“Let the Church declare and display Christ together.” This stirring call from the recent Fourth Lausanne Congress in Seoul beautifully echoes our ongoing desire and vision for the work here in Italy.
After more than four decades of wide-ranging ministry here, we remain convinced that Italy’s greatest need is to see the gospel both lived out and clearly proclaimed – faithfully, compassionately, and relevantly. When Paul preached in Athens, he didn’t rush in. He observed, listened, and engaged with the culture around him. Then he spoke – boldly and graciously – bringing a gospel message that was both contextually sensitive and uncompromising in truth.
Today in Italy, as in many parts of the world, we encounter deep spiritual need. So many are weary, searching, or disillusioned, especially in the wake of Covid, economic uncertainty, rising mental health challenges, and rapid technological change.
Many here pursue prosperity, health, and pleasure – yet often carry hidden pain …
Into this context, we long to bring a message of true life and hope. We believe it’s vital to speak in ways that connect with people where they are – offering the rest and good news of Christ to those who are burdened and seeking.
It is a privilege to serve in a large and challenging urban setting. Many here pursue prosperity, health, and pleasure – yet often carry hidden pain and disappointment. In recent years, doors have opened for involvement in schools and university life. English conversation remains a highly valued resource and provides a meaningful way to serve the city, especially amid economic difficulty and job insecurity. It also creates a space for deeper relationships and conversations.
We’re grateful for these opportunities and continue to pray for wisdom in linking these connections with the life of the gospel and the life of the local church. Please join us in this prayer. We’re thankful that LifeHope now has its first committed group of church members, and a growing children’s ministry. There are many pastoral opportunities – and, naturally, challenges. Some churches are growing with great joy, others are facing real struggles. But our hope is that our church would be a welcoming community where everyday people can encounter Christ.
We are also exploring possibilities for church planting in nearby Monreale. We’ve started to gather there regularly, and interest is growing. Please pray that God would make the way forward clear, and guide our steps.
As we gather in Monreale, please pray that God would make the way forward clear and guide our steps
More broadly, the work of Impatto (Acts 29 in Italy and Southeast Europe) continues to encourage us. Over time, we’ve grown into a supportive family of churches and leaders – sharing joys and burdens, and walking by faith together as we aim to be healthy, multiplying churches. We recently held our first Impatto gathering in southern Italy, with over 80 believers from four churches. It was a truly blessed time – watch highlights in ‘Raduno Impatto’ on ImpattoItalia channel, YouTube.
We’re now preparing for our first national Impatto conference, taking place near Venice this November. Sam Allberry will be teaching and encouraging us, and we’re praying it will be a deeply refreshing and unifying time. Find out more here.
As we continue to seek to display and declare Christ in our increasingly secular, sceptical Italian context, we value your partnership. Sometimes it seems that our actions may need to speak before, or alongside, our words. But in all things, we press on in the hope that many would hear of Jesus.
Watch Nicola’s story at acts29.com
Click below to watch an interview with JD, ‘Experts in Pleasure, Infants in Joy’ at Desiring God, YouTube.
Jonathan ‘JD’ Gilmore serves alongside his wife, Annette, in Palermo, Sicily, where they are involved in evangelism and church planting through LifeHope Church. In addition to this, JD also coordinates Impatto (Acts 29) in Italy.
Main photo: Palermo, Italia, Ricardo Gomez Angel/unsplash.com.
Above: Marco Polo chatting to young adults at a church gathering in Palermo.