Genoa, Italy is home to 3/4 of a million people and is one of the most important port cities in the Mediterranean. Genoa is a passageway between Europe and Africa yet there is no effective gospel witness. Not one other foreign missionary agency targeting this strategic city.
Applying the Avant principles of Short-Cycle Church Planting® we will establish a network of Italian churches that rapidly reproduce themselves and transform the surrounding region.
Our goal is not to plant the perfect church but rather to proclaim the gospel early and often, form core groups of believers, and empower them to take their local church to more meaningful levels of maturity.
We value speed and Italian involvement.
To that end we have already formed a strategic partnership with an Italian couple who will join us in Genoa in March of 2008.
Francesco is the fruit of Tim and Amee’s ministry in Bologna. He has a passion for evangelism and over the past two years has been actively involved in leadership and discipleship.
Recently married, Francesco is now completing biblical training by correspondence. He shares our vision for explosive church growth and is stepping out in faith as he moves to Genoa leaving behind a stable job and family.
A strategic city, a strategic partner, and a prepared team. Now is the time to act. By targeting Genoa, Italy we will make a difference in time for eternity by rapidly planting and developing churches where none exist.
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2 comments:
From Italy May 2, 2007
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am glad to find your website on the internet and see you will be going to serve in ministry in a city that needs more Evangelical brothers helping Italian believers. However, I wanted to send this list below indicating at least 15 other born again churches and a number of other para-church ministries in the city and province of Genoa.
Chiesa Cristiana Evangelica ADI del Leone di Giuda Assemblee di Dio via Statale Isorelle, 21 fondi Savignone 16010 GE
Crescendo- Progetto Scuole Evangeliche Opera/Associazione Via del Camoglino 23 Avegno 16030 GE
Azione Biblica Azione Biblica Piazzale Olimpia 16 Recco 16030 GE
Chiesa Cristiana evangelica Corso Genova 258 Lavagna 16033 GE
Chiesa Evangelica libera via Cereghetta 6 Rapallo 16035 GE
Centro evangelico Azione Biblica P.zale Olimpia 16 Recco 16036 GE
Chiesa Evangelica "dei Fratelli" Fratelli via Dante, 44 Sestri Levante 16039 GE
Chiesa Evangelica "ADI" Assemblee di Dio Via De Scalzi, 13 Chiavari 16043 GE
Chiesa Cristiana Evangelica DIO è AMORE
Via piacenza 130 Chiavari 16043 GE
Chiesa Evangelica Libera / Indipendente via Millo, 22/23 Chiavari 16043 GE
Chiesa Evangelica Battista Evangelica Battista via E.Vernazza, 14-16 Genova 16100 GE
Chiesa Cristiana Evangelica "Azione Biblica"
Recco piaz. Olimpia 16 Genova 16122 GE
Chiesa Evangelica Riformata Svizzera Riformata Via Peschiera 31 Genova 16122 GE
Chiesa Evangelica Internazionale "Parola di Vita" C.E.I.A.M. "Chiesa Ev. Internaz. ed Ass. Mission." Santa Maria al Castello 1A genova 16123 GE
VeriAmici Teen Challenge 'Aiuto e evangelizzazione per bambini, giovani e stranieri Opera/Associazione via Pré 43R Genova 16126 GE
Chiesa Evangelica della Riconciliazione Riconciliazione via Digione 8 fondi Genova 16126 GE
Chiesa Cristiana 'Casa di Luce' Mura del Molo 38 r. Genova 16128 GE
Chiesa Evangelica Apostolica Evangelica Apostolica via San Martino, 47/a Cancello Genova 16131 GE
Chiesa Evangelica "dei Fratelli" Fratelli via F.lli Canale 24/26 Sc.Sin. Genova 16132 GE
Associazione Cristiana Evangelica Betel Opera/Associazione Corso de Stefanis 179r Genova 16139 GE
Chiesa Cristiana Evangelica Morin, 1 - quartiere Foce vicino alla "Fiera del Mare" Genova 16148 GE
Chiesa Evangelica "ADI" Assemblee di Dio Via Degola Genova Sampierdarena 16149 GE
Chiesa Cristiana Evangelica via Cristofoli 63-65r Genova Sampierdarena 16149 GE
Chiesa Evangelica "dei Fratelli" Fratelli via Donizetti, 7/23 Genova Sestri 16154 GE
Chiesa Evangelica "dei Fratelli" Fratelli Via Carloforte, 21/r Genova Pegli 16155 GE
First of all I want to thank you for your heart for the people of Genoa and your observation about groups and churches currently there.
Italy is a strange place because while there is an historic evangelical presence, it has not taken hold. This is especially true in the north.
Let me take the opportunity to say that my teammates and/or I have been to Genoa on 5 different occasions in the last six months.
Trust me when I tell you that talking with the pastors and elders on the ground gives a much different impression than simply checking out evangelici.it for a list of groups in an entire province.
I have heard from multiple elders in Genoa that there are maybe, maybe, 1200 born again believers. There are 10 –15 Italian protestant churches ranging in size from a dozen to 100 people each.
Let’s consider that number in the context of the overall population, circa 700,000. That is less than .2% evangelical and about 1 small assembly for every 50,000 people.
This scarcity of evangelical activity sadly qualifies Genoa as unreached.
But maybe something that bothers me even more deeply is the fact that most of the churches that are there (as few and as small as they are) simply aren’t reaching their fellow Genovese.
Take for example the brethren assemblies. There are three of them and they all came from a single assembly.
Multiplication! But unfortunately it is a result of infighting over secondary “doctrinal” issues.
We will have fellowship with one of those assemblies by the way.
Then there are 3 Assemblies of God. I totally respect the Assemblies of God here in America. Even though I personally am not “charismatic” we have good friends (and supporters) who belong to the Assemblies of God.
But the Assemblies of God churches in Italy have deep issues. They are unwilling to work with anyone outside of their own church. They are famous for dividing men from women in the worship services and preaching about the idolatry of Christian holidays like Christmas.
There are hundreds of thousands of people going to Hell right there within walking distance but somehow these few struggling churches are reduced to this.
As I look over Genoa and the spiritual condition of its people this is what I see.
And as I noted in my posting, there is no foreign missionary presence. There is no one to help break through to this people with so much potential.
That’s why we are going there.
Pace… Tim
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