AUGUST 2024
Dear prayer companions,
Just a few days ago, I met with a missionary who – having left New York as a young man more than fifty years ago – came to Italy as a missionary/pastor. From a very small and slow beginning, this man was enabled by God’s grace to gather a people and organize a church that now – after forty-nine years (next year it will be their 50th anniversary!!!) – counts around sixty members, with some of them who are second-generation. As this fellow pilgrim and laborer shared his testimony, I thought of a few promises from the Word of God that strengthen and soothe the Christian’s heart in his earthly pilgrimage:
“My beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58
“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” - Galatians 6:9
“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how” - Mark 4:26-27
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).
Internship of Bryce Klassen
In a twinkling of an eye, the time that Mid-America Reformed Seminary’s student Bryce Klassen had to spend with us as an intern came to an end. During the past three months, many purposes were accomplished for the benefit of our small flock (and we trust also for the benefit of Bryce himself). Besides preaching through 1 John, Bryce and I spent a good amount of time prayerfully going through more than thirty lectures on “the call to the pastoral office” and “the life of those called to the pastoral office”. Following the counsel of Dr. Joel Beeke, we were edified to peruse these lectures on Pastoral Theology. Bryce and I also spent time visiting many people (sometimes Bryce would go by himself), both church members and some outsiders. Moreover, having attended for two months of daily classes in Italian (from Monday through Friday) at the University of Perugia, Bryce had an opportunity to know firsthand the life of the city and the social and cultural context in which we are laboring and witnessing to establish an organized church. Our small flock showed an increasing appreciation for Bryce and all of us will miss him, even though we greeted him in the hope that the Lord may cause him to come back next summer.
Various visits
As is usually the case in the summer, we had many visitors from around the world. One thing that encourages us is that some of these people keep on coming back to our church year after year, even though at times they have to drive one or even two hours to get to Perugia. Besides Dutch, North American, British, and Hungarian believers, we even had a couple from New Zealand this year. On one occasion, I was asked to perform a simple ceremony for a British couple that desired to renew their wedding vows in the presence of God and before some witnessing friends. In particular, I’d like to mention the visit of Dr. Jonathan Winch and his gentle wife, Julie. Jonathan is the Executive Director of Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary located in Newcastle, UK, and one of the organizers of the European Reformed Colloquium held annually in Budapest, Hungary. We also received the visit a of delegation of the Consistory of Christ URC of Santee, in California. Rev. Charles Tedrick, elder Noah Collins, and Simonetta Carr (a member of the Mission Committee of my sending church) came for an official church visit to encourage, exhort, and give pastoral guidance to us. Finally, Rev. Dr. Joseph Pipa – President Emeritus of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary – came as usual for an annual visit to Rev. Mike Cuneo and to the church plant in Passignano sul Trasimeno. For the occasion, we rejoiced to have Dr. Pipa preaching and teaching also in our church in Perugia. We are grateful for the many opportunities given to us to know and fellowship with so many servants of God and to receive much comfort from the communion of the saints.
Church building
After waiting for more than a year, we were able to finalize our agreement with our bank for the purchase of the building where we have been meeting since February 2020. Therefore, instead of paying a monthly rent, we’ll be paying a mortgage for fifteen years thus investing our own money and the gifts that we receive from our sister churches and other donors. At present, we are waiting for the notary to finish preparing all the documents to be signed for the purchase. This move will not only allow us to capitalize our funds, but also – and especially – will give us an opportunity to root the witness of our church into the life of the people living in the area where the building is located. Since the work of salvation manifests itself in specific places, that is, in local life and reality, having our own building will enable us to learn more and more that geography is an essential aspect of church planting, as we persevere praying “your kingdom come … on earth as in heaven”. Therefore, we take the opportunity to express our felt gratitude for the kind assistance and wise guidance of the elders and deacons of Christ URC of Santee in California, and for the generous gifts that we received from Cornerstone URC of Hudsonville in Michigan, from Walker URC of Grand Rapids in Michigan, and from Oak Glen URC of Lansing in Illinois.
Please, pray with us for the following prayer requests:
that the Lord may assist us after the summer time as we go back to the normal church life after having had among us Bryce Klassen and other visitors;
that the Lord may bless the new season 2024/2025 giving us both spiritual and numerical growth;
that the Lord may add to our number men called and qualified to become elders and deacons;
that the Lord may give us wisdom and guidance to satisfy the bureaucratic requirements necessary for the purchase of the church building.
On behalf of all the members of the Chiesa Riformata of Perugia, I express a felt sense of gratitude for your faithful prayers and generous support.
Those of Italy greet you (Hebrews 13:24)!
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Pastor Andrea Ferrari