A first sketch: what might this look like?

God has been inspiring me with a vision for ministry in Italy, especially as someone to reach out and encourage churches already present there. This is an aspect of my job at Home Missions I'm learning to embrace-- I really want to go out of my way to let these church planters I come in contact with know that I'm on their side, and that I am so excited for their ministry and for who they are. Church planting is complicated, difficult, emotionally trying, frustrating, exciting, and more... and the more I learn about the process the more I respect church planters deeply. 

But before planting a church ourselves, I envision the first year spent traveling around, meeting with church leaders and community leaders, listening to their stories and to their heartbreak, asking what needs to be done, encouraging them and praying with them. 

My work as an intern, seeing first-hand how church planting can be most effective, has taught me that developing a network of relationships that build up a center core is among the first tasks. A church plant cannot stand on its own. It needs prayer and financial partners from both the immediate community and from around the world. 

A church does not need to "manufacture" a community within its own doors-- right outside those doors is a community already present; often in need of revitalization, yes, but the culture and people's interests and natural rhythm to life already offers the rich, fertile soil in which to plant. Being audaciously involved, being a loving, active, but not aggressive, presence in the community can allow people to get to know you and learn to trust you. 

This is especially important in a nation where people are disillusioned by who Jesus is and disappointed with what Christianity has become. You can preach the Good News of the Gospel while still remaining relevant, appropriately adapting to the culture and needs around you (for instance, people need to hear about grace all the time, but maybe one particular community needs to hear more about God's faithfulness, too, in times of trials, or maybe they need to be challenged in service to others). It seems to me that people have a hard time getting from Point A to Point B: Okay, that's what the Bible says, but explain to me why that matters in my life, today, at this very moment! 

This is especially powerful to me as I think about the ways that I still need change. I have been a follower of Christ my entire life-- I publicly professed my faith at 9 years old-- and yet I think about the temptations I face, the shortcomings I have, and the struggle to be pure... it's tough. I can only imagine how intimidated people must feel when they confront what Christianity seems to require or represent, and why they often walk away sadly, knowing they'll never make it. It's those people who haven't heard about Grace or who haven't truly experienced Grace in their lives. Those are the people I love, and who I desperately long to reach out to and embrace. That's what I know a church plant is born to do-- love authentically, as Christ has loved us, and has given His life for us. 

Pray for clarity of the vision God is revealing to me/us about ministry in Italy. 

Betsy Joy

PS. I had an amazing phone conversation with Todd Murphy, a church planter in Providence, Rhode Island, for another story I'm writing. More later! :) 

The Italian People

One of the most incredible things about Italy are the people there. They are arguably the most passionate, loving, accepting, kind, genuine, hospitable, and just down right amazing people on the planet. When I was in Italy, I was doing ministry on a college campus, Universita Degli Studi di Salerno, and the love those students had for people and their passion for everything were absolutely amazing to see. I feel in love with the Italian people. That is the main reason why I love it there so much. It was not uncommon, while we were there, for a group of us to be invited over to a student's house for dinner with his or her family. Now that may not seem like a big deal, but to Italians, it is a huge deal. They cook so much food (sometimes as many as 7 courses!) and they serve it to you as if you were a king. What a treat too! They make the best food in the world and when they serve you they are so hospitable. They just love people. They love doing this for friends (even ones they just met) because food is a huge part of the Italian culture. It is not uncommon for dinner to last 2 or 3 hours. They just love eating and they love being with each other during this time.

I remember when I was there, we had a friend, Gianluca Durante, who was one of the coolest people I have ever met. He invited our whole group of 18 people back to his apartment for dinner. 18 people!!! Not all of us went but most of us did, probably around 15 or so decided to go. Gianluca lives by himself in his apartment with his AWESOME dog Seth (which is pronounced "Set" because 'h' is silent in Italian, which I thought was awesome. We name our dogs Italian names like Massimo and they name their dogs American names like Seth. haha anyway). He personally cooked an enormous bowl of salad (or "l'insalata"), a huge bowl of pasta (or "pasta" haha), a ton of meat which if I remember correctly was some type of sausage, and a dessert. He made enough of each for all of us to have plenty!! It was unbelievable! That is just how the Italian people are though. They are passionate about people. They love people. They love meeting and getting to know new people. That is just how they are.

Now I pose a question to you....what would happen in that country if that passion and that love for people was used to glorify and bring people to Christ?? What would happen in that country? I am almost afraid to find out because I think some people would spontaneously combust or something. But man, how awesome would that be? Christ would erupt like a nuclear bomb in Italy and then throughout Europe. If only they knew the freedom and joy and fullness that comes from Him, they would no doubt tell everyone they knew about his amazing, saving grace. People would start loving people to show Christ's love. Their passion would be focused on those people for the sake of the Gospel. If they would do everything they do now for the sake of the Gospel, Jesus would be everywhere in Italy. Let me give you an example of this passion.

Multiple times on our trip, we would be talking with students about the Gospel (which, by the way, they LOVE hearing what we believe and they will sit and talk to you as long as they possibly can because they are so interested in it. They are amazed by the fact that young people like us went to Church and worshiped and loved Christ because in Italy, the view of Christianity is, "its for old people like my grandparents." That is the effect the Catholic Church [now I'm not bashing Catholicism here, but in Italy, the Catholic Church is very different than in the United States. It is very closed off to youth] has had on that country.) and they would talk with us and some would eventually accept Christ into their hearts. Now usually in America, we would talk about it with people who are also believers and begin to grow. In Italy, these students went straight home and told their entire family how amazing Jesus is and what salvation his grace brings. They told their whole families!!!! Hearing about that while I was over there was such an incredible experience because it just completely altered my perception of boldness. I have been following Christ since I was in 11th grade, like 2003, and I have yet to do anything like that. It scares the crap out of me because in America, the subject causes huge rifts in relationships if taken negatively. But in Italy, they are just excited and loving and passionate and they just want everybody to know, and its okay to talk about.

That is why the harvest is so ripe in Italy. That is why the Gospel is spreading through Salerno as we speak. Christ is making Himself known there. He is using the culture and people to spread his Good News through the country.

I'm reminded of this parable from Jesus.

Matthew 13:1-9. "The Parable of the Sower"
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

Now I leave you with this thought, what kind of soil do you think Italy has?

Speaking of Church Plants...

I wrote this article about a church plant in Portland, OR, for Christian Reformed Home Missions  that was published on the website yesterday. This CP is getting started by my dear friends Jason & Mishaela. I've gotten to know this amazing couple through my past year at MCC, as Jason has been interning there for most of the months that I've been attending. This couple has reached out in hospitality and really served in genuinely loving ways. Anyway, it has been an honor to get to know them, and I was delighted by the opportunity to write an article about them. It really thrills me to know they're excited about having a story about them, too! I'm in the process of interviewing two more church planters in the coming week. 

Here's my current FB status: 

Betsy is pretty stoked about church planting, church planters, and writing stories about church planting and planters! :D

But how did church planting get to be such a big part of my heart, anyway? 

I was talking to Danny earlier about the longings in my heart, and among them being to immerse myself even more in the ministry of church planting. I feel unbelievably blessed that my job (not only being a paid, full-time internship!) allows me to connect with, support and encourage church planters across the country (like this one, or this one). I have the opportunity to do that on a daily basis! Even though the menial tasks sometimes get a bit overwhelming, those moments do come when I am totally amazed by this organization (crhm.org, by the way) and the ways that God is able to work through it. 

But the longing extends deeper than to simply encourage more church planters in the powerful ministry that God has called them to. My longing is to get in there myself; for just over a year now God has really opened my eyes to the fact that churches DO need to be planted! (Even in the United States! Even in Grand Rapids!) Being a part of several different, very missionally-minded churches/plants, has really grown a love for that sort of community-- typically small, intimate, familial, with a constant need for leadership and volunteers to make it run. I've discovered that I've thrived in those kinds of churches. Glasgow West End Vineyard church (see link here) was one of the first places I ever felt at home by going to church, and the first time I'd ever been excited to get up on a Sunday morning (and walk a mile just to get to church, I might add) and see the people who had so readily loved and accepted me, even though I was a complete stranger to them. Then being a part of MCC (see link here) has helped me mature spiritually by leaps and bounds, and I have been able to contribute in so many ways and I've definitely fallen in love with the people there. God has given me a huge heart for the church plant ministry, more than I've had for any other kind of ministry out there-- and believe me, I have been involved with quite a number of different ministries; everything from short-term mission trips, work-camp trips, tutoring, serving in a national park for a summer, kids camp counselor, VBS, church intern, teaching Sunday school, small group leader... and yet church planting remains deeply rooted (no pun intended) as a growing desire in my heart. 

I have always had a special place in my heart for Europe-- my heart was broken for Europe first in 2004, when I had the privilege of traveling for 7 weeks (sleeping in a tent for all of them) with an organization called Royal Servants International. I was just 17 years old (turned 17 in Paris, actually!) and fell in love with ministry and missions for the first time. Yet that love was bittersweet-- I loved Europe, but it was mainly because the spiritual emptiness and death was so palpable. The desire to return and serve Europe in some way has stayed with me for the rest of my life. I returned to Scotland in 2006, with an organization that allowed students to do service-learning projects while attending classes at the University (see ipsl.org) and serving the Glasgwegians, especially the disabled and under-resourced, caused a passion in my heart for volunteer work and I have committed to volunteering in some capacity every semester since. I love being involved with ministry, simply stated. I believe it is an inheritance from my father, who was passionate about outreach and serving the down-and-out, and ordained as a pastor just a few years before losing a battle with cancer. 

But back to Italy. I remember that the week I was there, I absolutely loved it. It was such an amazing country, yet with the same spiritual needs as I'd been seeing everywhere in Europe. I distinctly remember thinking to myself "I need to come back and find myself an Italian guy" (ha, ha. Joke's on me!) but then God led me to Scotland. After meeting Danny and hearing about his passion for Italy, and finding out more about the huge lack of genuine, Christ-centered community or spirituality (see statistics below), my heart has just been broken for Italy and I so desire to return and serve in whatever way God calls me (us) to. 

This turned into a story of how God has brought me into the realm of church planting, and the many different organizations and ministries that I've encountered, been blessed by, and have learned from along the way. :) Be sure to go back and check out some of those links-- I'll also include them in the sidebar. 

Betsy Joy

The Truth About Italy....

Many people, even followers of Christ, believe that there isn't a great need for ministers in Italy. Many people think that Italy is doing great, spiritually. They see how the Catholic Church is in Italy, how there is art of Jesus everywhere, how there are symbols and history of Christianity throughout Italy, how Paul even wrote to the Romans, and obviously that would mean Italy is full of people who love Christ right? Its actually quite the opposite. Italy is filled with people who don't know Christ; filled with people who are searching, longing for something more in life. I have seen this first hand. Let me tell you more about what I mean.






Here are some startling facts for starters.



1) Italy is a dying nation. Italy has the lowest birth rate of any western nation. According to recent statistics, for every 1 person who is born, 4 will die. By the year 2050, the population will shrink by as much as 1/3. The Italian government now offers women money just to have children. They give as much as 10,000 Euro for the first 5 years of the child's life.



2) The spiritual climate in Italy is pretty much the same; its dying. An Italian Archbishop conducted a survey to see where Italians were with their faith. He found that 98% of Italians claimed to be Catholic. However, of that 98% of the population, 20% of them also claimed to be Atheist. Almost 20% of the whole population of Italy does not even believe that there is a God. Only 2% of Italians are considered "active" in the church. But what they consider "active" is going to church at least twice a year, including weddings, holidays, baptisms, and funerals. The youth in Italy is even worse yet. Less than 1% of people ages 5-25 are considered active in the church. One of the most shocking facts though, is that 96% of this age group has no been to church since their infant baptism. Being in Italy for six weeks doing missions on the University of Salerno campus, I saw firsthand the reality of this. When asked about spiritual things, things about God, Jesus, the Bible, the Italians are so interested to talk to you. However, when asked what it means to them, the majority of them say things like, "That does not apply to me. Its is for old people like my grandparents. I do not care about these things, because they do not relate to me or my life."



I have seen this brokenness first hand. While I was in Italy, I had a friend named Tamara there with me. She was talking to a girl on the campus at the University of Salerno. When spiritual conversation came up, the girl immediately got very defensive and said stuff like, "I don't want to hear any of this religious stuff, especially about Jesus. I don't believe any of it and i don't care. It's stupid and not for me. I'm not talking about this with you." The girl was very adamant Tamara simply said that was fine just said she just wanted to get to know her. Not very much after, they began talking about spiritual things, namely Jesus. This time, the girl did not end the conversation and instead began talking about it. Tamara shared about how we are all fallen and broken and how there is really nothing we can do to get to God because of our sin (or "peccato" in Italian). She shared with her about how even though we can't get to God and we can never do nearly enough to earn our way into heaven to be with Him, God still loves us. She explained that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, down to Earth. She shared about how Jesus lived a blameless perfect life for 33 years; how he was completely holy in every way; how he lived out the Father's will completely and perfectly. Then she explained how he was killed for us, and through that killing was forsaken by God and took on the full wrath of God for sins that He never committed. He took God's wrath for our sins. Then Tamara explained the best part of the story, that Jesus, after 3 days, rose from the dead. He defeated sin and death and through that we get salvation if we believe and ask Jesus into our hearts. Tamara shared some of her personal story and after hearing all these things, the girl broke down in tears. She understood the saving grace of Christ and His sacrifice (His death and resurrection) and believed. She asked Jesus into her life right there. She went from being adamently against everything Christianity was about to believing. She had never heard the true Gospel before. She had never had it explained like it was explained by Tamara.

The people in Salerno and all over Italy are waiting to hear this news. They are waiting to know it. They're waiting to hear the true story. They are waiting for Jesus.....bring Him to them and let Him use you for His glory!

First Initiatives

Hello, Blog-World. 

I'm starting this blog as the beginning of a vision: a vision for missions in Italy. The Spirit of God is moving, and He has put Italy on my heart. I recall clearly the emptiness palpable in Europe, I remember my immediate love for Italy in the week that I visited, and I am passionate about ministry--especially in church planting. 

God has also brought about people and instances in my life where suddenly living and serving in Italy has become a very real possibility and call. I decided to begin a blog that I hope will serve as a place for me to dream, record what I find out about Italy and the (spiritual) needs that the country has, and someday be a place where readers can come and hear about what God has been doing in our ministry there. It's a leap of faith, but God has given me a skill as a visionary, and this is my first initiative with this dream. 

So here is my first link with information about missions in Italy. Read more by clicking the link, but here are a few heart-breaking basics...

- "While most Italians consider themselves Roman Catholic, less than 10 percent attend mass even once a month. Their "religion" is more tradition and convenience than a life-changing personal choice."

- "While there seems to be an openness to other religious faiths, evangelicals make up less than 1% of the population. Of the more than 35,000 cities, towns, and villages, less than 1,500 have an evangelical church."

- "There is only one trained pastor for every 350,000 people." 

This site has a bit about Italy, too, and about one of the organizations that is serving there (Campus Crusade International).

These videos do a great job of telling the story behind what God is doing in Italy already. 

Interview with Marko Rossetti

This couple, whose names are Justin and Abbey, are serving as missionaries in Italy now. 

Katie Williams is a friend of mine who is serving there for a year this coming fall. 

This has been a kind of theme song for my love and passion for Europe and my deep desire to do ministry there. 

You Said

You said, Ask and you will receive
Whatever you need
You said, Pray and I'll hear from heaven
And I'll heal your land

You said Your glory will fill the earth
Like water the sea
You said, Lift up your eyes
The harvest is here, the kingdom is near

You said, Ask and I'll give the nations to you
O Lord, that's the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see
Your light, as it rises on us

Trevi Fountain

Venice

Please join with me in praying for Italy, for the missionaries there, as well as for God's direction in my own life as I consider His call. 

Trusting Him,

Betsy Joy