I apologize for not writing sooner, but I just got back online at the new apartment today. I was offline for only about 3 weeks, but it sure felt like an eternity! A lot has happened in the last three weeks, so let me bring you up to date.

  • Moving Day – April 18th was the day when Brian and Jason showed up in Perugia with the moving van. We got it loaded in less than 45 minutes and headed to Ancona in the rain.
  • Shively Christian Church Missions Trip – I had not got into my new apartment a few days before a group of ladies from Kentucky showed up to “pray onsite with insight.” I was deeply blessed by these ladies when they came to my new home, a midst all the boxes, and offered heartfelt prayers and tears as they reflected the truth of God. I had only met them a day or so prior, but their ability to pray into my innermost place and ask God to reign there, brought tears of joy to my eyes. Some powerful things were prayed for during this week and I was both humbled and refreshed/encouraged by their visit. My floor is still marked with their tears.
  • Coffee House – about once a month, we hold an American Coffee House at La Via (our office) where Italians can come, play games, laugh, and practice their English. It’s a great way to meet people who would never set foot into a church, but love the company of the disciples of Jesus.
  • Palermo, Sicily – Jason, Brian, Marcus, and I traveled overnight in a train to visit “Word of Grace Church.” This is a church that uses the same cell model that we do, and have had great success with it. Right now, we only have one cell that meets on Sunday. This church has over 500 cells and over 4,000 people on a given Sunday. In Italy, this is unheard of and we went down there to glean some wisdom and resources from this community. It was a great trip and we learned a lot. It gave us a lot to look forward to what God can do in Ancona.

That’s a little glimpse into what has been happening in recent weeks. I have gotten the chance to spend quite a bit of time with one unbeliever, Maurizio. He has a story that is worth telling, but that will have to wait for another update. He is drawing closer to the Kingdom and I covet your prayers for his struggle. The evil one desires to “steal, kill, and destroy” him. I am still adjusting to my new surroundings, but am content with the amount of time I am getting to hang out with nonbelievers. I would appreciate your prayers for God to continue to place those close to the Kingdom in our path and that He would give us the words of Grace and Salvation to speak to them.

I am currently working on a sermon that I will preach on May 21st in Rome at one of our churches. Depending on how much I can get written and translated will determine if I preach it in Italian or not, otherwise, I will have a translator. I would really appreciate your prayers on this as well. It has been a while since I have preached, and in a new culture, it is a bit intimidating for me. Things are going great here and I know it is only because of the faithful prayers of God’s people. Please continue to pray for us as we labor here for the glory of God!