May 2022
The Lord has been gracious to us this past month as we continue to minister to God’s people and seek to reach the lost in Milan.
Family Conference with Author Simonetta Carr
On April 23rd, we held our first annual family conference. Over the past two years, we had to cancel this event due to the covid pandemic. This year, we were able to have author Simonetta Carr speak about her book Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them: Schizophrenia through a Mother’s Eyes. The conference was titled “Mental Illness and the Family: How to Find Hope”. In Italy, as in America to some degree, the subject of mental illness is often avoided and rarely discussed publicly. We found this to be an excellent opportunity to minister to people who are struggling with the difficult challenges of mental illness in the family and what the church can do to help. Simonetta’s talks were eye-opening and rich with hope. As a congregation, we now feel more equipped on how to show mercy to those in the church who battle mental illness, along with their families who often feel misunderstood. This event was also a blessing because Simonetta is a native Italian who, although she now lives in the United States with her family, has maintained her language. She was able to give the lectures in her mother tongue without a translator.
Teaching on Human Sexuality and the Bible
Last week, I began a new Sunday school series on the important subject of human sexuality and the Bible. My goal is to evaluate the new sexual revolution in the light of Scripture and equip the saints to understand the biblical categories of human sexuality as well as how to love and reach our neighbors who are gay, transgender, or are committed to LGBTQ beliefs. As a guide, I am using the New Reformation Catechism on Human Sexuality, published by Gospel Reformation Network and written by Rev. Christopher Gordon, pastor of the Escondido United Reformed Church. I currently translating this excellent tool into Italian so that we can make it available to people in this country.
Ministering to Ukrainian Refugees
We continue to care for the Argakov family and Alena Fedchishina, all of whom attend our church faithfully. The Chygrynova family decided to go to Munich, Germany where they were able to connect with other family members. We were able to purchase train tickets for them and assist them in their travel. We have also been able to fix the Argakov family’s car and keep them sustained with rent and food. They are currently going through the bureaucratic process to obtain temporary residency in Milan, which will then allow them to look for work. They are also taking classes to learn the language. In the meantime, Alena translates the sermons and catechism classes into Russian using a microphone and headsets. Recently, Daria’s mother was able to leave Kharkiv and come to Milan to live her daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren. We are very happy to help all of them and seek to make them feel at home as much as possible.
Photo on left: Brothers Artiom and Misha with traditional Italian chocolate on Easter Sunday.
Men’s Fellowship
Having just completed the book of Romans in our Wednesday night Bible study, we will be taking a break in order to have some men’s fellowship meetings at the church. A few of the younger men in our congregation asked the Consistory if the men of the church could meet on Friday evenings to discuss the practical aspects of the Christian life and how to be a man of God. I look forward to these discussions which will begin this month. I ask for your prayers that the brothers of the church will be able to minister to one another and encourage each other.
Thank you for reading these updates and praying for us. Thank you for your encouragement and generous support. Mission Milan is only possible because of people like you. Please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We’d love to hear from you!
~ Pastor Mike
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” ~ Acts 20:24
If you would like to help by making a donation, you may give online here on our website or send a check to:
Escondido United Reformed Church
1864 N. Broadway
Escondido, CA 92026
Attn: Mission Milan
Checks should be made out to Escondido United Reformed Church. Please indicate that the support is for Rev. Michael Brown as a missionary to Milan, Italy.
