Arkansas Baptist School in Bologna

Tomorrow we'll be with Coach Billy Goss
and the team from Arkansas Baptist School 
 at the Istituto Aldini-Valeriani, the biggest High-School in Bologna.

Coach Billy will teach Italian kids to play baseball through a clicnic and then they'll play with the American teens.

The team will then do an evangelistic drama for the Italians and they'll have many opportunities to share informally the Gospel wit them.

Arkansas Baptist School & YfC

Tomorrow we'll host in Bologna a team from the US. They are a group of Christian teens and their leaders from Arkansas Baptist School.

One of their leaders, Coach Billy Goss, Athletic Director of the School, spends every year part of his summer helping at the Christian Camp in Florence Campo Sport.

Coach Billy and the team will come on Wednesday and Thursday in two High-Schools, the first in Bologna and the second in Budrio, to do a baseball clinic for Italian teens.

It will be an amazing opportunity for the American teens to share informally their faith in Jesus with Italian kids!

 

Baptismal Service - Visiting Preacher Giovanni Greco

Tomorrow we'll have a Baptismal Service in San Lazzaro church.

Two ladies, Elisa & Elisabetta
will testify of their faith to
their relatives and friends,
so we expect to have the church building packed!


For this service we'll have preaching both morning and afternoon Giovanni Greco, pastor of the Galed Evangelical Church in Vasto.

In the morning Giovanni will preach on the meaning of Baptism and in the afternoon he'll give a talk on the significance of Baptism.

Giovanni and his wife Fiorella are associated with Italian Ministries and are both actively involved in reaching out the area surrounding Vasto. Out of Giovanni's ministry, five gospel communities are lead by men from his church.

Porterbrook - Bologna Campus

Tomorrow from 3.30 to 7.00 pm we'll have the plenary session of the Porterbrook - Bologna Campus.

The meeting will be held in Forte Torre Church and we expect about 25 students
from 5 different churches in Bologna.

We'll continue the first and fourth modules of the 3rd volume foundation course.



The first module is Gospel Change, taught by Mark Brucato,
co-pastor of Nuova Vita Church.

In this session, students will interact with these units:
7. Holiness: relationships
8. Holiness: conversations
9. Holiness: thankfulness


"Bridging the gap between what we are and what we ought to be is one of God‘s great interests, and it ought to be ours as well. We need to change. Therefore it is critical that we understand how change takes place in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. This module looks at how the Gospel helps us to change. You will look at issues around repentance, faith, the head and heart and how the Bible, prayer and community relate to Gospel change. You will also take an indepth look at the issue of holiness – what it is and how it expresses itself in relationships, conversation and thankfulness."


The fourth module is Culture, taught by Stefano.
In this session, students will interact with these units:

4. Life Styles
5. Defining products
6. Film: Juno

"The goal of this module is to help students to 'engage with culture' in:
1. Understanding what culture is;
2. Looking at the typical Christian approaches to culture;
3. Exploring how the Gospel interact with culture.

The intention of this module is to help students to analyse their culture in the light of the Gospel. Particular attention will be given to analyse more 'products' (films, novels, etc.) than 'structures' (business, politics, etc.). We want to learn at how to share the Gospel in a more meaningful way
to our own culture. So we'll look at tools that will help us to relate the Gospel in normal conversations at pubs, children's clubs, offices, etc.!

For the final unit we'll interact with clips from the 2007 film Juno:

Titus 2 Ladies Group - Friday 08/03/2013

Tomorrow evening Jenny & Tina will lead the Titus 2 Ladies Group of our church, continuing the Bible studies series on women from the New Testament whose lives were transformed by Jesus.

The goal of this group is to challenge women from our church to encourage one another in the fear of the Lord and to learn to be missional in their workplaces, homes and families!

  

This time they'll be looking at the Canaanite woman meeting Jesus in Matthew 15:21-28.

In this interactive Bible Study women will be challenged to understand the Canaanite woman's faith in who Jesus was and how this motivated her prayer for the healing of her daughter. 

How do we react when it seems that God doesn't answer our prayers immediately?

In which ways does the example of this woman encourages us to persevere in trusting the Jesus that has mercy on us interdependently from whom we are?

"And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon"."

Matthew 15:21-22 (ESV)

Annual meeting of church leaders and mission leaders in the Bologna Area

This evening  we'll host in our church the Annual Meeting of church leaders and mission leaders in the Bologna Area.
The Churches represented will be: Forte Torre, Nuova Vita, San Lazzaro, Nuova Speranza and Sasso Marconi.
The Missions represented will be: Youth for Christ Italia, GBU (IFES/UCCF), Agape Italia (Campus Crusade), TEAM and Impatto (Acts29 Italia).
This it's an incredible opportunity to establish a strong and long-term partnership approach that will lead our relationships as local churches and missions operating in the Bologna Area.

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Philippians 1:3-6 (ESV)

Sunday afternoon meeting in Budrio - Interactive Bible Study

Tomorrow afternoon we'll be with our friends from our village at the Sunday afternoon meeting & Bible Study in Budrio.

This meeting is held in cooperation with a local group of Christians  from Nuova Vita Church in Bologna who are all living in or near Budrio.
We expect to be about 20 adults plus kids!!!

In this group we'll interact with the "Gospel Living" module of Porterbrook, 
and tomorrow we'll interact with 3 units:
Looking back: to the cross; Looking around: at the Christian community;
Looking forward: to eternity

"Starting from the position that all life is for the Glory of God, this module looks at what it means to live a life for that glory. It will mean loving God and loving others, shaped by the cross and looking to the future glory that we will share with Jesus. Having laid this foundation the module then examines how this impacts daily issues such as decisions, friendship and possessions."

Sunday Service 03/03/2013 - Sasso Marconi

On Sunday we'll be at
Chiesa Evangelica di Sasso Marconi, a Brethren church
in a village near Bologna.

Stefano will preach in the morning on Hebrews 11:7
"Christ in the faith of Noah".


"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

Hebrews 11:7 (ESV)

Engaging with local culture

Tonight we'll participate at a Book panel discussion in the local library of our village.

The Book: "Fuoco&Neve, Fire&Snow" is set in the area where we live between the two World Wars and deals with matters of life & death, youth & old age.

This book has also been turned into a play by a famous Italian actor.

At this meeting the Major of Budrio will be present and we'll have chance to interact and befriend with many locals from Budrio and the surrounding villages.

5 Years of Youth for Christ Italia - Sunday 24/02/2013

Tomorrow it will be the last day of the week-end dedicated to celebrate the 5 years anniversary of YfC Italy.



 
In the morning John Duncan, (YfC Area Director for Europe,
Middle East, North Africa) will preach in Nuova Vita Church,
whereas Allan Grier, (YfC Regional Director for Southern Europe)
will preach in San Lazzaro Church about "Jesus is the answer"
from Mark 10:17-23.

5 Years of Youth for Christ Italia - Saturday 23/02/2013

Tomorrow it will be the 2nd day of the week-end dedicated to celebrate the 5 years anniversary of YfC Italy.

In the morning Stefano will participate to the YfC Italy national board members training session.

In the afternoon we'll have a YfC Italy national board members meeting, followed by an Annual General Meeting of the associates.

In the evening we'll have a celebration held in a meeting hall at the local Town Council in Bologna and we have invited Christians, pastors, kids, parents and local authorities.
Our desire is to celebrate God's faithfulness and grace to us in these past 5 years and inspire people to embrace our vision.


Then John Duncan, YfC Area Director for Europe, Middle East, North Africa, will talk about YFC’s global picture.

5 Years of Youth for Christ Italia - Friday 22/02/2013

Tomorrow it will be the first day of the week-end dedicated to celebrate the 5 years anniversary of YfC Italy.

In the morning Stefano will participate alongside all the national board members and the staff of YfC Italy to a time of worship and sharing.

In the afternoon we'll have a time to review all the programmes and outreach activities YfC Italy is promoting in Turin, Bologna, Florence and in Sicily.

In the evening we'll have a special meeting with a meal offered by
San Lazzaro Church for all the volunteers helping at the My Space Bologna.

John Duncan, YfC Area Director for Europe, Middle East, North Africa,
will speak about YfC work throughout the world.

Series: the 7 "I am" sayings of Jesus Christ - 1 "I am the bread of life" Audio sermon in Italian

Audio of the sermon in Italian of the series: 
the 7 "I am" sayings of Jesus: 01 "I am the bread of life"

 

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." John 6:35 (ESV)

Sunday afternoon meeting in Budrio - Interactive Bible Study

Tomorrow the Sunday afternoon meeting & Bible Study of the Budrio group we'll be at our house.

This meeting is held in cooperation with a local group of Christians  from Nuova Vita Church in Bologna who are all living in or near Budrio and our friends from our village attend regularly. 
We expect to be about 20 adults plus kids!!!  

Tomorrow we'll interact with the "Gospel Living" module of Porterbrook, and specifically with the 5th unit: "Looking forward: to eternity"!

Series: the 7 "I am" sayings of Jesus Christ - 1 "I am the bread of life"

Tomorrow Stefano will continue the series
on the 7 "I am" sayings of Jesus in the
Gospel of John engaging with the first:
I am the bread of life

To introduce this sermon we'll interact with the question: "What do I need?"




 These will then be the two main points of the sermon:

1. Rabbi, when did you come here? (v.25)

2. How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'? (v.42)

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

John 6:25-44 (ESV)

Home-groups Prayer Meeting

Tomorrow night we'll have our monthly
Home-groups Prayer Meeting.

During this meetings we pray for World Evangelism, and
for the missionary work in Senegal in which we are involved.
We pray for Italy and our region Emilia-Romagna and
for the cooperation we have with different churches in the Bologna Area and for the outreach activities we have.


This month we'll pray specifically for the work of IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) which in italian is GBU (Gruppi Biblici Universitari) and especially for the ministry in Bologna of Chris and Elisabetta Brown.
We'll pray for the Christian students involved in the work and for their outreach in the University of Bologna which counts about 100.000 students.


This month we'll also pray specifically for the Persecuted Church in Nigeria.

From Operation World: 
The introduction of shari’a law in northern Muslim states is a direct challenge to the federal government. It is an open door to human rights abuses and the further infiltration of Nigeria by extremists. It is a danger to national stability and a threat to Christian ministry in those states so affected. Pray for the intrinsic cruelty and injustices of shari’a to be exposed and for those seeking moral order and social righteousness to find it in the practice of biblical principles under the authority of Christ.

Porterbrook - Bologna Campus

Tomorrow from 3.30 to 7.00 pm we'll have the plenary session of the Porterbrook - Bologna Campus.

The meeting will be held in San Lazzaro Church and we expect about 25 students
from 5 different churches in Bologna.

We'll start the first and fourth modules of the 3rd volume foundation course.



The first module is Gospel Change, taught by Mark Brucato,
co-pastor of Nuova Vita Church.

In this session, students will interact with these units:
1. The dynamics of gospel change
2. Gospel change and repentance
3. Gospel change and faith


"Bridging the gap between what we are and what we ought to be is one of God‘s great interests, and it ought to be ours as well. We need to change. Therefore it is critical that we understand how change takes place in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. This module looks at how the Gospel helps us to change. You will look at issues around repentance, faith, the head and heart and how the Bible, prayer and community relate to Gospel change. You will also take an indepth look at the issue of holiness – what it is and how it expresses itself in relationships, conversation and thankfulness."


The fourth module is Culture, taught by Stefano.
In this session, students will interact with these units:

1. Christ & culture
2. A Biblical history of culture
3. Recent cultural changes

"The goal of this module is to help students to 'engage with culture' in:
1. Understanding what culture is;
2. Looking at the typical Christian approaches to culture;
3. Exploring how the Gospel interact with culture.

The intention of this module is to help students to analyse their culture in the light of the Gospel. Particular attention will be given to analyse more 'products' (films, novels, etc.) than 'structures' (business, politics, etc.). We want to learn at how to share the Gospel in a more meaningful way
to our own culture. So we'll look at tools that will help us to relate the Gospel in normal conversations at pubs, children's clubs, offices, etc.!

Sunday afternoon meeting in Budrio - Interactive Bible Study

 

Tomorrow afternoon we'll be with our friends from our village at the Sunday afternoon meeting & Bible Study in Budrio.

This meeting is held in cooperation with a local group of Christians  from Nuova Vita Church in Bologna who are all living in or near Budrio.
We expect to be about 20 adults plus kids!!!

 

Tomorrow we'll have with us Jonathan Gilmore,
director of Acts29 Italia and of Porterbrook Italia. Jonathan will lead the group to interact with the "Gospel Living" module of Porterbrook, and specifically with the 4rd unit: 
"Looking around: at the Christian community"!

"Starting from the position that all life is for the Glory of God, this module looks at what it means to live a life for that glory. It will mean loving God and loving others, shaped by the cross and looking to the future glory that we will share with Jesus. Having laid this foundation the module then examines how this impacts daily issues such as decisions, friendship and possessions."