Tag: Italy
UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP: Imagine moving to another country, where the people look just like you. You learn their language, eat their food, embrace their culture and act like the locals, but still you are rejected because of your heritage. This is the plight of Albanian immigrants in Italy, who have arrived after 1991. Academic studies have examined this peculiar “Albanian Assimilation Paradox” because it is so unusual. Normally, when a people of similar skin color whole-heartedly take on the new culture, there is little opposition by the host country. Instead, the newly arrived Albanians are the most rejected people group by Italian society. Intercede that this rejected group will have opportunities to hear the Good News of the Son’s love for them and find acceptance in Him.
Rejoice that the church plant in Laurentino, Rome has begun new cell groups. Their Thursday evening outreach time grew too big, so they have divided into 3 groups and are meeting in homes. One member of the ROME TEAM (WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN CLUSTER) meets with a younger “sports” group and his wife with mostly older women and a third group of young adults. They will still meet once a month all together. Intercede that believers will become stronger and others will come to faith.
A member of the ROMA CLUSTER in ITLAY asks that you intercede for speed in evangelizing the camps in Rome. He writes, “I am surprised by how many new people I find every time I visit the camps. They come and go so fast that I cannot keep track of all of them.”
The ROME TEAM (WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN CLUSTER) now has a small building that they are confident will soon host a church plant. This confidence stems from the certainty that God made this building possible, and because they sense that He is at work in a big way. In Oct., they hosted a photo show for Italian photographers to display their work and over 100 people visited! Recently, they maxed out their upstairs room with university students for a movie night. They have also started a Bible study. Intercede for a core group of Italian believers that will be the beginning of a church plant. Ask that they will be the light of Christ and serve the community.
