Hope for Italy

One of our colleagues, JD, wrote this today explaining some background and prayer points for Italy during the aftermath of the earthquake. Please join us in praying for our country.

"As news comes through, it appears evident that the earthquake that struck a remote, yet beautiful area of central Italy, is a devastating one. By the hour there are more reports of missing and of deceased. Old people and young children. Seven years ago the nearby city of L’Aquila, 60 kms away, was hit by a similar earthquake. As then, so now, we face the tragedy of lives lost and the anguish of devastated families and communities.

One of my first thoughts early this morning, however, regarded an even greater tragedy.
Recently I have been researching the presence of Evangelical churches throughout Italy. The province of Rieti is one of the least reached areas of Italy. Rieti province has an overall population of 160,000 people; 50,000 people live in the city of Rieti (60kms distant from the earthquake area), the rest of the province’s population live in small towns and villages. In the whole of the province of Rieti there are no more than half a dozen Evangelical churches (of any denomination) and they are almost all in the city of Rieti. A simple conclusion: the area affected by the earthquake has, as far as we can tell, no witness to the gospel! That is a great tragedy.
Two important elements:
- vast areas of Italy still have NO local witness
- the challenge of reaching not only the cities, but the small towns and villages as well, is great; research indicates that over half of the Italian population lives in locations with less than 50,000 inhabitants, 35% with less than 15,000 inhabitants and 15% with less than 5000.
How will they hear?
There is need of the same passion of God for mission.
Please pray for Christians throughout the country: that they might make much of the opportunity to present the gospel of hope in the midst of darkness and desperation and that there might be opportunities to reach into the destroyed communities with hope and light. And that a radically different narrative can be proclaimed about what is happening, with the gospel at the centre that redefines all."

-JD Gilmore

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching...

This summer our church is going through Paul's first letter to Timothy. It is been challenging to study God's word on a daily basis and to reflect on the implications of this letter to the church in Ephesus.
This week, we are looking at chapter 4 where Paul warns Timothy of false teachers and doctrines that will lead people astray. What I find really interesting though is where Paul encourages Timothy not to be discouraged by older folks looking down on his leadership because of his age.

Paul writes, "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." Later Paul adds, "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching." (1 Timothy 4: 12,16) Now, the main point that Paul wants to communicate here is that Timothy needs to set the example for all Christians whereby encouraging them to follow in his footsteps no matter his age. Then Paul instructs Timothy to watch himself and the teaching that he gives the church. This is an important part of the text. Paul somehow is convinced that the way in which Timothy saves his testimony as well as the testimony of those in the church is by Timothy keeping watch or paying attention to his own spiritual state with Christ and as well as what he communicates and lives out to those around him. This truth echoes in my own life and ministry. As a leader in our church, my responsability is not just to make sure that others around me have a vibrant and deep relationship with Christ but that I too, am in the intimacy of walking in the presence of my Saviour so that I do not lead people astray in both testimony and teaching.

This has convicted me greatly and I want to encourage those of you who read this blog of a couple things.

First, do not think that just because you may be young or may not hold an official role in the leadership of your church, that somehow you cannot set the example for believers around you. Christ has called you to live for His name and this means that all that you do, you do for the sake of God's name which is the glory of Christ in the Gospel. This means that if you work a normal job by the world's standards, you are to work in that capacity as if you are working to bring about the praise of Christ for the sake of the Gospel.

Second, by saturating yourself in the word of God and by walking daily with your Savior in prayer and serving others you will help to keep others in the faith as well. People watch us whether they be in the church or outside. We are to be the light of Christ and this means that folks should see the truth of the cross in our everyday lives. By keeping ourselves in the midst of Christ we also protect the spiritual welfare of others and their relationships with Jesus.