A New Work in Italy

October 9, 2013

By Doug and Naomi Ord, serving in Italy

If you look at a map, the tip of Italy’s boot is in the 10/40 Window, an area where most people are still unreached by the gospel. This is a spiritually dark country, but where The Alliance shines the light of Jesus, people are responding.

The two-year-old Alliance national church in Italy comprises a multinational task force—Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Argentineans, Filipinos, Dutch, Americans, and Italians—who are committed to building His Kingdom. Most were believers before they immigrated to Italy and saw the need to start Bible-believing churches.

In several cities, people are finding hope through Alliance church plants, where we mentor and equip church leaders. At the Ancona church, the believers do street evangelism, distribute government-provided food to hungry families, and visit prisoners. Recently, Pastor Mario invited us to participate in the baptisms of eight people.

One woman, Valentina, told how she saw the change God had made in her boyfriend’s life and decided to follow Jesus. A university student, she had a dream the night before a scholarship exam; the Lord told her, “Talk about Me.”

On the exam, Valentina was surprised when she was asked to write a 300-word essay on religion. She wrote everything Jesus told her in her dream—exactly fulfilling the word count. She received the highest score and won the scholarship.

Each of the new churches report exciting testimonies like Valentina’s as people are drawn to Jesus through various outreaches. We rejoice with our national partners at the enthusiastic response to the gospel. God is on the move in Italy.