another said, "It made me aware of the harmony that exists between my being and my art."

The official inauguration takes place on 15 February at Forterocca and features a preview demonstration of art and music. The event is free of charge and refreshments will be served, from 16:00 to 18:00.

Please feel free to join OM Italy in this event, welcoming young artists and their teachers from around the world. And please pray for the school and the artists as they discover more about God through art.

Recently, the OM team had dinner with Giammarco’s family, as the first Christians to step foot in their family home. The team was humbled to receive Giammarco’s dinner invitation, knowing they would dine with his non-believing family.

A simple thing such as partaking in a family meal may not sound significant, but Giammarco explained that it marked a courageous step of faith for him. His family does not support his decision to follow Jesus, and because of this, they generally choose not to associate with people connected with the church. The dinner was a rare opportunity, and the team shined the light of Jesus that night and trust that God has planted seeds in the hearts of Giammarco’s family.

Giammarco explained that his parents don’t know whether there is a God and view religion as mechanical and impersonal, and that his sister has declared herself an atheist. “The problem is that for them, God is an illusion I’ve created in my mind,” Giammarco states. “On the contrary, we know that Jesus is the only truth.”

Like Giammarco, most Italians have a family history rooted in Roman Catholicism and most lack the desire to pursue a personal relationship with Jesus. Giammarco admits that being a Christian in Italy is hard, in part because evangelical Christians are extremely rare.

“Trying to explain the real meaning of God’s Word to non-believers can be difficult since you are very often seen as an ‘alien’, because you’re trying to destroy a wall that centuries of Catholic-based lies have built around people,” he says.

Giammarco’s conversion took place in 2011, when his life began to fall apart at the seams and he eventually hit rock bottom. A friend at university recognised his hurt and invited him to church. Giammarco reluctantly said yes. He felt lost and didn’t know where else to turn.

While at the church service, a woman he didn’t know approached him and told him that the church had been praying for him. Giammarco was shocked to learn that people who didn’t even know him were praying for him with compassion and love. In this moment, he recalls feeling “something strange” happening in his heart.

Shortly following his visit to the church, he began attending a Bible study. The study was on the book of Romans. Within seconds of reading Paul’s greeting to the Romans, Giammarco sensed God beckoning him: “I want to be with you, I want to lead your life. I want you to understand that the storm you’re currently living isn’t caused by chance – I’ve arranged every single detail to make you see that I’m calling you, and that your ideas about Me are wrong.”

Giammarco fondly recollects, “I felt something like a fire inside me. I wanted to pray with the people who were there, and in that moment I clearly felt that Jesus was entering in my life.”

Giammarco was baptised on 17 November 2012 and travels 90 miles each way to attend church at Nuova Vita (New Life) in Bologna, Italy. He has a full-time job and will soon earn his master’s degree in political science from the University of Bologna.

Giammarco asks for prayer often for the salvation of his family. Regardless of his family’s wilful resistance, Giammarco believes it is the responsibility of Christians with non-believing family members to be bold with their faith, and he urges fellow Christians in a similar situation to, “show them who we really are, and what is the real meaning of having Jesus living inside us.”

He also asks for prayer that God would give him the fortitude to push through the discouraging days and resist embracing the world and its temptations. Giammarco rests in God’s sovereignty and encourages Christians to look to 2 Timothy 2:11-13, which reminds that even when we fail to be faithful, we are assured that God’s faithfulness never fails.

“My uncle was shot to death five years ago, right outside the doors of a church,” said Antonio.

A reverent hush fell over the short-term OM Italy team, as well as the other Christians in the room. Antonio then shared a brief background, explaining his spiritual condition just prior to his uncle’s death: Antonio had finally reached a point in his life where he felt ready to explore the possibility of God’s existence and decided he wanted to begin attending church.

As Antonio had acted on his positive resolve to attend a church service, you can imagine the horror he suffered when he witnessed the scene of his uncle’s death that day. His uncle was an innocent victim.

Antonio expressed his deep-set devastation and confusion, “I immediately began to question God—I was angry. I prayed, how could [God] let something like this happen after I finally agreed to go to church?”

As Antonio recollected the painful event, listeners instantly recognised the exquisite fingerprint that had been left by Jesus on this man’s life—a seeming tragedy, beautifully disguised as grace.

Antonio believed “it was fate” that he was led to the place where the OM Italy team had been evangelising that night. Those who listened to Antonio’s words knew it wasn’t fate that had led him there—it was a living God who was in faithful pursuit of Antonio’s heart.

Antonio continued to unfold his story. Three nights prior, he had awakened from a mysterious dream that stirred his soul. He didn’t disclose the details of the dream but was convinced that it contained a form of foreshadowing that somehow pointed to a coming supernatural encounter.

Just minutes prior to meeting the OM Italy team, Antonio said he felt an inexplicable urge to walk to Urbino, a university town near his home. He went to the town simply to purchase a pack of cigarettes, as per his usual routine.

It was a rainy, cold night, yet he made the two-kilometre journey to Urbino. As he neared the cigarette store, and stood only feet away from entering it, he changed his mind unexpectedly and took a detour. He soon found himself standing in the middle of the public square, with no rhyme or reason.

It was there that Antonio met the short-term OM Italy missions team, who was singing worship songs in the public square. It began raining steadily, and Antonio saw the team scrambling for dry cover. He offered to help move musical equipment to a covered area.

Once settled, the team resumed their singing and found an attentive audience in Antonio. He was deeply touched and said that the songs comforted his wounded heart. He believed that God was speaking to him that night and encouraging him to mend his relationship with God and to return to the church.

Please pray that Antonio will connect with a Christian church family. Please also pray that God calls him to repentance so that he can cleanly establish a relationship with Jesus Christ, through saving faith in the only One True God. 

“At Transform, God told me He wanted me to go into longer-term missions,” said Hannah (Australia), a participant who did outreach to Roma children in Albania. “Even though I’ve always been on a path I can see, God’s done a transformation in my life.”

Transform 2013 kicked off with a conference in Rome, before participants spread across the Mediterranean on 29 outreaches in partnership with OM ministries. At the conference, participants were blessed by music from Aaron Keyes, an array of speakers and practical workshops about missions and sharing their faith. One day, participants were sent out into the city to practice their newly learnt evangelism skills through music, dance and sharing literature.

“It’s been really encouraging to listen to speakers like Joni Brinkley,” said Heli (Finland). “The stories come out of her life experiences, which are so wide.”

Stories telling of the impact of God’s work through Transform across the Mediterranean are still coming in. At the conference, one speaker shared the gospel with youth attending an event at the same hotel. On outreach day, God gave two separate participants a vision that led them to speak to the same hurting woman at different times—and only afterward did they realise it!

A Transform kid’s club outreach to the Near East resulted in several new families becoming involved in a local church; in France a woman’s mind-set changed after interacting with a trafficked woman; in Italy a professional clown used his talents to share the gospel with children on the streets; in Spain an outreach team partnered with a local church to start a church plant in another village—and the stories go on.

Just as powerful is the work God did in the lives of those involved in the Transform project. One Muslim-background believer discovered new vision for staying strong through suffering. Several participants responded to the Transform30 challenge and committed their lives to longer-term missions. Others realised God called them to be missionaries in their current circumstance, wherever they might be.

“I really feel like God has confirmed to me my calling to minister in the public schools,” said Sherry (Canada). “Not everyone is called to the mission field, but everyone has a mission field.”

To see photos and read more stories about God’s work through Transform, or to get involved, visit the website or Facebook page.

The Transform team was formed by a group of Brazilians—who brought joy and good atmosphere from their country—and several Italians who had merged beautifully during the Transform conference. On top of that, when the team arrived to the site, they found a group of young believers eager to help.  

Every day the group used "The Cage", a mobile sports unit, in collaboration with Youth for Christ. They played near the seaside with children and youth. After every hour the games stopped and someone from the team shared his or her testimony or a story about Jesus.

Through these activities the team met the mother of two girls, Aurora*, a Romanian lady. Aurora felt encouraged by the presence of believers, and opened up her heart to the team.

“She told us that she will go back to Romania in September and that she will get baptised there," the OM team said. "She also told us that her husband didn’t believe in God and often didn’t allow her to go to church or read the Bible.”

The team gathered together and prayed over Aurora and her two daughters, and on two occasions Aurora’s husband came and played in "The Cage" with the daughters. 

During the evenings, the OM team had two shows, including songs, dramas and testimonies. After the shows the team distributed New Testaments and fliers, which gave them the opportunity to talk with several people. The church and the team has also been greatly blessed by a family that started to attend every event and promised to visit the services at church.  

"The outreach was awesome," said Pedro, one of the Brazilians. "God has made big things in Vasto. I think that a big revival is coming to Italy. The way that kids, adults and elderly people received the message taught me that it's not by what I’m capable to do, but by the grace of the almighty God.

"Once I heard that when we take care of God's things, He takes care of ours. So I want to encourage people to come and share these moments. Don't worry about your stuff, because He is already working on His great plan for us."

To read more about God's work through OM Italy, go to their news webpage. 

*Name changed

“We have given ourselves and spent our bodies to be part of bringing relief and transformation to people in desperate need,” said Andrew Burton, from New Zealand, who works with OM Belgium and was the leader of the project. “The chance to do something for a reason—that was a sell.”

Eight riders—as well as a supporting team member who drove the supply van with them—made the trip from OM Italy’s base in the north of Italy to join the Transform 2013 conference participants in Rome 16-20 July. Three of the riders are competitive cyclists in Belgium, which Andrew said was a huge benefit to the project.

The cyclists each raised funds to benefit several projects around the world, including Syrian refugee relief, a drop-in centre in Athens, an evangelism training programme in Egypt and sponsorships for Transform participants from the Global South.

“The purpose is to meet those practical needs,” Andrew said. “It’s such a huge crisis, the church has be an answer to that. In the midst of this crisis, people are more open to the gospel.”

The ride also served as a vehicle for fostering relationships and ministry partnerships with the Italian churches the cyclists stayed with along the route, helping to mobilise Italians to become more involved in global missions. The Transform team was very encouraged to welcome a higher number of Italian participants to this year’s Transform conference than in previous years.

“The churches made us feel like we were at home,” said Michael Stippelmans, one of the competitive cyclists from Belgium. “And in Italy that’s a great thing.”

Despite a great support team, the journey had its share of challenges, from the hills of Tuscany and hot, flat stretches near Rome, to a driving thunderstorm that caused the riders to seek shelter in the support van, to detours and wrong turns that added on the miles. One rider took a spill, but thankful none of the cyclists sustained any injuries that prevented them from finishing.

The overall fitness of the mixed group—some with quite a bit of experience, others with only a little—proved a real blessing to the effort, Andrew said, adding that the team worked really well together getting each other up and down the hills.

“Cycling is a selfish sport, all about winning,” Michael said, commenting on the unusual team spirit amongst the cyclists. “We helped each other when we most needed each other.”

Each of the cyclists would likely mention different aspects of the ride if asked their favourite part of the experience. But one thing seems to stand out in all of their minds—the reception awaiting the Ride to Transform cyclists when they arrived at the hotel hosting the Transform conference in time for the evening session.

“The whole trip the day before was really pushing,” Andrew said. “Flat and hot. There’s this hill right before [the end], it’s just brutal. We started hearing the crowd two turns away.”

Nearly 340 Transform participants and staff turned out to welcome the riders, lining the roadway and hotel drive all the way up to the doors of the main meeting room. When they received word the cyclists were close, the crowd began clapping and cheering, high-fiving and taking pictures of the riders as they rode right into the main meeting room.

“It was a moving experience and finished an amazing, epic journey in a way more amazing than we could have anticipated,” Andrew said. “Knowing that they’re cheering, not only for us but for why we’re doing it. Absolutely amazing.”

Gary Witherall, whose vision launched the Transform project in 2010, interviewed each of the riders on their experience during the first few minutes of the conference main session Tuesday evening. He shared about the Ride to Transform projects and gave participants an opportunity to donate to the projects as well.

The Ride to Transform cyclists even now have their sights set on next year’s project, adding that two women have already expressed interest in joining this special cause. Driven by both a passion for cycling and God’s heart for the nations, these riders are set on doing their part and making a difference for Christ in some of the neediest places in the world.

“I’ve raced for 13 years and never felt something like that,” Michael said, recalling the welcome of the Transform project crowd. “The most beautiful part for me was, I’m riding for people and for God, and my answer is my legs.”

You can see the route and read more about the Ride to Transform cyclists’ adventures at their website. To read more about God’s work in Italy see the OM news website.

Like Joshua at the walls of Jericho, Alessandra Platania, from Italy, stood her ground at the walls of the Vatican in Rome.

On day four of the Transform 2013 Conference, Alessandra and 340 other conference participants left the walls of the hotel to witness to the nations on the streets of Rome. Alessandra and her team spent time praying together and seeking the Lord before hitting the streets.

“When I was praying, I thought of the wall of Jericho and how they walked around it,” she said.

The team decided to spend time at the Vatican talking to people. Before leaving Alessandra prayed, "God, let me meet an evident need."

She walked around inside the Vatican and God impressed on her that the need was not inside, but outside, where she met a beautiful Nigerian woman.

“We looked at each other, and I walked over and sat with her,” Alessandra said. “I asked her if everything was okay, what she was doing, but she didn’t answer. Then she asked if the man who talked to her earlier had sent me.”

Unknown to Alessandra until the end of the outreach day, another boy in her group had received the same vision of Jericho and had already talked to this woman.

“When I talked to my friend about [my vision of] Jericho, it was incredible,” Alessandra said. “But we only knew everything later.”

The woman was very bitter against God and felt like God had simply abandoned her.

“Jesus is my best friend,” the woman told Alessandra. “But he has forgotten me. He doesn’t understand me.”

Alessandra offered to pray for the woman, recalling verses from Isaiah 40:31 and Micah 7:8 that talk about waiting on God in the darkness. Although the woman allowed Alessandra to pray if she wanted, she didn’t think Alessandra’s prayers would do any good.

“If God is so powerful, he can do everything,” the woman shouted. “I bring people to God, and he works with them, but why not with me?”

The woman explained to Alessandra that she had an elderly mother and a young child, but for 17 years she had not been able to go home to them. She would send them money, but couldn’t get home to visit. She went on to tell Alessandra that she had been through great humiliation for God. God needed to demonstrate that he really cared for her, the woman said.

“If you’re a believer, you know God sent his son for us,” Alessandra said. “The greatest demonstration of his love.”

The woman pulled out her Bible, and Alessandra showed her the story of the disciples caught in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus came for them, but not until the fourth watch of the night. The disciples could have wondered why Jesus took so long, Alessandra explained, but God had a reason.

It was a reminder for both Alessandra and the woman that the last half hour of prayer is often the hardest, when it almost seems like God has completely forgotten you.

“If God sent you two people in the same afternoon to tell you He loves you, don’t you think He is demonstrating His love to you?” Alessandra asked.

The woman told Alessandra she wasn’t going to give up on God. She was going to keep praying.

“I felt so happy for this woman I could jump,” Alessandra said. “I don’t know what will happen, but I feel God spoke to her to put her back on the right path.”

Looking back on the outreach day in Rome, Alessandra said at first she wasn’t sure if God could use her. She had been discouraged for so long it seemed almost impossible for God to use her. However, when verses started coming to her mind, she knew it was God working through her and speaking to her.

“While I was speaking to this woman it was like I was speaking to myself too,” she said. “It was like I was trying to remind myself. In the darkness it is easy to forget the truth.”

It was a struggle for Alessandra to be at the Transform conference, and her family is still not happy that she went, but Alessandra knows God used her and transformed her.

“It was my first time seeing something incredible like this happen,” she said. “It was a great chance and opportunity in Rome.”

Please pray that the woman Alessandra met would know the hope and peace that comes from close relationship with God. Pray also for the other seeds planted in peoples' hearts through conversations during the Transform outreach day.

Read more stories from Transform here, or sign up for Transform 2014 here.

The team's aim was to preach the gospel in Latina and the surrounding towns through the arts. The team leader, Dario - who has studied theatre and mime, and works as a professional clown - has a passion to serve the Italian church and preach the gospel in Italy through arts.

Every day, 10:00 to 13:00, the team created a three-hour programme open to the public with various activities like painting, drama, music and language lessons. The local church, as well as being incredibly hospitable and welcoming, was also generous in providing meals every day for the team.

The relationship with the church was solidified as the team was able to share testimonies, spend time getting to know the people, especially the youth, and were invited to meals by many of the families from church. This created great mutual encouragement during the week.

Dario's profession also created evangelistic opportunities. The first evening of the week, Dario performed at a local street artist festival, so the whole team was able to join in the fun, dress up as clowns and talk to children about Jesus' forgiveness.

"Being part of a festival like that is an experience I’ll never forget," said one team member, "and being able to use such fun means to talk to kids and their families about the Gospel was inspiring."

On the last three evenings of the week, the team was invited to three different locations to help in the local churches’ evenings of evangelism by performing theatrically and musically. They had fun with the kids, setting up a trampoline they could use, talking to the children and using the team's newly-acquired skills to make balloon animals.

The team was a big encouragement to the church, but all the team members seemed to feel they had received far more than they gave. Everyone learnt a lot through this experience about themselves, their gifts, God and how they can serve Him.

To learn more about God's work through OM Italy, see their news website. Read more stories about Transform here, or sign up here.

“When I was a little girl, household stories included true tales of adventures in a remote jungle tribe—the tribe where my grandparents were missionaries for over 20 years,” said Erika, adding that she made a commitment to Christ early in life and had her own adventures as a missionary kid when her parents served overseas.

“My rich heritage in faith and missions became more than stories about pet monkeys and witch doctors when I began to make it my own,” she said. “I read the climax of a biography about a missionary who was said to have proclaimed the gospel with his last breaths to the very men whose arrows killed him.

“It touched a chord that not only brought tears but deep conviction that there would be no better way to spend my life than in missions, taking the gospel to the hard places where it had not been heard.”

Erika felt an initial calling to missions when she was young, she said, and God continued to confirm it in following years as she participated in missions trips and church leadership, as well as attending a Bible college to receive training in full-time ministry. While at the Bible college, she met her husband, Jon, who shared her conviction to be a missionary. They began pursuing placement, but God had plans other than their own and shut the door on what seemed to be the perfect opportunity.

Instead, Erika and her husband spent the next six years gaining skills and experience in the workplace. During this time, Erika said, she realised that while God had strengthened her drive for justice and compassion—from a missions trip working at an orphanage to a college internship working with foster kids in Chicago—she lacked the knowledge needed. She returned to school and earned a master’s degree in social work. 

Finally, they again pursued overseas missions work. This time the doors flew open and Erika and her husband joined the OM Italy team.

“Despite the calling years ago and the miracles that clearly confirmed this was God’s will, I had a lot of doubt,” Erika said. “While my husband had a detailed job description, I had none. The unknown terrified me, and the actual act of leaving my life to go where He was sending me came down to a decision to obey God, while clinging to the truths in Lamentations 3:21-24. I desired to use the tools and experience God had given me to reach out to marginalised peoples wounded by traumatic experiences.”

However, it wasn’t until Transform 2012, six months after the Tello’s arrival on the field, God’s plan began to be revealed. Erika was asked to lead a Transform team serving victims of sex trafficking. As a result, she had her first encounter with a woman who was a victim of sex trafficking, and was inspired to launch what is now the OM Italy anti-trafficking ministry.

Just like the missionary whose story brought her to tears, Erika is now serving God in some of the hardest places and circumstances the world is facing today.

“I look forward to what God will do to transform the lives of those enslaved in such hard places in Italy,” she said, “as we proclaim Him there in the days to come.”

“The camp was great because there were so many different age groups coming together to learn and grow as one. Having the sports as well as music and crafts was good for the kids to learn more because of their different personalities,” said Lynz, from Georgia, US.

All the work was possible, thanks to God. The team saw Him make everything run smoothly, provide good weather, speak to the children’s hearts through the Holy Spirit and protect and bless the camp overall. God also provided the help that was needed. In addition to members of the OM team, volunteers from local churches and almost 25 people from the United States helped run the camp.

Each day started with a large group session, which included the camp dance, an introduction to the theme of the day, and a time of prayer. Next on the schedule was an hour and a half of sports. Each team went to a different sport every day, led by coaches from the US, Barbados, Nigeria and Italy. After the sports session, the 10 teams went to “team time”, when their leader would teach the Bible lesson. Each child brought a packed lunch for after the lesson.

“It was interesting to see how people can communicate with each other, even with a language barrier, through emotions and body language,” said Brooke, one of the American coaches. "I was most impressed by how many kids were there and how the people in charge were able to keep them constantly busy and under control.”

After lunch a recreation time gave the children an opportunity to run around with their friends, play games, and get their face and nails painted. Next, the teams went to crafts and music led by a team from Crossroads Church in Newnan, Georgia. Each day the teams switched between Italian and English worship music. The rest of the day consisted of another hour and a half of sports, snacks and the final large group session.

“It was just incredible to witness how the week unfolded,” said Michel, one of the team leaders. “Many children of my team had never prayed before and did not know how to do. But at the end of it everyone prayed, giving thanks for the good things in their lives and asking for help for the bad ones!”

The week ended, as usual, with the “Olympics”, a day of games with the children and their parents.

Please pray for the Word of God to continue to bear fruit in these children's lives. To learn more about the work of OM Italy, visit their news page. 

For this reason, the OM sports working group decided to offer free football games to the men and young adults in the area to give people the possibility to do something different. Now, football games take place every Saturday in Bobbio Pellice, a little village in north-west Italy.

Through sport we can reach people that we could not connect with otherwise. They would never walk into church but are happy to come and play with us on a football field.

“Through sport we can reach people that we could not connect with otherwise,” says Michel Di Feliciantonio, one of the organisers. “They would never walk into church but are happy to come and play with us on a football field.

"And it is not just sport. After every game we spend some time together, and for the upcoming months we are organising dinners and weekends away.”

People of all ages and background attended the first games, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

“The aim is for these relationships to be intentionally about discipling these men,” says Matthew Gibson, another member of the working group. “Of course this needs to be achieved by the building up of sound relationships between the guys. As we know some of them are not believers and others are struggling believers, the work starts with building up trusting relationships over the time we have together.”

Please pray for the relationships formed during these sporting events. To see more of what God is doing through OM Italy, go to their website or follow us on Facebook.

“Today I wrote something in English, and suddenly OM Lifehope jumped to my mind,” Andrea, from Italy, said. "Even though some time has passed since that month, the memories are still vivid. Since I am back I miss everything: the places, the people, the atmosphere. Although I had to work, for me it was a time to relax, to unplug."

OM LifeHope is a missions centre near Birmingham, UK, that aims to collaborate with local churches to reach the unreached and to prepare and train believers for mission.

So, why would a young adult, a long-time believer with a job and a local church, take holiday time to serve in a centre he had never seen before, in a country he had never visited and whose language he did not know?

“This choice came thanks to Transform," Andrea said, "the conference with focus on mission that happens in Rome. I have really heard a call from God, a call to leave my 'comfort zone'. I have heard the call to take a step. I prefer remaining in a known environment, where I do not risk, but I realised that I had to go out."

Through OM Italy, Andrea was able to go out of his comfort zone and, without going too far, he found himself in a completely different environment.

“Not just different cultures, food and habits," he said. "It was different seeing the open-to-mission mentality. Churches, for example, are used to supporting missionaries. This surprised me, because I don’t know how many Italian churches support a missionary.”

During the month Andrea served with OM Lifehope, he experienced in a particular way the presence and communion with God. Not being accustomed to new situations, it was difficult for him to leave everything and make a leap in the dark. But the Lord used that step of faith to talk to Andrea, to remind him that the mighty man is the one who trusts the Lord, not the one who believes that he has to fight with his own strength. The messages that Andrea heard during that month, on Moses and Gideon, were definitely not fortuitous. Andrea returned from England with a message of encouragement and positive change.

“I hope to have come back with a bit of enthusiasm for the young people of my church, in order to encourage them to do an experience abroad," Andrea said, "because it really helps to understand how much we need to leave our comfort zones.”

To God one day is like thousand years and thousand years are like one day. He can use the blink of the eye or an entire life to accomplish His will. He wants to use his sons but often they are too busy with their everyday life, with their job, desires and difficulties. Sometimes a little step of faith, like the one taken by Andrea, would be enough to get closer to the Lord, to understand that there is more in His kingdom that we can imagine. Because time, in His eyes, is relative. What matters is the attitude of the heart.

To find out more information about Transform 2013, go here. Also, take the time to check out the ministries of OM Lifehope and OM Italy. 

Denmark has a dominant state church, and yet only two per cent of the population attends church regularly. Italy has a prominent cultural religion, but few actually know the Saviour on whom that church was founded.

Seeing the similarities through cultural differences gave these teenagers an appreciation for the mission mindset, beyond the classes on missions they’d had at their Christian school. Field experience in Italy emphasised sacrificial service, unity in diversity and the essential aspect of supporting and encouraging missionaries.

The young Danes began their time at Forterocca, headquarters for OM Italy, with orientation on the spiritual challenges in Italy and some of the relevant aspects of the culture.

The group visited the historical sites related to the spiritual revolution that occurred in the Pellice Valley in the thirteenth century. They learnt about persecution, hardship and the cost of faith in those days and were challenged to think about how those principles and values are relevant for followers of Christ today.

The teens not only received instruction, but also gave of themselves as they ministered to several youth groups from different churches and denominations through their songs, sketches and testimonies.

“The talk about identity was very touching," said Stefania, a young Italian who attended the meeting. "Many times I struggled with my identity while growing up. The fact that we can have assurance of our identity in Christ is a crucial message for young people.”

OM Italy Field Leader Eliseo Guadagno said of the church gathering, “Having this group allowed us to bring different denominations together for a night of fellowship and communion. This is part of our calling in this nation, to serve the Church by modelling unity. It was a fantastic night of spiritual growth as we enjoyed community and different individuals shared from their story with God.” 

The group visited a local high school for a cultural exchange. In addition to sharing information about Denmark, they also sang songs they had composed and presented a sketch. The teacher thanked them for including in the programme items that touched the students’ hearts and souls, as well as their brains. The students shared in creative and explicit ways who God is and what He means in their lives.

Missionary work usually includes several support ministries, so the students had an opportunity to serve in practical ways at the training/hospitality centre and base of OM Italy. They learnt about the importance of sacrificial service, and of coming alongside the long-term missionaries to support them.  

“I never realised how important it is for a missionary to receive support, even for a short while," said Melissa, one of the volunteers. "There is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes, and when you receive a helping hand it makes a big difference—it encourages you and helps you carry on.”

A visit to Torino and a “meditative hike” towards France, as well as a visit to the local gelaterie—a cultural necessity—were also part of the programme.

Paula  Avila, the  team coordinator, summarised the teens’ exposure to missions: “The students were touched by the joy that comes from service to the King. They identified the many treasures that they were taking with them, but also identified the different burdens that they need to leave before the cross before continuing their path. We were moved as we looked back at God’s provision, guidance and goodness through the week, and as we looked forward to our walk and future service to Him.” 

Tim and Sophie, a young Australian couple who have been serving with OM in Paris the past two years, participated in the Transform 2012 conference and outreaches. Each day of the conference offered teaching, worship, training for specific fields and the opportunity for fellowship. Tim and Sophie also spent one day in Rome with other participants practicing what they’d learnt in the evangelism workshops.

“For us, the teaching about reaching out with the Gospel to the poor was so encouraging and challenging,” said Tim and Sophie. “It really motivated us, for both our upcoming outreach and our ministry at home in Paris.”

After the conference, Tim and Sophie travelled to North Africa with a team of a dozen people for a prayer-focused outreach. They arrived during the month of Ramadan, when many people are more focused on spiritual things. Because of this, much of their time was spent in intercessory prayer for the people of the region.

“We chose this region because many of the people we live and work amongst in Paris are from North Africa,” Tim and Sophie said, “so this was a chance for us to better understand where they come from, physically, culturally and spiritually. We had opportunities to explore, meet some locals and experience the culture first-hand as well. We were struck by the culture, which was very different from anything we were used to.”

They learnt from workers in different parts of the country about life in North Africa, and the many different needs and difficulties.

“We came away with a better understanding of a North African worldview and the difficulties faced by believers living there,” they said. “We would definitely recommend Transform to anyone who has the chance to go! It was a fantastic experience for us.”

Transform combines a five-day conference in Rome from 15-20 July and summer outreaches to over 30 Mediterranean countries for people of all ages, with an aim of taking the Gospel to the places where Christianity has its roots. For more information and to register for Transform click here or visit the Transform Facebook page for up-to-date stories and announcements. 

Her gracious host betrayed her promise and announced that Diamond was expected to service dozens of men per night with her body. She would be a sex slave until she paid the debt she owed for her trip to Italy. 

Three years later, OMer Erika Tello and two teammates went searching for Diamond.

“We didn’t know her personally yet,” Erika said, “but we knew that she, like 25,000 other men, women and children in Italy, was a treasure hidden in the darkness of the sex trafficking industry, and we wanted to reach out to her.”

OM Italy has become increasingly aware of and burdened by the plight of victims of trafficking in Italy, but remained uncertain how to respond. Erika joined OM Italy in January 2012, along with her husband, intending to use her skills and experience to serve the marginalised in the community, especially victims of trafficking. OM Italy was supportive and God provided opportunities, like Erika’s pivotal meeting with Diamond.

One night Erika and two members of her Transform short-term outreach team found Diamond waiting for her customers. After receiving their simple gifts, she slowly shared her story.

“The most disturbing moment was when our suspicions were confirmed,” Erika said. “She was not free to leave, and with sadness in her eyes and a drop of her head, she told us she knew no one who could help her.”

The despair Erika and her teammates felt for Diamond was rivalled by the thrill they felt knowing they wanted to help and had something to offer. They gladly gave her a hotline number she could call for help. They also shared the Gospel with her and were even able to pray over her. But then the most difficult part came—leaving her.

“I remember standing there, feeling like I couldn’t turn my back on her knowing the life she was returning to,” Erika said. “I wanted to snatch her away, but instead I offered her a hug. She seemed surprised but happy to receive what I hope was felt as a truly loving gesture, in contrast to the harsh and traumatic physical acts she endures every day.”

 Erika and her team members parted ways with Diamond with renewed conviction that she, and so many others, deserve better. They knew they wanted to participate in what God is doing to bring these precious treasures justice.

“The life-changing outreach experience I had with Diamond further convinced me to explore long-term ministry possibilities to combat trafficking in Italy,” Erika said.

OM Italy’s desire to help trafficking victims and Erika’s ability to spearhead efforts proved a divine combination. They launched the OM Italy Anti-Trafficking Ministry (ATM) in October 2012.

“We are a small ATM team, and our ministry is only in the infancy stages,” Erika said. “We are motivated by God’s heart for the oppressed (Psalm 10:17-18), and how He continues to open doors confirming this is the way we should go.”

Click here for more information about OM Italy. To contact OM Italy, click here. To learn more about Transform outreaches to victims of trafficking, visit the website.

*name changed

This year’s theme, “In the Zone—Find your Position”, challenged participants to look at God as the ultimate coach who cares for them and can heal the hurts of their hearts, and emphasised that He has a plan for each one as part of His team.

Leaders distributed Bibles on the first day and then the children used them throughout the week. Every day, participants learnt something new about the Bible and slowly started becoming acquainted with it. 

An OM Italy volunteer enthusiastically stated, “Happiness is watching a young child hold a Bible and eagerly point to the verse they are reading!” Many campers held a Bible for the first time in their lives, which reflects the harsh reality of the post-Christian nature of the nation.

The spiritual situation surprised some of the volunteers from the US. One commented, “During one of the lessons, our group read John 3:16. After we read it, I asked them if any of them had read it before. None of them raised their hands.” Ninety per cent of the children who attended were from non-evangelical backgrounds.  

At the end of the week, every participant took his or her Bible and a devotional guide to start studying the Bible at home. On the last day, parents joined children and staff for an afternoon of sports and fun. The families were warmly invited to attend the evangelical churches in the area.

Three local churches embraced the chance to serve their community through the day camp. A church volunteer who served as the registrar said, “Campo Sport is a unique experience for this town! To see all these children open a Bible for the first time and listen to a simple and direct sharing of the good news was an experience of great joy! 

“We struggle so much to invite kids to church or to even get them into Sunday school one time. But during this week they heard good news from the Bible three or four times per day for six days. What a miracle! We believe in the big harvest that will come from all these planted seeds.”

The assistant camp director enthusiastically commented, “OM Italy is intentional in working together with the local church to continue the relationships with children and families through different activities offered to the community through the year involving sports, English language learning, visual arts, music and more. We rejoice in the privilege we had to carry out this sports camp and we value your prayers for the continuing work here in Italy.”

In addition to being one of 18 artists from every continent across the globe to attend the course, Lanette was assigned the responsibility of bringing art to CIAO, a centre for people with special needs nearby.

"Every Friday morning, we went to CIAO to interact with the residents. Although the language barrier was a very real challenge, it also gave us the opportunity to interact with them non-verbally in a caring, loving way. With art as our common language, we had a lot of fun building relationships," said Lanette.

It was during these sessions when Lanette met Luigi*, a man strapped to a wheelchair. "He is severely physically disabled and also has a speech impediment," continued Lanette. "From the very first moment I saw Luigi, he made an enormous impression on me. When we were introduced, he welcomed me with a broad smile saying that he accepts me unconditionally. Immediately I felt comfortable and accepted.

"During the following three months, I had the privilege to be inspired by him. Luigi is one of those people who does everything enthusiastically. Every time we did an art project, he showed his enthusiasm with a big smile, making excited sounds and gestures. Although he had ‘no use’ for his deformed hands, he participated with extreme pleasure and joy. I would put paint on the paper and let him ‘paint’ pictures with the sides of his wrists. Sometimes he was so eager that his caregiver had to tell him: ‘piano…. piano’ which means take it easy…slow down."

After the art session, the team usually played with a soft, big beach ball. With great anticipation, Luigi would wait for the ball and then ‘kick’ it with his knees, wrists, feet or head, making loud, happy sounds whenever he touched the ball.

"I was so inspired by his joie de vivre that I made a painting of his hand painting…just to remind myself continuously that I have no reason not to do art," said Lanette. "One of the enemy’s greatest lies is that my art is not good enough to be used in His Kingdom. Luigi’s art is good enough because of his mindset. He does not see his disabilities as a barrier to life; he uses his whole special body to live life to the fullest. May I always offer all that I am and have to my creativity role model, God Almighty."

*Name changed

OM Arts School of Mission is a three-month internship designed to equip artists to minister through art to a world that needs to know her Creator.

In Italian history, 16 February marks the anniversary of a significant law which granted political, civil, and religious freedom to Waldensian believers, enabling them to practice their way of life and belief in Christ. Through this new freedom granted in 1848, centuries of religious oppression, persecution, and martyrdom ended. People across Italy, and particularly in the Pellice Valley, celebrate by lighting candles and gathering around large bonfires where they sing hymns and give thanks to God. The bonfires lit on that first night spread the word across the Waldensian valleys that freedom of worship had been granted.

Likewise, 16 February 2012 heralded a new light in the Pellice Valley that will spark far-reaching ministries through the OM Arts International School of Mission.

“As we stood in front of a large bonfire in the town of Bobbio Pellice,” says a long-term worker with OM Italy, “we could see several other bonfires lit up across the valley, a chain of light in the middle of utter darkness, spreading a message of freedom.”

Now, two and a half months later, teachers at the Arts School are witnessing the fire of freedom spreading in their students.

On Saturday evenings, the students present their creative homework assignments to the group. On a recent Saturday, one dancer explained that she’d had difficulty exploring the assignment on personhood: “As I worked in the studio, God helped me to see dance as a legitimate gift. He created me to dance, and I realised that I’m a dancer as well as an administrator. God is calling me to embrace both gifts.”

She went on to say that she hadn’t finished the assignment but brought a song to play and would move with the music.

“Our beautiful dancer launched into what looked like a completely choreographed piece, with abandon and delight, her face now radiant with the most beautiful smile,” remembers OM Arts International teacher and coach Pat Butler. “The tears were now in our eyes—to see a person dancing with abandon before the Lord, as if none of us were in the room. It was a holy moment.”

This student’s experience of God through dance exemplifies the vision of the OM Arts International School of Mission: to graduate artists passionate and prepared to employ their gifts for long-term, cross-cultural ministry.

“Turning artists into Christ-centred, spiritually-mature artists is no small feat,” explains Pat. “We long for it, but can only set the stage and ask God to do the rest. That night, He seemed to roll up His sleeves and say, ‘Watch me work!’”

The memory of the bonfire in Bobbio Pellice still rests in the hearts of many Arts School participants, a fitting beginning to an incredible journey.

“Standing there [at the bonfire] with students that had arrived that same day, our hearts became full with prayer of expectation,” remembers the OM Italy worker. “May our lives burn with the fire of the Spirit; may we see His light come forth through the darkness, bringing a message of freedom across Italy and the nations.”

Please pray for the OM Arts International School of Mission and its continued impact as the artists scatter to share Jesus’ love throughout the world.

For more information about the OM Arts International School of Mission, visit www.arts.om.org.

He joined Transform 2011 for five days of training in Italy and an outreach to Lampedusa, the largest island of the Italian Pelagie Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Lampedusa has become a major European entry point for immigrants from Africa.

Mpumi and his team worked with the local pastor of the only evangelical church on the island, one with only about 10 members. The pastor also works as a policeman and had been hoping to use his contacts to gain access to the refugee camps.

“The idea was to go into refugee camps to pray,” said Mpumi. “The first one we got to, the police chased us away. We asked God to open the doors. He didn’t. Then, we got a call about another refugee camp. We went and were able to talk to the Nigerians through the fence. We gave them literature and Bibles.”

Mpumi thought the reason they were in Italy was to minister to refugees, but God led them to the beach for ministry instead. Normally, a day spent at the beach is relaxing, but at one point some of the team members begged the pastor to take them somewhere else. The European beachwear, or lack of it, made it awkward for Mpumi and the others to strike up conversation.

“We wanted to build relationships,” Mpumi said. “We knew we’d see them again tomorrow.” But he and the group were finding it very difficult.

Finally, after several failed conversations and a lot of embarrassing situations, someone decided to get a rope to start a game of tug-of-war on the beach. 

They made an announcement: “If anyone wants to come challenge us, come now!” 

Three big Italians wandered over and took up the challenge. The team beat them through strategy. Crowds of people started watching, and soon the team was surrounded. Every so often, they took time to converse with the people nearby.

“We won each and every game,” Mpumi said.

Then, three couples, all tourists from Sicily, walked over to the group. The men were challenged to compete.

Afterwards, the team members spent time talking to the couples while relaxing in the sea. Team member, Mike, silently prayed while Mpumi spoke to the couples about spiritual matters.

After hours of conversing, all six of the people gave their lives to the Lord. The plans the team had originally made had been blown away and instead they were left with God’s perfect plan. 

To learn more about Transform 2012, visit www.transform.om.org.

Even if you don’t speak Italian, you’ll have the same awed reaction the first time you enter Italy’s North-Western valleys and lift your eyes to the surrounding Alps.

The Piedmont valley region, about 50 kilometres from Turin, is not only a tourist mecca: it’s a place of profound significance for Italy’s evangelicals. In the Middle Ages the Waldensians (named after Peter Waldo, who led the way to a “back to the Bible” movement) were branded as heretics for studying, preaching and even translating God’s Word into the vernacular language. On several occasions, those who sought refuge in the valleys were brutally massacred. Much later, during World War II, the Waldensians saved the lives of many Jews by hiding them in their valleys. So in 2000, when OMers Sergio and Anna Gastaldo-Brac sought the right place for a conference and training centre to serve the Italian Church, the “Valley of Light” was their first choice. When land became available in the village of Bobbio Pellice they began to build their dream.

“Forterocca,” which refers to God as our fortress or stronghold, opened to visitors in 2008 (www.forterocca.com).  Three years later OM Italy moved its offices to the building. The international team now has 18 members, with many other people volunteering an afternoon, weeks or months. Explains Field Leader Elise Guadagno, “Local believers often come to clean and make beds. We want the Church to take ownership of this project; at the same time we want to serve the Church.”

This past year alone 22 Italian churches, several dozen Christian organisations and 27 secular groups made use of the 130-bed conference facility. Staff members note that non-Christian visitors often remark, “There’s something different about this place!”

One difference is the evidence of sacrificial service. It’s not unusual to see Eliseo or other OMers cheerfully pitching in with anything that needs doing, including serving food. Finances are a challenge with a large building loan still to repay, but turning the project into a non-governmental organisation allows Forterocca to operate with volunteers and puts it into a better position regarding taxes. “Sometimes it’s hard,” admits Eliseo. “But we are still laying the foundation for a sustainable ministry in the future.”

SportsLink, OM’s international sports ministry, is an important part of that future and has already established an office in Forterocca. The Piedmont is a natural magnet for sports enthusiasts. An Ice Palace built for the 2006 Winter Olympics and now used for international ice skating and hockey events is just down the road. Hiking, paragliding and mountain biking are major summer activities in the area. Last year a two-month sports internship programme was held at Forterocca, in partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, attracting participants from all over Europe.

Says SportsLink Leader Silas Mullis, “We have been thoroughly blessed to be able to host numerous training programmes, retreats and outreaches at Forterocca (a.k.a. The Rock). Its historical setting is so rich and dynamic for any missions training; each participant is faced with the legacy of local believers from centuries past who sought to be wholeheartedly faithful to the Word of God--and were willing to pay the price with their lives, if necessary. We encourage any ministry and church group to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation that is so calmly enjoyed there. Refreshment and commitment are two things that each person applies after their time at The Rock.”

Besides sports, Italy is the ideal base for an arts ministry—considering that a huge percentage of the world’s great art was created by Italians! So this coming February to May 2012, OM ArtsLink is offering its first three-month Arts School of Mission at Forterocca. The course is an exciting step towards placing career artists—dancers, musicians and visual artists--into cross-cultural mission. If you’re interested, applications are still being accepted*.

“We want to use more and more sports and arts teams here in Italy,” affirms Eliseo. “Summer teams use Forterocca for the first one or two days of orientation, then go on outreach and return for the final debrief.”

This winter the centre’s kitchen is being redesigned so that groups can cater for themselves. This will keep costs down. Another urgent need right now is a general manager for Forterocca. Additional volunteers would also be welcome, not only to deal with the practical aspects of hospitality but to do local outreach with churches in the Turin area.

“There’s no real divide between hospitality and outreach,” stresses Eliseo. “It’s all ministry to the Lord. To non-Italians we can now offer religious worker visas for two years, with the possibility of renewal. Retirement-age people, or ‘finishers’, would be a huge blessing. We are expecting one such couple to come from Canada this January for two years. Our OM Italy team uses English and there are plenty of opportunities for those who don’t speak Italian. But just living out our lives as Christians in the community is important. We want to contribute much more through English classes, sports clinics, visiting nursing homes and other things.   

“We are following Sergio and Anna’s vision to serve the Church,” he finishes, “and we are slowly seeing it come to reality as we partner with more and more ministries. We are very much encouraged!”

* http://www.om.org/en/mission-trip/us/g1421

“When you combine sports and young people, there is always a catalytic response,” said Dan Britton, Executive Vice-President for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “We saw the love of Christ revealed as relationships were made during the week.” This is the third year that FCA and OM Italy partnered to offer this free, all-day outreach programme for children and youth.

Instilling biblical values

Children played games like volleyball, basketball, football, baseball and ultimate Frisbee while encountering values such as perseverance, teamwork, respect for rules and authority, determination and integrity.

“When you combine sports and young people, there is always a catalytic response,” said Dan Britton, Executive Vice-President for Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Using the sports analogy, the sports camp encouraged participants to consider the basis for their choices, their position in family and community, team mentality in counting on others, being contagious to affect their sphere of influence, and ultimately choosing to join God’s team and live for Him. This year’s theme, “Game Changer”, also continued through the afternoon activities in the English camp.

“I loved working with the kids: their smiling faces, and their eagerness,” shared Cindy Merrick, who joined members from Crossroads Baptist Church in Georgia, USA. “When I shared Bible stories, the children asked questions, and I could see that they understood them. That gave me great joy.”

Relationships into the community

Relationship-building also went beyond the youth at camp. Intentionally addressing community needs, OM Italy scheduled the camp for the week between the end of school and the beginning of other fee-based community programmes, providing a much-needed option for parents who work full-time and need a safe and nurturing place for their children.

“We worked with the city hall to coordinate youth summer activities, so the camp was advertised in its publicity materials—and they respected our desire to share from a biblical perspective,” exuded Paula Guadagno, who promoted the camp locally for OM Italy. “The fact that they saw we were working with them to meet a community need opened a huge door for us.”

OM Italy also encouraged local churches to work together, to serve the community in a practical way by providing volunteers and getting to know the children and families. “I was amazed to see over 100 youth from the valley attend. God is doing a great work,” observed Dan Britton. “God was glorified.”

Putting self-interests behind, Rose and Matthew left their well-established family in Edinburgh, Scotland, and travelled to what would become their home for the next three years – the Piedmont region in northwest Italy. Tucked into the Alps and surrounded by various cultures and languages, the Gibsons knew that adjusting to this area would require a large amount of faith and trust.

“We knew it wasn’t normal for a couple our age to do something like this,” Rose said. “But we knew that many would be blessed if we took the risk that God was calling us to take.”

According to Rose, she and her husband have always felt called to serve their community on a relational level. As a community education worker in Edinburgh, she vividly saw the desperate needs of her clients and strived to bring the Gospel to them in the midst of their struggles, however difficult in a non-Christian workplace.

Because of their warm hospitality and openness, the Gibsons decided to open their home to students studying English abroad. It was through this that they met many Italians and were often invited to visit once the students had returned back to Italy.

“We were always so comfortable with them and loved learning about their culture,” Rose said. “God kept speaking to us during that time to continue to seek all peoples of all nations.”  

At this time, the Gibsons were very involved in their home church and community, and they had just welcomed a new grandchild into their family. Neither one had considered going into full-time missions until a short-term trip with Gospel Literature Outreach (GLO) took them to Italy in 2005.

Hearts burning with passion

During the summer of 2006, the Gibsons returned to Italy for another short-term trip with GLO, where they were eventually introduced to OM Italy’s field leader, Eliseo Guadagno. After speaking with him about their ministry, they felt God calling them to join the OM team full-time.

“When we met with Eliseo, our hearts were burning with a strong passion for the possibilities in Italy,” Rose said. “It was so overpowering.”  

Although the transition came with great certainty, it did not come without its challenges. The eldest of nine children, Rose said leaving behind many close family members was one of the most difficult things to do. 

“We had to just trust that God would not only provide for our housing and financial needs, but that he would also provide us with new friends and family at OM Italy.”

“We had to just trust that God would not only provide for our housing and financial needs, but that he would also provide us with new friends and family at OM Italy.”

Transition more difficult with age 

According to International Personnel Officer Sue Priestley, these challenges often play a major role in keeping people who are over 40 from joining the mission field, even if they feel called. Sue explained that it is never easy for anyone to leave behind the familiar to join a missions team, but it is often much more difficult for someone to do this if they are older, settled and already involved in a career.

“Over the past three years, we have spent much more time looking at why these transitions are more difficult for older people and how we can make them better,” she said.

Sue explained that the reasons that keep older individuals from joining the field are often the same reasons that help them thrive once they decide to do so. She pointed out a continuous need for more mature adults on a team who can offer wisdom and understanding from all their years of life experience.

These people not only set strong examples of a godly family and lifestyle, but they often become a symbol of maturity and wisdom within their respective communities.

“Our teams hurt if they don’t have the wisdom of older, more experienced people,” Sue said. “The strong impact they are able to make in their OM families goes all around the world, and they are often extremely blessed in return.”

Initiating and developing local ministries

Completing their third year as full-time workers in Italy, Rose and Matthew would agree. As a hostess for teams coming to do short-term ministry, Rose is responsible for initiating and developing local ministries in the region, including sports and English camps, children’s ministries and more.

Throughout all of this, she emphasises the importance of forming and maintaining relationships and partnerships with their team. This, she said, is a great opportunity to continue, sustain and develop the work already put into the lives of these people.

“Yes, it’s challenging, and you will find yourself doing things you never thought you’d do,” Rose said. “But the joys make you smile more than the struggles make you scowl.”

“Yes, it’s challenging, and you will find yourself doing things you never thought you’d do,” Rose said. “But the joys make you smile more than the struggles make you scowl.”

Rose and Matthew are currently in the planning stages to continue with OM Italy for another year after their contract expires in September.

Please pray for Rose and Matthew as they continue to follow God’s leading. Pray for Sue and her team as they strive to understand the needs of older OM members. Pray that God calls more people over 40 to the mission field, and that they would not hesitate to serve.

This also means that those who arrive are real refugees escaping from war and persecution from Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Lybia, not just migrants seeking a better life. A couple of thousand people arrived over the last three weeks, while two boats shipwrecked and hundreds of people died.

As a result, many refugees arriving in Lampedusa are immediately sent to other centres in mainland Italy. In Lampedusa they stay for one night only. The reason for the quick turn-around is that the Lampedusa economy relies on tourism, especially during the summer months.  The goal of the government is to “clear” all refugees and migrant people from Lampedusa in order not to waste the valuable summer tourism season. 

Response

Several weeks ago a group of volunteers joined the local Lampedusa Evangelical church in welcoming and helping the newly arrived people. Bibles and New Testaments were distributed in many languages.

The week was also used to reach the native people of Lampedusa with the Gospel. Nearly 5,000 Italian New Testaments and Bibles were distributed door-to-door. These visits were accompanied by words of encouragement and appreciation for the burden that the locals are carrying because of the situation on the island. Even though the local priest did not like the fact that people distributed Bibles "without his permission", the general acceptance was good. 

As work continues in Lampedusa, the Italian Evangelical Alliance, together with help from their partner organisations (including OM Italy), are now hoping to start work in other areas of the country with high concentrations of newly arrived refugees.

Ways to get involved

1. Pray - please continue to pray for the Italian Evangelical Alliance, their partner organisations and believers from around the world who are working to reach out to the refugees and migrant peoples now scattered throughout Italy. Pray for the refugees and their families during these tumultuous times. Pray for wisdom for the Italian government authorities, and pray for the residents of Lampedusa who are struggling as a result of this situation.

2. Give - financial gifts can be sent to:

Alleanza Evangelica Italiana
Vicolo S. Agata 20; 00153 Roma

IBAN  IT 64 N 07601 03200 000046728002

SWIFT  BPPIITRRXXX

3. Go - we are still accepting applications for the Lampedusa Island outreach team as part of Transform 2011 in July.  For more information, please visit the Transform 2011 website <www.transform.om.org>