La Piazza Press

La Piazza Press is our monthly newsletter that we use to keep everyone informed of our progress as missionaries with Saint's Equipped to Evangelize in San Lorenzo, Italy.  Our vision is to see the piazzas (town squares) filled with evangelical Christians.  Would you be willing to share in that vision?  If so, please click the Subscribe button above to receive our monthly newsletter.  For more information, you can visit our website at www.littlesitaly.com

Current Happenings - July 17, 2007

Maureen has been leading a Ladies Bible Study at our cabin in Pennsylvania.  The ladies are studying "Forgotten Truths" which is narrated by the speakers of 'Women of Faith'.  She is also attending a Ladies Bible Study at East Swamp Church and volunteered at the church's KNEX Construction Camp for kids, ages 4 to 15.  It has been a busy, but rewarding summer.  July 18 she flies to Jacksonville, Fl to attend a wedding of one of our College & Career students from Sunrise Community Church.  Her mom will return with her to PA to spend some quality mother-daughter time before Maureen leaves for Italy on Aug. 19.  Although Tom is in Italy, thanks to modern technology, we have been able to communicate daily via the internet.

From the Italian Front

One of our concerns has been that we might become discouraged due to the difficulty in winning Italians to Christ.  So, we've been praying that God would allow us to lead at least one person this year to salvation.  Here's how God has already answered our prayer.

During Tom's first week in Italy he was asked to hang around Carlo, an ESL student who is Tom's age and speaks some English.  Carlo has been attending our ESL class in Valvasone and has had some one-on-one discipling by one of our church planting pastors.  Tom gave Carlo a track to read and Carlo began asking questions.  Before the night was over, Carlo accepted Christ.  Isn't God wonderful?  He gives us more than we could ever ask or imagine!

Our sending church, McGregor Baptist in Ft. Myers, Fl, sent a team to Italy this month bringing fifteen of our personal suitcases.  Hallelujah!  One of the team members who is a Romanian immigrant meet several fellow Romanian's during this trip.  The Lord allowed him to lead two of them to salvation.  God is so amazing as we watch him unravel his plan for our lives!

Finally, here is an excerpt from a letter written by an ESL student demonstrating the importance of the work in winning people to Christ in Italy.  May God bless you as you read this beautiful testimony!

Lisa's Testimony -2007

I grow up in a catholic family. I went to the church every Sunday, I turn on candles and put holy pictures in the car and confessed my guilties to the priest; but God seemed so far from me… There was no problem for me,  I felt Him too great and powerful, out of reach and incomprehensible simply because HE WAS GOD.

Then one day I started a free english course with some american people. I used to have a weekly hour of conversation with one of them, Ken.  He said he was "protestant". I asked him about the differences between Catholicism and Evangelical way of life.  He kindly explained me that evangelic people read a lot the Bible, have no memory prayers, no Saints like Catholics and so on… Every difference was supported by a verse of the Bible, and it intrigued me a lot.

I started to think that I was no able to justify my faith and what I believed through Bible!! It seemed to me a very serious problem, and – without expressing my doubts to Ken, for fear that he could exploit my state of uncertainty - I began to ask help to God and to look for answers and supports for my faith by three catholic priests: one young, entered in seminary after a repentine conversion; one who studied in Rome and worked very close to the Pope; one who was very charismatic and combative. None of them could gave me weapons to defend the catholic way of believe.

Many, many thoughts, prayers, doubts and considerations follows this meetings and preceded my decision:  "Ken, I want to know more about your religion. I want to know more about God and the Bible."  Fortunately he was a Pastor, and showed me the Bible in a way I'd never known.  I said nothing to my family ‘till the day of my baptism.

Now I'm having a new relationship with God: he is still great and powerful, out of reach and incomprehensible, but He is MY GOD and MY HOLY FATHER. I know He is always near me, ready to listen if I call, to answer if I ask, to help me if I need. I understood that he wants my, our wellness and happyness, but I know I'm not alone in the world and that what it's important it's not my will, but His. I'm just a fragile, little creature full of problems and human weaknesses, heavy to sin. God knows it very well, and still loves me. Isn't it fantastic?

 July Schedule

Tom is traveling with various short-term teams throughout Italy bringing the gospel message to the lost.  These teams are holding outdoor evangelistic concerts in various town piazzas, as well as conducting mimes, puppet shows, and chalk talks.  Maureen is spending quality grandma time at our cabin in Pennsylvania and continues to raise funds for our ministry in Italy.

Support Update

The Lord has given us 95 prayer partners and 56 financial partners.  We praise the Lord for all of you!  Our monthly short fall is $802.   We are now drawing our monthly support.  Any amount you could give would be greatly appreciated.  We will be hard pressed to do all that the ministry requires without it.  Please pray about your involvement in reaching the Italian people for Jesus.

To become apart of our financial support team, make your check payable to Saints Equipped to Evangelize.  Put our names on the memo line and indicate whether it is a special or monthly gift.  All contributions are tax deductible.  Mail your check to:  

S.E.E. - P.O. Box 587 - Bradenton, FL - 34206-0587

Praises and Prayers