September 2023

New Member. On Sunday, September 3, our congregation had the privilege of receiving Mr. Andrea Zanin as a new member of Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia. Andrea is a mature believer who has come to love and appreciate Reformed Christianity. It has been a delight to get to know this brother and disciple him in the new members course. We are truly grateful to the Lord for every saint he brings into our community. In a day and age when so many professing Christians prefer to be spiritual drifters on the internet or roaming from church to church, it is encouraging to see Christ gather his sheep and bring them into the sheepfold where they can receive the means of grace and spiritual care. It is vital for every believer to find a faithful local church and join it, finding our place in the Body of Christ where we can enjoy the communion of saints and make our pilgrimage together. We pray that we will be a blessing to Andrea, and trust that he will be a blessing to us.

A Great Opportunity. On September 8-9 I had the privilege of attending and speaking at an evangelical conference in Italy as “Giornate teologiche” (“Theological Days”). This is an annual event hosted by the evangelical Bible school Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione (IFED), in which my friend Dr. Leonardo De Chirico is a professor. The theme this year was on “Food and Faith”. I was asked to give a talk on “From the Meals of the Patriarchs to the Final Banquet: How Food Creates Community” (in Italian, of course). I was honored to participate and greatly encouraged by the warm fellowship of nearly 200 Protestants at this gathering. It was a delight to meet so many workers for God’s kingdom here in Italy and make new friends.

Encouraging Visit. Janie and I were blessed with a visit from Will and Olga Kim, members of the URC in Colorado Spirings, Colorado. Will and Olga were in Italy celebrating their 25th anniversary and made a point to visit Milan and worship with Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia on a Sunday. Janie and I were delighted to have them to our home for lunch after the service. It is always a blessing to receive a visit from believers from the States so that they can see firsthand the work the Lord is doing here in Milan.

Family Matters. For a week during August, Janie, Iain and I were able to escape to the nearby Dolomites for some rest and relaxation. Incredibly, these breathtaking mountains are only three to four hours from Milan. We were thrilled to spend time together, hiking, cycling, and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.

After our vacation, Iain started 13th grade, his last year of high school. He has some big decisions ahead of him regarding where he will study: either here in Italy or in the States. We ask for your continued prayers for him: that he will stay focused on his schoolwork and, above all, keep walking with the Lord. Thank you to everyone who has written to us, asking how he is doing. We appreciate you so much.

Janie is also doing well. She continues working as an English teacher for foreigners and doing a lot of the tech work for our church. She is such a blessing to our congregation and especially to our family, always making our lives better!

We also ask for your prayers regarding a home. After renting for the past five years, we are currently looking for a place to purchase. We believe this would not only be a wise investment of our resources, but also important to our mission, as it would communicate our intention to stay for the long haul.

Grazie di Cuore
As always, Janie and I want to thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. We are only able to press on in this work by the grace of God, who uses people like you to partner with us in the gospel. We give God thanks for all that he is doing through his Word, and trust that he is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Pastor Mike

This mission to Milan is only possible with the faithful prayers and generous contributions of people like you. If you would like to help us meet our goal by making a donation, you may send a check to: 

Escondido United Reformed Church
1864 N. Broadway
Escondido, CA 92026

Checks should be made out to Escondido United Reformed Church. Please indicate that the support is for Rev. Michael Brown as a missionary to Italy.