July 2022
Visit to the United States
Janie, Iain, and I were able to go the United States for two weeks in order to visit three supporting churches and see our family. As I have said before, the hardest part of being a foreign missionary is not preaching in a second language or adapting to a new culture. The hardest part is not being able to see family more often, especially our three grown children and one grandchild. Our daughter Kayla and her husband Caleb live in South Pasadena, CA, and our son Isaac as well as our daughter Alysia and her family live in Vermont. In God’s kind providence, we were able to spend five days together at my parents’ house in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Although our time together was brief, it was still an enormous blessing and encouragement. We hope that we can find a way to see our grown children and granddaughter Isabella (pictured on the right) more frequently.
We were also able to spend several days with Janie’s dad, Jose, who is 85 years old and lives in Menifee, CA with Janie’s sister. We also saw her brother, another sister, and two neices. It was a special time for which we are very grateful.
On Sunday, July 17, I preached in the worship service at my former church, Christ URC in Santee, CA. Janie, Iain, and I had not visited this dear congregation in more than four years. This is the church I was called to plant in 2003 and subsequently served for fifteen years. After the worship service, I have a brief presentation on Mission Milan, and we then enjoyed a splendid lunch together where Janie and I were able to catch up with so many friends and loved ones. It was a tremendous blessing to renew fellowship with Christ URC, a congregation that will always hold a special place in our hearts.
New Members
This past month, our congregation received four new members: Nello De Risi and the Del Conte family: Pietro, Anna, and Angelica. These dear saints live in the city of Torino, which is more than an hour away from Milan. Because there are no established Reformed or Presbyterian churches in Turin, they sought out Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia as their church home, completing the new members’ course, interviewing with the Consistory, and making public vows. We are praying that God will send an ordained minister and missionary to plant a Reformed church in Turin in the future.
Church picnic
On a hot Sunday afternoon after worship, our congregation enjoyed a “grigliata” (BBQ) in a nearby park. It was a great opportunity to eat, talk, and laugh together for a few hours. Due to covid restrictions, we have not been able to have a picnic in the park since 2019. We plan to make this an annual event.
As always, Janie and I are very grateful to you for reading these updates and praying for us. Thank you for your encouragement and generous support. Mission Milan is only possible because of the people like you who stand with us.
~ 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.
