Stories of Mission
Explore mission themes in our quarterly magazine as workers tell stories of making disciples in the way of Christ.
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Elio Milazzo: A Man Whose Voice Mattered
Within the Italian Mennonite world, there are few who would not recognize the powerful voice of Elio Milazzo, who for years was producer and voice of Parole di Vita, a radio broadcast sponsored by Italian Mennonites in partnership with Mennonites in North America, including VMMissions. The Italian Mennonite Church grieves his recent passing on August 29.
Read MoreThanksgiving celebration in Italy introduces new traditions
[dropcap]Thanksgiving[/dropcap] is the beginning of the American holiday season and can be a time of struggle for those of us living in another culture and missing family and friends back home. It is also an opportunity to create new traditions, to share a bit of our culture with our friends and contacts here, and to…
Read MoreTaking bold steps of faith and obedience in Palermo
Aurora, 23, and her brother Manuel, 21, grew up in the Centro Agape church of Palermo. Through the years they’ve participated in the church’s youth group and other initiatives for young believers. They have become an important part of the church’s youth group, and both contribute to it in their own unique way. They are…
Read MoreOur journey of vision in Vasto
God is good! We have been living in the Vasto/Termoli area for 12 years and we are thankful to God for what He is doing here. When we first arrived to Vasto, the church had been established almost twenty years but was almost dead. There was no young group, no actual ministries, and little biblical…
Read More‘Sweet sorrow’ as Eberlys retire from Italy mission and ministry
“You were like a Mother and a Father to me.” “Your friendship was important and precious.” “Your commitment over the years has been a great example for us.” “You have been faithful to us, the church and God.” “You showed us love.” On September 22, members of Centro Koinonia, friends from the community and colleagues…
Read MoreSomething different
Thirty-two people from various churches around Italy came together for “Family Camp 2012,” August 18-25. It was a week of relaxation, study, prayer and fellowship with other believers. Our theme was “Extreme Makeover II: Radical Transformation in Christ.” Pino Arena (Palermo), Giovanni Greco (Vasto), Nicola Cippone and Willard Eberly (Bari) taught on how we are…
Read MoreIn Christ, the crooked made straight
“If you aren’t promoted at school this year, I’ll kill you!” As a child, I believed my father would actually carry out this threat since he punished me severely when I didn’t do my homework well or for other childish misdeeds! My Dad grew up in a family greatly influenced by the mafia mentality where…
Read MoreLove causes Roberto to do an about-face
When we first met Roberto*, he was a man with a bleak outlook on life and had no use for God. “How can God be good when bad things happen to good people?” “I am a good person and do good things, and if there is a God, he will let me into heaven.” This…
Read MoreThe unfinished task
“I’ve never heard of evangelicals before. What do they believe?” asked a university student studying English in Centro Koinonia’s “after-school” program. This student’s lack of knowledge surprised us since he comes from a cultured, educated family, his father a surgeon at Bari’s university hospital! It’s a reminder that Italy remains an “under-reached” nation! Consider with…
Read MoreLots of doors for ministry open through Italian public schools
When we put our boys into the public schools four years ago, we had some doubts and fears about what would happen. We heard some pretty bad stories about the schools and in our four years we have seen some episodes that remind us, “These are not American schools!” The schools that our boys attend…
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