“After the COVID-19 epidemic, we’ve been busy organizing an annual conference that will coincide with the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. It is a project aimed at creating a space to foster in the city of Perugia a spiritual dialogue with different Christian theological and spiritual traditions, in the context of our secular age. Therefore, on October 26 and November 2, we’ll host two conferences on “The Experience of the Word: the Protestant Reformation as a Religious Revival”. On October 26 the speakers will be Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan (Minister of Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim, CA), and Roman Catholic historian Dr. Domenico Segna. On Saturday, November 2 the speakers will be Rev. Michael Brown (Minister of the Reformed Church Filadelfia, Milan), and Roman Catholic biblical scholar Dr. Ludwig Monti. These conferences will be held in a public hall in the center of the city of Perugia to raise the interest of our co-citizens as we try to bring the Word of God into the public square.”

"Therefore, as for us here in Perugia, we ask you to pray for the progress of the gospel in our region of Umbria in Central Italy and that we may abound in patience and hope, learning to have the interior attitude of “the farmer [who] waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains” (James 5:7)."

“As I wrote in the April newsletter, in God’s providence, last March I had the joy of visiting Mid America Reformed Seminary where I met with Dr. Eric Watkins and Dr. Paul Ipema to investigate the possibility that Mr. Bryce Klassen could spend the summer as an intern here in Perugia. That dream became reality and Bryce arrived in Perugia on May 23rd. Bryce is currently studying at the University following daily classes on Italian culture and language. He began to preach through 1 John and the two of us are going through a course of Pastoral Theology meeting twice a week for two/three hours in which we study, discuss, and pray together. After five weeks, our small flock is growing a deeper appreciation for Bryce and his work. Since the summer started, we have a number of foreign visitors who are in our area for vacation. I translate Bryce’s sermons from English into Italian which allows these people to participate in our worship services in a more meaningful manner. Bryce and I committed to have him preach his last sermon on August 19th in Italian :) “

Despite his deep spiritual knowledge and experience of the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the “great” apostle Paul, in what was probably the time of the deepest trial in his Christian life, was greatly comforted by the God of all comfort through the consolation he received by the human experience of friendship and fellowship: “God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (2 Corinthians 7:6). I am grateful because I recently had a share in the blessed experience of being comforted and strengthened by the gracious gift of the communion of the saints in the United States.

Umbria counts a little less than one million people and Perugia is a University City with 200,000 people (if we consider the smaller towns surrounding Perugia the number of people grows to more than 300,000). In Umbria alone, there are less than 25 protestant churches which constitute about a thousand church members. As for the church of Rome, during the last two decades in Umbria, the number of “regular” churchgoers has dropped by more than a quarter, as have the “occasional” ones (usually occasional churchgoers attend church for funerals, weddings, and maybe Christmas and Easter). The phenomenon of “believing without belonging” is rampant in every denomination, and as for those who call themselves “catholic,” their number is decreasing rapidly. Some people say that waiting for this crisis to pass without doing anything is like trying to shelter from a hurricane with an umbrella! Therefore, you can imagine how blessed and joyful we feel having had some new people who began attending regularly our worship services.

This is the message that – through the Spirit – we strive to present to the people of the city of Perugia and the region of Umbria, in central Italy. And once again, we ask that as we sow the seed of the gospel you may water it with your prayers on behalf of the witness of the Chiesa Riformata di Perugia.

Our hearts rejoice in God for the communion that the members of the Chiesa Riformata di Perugia have with you, even though we live far away. We are thankful for the encouragement and comfort that we continually receive from you in so many ways. Since the last newsletter, there are quite a few things that I would like to share with you.

We are grateful to God for your constant support in so many encouraging ways and for your enthusiasm for the witness of the Chiesa Riformata di Perugia. In the last couple of months, we have had a number of gracious encouragements, not least the joy for me as a pastor to start preaching through the book of Psalms. What a comfort praying the Psalms as the voice of Christ (vox Christi), as the voice regarding Christ (vox de Christo), and as the voice to Christ (vox ad Christum)!

We are sincerely thankful for the interest you continue to show toward us and the Chiesa Riformata di Perugia. As we are slowly learning, God moves in a mysterious way with his wonders to perform. Therefore, even in the midst of shattering events affecting Europe – such as the earthquake in Turkey, the Ukrainian war, and Covid just to mention a few – we believe that the Word of God is not chained (2 Timothy 2:9). That is our only hope and comfort: even though we are weak and insufficient in ourselves, the Word of God is powerful and able to accomplish God’s perfect will.