Fueling Faith in Italy

An interview with Bill & Maria Teresa Standridge
by Massimo Lorenzini

[This interview was done and written in 1999. The Standridges are still going strong in Italy today!]

Being a missionary to Italy is demanding work. How one approaches the task can make all the difference between frustration and failure or fulfillment and fruitfulness. The following thoughts have been gleaned from an interview with Bill and Maria Teresa Standridge. Bill has been a missionary to Italy since 1949. Bill and Maria Teresa met in Italy, married, and raised four children, three of which are also missionaries in Italy today. Bill and Maria Teresa lead a church in Rome, publish an Italian Christian newspaper, publish Christian books, and lead training seminars throughout Italy. Their insights into missionary life and work in Italy are very valuable to the person seeking to minister in Italy.

One of the greatest challenges facing missionaries to Italy is to obtain proficiency in the Italian language, especially if one plans to have a ministry of public preaching. Just to obtain a conversational level of language ability takes about two or three years of study. But in order to speak before groups, even further study is necessary. Italians will be more forgiving of language mistakes and inability in conversation. But when addressing a group, language mistakes or limitations will place a strain on the listeners as well as give the impression of ignorance. Communicating the gospel and teaching the Bible requires strong language skills and must be considered a priority for the missionary.

Another great challenge is to assimilate into the local Italian culture. Missionaries to Italy must be willing to let go of the customs and lifestyles of their culture of origin and adapt to the local culture of the people they are trying to reach. The missionary must become a student of the target culture and use the knowledge gained to adapt to it in order to remove any type of offense from the relationship and to make the Italians feel appreciated. For example, home-schooling missionary children may be interpreted by the Italians that the missionary thinks Italian schools are not good enough for the missionary.

Some suggestions in learning the culture and assimilating include finding a good Italian friend who can explain local customs and attitudes. Also, reading the daily newspaper is a good practice, not only for language proficiency, but also for understanding the areas' current events and culture.

Regarding ministry challenges, the Standridges mentioned the problem of setting goals for ministry that cannot be controlled. For example, a missionary may say they want to have ten converts within five years and a church started after ten years or they will quit. Gaining converts and starting churches in Italy takes a long time. Strong churches require mature Christians. The Standridges recommended patience in this area and not giving too much responsibility to immature people. Ultimately, converts, mature leaders, and strong churches cannot be produced by the missionary, but are in the Lord's hands.

The Standridges pointed out that Italy is still in its infant stages as it relates to a national church planting movement. Missionaries are still needed, but they must be committed to long-term ministry. When asked about the secret of their longevity in ministry in Italy, the Standridges stated that a strong conviction of calling, adaptation to the culture, and being strong in facing pressures and problems were essential. Other important factors for mission work in Italy the Standridges mentioned are a strong relationship with the Lord maintained by a devotional life – even if it is only for ten minutes a day, a strong husband and wife relationship devoid of rivalry, a strong relationship with a home church or at least two or three churches, and, lastly, discipline in daily life and ministry.

Being a missionary to Italy is a demanding ministry. But by having realistic expectations, preparing a strong foundation, and persevering through the difficulties, the Lord can work through the individual missionary to build His church in Italy.