Ministry Focus
On mission with God to develop biblically healthy disciples and churches in Italy.
We will be joining other WorldVenture missionaries in Italy to do evangelism, church ministry, and leadership development. We plan to strengthen the existing churches by developing leaders through personal mentoring and creating discipleship resources. Massimo will have a special emphasis on training Italian church leaders with theological education. In addition to caring for our three young children, Kimberly will disciple women and mentor them to be godly disciples, wives, and mothers.
We also have a huge heart for evangelism and will seek to befriend Italians through hospitality and common interests like cooking, sports, and music. Most Italians have never met an Evangelical Christian or read the Bible for themselves. They know the name of Jesus, but the vast majority does not know Him personally. We want to be the ones to open the Bible with them and partner with the Holy Spirit to introduce them to Christ. Many Italians are skeptical of the traditional church but often have questions about God and the Bible. We are excited to show them who God is and what He can do for them.
We will be joining other WorldVenture missionaries in Italy to do evangelism, church ministry, and leadership development. We plan to strengthen the existing churches by developing leaders through personal mentoring and creating discipleship resources. Massimo will have a special emphasis on training Italian church leaders with theological education. In addition to caring for our three young children, Kimberly will disciple women and mentor them to be godly disciples, wives, and mothers.
We also have a huge heart for evangelism and will seek to befriend Italians through hospitality and common interests like cooking, sports, and music. Most Italians have never met an Evangelical Christian or read the Bible for themselves. They know the name of Jesus, but the vast majority does not know Him personally. We want to be the ones to open the Bible with them and partner with the Holy Spirit to introduce them to Christ. Many Italians are skeptical of the traditional church but often have questions about God and the Bible. We are excited to show them who God is and what He can do for them.
The Protestant Reformation was never given a chance to take root in Italy due to severe persecution by the established church. We rejoice that today there is a greater hunger for the truth of God’s Word in Italy than ever before. The fledgling Italian church has been slowly and steadily growing for the past hundred years and there is a serious need for theological education for Evangelical church leaders. Italian believers also need sound discipleship resources. Our plan is to use current media and technology to develop biblical training resources that can bring the needed maturity to the Italian church that can sustain a national church planting movement.
We both came to Christ in our early 20s and know the power of the gospel firsthand. The gospel has and will continue to change lives in Italy and we long to see many more Italians brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. Our vision is to develop mature and godly believers, families, and churches in Italy for the glory of God.
WorldVenture's Work in Italy
WorldVenture entered Naples after World War II during a time when public preaching was forbidden and permits for church buildings were not available. The ministry bore little fruit until the 1960s. During the 1980s, evangelistic tent campaigns were bringing hundreds of new believers to WorldVenture associated churches. This method of evangelism infused the churches with a vitality that still continues today. Ministry in Rome, which started in the 1970s, is experiencing the same type of resistance that was encountered in Naples.
Goals and Future Direction of the Work
WorldVenture Italy believes that the fastest way to reach the Italian people for Jesus Christ and to expand the kingdom to the final frontiers of the harvest is through planting indigenous churches. In order to reach this ambitious goal, the ministry is dedicated to extending grace to Italy by acts of mercy and evangelism. New groups of believers are being transformed into churches rooted and grounded in the Word and associated with other churches.
Leaders in these churches will be equipped and sent to other areas of Italy and the world, where the process will be repeated. Evangelists must be able to model evangelism as a lifestyle. Church planters must have a vision of how cell groups and home groups function and how they can be used in the formation of new churches.
WorldVenture's Work in Italy
WorldVenture entered Naples after World War II during a time when public preaching was forbidden and permits for church buildings were not available. The ministry bore little fruit until the 1960s. During the 1980s, evangelistic tent campaigns were bringing hundreds of new believers to WorldVenture associated churches. This method of evangelism infused the churches with a vitality that still continues today. Ministry in Rome, which started in the 1970s, is experiencing the same type of resistance that was encountered in Naples.
Goals and Future Direction of the Work
WorldVenture Italy believes that the fastest way to reach the Italian people for Jesus Christ and to expand the kingdom to the final frontiers of the harvest is through planting indigenous churches. In order to reach this ambitious goal, the ministry is dedicated to extending grace to Italy by acts of mercy and evangelism. New groups of believers are being transformed into churches rooted and grounded in the Word and associated with other churches.
Leaders in these churches will be equipped and sent to other areas of Italy and the world, where the process will be repeated. Evangelists must be able to model evangelism as a lifestyle. Church planters must have a vision of how cell groups and home groups function and how they can be used in the formation of new churches.
