May 2023
Pastor Mike, Janie, and Iain on Easter Sunday at Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia.
It’s been two months since I’ve provided an update on Mission Milan. Here are some of the things that the Lord has been doing with Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia, my ministry, and my family.
Weekly Means of Grace
As always, Word and Sacrament continue week in and week out at Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia. I am currently preaching through the book of Exodus in our main worship service, and teaching through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in our catechism service. We have also been learning to sing the Psalms. During our catechism service, we often sing a psalm that is new to our congregation before introducing it in the worship service. The churches in Perugia, Lago Trasimeno, and Lecce are doing something similar. In fact, we are learning the same psalms in our respective churches. One of our long-term goals is to compile and publish a psalter-hymnal in Italian that can be used in the future Reformed denomination. Please pray that Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia will remain faithful to worship the Lord in reverence and awe and preach His glorious gospel boldly and in love.
New Members
God willing, we will receive four new members during the worship service tomorrow morning (April 30): Francesco & Maria Pinelli, Giuseppe Canta (Maria’s father), and Lia Pinelli (Francesco’s mother). This dear family has faithfully attended our church for some time and has been a blessing as they regularly serve and participate in the life of the church. Recently, they completed a ten-week new member’s course which I taught in their home. They love the Lord, his gospel, and his church. Francesco is also an accomplished pianist and has recently begun serving as an accompanist during worship. We are grateful that the Lord has brought them to Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia! Please pray for their continued growth in the faith as they become members in full communion.
Pictured from left to right: Francesco Pinelli, Maria Pinelli, Giuseppe Canta, Lia Pinelli.
Monthly Ladies’ Fellowship
Janie continues to lead a monthly ladies’ fellowship. They are currently reading and discussing the book, Rediscover the Church: Why the Body of Christ is Essential, by Jonathan Leeman. The group also recently finished Nancy Guthrie's book, God Does His Best Work with Empty. Janie says, “It's a joy for the ladies to meet, discuss the book, and pray together. It's a challenge on two fronts; first, the lack of Christian books to choose from in Italian, and second, it's a humbling experience to lead the group discussion in Italian. Please pray that this small group would grow and flourish in the faith!”
Ladies’ Book Club meeting in the home of Pastor Mike and Janie. CRF members pictured from left to right: Natalia Hernandez, Daniela Calderaro, Rosanna Altobelli, Cristiana Rinaldi, and Ursula Blumberg. (Janie took the photo and is not pictured.)
Monthly Men’s Fellowship
Our monthly men’s fellowship, “Uomini del patto” (“Men of the Covenant”), is going strong and has been a blessing to those who attend. In this group, there are about fifteen to twenty men ranging from ages 17 to 84. We pray for one another, sing psalms and hymns, and study a book together. Right now, we are still going through R.C. Sproul’s The Holiness of God, which has recently been translated into Italian (La Santità di Dio). Afterward, in typical Italian fashion, we eat a pizza together. :)
Preaching in Lecce
On February 26, I had the privilege of filling the pulpit for Rev. Vincenzo Coluccia, PCA missionary and pastor of Chiesa Presbiteriana “Pietra Vivente” in Lecce, which is in the very south of Italy. It is always a blessing to visit this church plant and see the work that Pastor Vincenzo and his wife Judit are doing, and to strengthen the bonds between our churches. Please pray for this congregation as they seek to be a witness for Christ in the city of Lecce.
Preaching at Chiesa Presbiteriana “Pietra Vivente” in Lecce.
Speaking at First National Convention of Brazilian Presbyterian Church in Italy
On April 25, I had the privilege of speaking at the first national meeting of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil’s mission to Italy. The meeting was held at a hotel conference room at Lake Iseo. There were about 75 people in attendance, including three missionaries of the PCB. One of these missionaries is Rev. Humberto de Oliveira, pastor of Chiesa Presbiteriana di Legnano. He and I have developed a good relationship over the past three years and have exchanged pulpits a number of times. The other two missionaries are serving church plants in the northern Italian cities of Brescia and Padova. Two of these brothers will join us next week at our meeting in Perugia of the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in Italy (CPRI). We pray that the Lord will strengthen our bonds and that we can labor together as one to form a stable Reformed denomination in Italy.
Pastor Brown and Rev. Humberto Arisa de Oliveira, PCB missionary and pastor of Chiesa Presbiteriana di Legnano.
Family Matters
Please pray for Iain as he begins to explore potential colleges and universities to study after high school. He is scheduled to graduate in June of next year (2024), and wants to study medicine. We are not yet sure if he will study here in Italy or in the States. Please pray that the Lord gives us wisdom and direction while we navigate the various options, and that he guides Iain along the way. Please also continue to pray that the Lord provides Iain with one or two Christian friends.
Over these past four and half years, the Lord has been faithful to Janie, Iain and me, helping us to master the language and adapt to a new life. By God’s grace, we are all healthy physically and continuing to grow spiritually. I confess that we miss our family in the States, and it sometimes feels lonely. Yet, we are comforted by our family in Christ here in Milan and feel privileged to make our pilgrimage with our brothers and sisters of Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia.
Pastor Mike and Iain hiking in the mountains on the Swiss-Italian border near Lake Como.
Grazie mille!
Thank you for reading these updates and remaining vigilant in prayer for us and Mission Milan. Thank you for your encouragement and financial support. Mission Milan is only possible because of people like 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
