July 2021

New members of Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia, from left to right: Ursula Blumberg, Heidi Lombardi, Toni Nero, Ester Marino, Anne & Aldert Holwerda, Erik & Kristina Maresia.

Joyful Day
On June 27, 2021, we were blessed with the reception of eight new members in full communion:

Tony Nero, a business consultant who started following our online services during the first lockdown of 2020 and subsequently began attending CRF in person when we reopened; Erik & Kristina Maresia, a young couple from Finland, who moved to Milan about a year ago to attend graduate school; Aldert and Anne Holwerda, another young couple in their 20s, but from Holland, who also moved to Milan about a year ago so that Anne could attend graduate school (Aldert works remotely for a Dutch company); Heidi Lombardi Streuli, a godly widow in her 70s who has attended CRF for several years, but recently made the decision to take the membership course and become a member; Ursula Blumberg, a devout woman who lives in the Lake Como area but is originally from Germany; and Ester Marino, 15, who is a baptized member of CRF along with her family, but made her public profession of faith and is now a member in full communion.

After the joyful service, the congregation enjoyed a fellowship meal that lasted nearly three hours. Due to the pandemic, this was the first large congregational meal since December 2019. Given that eating together is such an important part of both Christian fellowship and Italian culture, this was a tremendous blessing to the church. We give God thanks for his many mercies and look forward to more fellowship meals together in the future.

Another New Members’ Class
By God’s grace, we have started another new members’ class with two young people very serious about their faith: Federico Gobbo, a native of Milan, and Natalia Chiribi, a graduate student from Colombia. We pray that the Lord will bless them both during this time of study and reflection.

Friday Night Bible Study
Our in-person Friday Night Bible Study on the book of Romans has been running for four weeks and has been well-attended, especially by young people. We ask for your continued prayers for this ministry as it provides us with an opportunity to grow in the faith and spend time together outside of Sunday.

Visit to the States
Since I failed to post an update for June, I thought it worth mentioning that our trip to Southern California in late May was profitable in two ways. First, I was blessed with the opportunity to renew fellowship with four dear churches in Southern California in which I preach and gave presentations on Mission Milan: Escondido URC in Escondido (our home church), New Life Presbyterian Church in La Mesa, Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim, and First United Reformed Church in Chino. Janie and I were both very encouraged by and thankful for the warm reception we received.

Second, we had the privilege of witnessing our son Isaac graduate from Providence Christian College on May 15. We were also able to spend time with our daughters, sons-in-law, granddaughter and parents while we were in town. The hardest part of being a foreign missionary is missing family. We are grateful to God for the time he gave us to see our loved ones.

As always, we are grateful to God for all of you stand with us and support us in this mission. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Thank you for helping us make disciples in Italy’s most global city. May the Lord bless you and strengthen your faith in Christ, your hope in heaven, and your love for God and neighbor.

~ 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.